If you’re looking for a Columbia River walleye fishing guide, you’re in the right place. I’m Marvin Henkel of Marvin’s Guide Service, and I’ve been chasing walleye on the Columbia River for decades — from the Gorge stretches near Rufus, Oregon up to the John Day Dam area, some of the best walleye water in the Pacific Northwest.
Where We Fish for Walleye
Most of my Columbia River walleye trips run out of Rufus, Oregon, right in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge. This stretch — from the Gorge up to the John Day Dam — holds strong numbers of walleye, and the scenery isn’t bad either. When the river is high and fast, we adjust: trolling downriver to cover water and find where the fish are holding.
When to Go Walleye Fishing
Walleye fishing on the Columbia heats up through spring and stays productive into summer. Late May and June can be excellent — that’s when we’re typically targeting walleye around Rufus before switching over to monster summer sturgeon, also in the Gorge.
Don’t overlook winter, either. I run guided winter walleye trips on the Columbia River from January through March — a great option when most anglers have hung up their rods.
How We Catch Them
My go-to technique is trolling a bottom walker with a worm harness. It lets us cover lots of water and find where the walleye are hanging out on any given day. Some days they’re deep, some days they’re on the move — covering water is how you find them.
What to Expect
Columbia River walleye typically run 2 to 5 pounds — great eating size. When we catch the bigger ones, I like to let them go: they’re usually females, and releasing them keeps this fishery strong for years to come.
And here’s a local secret: in my opinion, Columbia River walleye make some of the best fish tacos around.
Book Your Walleye Trip
Ready to get out on the water? Call or text 503-314-5087 and let’s talk about your Columbia River walleye trip — or send a trip inquiry and I’ll get right back to you.
