Willamette Valley/Metro - Sturgeon fishing on the mainstem Columbia River was a bust this weekend despite a fair amount of effort. The best fishing remains from the Portland to Longview stretch where sporadic runs of smelt have rewarded commercial netters. Using commercial landing statistics, sport anglers can gauge opportunity. Last week's commercial smelt opener (Feb. 6 & 9) almost 2,500 pounds were landed indicating good numbers of fish still present. Commercial netters targeting sturgeon have landed 174 as of February 10th and last week, 9 spring Chinook averaging over 18 pounds were landed in this sturgeon target fishery.
The larger sized salmon indicate the larger 5 year-old fish are in the system. Sport dipping on the Cowlitz remains poor.
While winter steelhead crossing Willamette Falls are mostly wild and bound primarily for the Santiam system, it is an indication of how well fish are moving. As flows moderated and visibility improved from zero to well over a foot, the daily numbers went from a mere handful to hundreds. As of February 10th, nearly 1,800 had been counted with over 450 fish crossing that day alone.
The lower Willamette has been fair to good for winter steelhead as smaller rivers have dropped and are running quite clear now. Regulars plunking below the mouth of the Clackamas are seeing sporadic action.
Sturgeon fishers have had a wide variety of experiences this week in the lower Willamette with some boats catching only shakers while others scored multiple limits. The St. Johns area has been productive recently.
Steelheading is reported as only fair on the Clackamas with many anglers spending hours without so much as a bump. Catch improved on Monday however but even the best anglers are only getting a couple of opportunities each trip. Both wild and hatchery fish are in the mix.
With the water in near-perfect conditions, wind hampered anglers on the Sandy River over the weekend. Fishing has been only fair.
Mt. Hood Pond, West Salish Pond and Alton Baker Pond are scheduled for planting in the Willamette Zone.
Northwest รข€“ North Coast anglers witnessed good results late last week but catch has tapered by early this week. Low flows and clear conditions have smaller schools of steelhead entering the lower drifts of the Wilson, Trask and Nestucca Rivers but a nice mix of wild and broodstock hatchery steelhead are available. Smaller streams like the Necanicum booted out large numbers of hatchery fish last weekend but most of the fish were headed back to the ocean as spawned out adults. The North Fork Nehalem was slow early in the week with anglers hoping for more precipitation to bring in fresh waves of fish.
Pro Guide Dave Johnson (503-201-4292) adds this, "We've been getting four or five or better winter steelhead per trip on all north coasta rivers for the last two weeks using a variety of techniques, from sidedrifting to drift fishing to bobber/jigs and plugs. If fishing is this good now March is going to be great, which is good since the next days I have open are in March."
Fair skies tempted Tillamook Bay sturgeon anglers over the weekend but high winds kept many from fishing effectively. Adequate morning tides will offer anglers more opportunity this weekend.
Crabbing picked up somewhat on Tillamook Bay despite turbid waters. Netarts Bay remains excellent for large keeper crab. Reduced precipitation levels and low effort should keep success rates good.
Some of the trees which were brought down in the last storm have been cleared on the Alsea River. There are still some dicey drifts and boaters are advised to use caution as the river drops.
Southwest - Dungeness are returning to the bays on the central and South coast as the salinity improves following the last round of storms. It's fair to good at Newport and Waldport.
The Coquille produced some good catches of steelhead late last week, but slowed with water levels dropping very low.
Steelheading has been quite rewarding on the Umpqua with catches reported on the North and South Forks as well as the mainstem. The strong tidal exchange which occurred with the recent full moon provided fine sturgeon action around Reedsport. Pressure was high over the weekend.
The Elk and Sixes Rivers were also fishing well after the drop in river levels. They have since slowed somewhat but fish are still present.
Larger rivers are fishing best now. So it is with the Rogue where the Grants Pass area is producing for plug-pullers and for those drifting cured salmon eggs. In moderating flows and levels at Agness, plunkers in the lower river are scoring winter steelhead. They're also on the lookout for the first spring chinook of the year.
Eastern - Some of the best steelheading in the state is now taking place in Eastern Oregon. The Grande Ronde tops the list but the Imnaha and Umatilla Rivers are also high in success rates. The recent cold snap will damper the bite but action will likely pick up again when the weather warms again. Trout fishing is closed on all streams and a few lakes in the area.
Southwest Washington - Sportfishing is winding down on SW Washington streams. The Cowlitz is very slow for steelhead and many anglers are turning their focus to Olympic Peninsula streams as they come into their prime seasons. Good spring Chinook fishing is several weeks away for SW Washington anglers and forecasts are calling for mediocre returns this year.
