Columbia River Fishing Report: Spring Chinook, Steelhead and Walleye Bites Heating Up

Alright folks, here's your Columbia River fishing report for March 16, 2025. We've got a high tide of 8.3 feet at 3:27 AM and a low of 0.7 feet at 9:42 AM. Another high tide of 7.4 feet rolls in at 3:54 PM, with a low of 1.5 feet at 9:36 PM. Sunrise is at 7:25 AM and sunset at 7:23 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to work with. Weather's looking decent today - partly cloudy with highs around 60°F and light winds. River temp is sitting at a chilly 45°F, so the fish are still a bit sluggish. Spring Chinook are starting to show up, but it's still early. A few lucky anglers have landed some nice ones in the 15-20 pound range near the mouth of the Willamette. Steelhead fishing has been fair, with most action happening in the Gorge area. For lures, try using a Simon Cut Plug in chartreuse or silver/blue. Spinners like the High Class 3.5 in red/white have also been producing. If you're bait fishing, sand shrimp or cured eggs are your best bet. Walleye fishing has been picking up, especially near the John Day Dam. Jig and nightcrawler combos or blade baits like the Silver Buddy are working well. For some hot spots, try fishing the wing dams near Sauvie Island for spring Chinook or hit up the Multnomah Channel for some steelhead action. The waters around Bonneville Dam have also been productive for both salmon and steelhead. Remember, it's still early in the season, so patience is key. Tight lines, and good luck out there! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.