Oregon Fishing Update
Willamette Valley/Metro - Columbia anglers are still looking for consistent action from the sturgeon fisheries downstream of Bonneville Dam. Historically, anglers used to concentrate in fair numbers in the Portland to Longview stretch in anticipation of opportunistic keepers utilizing a staging smelt run at the mouth of the Cowlitz. With the downturn in smelt numbers, this fishery has yet to be realized.
Although numbers remain modest, fresh smelt continue to be harvested in the mainstem Columbia by gillnetters. Smelt were in higher concentrations closer to Longview indicating some may soon be available in the Cowlitz River for sport dippers.
Reservoirs upstream of Bonneville are offering some options for keeper sturgeon and the improving weather had anglers out in higher numbers.
Waters of the lower Willamette continued to rise through Friday, January 20th, which has led to a slow recovery. Visibility remains less than a foot with temperatures hovering in the mid-40s. Anglers are still waiting for winter sturgeon fishing to heat up.
Bank fishers have the best shot at steelhead in the high water as fish will be closer to shore. The hardcore plunkers who have kept at it on the lower Willamette continue to take the occasional fish. Prospects are improving.
Clackamas anglers have encountered modest steelhead action this week with levels dropping and visibility showing some improvement. Although the Sandy River has been a more consistent performer this season and is kicking out a few steelhead, the Clackamas is out-performing the Sandy now. Barring another deluge to once again put the skids on fishing, there will be more steelhead to catch into February.
Huddleston Pond has been stocked with "catchable-sized" trout. Local waters receiving a mix of rainbows from eight to 12 inches this week include Junction City Pond, Walling Pond and Walter Wirth Lake.
Mid Columbia - On
ly an occasional keeper sturgeon is being harvested from The Dalles Reservoir. A few boats are targeting walleye in this same reach with limited results.
Northwest - Anxious steelheaders finally were able to get on the water early in the week. Results were fair to good for most systems and the bigger rivers were fishing good by mid-week.
The Necanicum and North Fork Nehalem put out good numbers of steelhead last weekend but the majority of the fish taken were spawned out fish. These fish are much more aggressive on their way downstream and eggs were by far, the preferred bait. These rivers may have too many obstacles in low water for weekend driftboaters. Fresh steelhead were taken on the upper Trask River on Monday and the Wilson on Tuesday. Pro guide Jesse Zalonis (503-392-5808) reports, "conditions for the Wilson, Trask and Nestucca should be prime at midweek." Weekend anglers should have an array of options for steelhead on the North Oregon coast with the mainstem Nehalem being the high water option. Broodstock collection is way behind on the Wilson and Nestucca Rivers so contact the ODF&W at (503) 842-2741 on details for wild fish collection.
Sturgeon anglers were out in fair numbers by mid-week and catch was fair at best. Fish are scattered but opportunity is good with the bulk of the Dungeness crab at sea due to fresh water intrusion.
Crabbing has been poor in Tillamook Bay but when boats can get outside, the ocean, north of the jetty has been very productive. Call the Coast Guard station at Tillamook Bay to determine bar conditions. The best estuary for crabbing is by far Netarts Bay.
Bottomfishing effort is low on the North Oregon Coast as undependable seasons cause winter shutdowns for charter operators. Conditions were good for productive fishing early in the week but bar restrictions have smaller boats held up at dockside.
Clam diggers working the Clatsop area beaches did well on Monday but increasing surf dropped success rates by Tuesday. A good minus tide series begins on Thursday but marine weather is forecasted to be unfriendly to clammers.
Alder Lake, Big Creek Reservoirs 1 and 2, Cleawox Lake, Dune Lake, Munsel Lake and Olalla Creek Reservoir have been planted with trout this week.
Southwest - With wind and wave moderating over last weekend, rock fishermen are once again hitting outcroppings and jetties with fair to good results.
Sturgeon fishing has been good on the lower Umpqua but be prepared to hook some really large fish here.
