Early March Columbia River Fishing: Steelhead and Spring Chinook Heat Up After the Rains

Hey folks, Artificial Lure here, your go-to guy for all things rod and reel on the mighty Columbia around Portland. It's early March 6th, and the river's callin'—sunrise hit around 6:45 AM PDT, sunset 'bout 6:00 PM, givin' ya a solid 11 hours of light to chase bites. Tides today? Expect a low around 8-9 AM pushin' 1-2 feet at Astoria mouth per Tide-Forecast.com, risin' to high mid-afternoon near 7 feet—prime for slack water fishin' when the current chills. Weather's classic PNW: partly cloudy, highs in the mid-50s, light winds off the water, no big storms blowin' through. Fish activity's heatin' up after recent rains cleared the murk in the Willamette arms. ODFW's Willamette Zone report notes spring Chinook and steelhead showin' early, with plunkers at Meldrum Bar haulin' hatchery steelies and coho. The Guides Forecast says trollers in Sellwood and Multnomah Channel are hookin' salmon on the turn, plus sturgeon catch-and-release goin' strong. Bass—smallies and largemouths—are active in slower pockets, and trout stockings are rampin' in nearby spots like Henry Hagg Lake, but river rainbows are wild and feisty. Recent catches? Steelhead leads the pack, 5-10 pounders steady from bank and boat; springers peekin' at 15-20 lbs, handfuls reported daily. Walleye slow but pickin' up in deeper holes. Best lures: Spin-N-Glo yarn rigs in pink or chartreuse for steelhead and salmon—drift 'em deep. For bass, drop-shot worms or jigheads with grubs. Artificial flies or spoons if bait's off-limits post-Nov. Bait-wise, fresh roe clusters or cured prawns kill it for springers; nightcrawlers for bass and perch. Hot spots: Hit the Multnomah Channel near Kelley Point for easy bank access and consistent steelies. Or boat out to Rooster Rock for sturgeon and early Chinook in the riffles. Get out there safe, check regs for that Columbia Basin Endorsement, and watch for snags. 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.