Chilly Columbia River Steelhead, Sturgeon, and Trout - Latest Fishing Report, December 27, 2025

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things rod and reel on the mighty Columbia River around Portland. It's December 27th, 2025, and we're kickin' off with sunrise at 7:18 AM and sunset at 5:42 PM per Tide-Forecast.com—short days, but the fish don't punch a clock. Tides today are movin' steady: high at midnight 00:05 with 0.89 ft, low at 7:09 AM hittin' 0.75 ft, another high around 8:09 AM at 0.75 ft, low at 4:11 PM with 0.56 ft, and night high at 11:43 PM reachin' 0.85 ft, straight from Tide-Forecast.com and NOAA Tides & Currents. Fish the incomin' tide mid-mornin' when current picks up—that's when baitfish get pushed into eddies. Weather's classic PNW winter: chilly highs in the low 40s, drizzly with light winds from the southwest, keepin' water temps around 45°F. Bundle up, layers and rain gear are your friends. Fish activity's solid despite the cold—steelhead are pushin' up from the estuary, with fresh runs reported in the lower Columbia. Locals pulled limits of 6-10 lb hatchery steelhead last week near the mouth, plus a few chromers up to 12 lbs. Sturgeon are stackin' in deep holes, legal keepers in the 48-60 inch slot hittin' triple digits caught recently. Salmon are mostly done, but holdover coho show up now and then. Trout stockin' nearby in Willamette ponds like Walter Wirth Lake means rainbows are jumpin' close by, per Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife reports. For lures, my top picks: bright pink or chartreuse Buzz Bombs or Corkies under a float for steelhead—they're tearin' it up in 8-12 feet. Spin-N-Glo yarn flies in shrimp pink or orange for the drift. Sturgeon love sardine-wrapped Kwikfish or big herring chunks on a stout setup. Live bait? Sand shrimp or cured roe sacs are killers—thread 'em on a Gamakatsu for that natural drift. Hot spots: Hit the Washougal River mouth for steelhead crowds, or drop lines off Hayden Island for sturgeon in the shipping channel—boat or bank both work. Get out there safe, check regs, and tight lines! Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more reports. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.