Oregon Fishing Update
Willamette Valley/Metro - Lower Willamette flows were up a little but the water temperature held at 48 degrees as the winter steelhead count edged closer to the 4,000 mark for the year. A total of 51 summers have also been counted at the Falls. Although sturgeon fishing has slowed, keeper sturgeon are still being caught with smelt and sand shrimp being the top baits.
Spring Chinook fishing is fair but spotty; a few are being taken in the Multnomah Channel reports pro guide Joe Salvey of Fish Hawk Adventures (503-349-1411). The mainstem Columbia above the influence of the Willamette produced good catches of salmon last week prior to the weekend states pro guide Brandon McGavran (360-607-1327). Herring trollers did the best in 18 to 24 foot of water.
The Clackamas took quite a hit from the last rainfall, rising nearly two feet late Monday and early Tuesday this week, but with dry weather in the forecast, it should fish by the weekend.
Sandy River steelheading was slow to fair for anglers over the weekend. Billowing sand remains a detriment. The majority of the steelhead are wild but summers are showing up in the mix said pro guide Brandon Glass (503-260-8285).
The North Santiam remains high although a few steelhead are being taken.
In preparation for spring break, several lakes are scheduled to be planted with hatchery trout this week. They are Benson Lake, Bethany Pond, Blue Lake, Commonwealth Lake, Dorman Pond, Huddleston Pond, Mt Hood Pond, Roslyn Lake, Sheridan Pond, Alton Baker Canal, Cottage Grove Pond, Cottage Grove Reservoir, Creswell Pond, Dorena Reservoir, E.E. Wilson Pond, Freeway Lake East, Junction City Pond, Roaring River Park Pond, Walling Pond, Walter Wirth Lake and Waverly Lake.
Northwest – Another rise in river levels kept most north coast rivers from fishing into the early part of this week. Smaller streams like the Necanicum and North Fork Nehalem fished Tuesday but results were poor.
A moderating weather pattern should allow for extended opportunity on all area streams with the Wilson and Nestucca being top bets for anglers seeking hatchery fish. The Trask and Kilchis Rivers are also good bets but an extended period of higher flows has sent a lot of fish into the upper reaches where bank anglers will have good access to them. Larger baits and drift lures will work better in the higher flows but downsize offerings as rivers begin to clear.
Late afternoon tides and prolonged daylight hours with the time change make sturgeon fishing a fair option for Tillamook Bay anglers over the weekend. The ocean still doesn't look friendly for the weekend and area crabbing remains mediocre.
Perkins Lake, Siltcoos Lagoon, Siltcoos Lake, Smith Lake, Spring Lake, Sunset Lake, Thissel Pond, Vernonia Pond and Woahink Lake will be planted with trout this week.
Southwest – Rock and jetty fishing has been productive for mostly rockfish although a few ling cod have been taken as well. Offshore bottom fishing will be good when the ocean lies down.
According to pro guide Bill Kremers (541-754-6411) the Alsea River is in great shape and is producing broodstock steelhead.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council will choose one from a trio of potential plans for the summer Chinook season. With a record number of Klamath salmon this year, two of the three options would allow uninterrupted angling from May into September.
Anglers have started catching striped bass at Horsfall Beach near Coos Bay. This is just the start of the season as better numbers are expected into spring.
Middle and upper Rogue stretches are most likely to be productive as rain has encouraged winter steelhead to go the distance and has them well distributed.
The Chetco has been quite rewarding this season for winter steelheaders. At 4200 cfs and dropping on Tuesday this week, both plunkers and side-drifters were taking fish.
Surf perch are being taken in good number off South coast beaches.
Marie Lake, Bradley Lake, Upper and Lower Empire Lake, Johnson Mill Pond, Johnson Mill Pond, Millicoma Pond, Powers Pond and Saunders Lake are scheduled to be stocked with trout this week.
Eastern – Bull trout fishing is good on the Metolius but the river is closed above Allingham Bridge to protect spawning fish. Sunny weather will have the caddis hatch in full swing and trout looking up.
