Artificial Lure here, bringing you the latest from the Charles River on this Monday morning, May 19, 2025. The river’s alive right now, with the spring migration in full swing, water warming, and fish on the move.

First, let’s talk conditions. The sunrise today was at 5:19 am and sunset’s set for 8:03 pm, giving you a long stretch of daylight on the water. Weather is classic Boston spring: calm, temps in the low 60s early, pushing up into the 70s by midday, with a light southwest breeze. Skies are partly cloudy, perfect for keeping the fish active without roasting us.

Now for the tides: the lower Charles doesn’t get as much saltwater flow as Boston Harbor, but the outflow into the harbor means fish are most active around the morning and evening changes—think a couple hours after sunrise and leading up to sunset. High tide today is around 9 am, with a slow drop through the afternoon.

What’s biting? This week, striper action has been heating up in the river. Schoolies up to mid-20-inch range are common, but there are reports—especially around the Museum of Science and the upstream dams—of much bigger fish cruising in after herring and shad. The migration is strong, and anglers tossing paddletails and topwater plugs have been surprised by the occasional 30-plus-incher[4][3][1]. If you’re after bass, focus on dawn and dusk for the big ones.

American shad are starting to show, too—biologists’ restoration efforts are clearly paying off, with more shad reported near the locks and in quiet, deeper pools[1]. Trout fishing is still productive in the upper, more suburban stretches near Watertown—Copper Super Dupers and small spinners have been hot for browns and rainbows lately[2].

Lures and bait: For stripers, soft plastics and small swimbaits imitating herring or shad are money right now. Try 4- to 6-inch paddletails in white or natural colors, or topwater walkers and poppers early or late. Tube-and-worm rigs trolled slow also keep producing bigger fish, especially near bridges and deeper bends[1][2]. For trout, stick with small spoons or worms. If you want to land a shad, small flutter spoons or darts work best in the evening light.

Hot spots today include the stretch from the Museum of Science down to the Longfellow Bridge—prime striper territory around dusk and dawn—and the Magazine Beach basin in Cambridge, where herring gather and predators follow. Upstream near Watertown Dam is still your best bet if you’re hoping for mixed bag action or a bonus shad.

Fishing’s only going to improve as weather warms and herring keep running. Stay safe, respect the resource, and tight lines from Artificial Lure.