Steelheaders on the Coos are landing winter fish daily with the rivers in fine shape. While the greater percentage of steelhead hooked are wild, numbers are good enough that persistence is rewarding anglers with hatchery fish to take home.
Rogue anglers should try plunking the lower river now for fresh, bright winter steelhead.
Chetco anglers are seeing some steelhead action on drifts and off gravel bars with the river finally returning to a fishable condition.
Many steelhead, running the distance under cover of high water, have eluded fishermen. There are more to be targeted, however, so hopefuls are encouraged to take advantage of improved water conditions.
Eastern - Pro guide Mac Huff (800-940-3688) reports, "The Grande Ronde is producing its typical excellent "winter" steelhead fishing this week. The weekend creel survey for the Grande Ronde in Oregon and Washington showed anglers averaging 3 hours per fish."
There have been approximately 1,000 hatchery steelhead have been released into Hells Canyon Reservoir for angler opportunity.
Oregon fishing reports
Oregon fishing guides
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Oregon Fishing Update
Oregon Fishing Update
Willamette Valley/Metro - Willamette Falls was more like a short drop than a waterfall upon observation on Monday, January 2nd. Logs and debris in the water at that time made for extremely hazardous boating. Fishing was not an option as of the following morning, either, but action will improve with moderating weather. Although opportunity may still be a week away, steelhead should begin to show in fair numbers when turbid waters begin to clear.
As of January 1st, the Willamette River was one degree warmer then the Columbia. When the waters recede a bit and logs have washed downstream, sturgeon fishing on the lower Willamette should be worthwhile. Debris is not as much of a problem downstream of the St. Johns Bridge and a few keepers are beginning to fall to smelt.
Columbia River sturgeon anglers continue to be greeted with cold east winds. Although this mostly effects gorge anglers, the east wind is keeping keepers from biting in the mainstem. Shakers were the rule in last weeks creel checks with the best action reported from Troutdale area boats. The river around the mouth of the Willamette will provide the best opportunity for keeper sturgeon.
Gillnetters took several hundred pounds of smelt last week in the lower Columbia. Fresh smelt will be very hard to find but for the few anglers that have it, results should be good. Smelt are frequently caught this early in the season but often times, it is just a pilot run. The smelt outlook is not optimistic but this species can certainly be a wildcard to predict. Starting Jan. 7, the popular fishery on the Cowlitz is scheduled to run from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. each Saturday through March 31, with a daily catch limit of 10 pounds per person.
Visibility on the Sandy River was passable on Monday, January 2nd and the level was dropping. The best odds for steelhead will be to start high on the system. Bait or scented lures are most effective in turbid water.
Clackamas steelheaders have reported high, dirty water here. Eagle Creek has fallen into shape and produced a few winter fish earlier this week.
If the rivers remain un-fishable for the weekend, try the Portland Boat Show at the Expo Center. It runs from Saturday, January 7th through Sunday, January 15th.
The 2006 rounds of trout stocking start on Monday, January 9th. These plants include "catchable-sized" trout of eight to ten inches plus some foot-longs at many valley locations. Look for a fresh fish infusion of State-raised rainbows at Junction City Pond, Walling Pond, Walter Wirth Lake and Huddleston Pond in the Willamette Zone. Cleawox Lake, Dune Lake and Munsel Lake will be stocked in the Northwest Zone.
Mid Columbia - Although sturgeon fishing is open from the Bonneville Pool upstream to McNary Dam, east winds kept many anglers tied up since the opener. The weather is forecasted to moderate which may give anglers the best opportunity in months to pursue keepers in these pools.
Heavy rain put the John Day River out of shape chasing most steelheaders into the mainstem. Trollers averaged about a steelhead for every 2 boats in the Columbia while bank anglers landed 3 hatchery fish for 17 rods over the weekend.
Northwest - Smaller streams like the Kilchis, Necanicum and North Fork Nehalem fished well on Tuesday, January 3rd and river levels are expected to maintain themselves to where steelheaders should have good opportunity into the weekend. As river levels drop, plugs will become more effective.
