Oregon Fisheries Update:
Report Snaggers and Poachers:
Oregon: 1 800 452-7888
Washington: 1 800 477-6224
Willamette Valley/Metro- The summer chinook fishery is beginning to peak at Bonneville with consistent counts of over a thousand fish per day crossing. Anchor anglers are taking a few on copper-red tipped spinners. Bank plunkers are taking some salmon at Warrendale.
The oversize sturgeon fishery is showing signs of slowing with fish more present in deeper holes. Keeper fishing is tapering as well.
Several Spring Chinook were taken over the weekend in the Portland Harbor by trollers dragging spinners- chartreuse green dot spinners are producing the most strikes. Sturgeon fishing has been slow with mostly shakers to show for angler's efforts. Shad are still being caught at Oregon City, but this may be the last productive weekend for them.
Early mornings and late evenings are producing a few summer steelhead in low water on the Sandy and Clackamas Rivers. Most folks are writing off the spring chinook run.
Some steelheaders are finding biters on the McKenzie below Leaburg Dam.
Few fish are venturing above Mill City on the North Santiam due to cold water above that point. Steelheading in the lower river is slow to fair. Summer steelhead and spring Chinook are entering the Foster Dam facility on the South Santiam with regularity.
Trillium Lake, Blue River above the Reservoir, Breitenbush River, Carmen Reservoir, Detroit Reservoir, Fall Creek, Leaburg Lake, McKenzie River above and below Leaburg Lake, Quartzville Creek, Salmon Creek and Santiam River above Detroit Reservoir are scheduled to be planted with hatchery trout.
Northwest - Estuary sturgeon fishing continues to be productive but effort and success have shifted to upstream of the Astoria/Megler Bridge. Tongue Point to Buoy 50 is the most productive stretch in the softer tides but the weekend minus tide series will force anglers to fish in shallower water. Fishery managers will met Thursday to determine the fate of the estuary fishery and determined it would remain open as scheduled through July 4th.
With good numbers of steelhead passing Bonneville Dam, steelheaders will want to consider taking advantage of the strong morning tides to work spin-n-glos close to the beaches in Rainier and Sauvie's Island. Hot colors like reds and oranges work best. Scented lures are a strong advantage.
Ocean salmon fishers took fair numbers of coho at the 40-fathom line out of Garibaldi. Fishing bait will produce best near the surface in the morning. Later in the day, fish will move deeper and bite less aggressively.
Good clam tides will come over the weekend. Clatsop Beaches will produce the best and will close beginning July 15th. Bay crabbing on most estuaries remains poor.
Pro guide Jesse Zalonis (503-392-5808) reports the Nestucca is getting really low and clear now but there are some steelhead on the lower river and they are "really shifty."
Warm water offshore has tuna hopefuls gearing up and heading out. Albacore were as close as 25 miles out of Depoe Bay over the weekend. Tuna were also taken out of Newport just south of the traditional halibut grounds.
Coho fishing has been spotty out of Newport and Depoe Bay. Most boats are getting only one or two. Coho are 30 to 50 feet deep over 150 to 300 feet of water. Herring are still available to jiggers at Yaquina Bay.
Pro guide Bill Kremers (541-754-6411) reports slow fishing for halibut last Thursday but that he limited his boat Saturday on a salmon trip out of Depoe Bay.
Southwest - Boaters launching out of Reedsport are seeing ocean coho and crab catches improve daily. The salmon are running a little fewer than 50% fin-clipped keepers.
The weekend offered fair to good prospects for coho and bottom fish for offshore anglers out of Coos Bay. Tuna were caught about 30 miles offshore. Halibut and crab combo trips were rewarding over the last all-depth opener June 21st through 23rd.
The Rogue will close for Spring Chinook angling July 1st through October 31 2007 from River Gold Ray dam to Elk Boat Ramp. Only fin-slipped chinook may be kept elsewhere on the Rogue.
Bottom fishing out of southwest Oregon ports has been as good as it gets with rockfish large and plentiful. Lingcod are in the mix with some over 30 inches and up to 30 pounds.
Dave Pitts, Field Editor, Salmon Trout and Steelhead, adds that as long as the weather stays clear and the seas are some what calm it is AWESOME RED HOT FISHING on bottom fish.
