Although it is very early to start targeting, these Spring Chinook are already being caught. Spring Chinook is the first Salmon to enter our rivers every year. They are going the furthest of our Salmon and will be in the freshwater the longest before spawning. When the Salmon enter freshwater, they stop eating as their main focus is to get their spawning grounds. These Spring Chinook build up a ton of fat in the ocean to make their journey and live without food until they spawn in September and October. That fat they build-up is what makes them arguably the best-tasting Salmon in the world. This year’s forecast for Spring Chinook entering the Columbia River is 197,000, about 45,000 more fish than returned to the system last Spring. I am expecting some great opportunities this Spring and will be offering a few different fisheries than years past. In March, I will start in Lower Columbia and move into the Willamette and Lewis rivers in April through May. The Lewis River will only be opened through April 30th but could be extended if enough fish are returning to the river. I will also be fishing the Columbia River upstream of The Dalles Dam, open through May 5th. This fishery often gets extended, and those extension days can be something special. Whether you are looking to get out with friends family or make new business relations, Spring is a great time to get out and catch some fish!