Full Day Fall Chinook/Coho Salmon Fishing
Private Trip
River Fishing
Full day Chinook and Coho salmon fishing on Oregon riversProfessional guide provides all tackle, gear, and bait includedChoice between trolling from sled or drift boat techniques
Ready to get your line wet on some of Oregon's top salmon waters? Guide Logan Ellis — better known as Chicken Little — has been putting anglers on fish across six legendary Oregon rivers for years. This isn't your typical charter experience. You'll spend a full day targeting fall Chinook and Coho salmon on waters that consistently produce trophy fish, using proven techniques that locals have refined over decades. Whether we're trolling the deep channels or drift fishing the prime holes, you'll fish like the pros do while soaking up stories and tips that only come from someone who lives and breathes these waters.
Your day starts when Logan picks the perfect water based on current conditions, fish movement, and his years of experience reading these rivers. If we're taking the 25-foot Alumaweld Super Vee sled, we'll hit the Siletz, Alsea, Yaquina, Siuslaw, Willamette, or Columbia for trolling runs. This boat handles bigger water beautifully and gets us to those deeper salmon holding spots where the big fish cruise. On drift boat days, we'll float the Siletz or Alsea in Logan's 18-foot Clackacraft, working the prime salmon water with bobber rigs, back bouncing techniques, and twitching jigs through the sweet spots. Logan reads water like a book and knows exactly where salmon stack up during their fall run. The best part? You don't need to worry about tackle, bait, or gear — Logan's got everything dialed in with top-rated setups that consistently produce fish.
Trolling from the sled means we'll cover serious water, pulling herring, spinners, or plugs at precise depths where salmon travel. Logan knows the exact speed, depth, and presentation that triggers strikes on each river. The electronics help us mark fish and structure, but it's Logan's experience that puts the lures in the strike zone. When we're drift fishing, you'll learn proper bobber techniques that keep your bait dancing naturally in the current. Back bouncing lets us work bait along the bottom where salmon often hold, while twitching jigs mimics the erratic movement of injured baitfish that salmon can't resist. These aren't random techniques — they're refined methods that Oregon salmon guides have perfected over generations. Logan will coach you through each setup so you understand not just how to fish, but why these presentations work so well on Oregon salmon.
Fall Chinook salmon are the crown jewel of Oregon salmon fishing, and these fish show up in serious numbers during their spawning runs. These king salmon average 15-30 pounds, with trophy fish pushing 40 pounds or more. They're incredibly strong fighters that will test your tackle and your arms. Chinook hit hard and run deep, using their size and the current to their advantage. The fall run typically peaks from August through October, making this prime time to target the biggest salmon of the year. What makes Chinook so special is their sheer power — when a 25-pound king grabs your line, you'll know it immediately. They're also fantastic table fare, with rich, flaky meat that's perfect for grilling or smoking.
Coho salmon bring a completely different fight to the table. These silver bullets average 8-15 pounds but make up for their smaller size with aerial acrobatics and lightning-fast runs. Coho are famous for their jumps — they'll clear the water multiple times during a fight, shaking their heads and putting on a show that gets your adrenaline pumping. They move into Oregon rivers from late summer through fall, often mixing with Chinook in the same holes. Coho have excellent table quality with firm, mild-flavored meat that's incredibly versatile in the kitchen. Their aggressive nature means they'll often hit lures with authority, and their fight-to-size ratio is off the charts. Many anglers actually prefer targeting Coho because of their explosive fighting style and willingness to bite.
Fall salmon season is Oregon fishing at its finest, and spots with experienced guides like Logan fill up fast. You'll walk away with more than just fish — you'll learn techniques and river knowledge that will make you a better angler for years to come. Logan provides all the tackle, gear, and bait, so all you need is your Oregon fishing license with combined angling tag, appropriate clothing, rain gear, and a cooler for your catch. This is world-class salmon fishing with a guide who knows these rivers inside and out. Don't let another fall season pass without experiencing what Oregon salmon fishing is all about. Book your trip with Chicken Little's Guide Service and get ready for a day on the water that reminds you why Oregon is a customer favorite destination for serious salmon anglers.
Logan's 25-foot Alumaweld Super Vee sled is built for serious salmon fishing on Oregon's prime waters. This aluminum beast cuts through river currents and coastal conditions with ease, getting you to the best fishing spots on the Siletz, Alsea, Yaquina, Siuslaw, Willamette, and Columbia. The wireless trolling motor lets you work structure quietly without spooking fish, while the fish finder shows exactly what's swimming below. GPS keeps you on productive water, and the VHF radio ensures safe communication. The onboard ice box keeps your catch fresh all day. Logan provides all tackle, gear, and bait - you just need your license, weather gear, and a cooler for your salmon. Whether you're trolling for bright Chinook or feisty Coho, this setup delivers the reliability and performance serious salmon anglers demand on Oregon rivers.
Oncorhynchus TshawytschaKing salmon are the heavyweights of Oregon rivers, running 12-30+ pounds with some monsters pushing 40. These silver-sided bruisers have black-spotted backs and fight like freight trains once hooked. Fall runs bring them into our coastal rivers from September through November, where they hold in deeper pools and slower water. What makes them special is that incredible pink-orange meat and the way they'll peel drag for minutes. They're light-sensitive, so early morning and evening bites are prime time. My go-to trick? When drift fishing the Siletz or Alsea, keep your bait just off bottom - kings cruise a foot or two up looking for easy meals. These fish are why people drive from across the state.
Oncorhynchus KisutchSilver salmon are pure dynamite on the line - 8-12 pounds of acrobatic fury that'll jump clean out of the water and fight you to the boat. Fall coho hit our Oregon rivers hard from September into December, staging in deeper holes before moving up to spawn. Unlike their bigger chinook cousins, coho love to chase moving baits and will smash a well-presented jig or spinner. The bright orange meat is table fare at its finest. These fish cruise mid-water column in our coastal streams, especially around cover like fallen trees or undercut banks. Pro tip: when twitching jigs in holding water, use erratic movements - coho are aggressive and that irregular action triggers strikes when nothing else will work.
Salem, OR