Saturday, December 03, 2005

Oregon Fishing Report

Updated for for the week of December 2nd รข€“ December 8th, 2005
Oregon Fishing Update

Willamette Valley/Metro - Steelhead counts at Willamette Falls through November 23rd indicate little change. Passage remains in the low single digits. The year-to-date total has topped 100 since counting commenced on November 1st. Sturgeon fishing in the lower Willamette and Multnomah Channel is mostly a shaker show. With so few winter steelhead available, the few bank fishermen below the mouth of the Clackamas River are idle. Eagle Creek on the Clackamas closes to coho angling on December 1st.

It's between seasons on the Sandy with coho closed and the winter steelhead just beginning. One boat fishing over the weekend was pleasantly surprised to have 3 opportunities in the Oxbow to Dabney float- the steelhead they landed were all wild.

Columbia River Gorge sturgeon success remains the best option available. Catch rates have dropped however for both bank and boat anglers reports pro guide Bill Kremers (541 754 6411). Success should continue to drop as keepers get culled and water temperatures chill. The Columbia at Bonneville was 47 degrees over the weekend.

Mid Columbia/Deschutes River - Upriver, the Deschutes has slowed dramatically for steelhead. Those trying have a better chance mid-day at this time of year rather than at dawn and dusk. That's when water temperatures match air temperatures.

John Day area steelheading slowed somewhat from the previous weeks' peak. Boat anglers averaged about 1 steelhead every other boat while 9 bank anglers were checked with one wild and one hatchery fish. This fishery is still viable but is passing its peak time.

Pro guide Jeff Knotts (509-547-7450) reports McNary steelhead are present and accounted for. He took 8 nice fish just before Thanksgiving on orange Hot Lips plugs soaked in shrimp oil.
North Coast - Foul weather has slowed effort in the Tillamook district but anglers found some success in the Ghost Hole and the jaws over the weekend. Fresh Chinook were also taken on Tuesday's slight rise in the Wilson River below Sollie Smith Bridge. Pro guide David Johnson (503-201-4292) also reports the fish have been hitting both plugs and bait. Pass conditions have been dangerous on Highway 6 so use caution when traveling.

Keeper sturgeon have also been taken on Tillamook Bay but mud shrimp is no longer available. Between an introduced parasite and low demand, don't count on finding mud shrimp anytime soon. Sand shrimp is a great alternative however but more susceptible to sculpin and crab. The West Channel offers an angler the best opportunity for keepers.

The Nestucca also gave up Chinook on Tuesday in the lower stretches and winter steelhead have been taken on the Nestucca, Wilson Three Rivers and the Necanicum Rivers. The Three Rivers fishery has good access for bank anglers but plan on company. Pro guide Jesse Zalonis (503-392-5808) reporting.

Despite being so late in the season, the Nehalem gave up fresh Chinook to driftboaters working the lower stretches but most fish are on the spawning beds by now. North Fork Nehalem steelhead are present but not in large numbers.

Crab limits were common for boats working the lower Columbia before the holiday. Pressure was heavy near buoy's 20 and 22 but limits came from the areas where fewer crabbers were working.

Mid-Coast - It's early for the Siletz to turn on for winter steelhead. Look for action to be decent and improving around Christmas. Steelies have started to show at the hatchery on the Alsea, an indicator of a potential early opportunity for winter hopefuls.

Alsea tidewater is producing fair to good catches of Dungeness. Yaquina Bay has slowed.
Siuslaw steelheaders will see fish start to enter in December. Last year, fishing was very good in January at this location.

The quota in the wild coho fishery at Siltcoos Lake is about 40% filled. Trollers can score with spinners or plugs at tributary mouths. With 90% of its quota remaining, the native coho fishery at Tahkenitch is expected to remain open through the 15th of December.

South Coast - Anglers on the volatile Elk and Sixes landed a few chrome winter Chinook over the weekend. Conditions on these tiny rivers improve rapidly with precipitation, dropping and clearing just as quickly between weather fronts. More Chinook will be entering into December. A decent tidal exchange this weekend should improve fishing prospects. Another set of minus tides will occur mid-month.

Steelheading continues to improve on the upper mainstem Umpqua with fish available into the North Fork where anglers will find a few coho in the mix. Winchester Bay is producing limits of Dungeness to recreational crabbers exalting the delay of commercial efforts until December 15th or later. Coos Bay has also been good for crabbing.

Rogue River steelheaders are taking fish in the Grants Pass stretch, but these are nearly 100% wild, requiring release. The lower Rogue offers nothing of interest to anglers at this time. Upper river steelheading is fair to good in both the flies-only stretch and where bait is allowed.

Eastern Oregon - Pro guide Mac Huff (800-940-3688) reports, "The Grande Ronde continues to put out steelhead and although gear anglers are dominating the banks, the low, clear and cold water has die-hard fly anglers finding success." Last weeks creel checks have Oregon anglers averaging 1 steelhead for every 7 hours invested
Trout fishing- No trout stocking is scheduled this week.