Fly fishers are experiencing good and improving angling for trout on the lower Deschutes as warmer days trigger caddis hatches here.
Lake Billy Chinook is producing fair to good bull trout catches for trollers.
Oregon fishing reports and fishing guides are one click away
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Oregon fishing update 3/3/07
Oregon Fishing Update
Willamette Valley/Metro- Flows are up and water temperatures down at Willamette Falls. The visibility remains below one foot as temps dipped to 44 degrees on February 26th. Counts through the 19th indicate a reasonable passage of winter steelhead with the total pushing 3,000. Sturgeon fishing has slowed as a result of the lower water temperatures. Many sub-legal fish are being released in the course of finding a keeper. Springer fishing remains a gamble with fish being taken only occasionally. Trolled herring is most effective for early spring Chinook although a few are taken by plunkers at Meldrum Bar.
Steelheading remains slow in the cold water of the Clackamas, although a couple of springers have been taken at the mouth. Flows are a little high here.
Sandy River steelheaders drifting bait are picking up a few fish. Cedar Creek was productive early this week but will be crowded on the weekend. Fish that blew through the system just a few weeks ago are collecting in good numbers closer to Marmot Dam reports pro guide Brandon Glass (503-260-8285). As the season progresses, this stretch will only get more productive.
Level and flow of the Santiam system was dropping on Tuesday this week, but heavy rain could impact the river. Most of the native steelhead currently crossing Willamette Falls are destined for the North Santiam.
Henry Hagg Lake, which opens the first Saturday in March each year, received 18,000 legal-sized trout and 120 broodstock rainbows on Monday this week in anticipation of the heavily-attended opener. Also scheduled to be planted this week are Huddleston Pond, Sheridan Pond, St. Louis Pond. Alton Baker Canal, Cottage Grove Reservoir, E. E. Wilson Pond and Junction City Pond.
Northwest – With high water and poor coastal pass conditions, effort has been light on most north coast streams. Colder water temperatures also have fish less than enthused.
Smaller streams like the Necanicum and upper Nestucca and Trask Rivers were fishable just prior to the weekend but results were not all that good. High accumulations of snow will have north coast streams flowing consistently high and likely to rise again over the weekend.
When these area rivers do begin to drop and clear, steelheaders should be on for peak season wild fish on all systems.
Good tides are scheduled over the weekend for sturgeon fishing and clamming. The weather however will keep conditions from being comfortable for most.
Crabbing remains poor on most north coast estuaries.
Steelheading is fair to good on the Siletz River although rain this week may put it out of shape.
Southwest – Precipitation is predicted to moderate this weekend in the Southwest region.
Steelheading will improve on the Umpqua as it drops and clears this week. The better fishing is likely to be on the South fork. The majority of fish will be natives, one of which may be retained on the mainstem, but no more than five per year.
The Elk River has been producing nice winter steelhead and will recover rapidly following heavy precipitation.
Plunkers on the lower Rogue have been taking a few steelhead but the action has been moving upriver. The Grants Pass stretch is a better bet. Anglers using eggs should score decent results in the coming weeks. Over 2,200 steelhead have passed Gold Ray Dam giving upper river anglers ample opportunity.
The productive Chetco River was high and muddy on Tuesday but dropping and should fish well by the weekend. Traffic should be heavy however as the annual steelhead derby will coat the river with effort.
The Coquille has booted out respectable numbers of fish this season but recent precipitation will likely have it unfishable into the weekend. When it does come into shape, fishing should be excellent.
Reinhart Park Pond is scheduled to be stocked with hatchery trout this week.
The southern Oregon ocean outlook is not encouraging for anglers wishing to pursue bottomfish and ocean crab. High winds and seas are in the forecast.
Crab are plentiful in the area's estuaries but most are sub-legal.
Eastern – Good catch rates continue to persist on the Grande Ronde River reports pro guide Mac Huff (800-940-3688). Although fish have clearly moved upstream of Troy, steelhead should remain in fair numbers in the Troy area well into March.