Larger river systems like the Wilson and Trask will also fall into shape by the weekend giving anglers the best opportunity in weeks for coastal chrome. Some fresh Chinook may be in the catch but anglers need to remember that the Chinook season closed on the last day of December. With flows still high, fish will be on the move so higher stretches of the coastal drainages will fish better. Bank anglers also have access to hatchery fish along Highway 6 as steelhead have already been recycled from the South Fork of the Wilson- high in the watershed.
Pro guide Jesse Zalonis (503-392-5808) reports, "The Nestucca has fallen victim to a few mudslides and therefore may take longer than other North Coast rivers to clear. When it does, fishing will be viable throughout the system but hatchery fish will be most available from Three Rivers downstream. Three Rivers itself is kicking into action with most fish being taken at the deadline."
Poor weather conditions kept most people off the bay this week. Tides were right for sturgeon fishing at mid-week although not many took advantage of them. Crabbers wishing to take advantage of weekend afternoon tides may find some reward on Tillamook and Netarts Bays. Safety is emphasized as Tillamook Bay claimed the lives of 2 people in 3 days just before New Years day.
Pro guide Bill Kremers (541 754 6411) Debris and logs were reported earlier this week at the Alsea River. A couple of boathouses were seen drifting downstream as well. With decreasing precipitation, the Alsea should fish this weekend if slides upstream don't cause muddy water.
Huge seas should keep anxious bottomfishers in the harbor. New bag limits apply for bottomfish so be sure to check the regulations before you depart. Bottomfishing and ocean crabbing should be good when seas subside.
Clammers fared poorly on the last tide- likely due to heavy surf that often keeps razors from feeding near the surface. The next minus tide series is the middle of next week but high surf is predicted to continue.
Southwest - The lower Umpqua was still running high and brown. With a moderation in the weather, sturgeon fishing should turn on here.
Like most South coast streams, the Coos and Coquille rivers are high and off-color. Following this flushing, winter steelhead fishing is expected to be good.
The Rogue River crested at just over flood stage on New Years Eve but has been dropping steadily since.
Eastern - Pro guide Mac Huff (800-940-3688) reports, "weather conditions are turning back to normal for steelheaders eager to fish the Grande Ronde River. Heavy rains have turned back to snow in the higher elevations and the area rivers could fish again by the weekend."
Oregon Fishing Reports
Oregon Fishing Guides
Willamette Valley/Metro - Willamette Falls was more like a short drop than a waterfall upon observation on Monday, January 2nd. Logs and debris in the water at that time made for extremely hazardous boating. Fishing was not an option as of the following morning, either, but action will improve with moderating weather. Although opportunity may still be a week away, steelhead should begin to show in fair numbers when turbid waters begin to clear.
As of January 1st, the Willamette River was one degree warmer then the Columbia. When the waters recede a bit and logs have washed downstream, sturgeon fishing on the lower Willamette should be worthwhile. Debris is not as much of a problem downstream of the St. Johns Bridge and a few keepers are beginning to fall to smelt.
Columbia River sturgeon anglers continue to be greeted with cold east winds. Although this mostly effects gorge anglers, the east wind is keeping keepers from biting in the mainstem. Shakers were the rule in last weeks creel checks with the best action reported from Troutdale area boats. The river around the mouth of the Willamette will provide the best opportunity for keeper sturgeon.
Gillnetters took several hundred pounds of smelt last week in the lower Columbia. Fresh smelt will be very hard to find but for the few anglers that have it, results should be good. Smelt are frequently caught this early in the season but often times, it is just a pilot run. The smelt outlook is not optimistic but this species can certainly be a wildcard to predict. Starting Jan. 7, the popular fishery on the Cowlitz is scheduled to run from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. each Saturday through March 31, with a daily catch limit of 10 pounds per person.
