Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Columbia River fishing report for today, March 28, 2025. Let's dive right in!
First off, we've got a high tide at 2:28 PM hitting 6.66 feet, with a low tide at 9:29 PM at -0.14 feet. Sunrise is at 7:00 AM and sunset at 7:37 PM, giving us a solid day of fishing time. Weather-wise, we're looking at partly cloudy skies with temps in the mid-50s, so layer up!
Now, onto the good stuff - the fish! Spring Chinook are starting to show up in decent numbers. Last week, we saw about a dozen springers caught throughout the lower river. The bite's been a bit slow, but it's picking up. Steelhead are still in the mix too, with a few nice ones being landed near Longview.
For you bass enthusiasts, the smallmouth action is heating up as the water warms. Folks have been having luck with swim baits imitating shad and crawdad-colored crankbaits.
Lure-wise, I'm loving the Simon 3.0 Cut Plug in brass-fire wing for salmon. For steelhead, you can't go wrong with a Mepps spinner. Bass are hitting on 3.8 Keitech Swing Impact Fat on a 1/4-ounce ball head.
If you're more of a bait fisher, sand shrimp and cut-plug herring are your best bets for salmon. For sturgeon, try squid or smelt.
Hot spots this week include the I-5 Bridge area for salmon, and the stretch between Warrior Rock and Longview Bridge for a mixed bag of salmon and steelhead. Bass anglers should check out the Gorge area.
Remember, the limit's two salmon per day, and one can be a Chinook. Wild coho need to be released below the Hood River Bridge.
That's all for now, folks. Tight lines and see you on the water!