Catch rates climbed to 1 fish for every 6 hours on the Wallowa River indicating this run is well underway. Inclement weather will call for cautious travel but will likely not slow the catch rates for steelhead in this region.
http://www.theguidesforecast.com/
Willamette Valley/Metro- Flows are up and water temperatures down at Willamette Falls. The visibility remains below one foot as temps dipped to 44 degrees on February 26th. Counts through the 19th indicate a reasonable passage of winter steelhead with the total pushing 3,000. Sturgeon fishing has slowed as a result of the lower water temperatures. Many sub-legal fish are being released in the course of finding a keeper. Springer fishing remains a gamble with fish being taken only occasionally. Trolled herring is most effective for early spring Chinook although a few are taken by plunkers at Meldrum Bar.
Steelheading remains slow in the cold water of the Clackamas, although a couple of springers have been taken at the mouth. Flows are a little high here.
Sandy River steelheaders drifting bait are picking up a few fish. Cedar Creek was productive early this week but will be crowded on the weekend. Fish that blew through the system just a few weeks ago are collecting in good numbers closer to Marmot Dam reports pro guide Brandon Glass (503-260-8285). As the season progresses, this stretch will only get more productive.
Level and flow of the Santiam system was dropping on Tuesday this week, but heavy rain could impact the river. Most of the native steelhead currently crossing Willamette Falls are destined for the North Santiam.
Henry Hagg Lake, which opens the first Saturday in March each year, received 18,000 legal-sized trout and 120 broodstock rainbows on Monday this week in anticipation of the heavily-attended opener. Also scheduled to be planted this week are Huddleston Pond, Sheridan Pond, St. Louis Pond. Alton Baker Canal, Cottage Grove Reservoir, E. E. Wilson Pond and Junction City Pond.
Northwest – With high water and poor coastal pass conditions, effort has been light on most north coast streams. Colder water temperatures also have fish less than enthused.
Smaller streams like the Necanicum and upper Nestucca and Trask Rivers were fishable just prior to the weekend but results were not all that good. High accumulations of snow will have north coast streams flowing consistently high and likely to rise again over the weekend.
When these area rivers do begin to drop and clear, steelheaders should be on for peak season wild fish on all systems.
Good tides are scheduled over the weekend for sturgeon fishing and clamming. The weather however will keep conditions from being comfortable for most.
Crabbing remains poor on most north coast estuaries.
Steelheading is fair to good on the Siletz River although rain this week may put it out of shape.
Southwest – Precipitation is predicted to moderate this weekend in the Southwest region.
Steelheading will improve on the Umpqua as it drops and clears this week. The better fishing is likely to be on the South fork. The majority of fish will be natives, one of which may be retained on the mainstem, but no more than five per year.
The Elk River has been producing nice winter steelhead and will recover rapidly following heavy precipitation.
Plunkers on the lower Rogue have been taking a few steelhead but the action has been moving upriver. The Grants Pass stretch is a better bet. Anglers using eggs should score decent results in the coming weeks. Over 2,200 steelhead have passed Gold Ray Dam giving upper river anglers ample opportunity.
The productive Chetco River was high and muddy on Tuesday but dropping and should fish well by the weekend. Traffic should be heavy however as the annual steelhead derby will coat the river with effort.
The Coquille has booted out respectable numbers of fish this season but recent precipitation will likely have it unfishable into the weekend. When it does come into shape, fishing should be excellent.
Reinhart Park Pond is scheduled to be stocked with hatchery trout this week.
The southern Oregon ocean outlook is not encouraging for anglers wishing to pursue bottomfish and ocean crab. High winds and seas are in the forecast.
Crab are plentiful in the area's estuaries but most are sub-legal.
Eastern – Good catch rates continue to persist on the Grande Ronde River reports pro guide Mac Huff (800-940-3688). Although fish have clearly moved upstream of Troy, steelhead should remain in fair numbers in the Troy area well into March.
Catch rates climbed to 1 fish for every 6 hours on the Wallowa River indicating this run is well underway. Inclement weather will call for cautious travel but will likely not slow the catch rates for steelhead in this region.
http://www.theguidesforecast.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)