Portland, Oregon, is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and, surprisingly, fantastic urban fishing. Recently, I had the pleasure of hosting Rod Hill from KGW TV Channel 8 News for a “Rod on the Job” segment focused on sturgeon fishing. This experience not only highlighted the thrill of sturgeon fishing right here in the city but also offered a glimpse into how KGW TV brings local stories to life. If you’re curious about fishing adventures featured on KGW or looking for your own sturgeon fishing experience, this guide is for you.
Our KGW sturgeon fishing expedition began with a call from Rod Hill himself. The plan was set: sturgeon fishing on the Willamette River, a prime location known for excellent catches, especially when the Columbia River gets too cold. We arranged to meet at Jantzen Beach, where my boat was moored, ready for a day on the water. While Rod was a bit behind schedule that morning, the anticipation was high for some exciting sturgeon action, hopefully worthy of the KGW TV cameras.
After Rod arrived and we got settled in the boat, we spent a few minutes discussing our strategy for the day and the basics of sturgeon fishing. Then, we set off, heading down the Columbia River towards its confluence with the Willamette, near the heart of downtown Portland. The Willamette River is often several degrees warmer than the Columbia, making it a more productive sturgeon fishing spot during certain times of the year.
Upon reaching our chosen location on the Willamette, we dropped anchor. I took the time to explain to Rod the nuances of sturgeon behavior – how they bite and the kind of fight they put up. With the rods baited, we cast our lines. Incredibly, as I was instructing Rod on casting the second rod, the first rod bent over, signaling a bite! “Grab it and set the hook!” I exclaimed to Rod.
Despite his humorous claim of not being ready, Rod instinctively knew what to do, and the fight was on. The sturgeon fishing action was truly fast-paced. In just about 35 minutes of fishing, Rod successfully landed four impressive sturgeon. By that point, Rod was definitely feeling the exertion and declared himself happily done for the day!
Now, we eagerly await the KGW News footage to air in the coming weeks. Keep an eye on the Kgw Tv Guide and their website kgw.com for the “Rod on the Job” segment to see our sturgeon fishing adventure in action. And if watching Rod’s experience has inspired you, give me a call. Mention you saw Rod Hill on KGW, and let’s plan your own sturgeon fishing trip in Portland, Oregon.
Looking beyond sturgeon, the world-famous Buoy 10 salmon season is just around the corner. Fish and Wildlife forecasts indicate a strong run of Chinook salmon on the Columbia River this season. Buoy 10 salmon fishing will be open until September 7th. Following that, on September 8th, we’ll remain in the Buoy 10 area as the focus shifts to Coho salmon, with that season continuing through early October. September and October are fantastic months to consider combination salmon and Dungeness crab trips, maximizing your Pacific Northwest fishing adventure with limits of Dungeness crab often achievable.
For the latest broadcast schedules and to find out when “Rod on the Job” airs, be sure to check the KGW TV guide online. Get ready to witness some thrilling sturgeon fishing and maybe even plan your own trip after seeing it on KGW!
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