Visibility on the Sandy River was passable on Monday, January 2nd and the level was dropping. The best odds for steelhead will be to start high on the system. Bait or scented lures are most effective in turbid water.
Clackamas steelheaders have reported high, dirty water here. Eagle Creek has fallen into shape and produced a few winter fish earlier this week.
If the rivers remain un-fishable for the weekend, try the Portland Boat Show at the Expo Center. It runs from Saturday, January 7th through Sunday, January 15th.
The 2006 rounds of trout stocking start on Monday, January 9th. These plants include "catchable-sized" trout of eight to ten inches plus some foot-longs at many valley locations. Look for a fresh fish infusion of State-raised rainbows at Junction City Pond, Walling Pond, Walter Wirth Lake and Huddleston Pond in the Willamette Zone. Cleawox Lake, Dune Lake and Munsel Lake will be stocked in the Northwest Zone.
Mid Columbia - Although sturgeon fishing is open from the Bonneville Pool upstream to McNary Dam, east winds kept many anglers tied up since the opener. The weather is forecasted to moderate which may give anglers the best opportunity in months to pursue keepers in these pools.
Heavy rain put the John Day River out of shape chasing most steelheaders into the mainstem. Trollers averaged about a steelhead for every 2 boats in the Columbia while bank anglers landed 3 hatchery fish for 17 rods over the weekend.
Northwest - Smaller streams like the Kilchis, Necanicum and North Fork Nehalem fished well on Tuesday, January 3rd and river levels are expected to maintain themselves to where steelheaders should have good opportunity into the weekend. As river levels drop, plugs will become more effective.
Larger river systems like the Wilson and Trask will also fall into shape by the weekend giving anglers the best opportunity in weeks for coastal chrome. Some fresh Chinook may be in the catch but anglers need to remember that the Chinook season closed on the last day of December. With flows still high, fish will be on the move so higher stretches of the coastal drainages will fish better. Bank anglers also have access to hatchery fish along Highway 6 as steelhead have already been recycled from the South Fork of the Wilson- high in the watershed.
Pro guide Jesse Zalonis (503-392-5808) reports, "The Nestucca has fallen victim to a few mudslides and therefore may take longer than other North Coast rivers to clear. When it does, fishing will be viable throughout the system but hatchery fish will be most available from Three Rivers downstream. Three Rivers itself is kicking into action with most fish being taken at the deadline."
Poor weather conditions kept most people off the bay this week. Tides were right for sturgeon fishing at mid-week although not many took advantage of them. Crabbers wishing to take advantage of weekend afternoon tides may find some reward on Tillamook and Netarts Bays. Safety is emphasized as Tillamook Bay claimed the lives of 2 people in 3 days just before New Years day.
Pro guide Bill Kremers (541 754 6411) Debris and logs were reported earlier this week at the Alsea River. A couple of boathouses were seen drifting downstream as well. With decreasing precipitation, the Alsea should fish this weekend if slides upstream don't cause muddy water.
Huge seas should keep anxious bottomfishers in the harbor. New bag limits apply for bottomfish so be sure to check the regulations before you depart. Bottomfishing and ocean crabbing should be good when seas subside.
Clammers fared poorly on the last tide- likely due to heavy surf that often keeps razors from feeding near the surface. The next minus tide series is the middle of next week but high surf is predicted to continue.
Southwest - The lower Umpqua was still running high and brown. With a moderation in the weather, sturgeon fishing should turn on here.
Like most South coast streams, the Coos and Coquille rivers are high and off-color. Following this flushing, winter steelhead fishing is expected to be good.
The Rogue River crested at just over flood stage on New Years Eve but has been dropping steadily since.
Eastern - Pro guide Mac Huff (800-940-3688) reports, "weather conditions are turning back to normal for steelheaders eager to fish the Grande Ronde River. Heavy rains have turned back to snow in the higher elevations and the area rivers could fish again by the weekend."
Oregon Fishing Reports
Oregon Fishing Guides
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