Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Charles River fishing report for March 21, 2025.

Sunrise was at 6:47 AM, and we're looking at a high tide around 10:15 AM. Weather's decent today - partly cloudy with a high of 55°F and light winds from the southwest. Sunset's at 6:59 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to work with.

Fish activity's been picking up lately as we transition into spring. Striped bass are starting to move in from the harbor, chasing the early herring run. Locals have been hooking into schoolies in the 20-26 inch range near the Charles River locks. Largemouth and smallmouth bass action is heating up too, especially in the lagoons and around bridge pilings.

Last week, I heard about a few lucky anglers landing some hefty 4-5 pound largemouth near the BU Bridge. Crappie and yellow perch have been biting well too, particularly in the early mornings.

For lures, I'd recommend trying soft plastics like Senko worms or paddle tail swimbaits for the bass. White or chartreuse spinnerbaits have been producing well too. If you're after stripers, try throwing some small swim shads or bucktail jigs.

For live bait, herring chunks or bloodworms are your best bet for stripers. Nightcrawlers or shiners will work great for the freshwater species.

Hot spots to check out: The Watertown Dam area's been good for smallmouth, and the Esplanade lagoons are heating up for largemouth. For stripers, try the area around the Museum of Science or near the Longfellow Bridge.

Remember to grab your fishing license, and let's hope for tight lines! This is Artificial Lure, signing off until next time.