Saturday, September 03, 2005

Fishing w/ TGF, Oregon fishing and Washington Fishing

Fishing w/ TGF, Oregon fishing and Washington Fishing

Oregon Fishing Update

Updated for for the week of September 2nd – September 8th, 2005
Oregon Fishing Update

On the Columbia River, the Buoy 10 fishery is performing although it is clear that catch rates will not be what they have been in the past. The weekend tides will allow for a late start to take advantage of the cooler ocean influenced water to stimulate biting salmon. The bulk of the catch continues to be Chinook but bigger numbers of coho are becoming apparent. Modification to this fishery may take place after the Labor Day weekend.

The ocean is still producing fish but it is becoming harder to find coho with missing fins off of the mouth of the Columbia. The Chinook bag in the ocean remains 2 fish/person.

Upriver, Chinook anglers are having an easier time getting in on their one Chinook bag limit using wobblers in the popular tributary mouth fisheries. The Cowlitz, Kalama and Sandy River mouths are only going to get better in the weeks to come. Dam passage increases daily.

Steelhead catches are about on par for the mouth of the Deschutes. Anglers willing to target Chinook in this area are taking a few fish.

Catch and keep sturgeon fishing remains closed on the entire Columbia River.

The Tillamook district is about to kick off its fall Chinook season. Fish are likely available and the weekend tides may favor upper bay spinner trollers. Effort will be light due to timing but success is certainly possible. The Nehalem is only producing a few fish but should transition into a productive fall Chinook run.

Crabbing remains best in Tillamook and Netarts Bays.

All-depth halibut, open every Friday through Sunday until the summer quota fills, has been rewarding most anglers with jumbo flatties. Many of these are 50 to 60 inches in length and over 40 pounds. The ports of Garibaldi, Depoe Bay and Newport are all yielding decent catches.
Winchester Bay anglers are taking chinook within the Bay as well as offshore. The Army Corps of Engineers is expected to increase flows on the Rogue which should have a positive effect on the Fall chinook run at that location. The annual ocean salmon derby takes place this weekend at Brookings with a $5,000 prize for the biggest fish.

Coho are being counted and recycled at the dam on the Clackamas River although low water conditions and insufficient numbers doth not yet make a fishery. Coho fishing in the Sandy is expected to start up in mid-September with cooler weather and a little rain.
Steelheading in the North Santiam remains a hit-or-miss proposition.

Bass fishing is improving at Hagg Lake. A smallmouth over six pounds was caught and released earlier this week. Green Peter is producing nice kokanee for anglers trolling with downriggers.
Trout were stocked this week in the Willamette Valley at Estacada Lake, Faraday Lake, Harriet Lake, North Fork Reservoir, Roslyn Lake, Small Fry Lake, Timothy Meadows, and in the Upper and Lower McKenzie River.

http://www.theguidesforecast.com/

Washington Fishing Report

Updated for for the week of September 2nd – September 8th, 2005
Washington Fishing Update

Pro Guide Brad Shride of Onco Sportfishing & Guide Services, Inc. (877-483-0047) tells us that fishing in South Puget Sound area 11 & 13 has been pretty decent this past week for the Silvers and Humpies and a few Kings still in the area. There have been Silvers to 10 pounds along the beaches and points where these fish travel & more in the Northern area of Vashon Island, (area-11). The Humpies are pretty thick in the Puyallup River mouth for those of you that target these guys pulling anything pink.

Pro Guide Jeff Knotts (503.366.4052) tells us that fishing at the Hanford Reach has been slow. Salmon have not arrived yet and though the steelhead are coming through, the season is not open yet. Walleye fishing seems to have slowed but bass fishing is good just about everywhere. Focus on the lower snake and below McNary for bass.

Pro Guide Pat Long (509.751.0410) sends in this information - The Clearwater steelhead fishery is slowly improving, the C&R area has improved since the outflow from Dworshak Dam was reduced (now around 7,000 cfs). The lower catch and keep area is holding its' own and improving somewhat.