NW Outdoor Explorer

Ring in 2024 with a splash at Columbia River’s Bonneville pool! Join us in Hood River, Oregon for an epic sturgeon fishing opener, boat limits guaranteed. Cheers to success with Bouy Beer’s Double IPA!

In mid-October, the narrator and crew embarked on a successful Dungeness crabbing trip from Port Ilwaco, Washington, into the Pacific Ocean. United by a common goal, they tirelessly baited crab pots and later hauled in a plentiful catch after an enjoyable day marked by camaraderie, beautiful scenery, and exchange of stories.

Winter Kokanee fishing on Lake Merwin is not for the faint of heart. The cold, crisp air and icy waters can deter even the most dedicated angler. However, for those willing to brave the elements, the reward can be a thrilling day of fishing and the satisfaction of a successful catch. Here are a few […]

Going fishing the 1st day after the New Year celebration can be challenging, but every now and then, it pays off big time. A couple buddies of mine talked me into fishing the sturgeon opener above Bonneville Dam this year. I managed to temper my New Years celebration a little and got to bed by […]

I have not been fishing much this year due to other activities and priorities like starting a lavender farm and my oldest daughter getting married. Now that the dust has settled, I am getting some good opportunities to get out and kill some fish. This particular opportunity, I was invited out on a friends boat […]

I am sure many are relieved to put 2020 behind them and look forward to 2021 and beyond. From the pandemic to all the inconsistent rules and guidelines about masking and social distancing. The most outrageous of all the restrictions was the fishing closure. How much more social distant can you be when fishing by […]

We took notice of the wind and wave forecast and started planning for this trip about a week out. If all the stars and planets aligned, we could potentially get into salmon, tuna, halibut and bottom fish all in the same trip. The day before, the forecast improved even more. We were expecting less than […]

Who does not like an early boat limit of nice sized coho? People who fish like fishing, but they do not necessarily want to spend all day doing it unless they are just out to catch and release. This was not one of those days. We pulled away from the dock just after 7am. Executed […]

When the ocean salmon season opened up a week ago, I was reading a number of reports about early limits of both chinook and coho. Due to weather and ocean conditions, we decided to wait. It was a hard week of anxiety for sure. It was finally time. Had an early wake up call and […]

In the midst of this COVID-19 stay at home order, we all just have to get out now and then. After Washington closed all recreational fishing, Oregon quickly followed suit and closed the Columbia for all salmon and steelhead fishing. They allowed fishing on the Columbia for all other species which tells me this closure […]