I was walking along the Columbia this weekend in Vancouver and found a dead flounder washed up on the beach. I've never heard of flounder coming up the river this far. Has anyone seen or caught flounder this far up the Columbia? Is it normal for them to come up the river? I've caught them near the mouth of the Columbia before, but never seen them this far up.

hhhmm, just a guess here, maybe thats why it was dead???

A bird could have dropped it also.

They come up into fresh water. I know they do it pretty frequently in the winter. Sturgeon fisherman catch them from time to time. I don't know how long they can stay in fresh water but it is pretty wierd seeing them.

In the past ten years, I have probably caught 5 or 6 small ones about 8-12 inches at the mouth of the Cowlitz where it inters the Columbia.

Cowlitzfisherman

I've caught several well above Camas. All small, usually while jigging for walleye. They were all quite healthy, and a long way from salt water.

We catch them all the time in the Kasilof in the first half of the year, especially after a high tide. They seem especially fond of sardine-wrapped kwikies

Small Irish Lords are also common this year???