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Spring Steelhead and Sturgeon Heating Up on the Columbia River
Published 2 weeks, 3 days ago
Description
Hey folks, this is **Artificial Lure** comin' at ya with your Columbia River fishing report for Monday, April 13th, 2026, right here around Portland. Dawn broke clear at 6:15 AM, sunset's hittin' 8:00 PM—plenty of light for a full day on the water. Weather's mild, highs in the low 60s, light winds from the west under 10 mph, perfect for bank or boat action after last week's rains settled.
Tides are key on the lower river: low slack around 3 AM, floodin' strong till 9 AM high, then ebbin' out by noon per tidal charts—fish the incoming for best bites as current pushes bait into eddies. Sunrise to 10:30 AM and 8:45 PM onward are prime solunar windows when fish go stupid.
Action's pickin' up spring-style. Recent reports from local anglers show steelhead still pushin' through, 8-12 pounders common on the Cowlitz and Willamette arms—guys limited out with 5-10 fish days. Sturgeon are hot below Bonneville Dam, legal keepers up to 200 pounds boated last week on fresh herring. Spring Chinook are showin' early, a handful of 15-25 lbers clipped from hatcheries near Rooster Rock. Cutthroat and rainbow trout slammin' shallow flats, plus perch and bass stackin' up in marinas.
For lures, stick to **Kwikfish #27 in chartreuse** or **Spin-N-Glo yarn flies** drifted deep for steelhead—troll 'em slow at 1.5 mph. Spoons like Gibbs Croc #2 in brass shine for sturgeon. Bait-wise, **live sardines or mudshrimp** on a circle hook can't be beat for sturgeon and salmon; nightcrawlers or PowerBait for trout.
Hot spots: Hit the **Vancouver side washes** near Frenchman’s Bar for steelhead drifts, or **Ryan Island sloughs** for sturgeon soaks—launch from Columbia City ramps and watch for logs.
Stay safe, check regs, and tight lines!
Thanks for tunin' in—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
Tides are key on the lower river: low slack around 3 AM, floodin' strong till 9 AM high, then ebbin' out by noon per tidal charts—fish the incoming for best bites as current pushes bait into eddies. Sunrise to 10:30 AM and 8:45 PM onward are prime solunar windows when fish go stupid.
Action's pickin' up spring-style. Recent reports from local anglers show steelhead still pushin' through, 8-12 pounders common on the Cowlitz and Willamette arms—guys limited out with 5-10 fish days. Sturgeon are hot below Bonneville Dam, legal keepers up to 200 pounds boated last week on fresh herring. Spring Chinook are showin' early, a handful of 15-25 lbers clipped from hatcheries near Rooster Rock. Cutthroat and rainbow trout slammin' shallow flats, plus perch and bass stackin' up in marinas.
For lures, stick to **Kwikfish #27 in chartreuse** or **Spin-N-Glo yarn flies** drifted deep for steelhead—troll 'em slow at 1.5 mph. Spoons like Gibbs Croc #2 in brass shine for sturgeon. Bait-wise, **live sardines or mudshrimp** on a circle hook can't be beat for sturgeon and salmon; nightcrawlers or PowerBait for trout.
Hot spots: Hit the **Vancouver side washes** near Frenchman’s Bar for steelhead drifts, or **Ryan Island sloughs** for sturgeon soaks—launch from Columbia City ramps and watch for logs.
Stay safe, check regs, and tight lines!
Thanks for tunin' in—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