If you go to just the Columbia River reports and find the area you want to fish, there is great info from guides and other fisherman that share everything you need to know. This is a great resource and I have found it very helpful over the past several years. Good luck and tight lines.

Keep after it! I fish the Upper Columbia and this is my first year with a boat as well. There's a huge learning curve and is not like fishing the smaller tributaries. I've landed a handful salmon this year but I've worked hard for them. I've had good luck with my downriggers and tuna packed Superbaits (garlic bloody tuna scent has been key). I can't seem to catch a fish dragging cannon ball lead but I'm determined. My best luck has come on anchor fishing wrapped Maglips and Kwickfish. I've been fishing lately out of Pasco and it's starting to get good. Marking and seeing lot's of fish but they seem to be pretty tight lipped. Even the guides are having to work hard for them. If your using the Pro Troll flashers boat control and boat speed is the key, getting that Pro Troll to thump your rod about every second when trolling. The speed of your boat will change as the flows change so don't get locked into a key MPH, pay attention to your rods thumping. Pay great attention to the guides and the locals that know what's going on, the angle of their lines off the back of their boats, and their speed both up river and down. Also pay attention to the lines (routes) they are trolling and what depth, there fishing there for a reason...they've caught fish there before! Good luck!