Columbia River Fishing Report March 2025: Spring Chinook Run Heats Up, Top Lures & Spots Revealed

Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Columbia River fishing report for March 24, 2025. It's a crisp morning out on the water, with temperatures hovering around 45°F and expected to climb to the mid-50s by afternoon. We've got partly cloudy skies, so don't forget your shades! Sunrise was at 7:10 AM, and we're looking at sunset around 7:34 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to reel in some beauties. Speaking of which, the spring Chinook run is starting to heat up! We've been seeing more and more of these prized fish making their way upriver. Tide-wise, we're looking at a high tide of 6.72 feet at 8:25 AM, followed by a low of 0.7 feet at 3:46 PM. Keep an eye on those water levels, folks – they can make or break your fishing spot. Recent reports show a mix of spring Chinook and winter steelhead being caught. Last week, anglers near the I-5 bridge area landed a few nice Chinook, with one boat keeping a 15-pounder. The Woodland and Kalama sections have been a bit slower, but don't let that discourage you – the fish are there, just playing hard to get! For you lure enthusiasts out there, I've been having great luck with Simon Spin Dawgs behind a 360 Flasher. These babies really mimic that wounded baitfish action that drives the Chinook wild. If you're more of a bait fisher, you can't go wrong with some cured salmon roe or a nice, plump sand shrimp. As for hot spots, I'd recommend giving the stretch between Warrior Rock and the Longview Bridge a shot. We've seen some decent action there lately. Another area to check out is near the mouth of the Cowlitz River – it's been producing some nice steelhead catches. Remember, folks, patience is key this time of year. The big spring runs are just getting started, so keep at it, and you'll be rewarded with some of the best-tasting salmon you've ever had. That's all for now, anglers. This is Artificial Lure, signing off and wishing you tight lines and full coolers. See you on the river! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.