Spring Awakening: Sturgeon, Steelhead, and Shad on the Columbia River - March 23 Forecast

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things rod and reel on the mighty Columbia River around Portland. It's early morning on March 23, 2026, and we're lookin' at a solid day to wet a line. Weather's callin' for partly cloudy skies turnin' overcast later, lows around 36°F with light winds—perfect for stayin' comfy on the water, per Columbia Gorge News forecasts.

Sunrise hits at 6:59 AM, sunset at 7:04 PM, and solunar activity's high today with the moon risin' at noon and settin' around 8:48 PM—prime feedin' windows around dawn and dusk, says Tides4Fishing charts.

Tides in Vancouver near Portland show low at 3:13 AM (0.4 ft), high at 7:42 AM (2.1 ft), low again at 2:43 PM (0.2 ft), and evenin' high at 7:47 PM (3.0 ft). Fish the incomin' tide mid-mornin' and late afternoon when they're pushin' bait into the shallows.

Action's been steady on sturgeon and steelhead lately, with some salmon stragglers from winter runs—anglers reportin' limits of shad too, accordin' to recent Columbian updates. Sturgeon are keyin' on smelt strips or cut bait like herring chunks; drop-shot rigs with 2-3 oz weights in 20-40 feet. For steelhead, spin-n-glos or yarn balls with cured roe under a float. Best lures? Blue Fox Vibrax spinners in chartreuse or pink for shad and trout, and Kwikfish divers in #27-31 sizes for steelies—work the slower swings on the swing.

Hit these hot spots: Cathedral Park under the St. Johns Bridge for easy bank access and current breaks holdin' sturgeon, or the Washougal River mouth for steelhead stackin' up on the tide. Multnomah Channel's another gem for shad if you're boat-bound.

Bundle up, check regs, and stay safe out there—spring bite's wakin' up!

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI