Updated for June 30th, – July 6th, 2006
Oregon Fishing Update
Willamette Valley/Metro - Anglers versed in salmon techniques in the gorge are doing well for summer Chinook. Anchored in 10 – 16 feet of water, using spinners and small plugs, salmon fishers are averaging better than a fish per boat. Unmarked Chinook are making up the bulk of the catch. Although current passage indicates the run will be considerably larger than predicted, the sportfishery is nearing its salmon quota. A closure is nearing for anglers downstream of Priest Rapids Dam.
Beach plunkers caught more summer Chinook than steelhead in the weekend creel check between Portland and Longview. The lack of a minus tide series this week will likely slow the bite.
Sturgeon action in the gorge has slowed for oversized fish although dedicated anglers are still landing fish. Shad have saturated the river with over 3.5 million already past Bonneville Dam. Keepers are still hard to come by in the gorge.
Shad fishing remains phenomenal along Ives Island using small spoons or shad darts.
Retention of sturgeon will close to anglers between John Day and McNary Dams beginning July 1st.
As of June 23rd, over 32,000 spring Chinook had crossed at Willamette Falls. If the numbers continue as strong as they have been in recent weeks, the projection of 46,500 may actually be attained. A few are still being caught in the lower river.
Count on consistent, steady action for undersized sturgeon in the lower Willamette. Keepers have been rare here recently. Shad fishing has been winding down for a while although it still possible to catch a few from Willamette Falls to the mouth of the Clackamas. The Sandy River is running low and clear. A few springers were taken at the mouth over last weekend but a greater number of summer steelhead were hooked. Waters of the Clackamas are also low and clear. Upriver areas are producing the best results for summer steelhead.
Springers and steelhead are available throughout the North and South Santiam system but the bite is tough.
Springer fishing on the McKenzie is fair to good although numbers are down from past seasons. Fly fishing is good for large trout with the Caddis hatch underway.
Trout are scheduled to be planted in the Willamette Valley in Trillium Lake.
Northwest – Estuary sturgeon anglers are faring well out of the Astoria area. Anchovies have moved into the lower river and are working well for bait both above and below the Astoria/Megler Bridge. The deeper water on lower Desdemona Sands and the Washington side above the bridge should produce well in the upcoming softer tide series. Lower river anglers are nearing their keeper quota and the season is scheduled to close July 4th. Further, more restrictive opportunities may exist following the closure, only after fishery managers have a chance to review catch statistics.
The ocean north of Cape Falcon to Leadbetter Point in Washington opens on July 3rd for 2 salmon per day. Only 1 of the 2 salmon may be a Chinook and coho must have an adipose fin missing. Catches will likely be light.
Recreational boats have been restricted out of Garibaldi due to rough bar and ocean conditions. With the minus tide series out of the way and calmer seas predicted by the weekend, anglers may have some opportunity for hatchery coho, bottomfish and ocean crab.
Spring Chinook fishing has dropped off considerably on the North Coast but fishing remains viable for river fishermen on the Wilson, Trask and Nestucca Rivers. Bobber and bait will produce best at first light.
Summer Chinook should become an option on Nehalem Bay in the very near future although catches are generally light until early August.
Crabbing has been poor in Tillamook and Netarts Bays and many of the keeper sized crab are in a soft shell stage.
No trout will be planted until September.
Southwest - Rough seas recently have kept bars closed and recreational boaters trying to scratch out bottomfish along jetties inside the bays. The offshore hatchery coho season south of Humbug Mountain rewarded anglers with decent catches last week when they could get out. This ocean fishery will remain open through July 4th if the quota doesn't fill. Coast-wide through June 25th, about 250 coho and 84 Chinook have been retained.
Oversized sturgeon fishing is very good in the lower Umpqua. Although the shad run is winding down, anglers caught decent numbers over the weekend. Smallmouth bass fishing is improving.
With numbers down, springer fishing has gone from slow to slower on the Rogue River. Fewer fish were hooked over the weekend at the Hatchery Hole which has been the most productive spot.
Limits of razor clams were taken during the minus tide series at Bailey Beach.
Clearwater #2, Hemlock Lake, Herberts Pond, Lake of the Woods, Lemolo Reservoir, Fish Lake and Section 5 of the Rogue River will be planted with trout.
Eastern - The best fly fishing on the Deschutes is from Trout Creek to Maupin with the river above receiving lots of pressure. The Salmonfly hatch is a wrap but Pale Morning Duns and Caddis are active. The middle Deschutes is producing early and late in the day.
Pro Guide Mac Huff (800-940-3688) reports the trout fishing in Eastern Oregon is improving as the water levels drop and the weather warms up.
The Wallowa and Grande Ronde rivers are fishing well under stonefly hatches that are currently progressing up the system. Nymphs in the morning and dry-fly fun later in the day is the rule of thumb for abundant trout looking for egg-laying adults flying each day.
State-raised rainbows will be planted in Ana Reservoir Badger Lake, Campbell Lake, Century Gravel Pit, Big Cultus Lake, Deadhorse Lake, 2006 Deschutes River, Devils Lake, East Lake, Fall River, Horseshoe Lake, Lake of the Woods, Lost Lake, Ochoco Creek, Olallie Lake, Shevlin Pond, Sprague Gravel Pit, Spring Creek, Thompson Valley, Three Creeks Lake, North and South Twin Lake and Walton Lake.
Oregon fishing information
