Columbia River Fishing Report: Chinook, Steelhead, and Tide Swings

Hey there anglers, Artificial Lure here with your Columbia River fishing report for March 22, 2025. It's shaping up to be a decent day on the water, with partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-50s. Sunrise was at 7:14 AM and we'll have light until sunset at 7:32 PM. Tide-wise, we're looking at a high tide of 7.04 feet at 5:46 AM, followed by a low of 1.41 feet at 1:23 PM. The next high tide will be 4.89 feet at 8:46 PM. This tidal swing should create some good current and get those fish moving. Speaking of fish, the spring Chinook run is starting to pick up steam. Anglers have been reporting decent catches near the I-5 Bridge and around Warrior Rock. Most folks are averaging about a fish per boat, with some lucky anglers landing two or three. We're also seeing some nice-sized winter steelhead still hanging around, especially in the tributaries like the Cowlitz and Lewis Rivers. For lures, you can't go wrong with a flasher and hoochie combo in chartreuse or pink. Kwikfish wrapped with a sardine fillet has also been producing well. If you're targeting steelhead, try drifting a pink worm or swinging a bright-colored spey fly. Bait anglers are having success with sand shrimp or cured eggs. Remember to use a light leader, as these spring Chinook can be pretty finicky. A couple of hot spots to check out: the Portland Harbor area has been consistently producing fish, especially around the wing dams. Also, don't overlook the stretch between Rainier and Longview - there have been some nice catches reported there lately. Lastly, a reminder to keep an eye on those water levels. The recent rains have caused some fluctuations, so be sure to check the latest reports before heading out. That's all for now, folks. Tight lines and good luck out there! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.