Surf fishing off of beaches and jetties continues to produce limits of striped and barred perch.
Anglers out of Brookings are catching coho averaging six to eight pounds but with baitfish thick this year, these fish will put on weight rapidly. Crabbing is picking up inside the harbor with nets scoring keepers off the local fishing pier.
Waters scheduled for trout stocking this week include Clearwater #2, Hemlock Lake, Lake in the Woods, Lemolo Reservoir, Cole Rivers and Section 5 of the Rogue River.
SW Washington - Action on most area rivers is slow for salmon and steelhead but the East Fork of the Lewis still holds promise for bank anglers.
The mouths of the Cowlitz and Kalama Rivers will become more consistent for salmon and steelhead using small spinners. Morning tides will produce the best results.
Eastern - The Owyhee River is producing Brown Trout for fly fishers using nymphs.
Trout fishing is improving at Crane Prairie as the water warms. Fly anglers are catching good-sized bass as well as husky trout at Davis Lake.
Ana Reservoir, Badger Lake, Campbell Lake, Century Gravel Pit, Big Cultus Lake, Deadhorse Lake, Deschutes River, East Lake, Fall River, Horseshoe Lake, Lake of the Woods, Lost Lake, Olallie Lake, Shevlin Pond, Sprague Gravel Pit, Spring Creek, Thompson Valley, Three Creeks Lakes, North and South Twin Lake, and Walton Lake are scheduled to be stocked.
http://www.theguidesforecast.com/
Friday, June 29, 2007
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Oregon fishing update
Oregon Fisheries Update:
Willamette Valley/Metro- Gorge fishing for oversize sturgeon remains consistent although shad anglers are becoming more challenged in their pursuit of fresh bait for sturgeon and crab. Fluctuating water levels are to blame as counts at Bonneville reflect.
Salmon anglers in the gorge are still struggling for consistent action but anglers anchored in strategic locations are taking a few fish daily. Counts are hovering around a thousand fish per day and the run is on track for a good return.
Steelhead numbers are also on the climb but weekend tides do not favor productive beach fishing.
Just over 19,000 Springers and 8,300 summers had crossed at Willamette Falls as of June 15th. Water levels are dropping with the temperature rising to the mid-60s. Shad catches have been fair to good but are due to decline soon. Sturgeon are being hooked in good numbers on the lower Willamette but most have been too small to keep.
Water in the upper Willamette is so low it has forced closure of Wheatland Ferry. It is expected to re-open June 30th following dredging.
Steelheading on the Sandy remains spotty with anglers hooking the occasional summer above Dodge Park. Very few summer steelhead have been hooked in the low waters of the Clackamas with no hot spots.
Fishing is very slow on the North Santiam. Steelheading has picked up somewhat on the South Santiam below Foster Dam.
McKenzie fly anglers are doing well for trout on the upper river. Boaters targeting summer steelhead are reporting surprising results for spring chinook. Small offerings are the key.
Northwest - Estuary sturgeon fishing remains good and oversize fish continue to make up a significant portion of the catch. Weekend anglers are having a hard time finding keepers however as it seems even the fish feel the pressure. The bulk of the keepers are coming from the deeper water out of Hammond up to the Astoria/Megler Bridge. Crabbing in the lower Columbia River is poor.
Salmon seekers on the north coast are resigned to call this years run a bust. River and bay fishing remain too challenging for most. Summer steelheaders are taking a rare fish on the Nestucca River reports pro guide Jesse Zalonis (503-392-5808).
With softening tides and a favorable ocean swell forecast, bottomfishers may want to make the most out of safe boating this weekend. Garibaldi and Astoria hold the highest promise for NW Oregon ports.
Siletz River steelheaders are taking a few fish in the upper reaches but like most coastal rivers, stealthy tactics are necessary and early mornings and evenings should be targeted times.
While effort is light, recreational Chinook fishers launching out of Newport have been taking some fish. Trips should be even more rewarding starting Saturday, June 23rd when the fin-clipped coho retention season starts. Herring jiggers have had some good days recently in Yaquina Bay where crab nets are yielding single digits and a mix of hard and soft shells.
The spring all-depth halibut fishery off the central Oregon coast will be open June 21st through 23rd and July 5th through 7th with the possibility of July 19th through 21st if the quota is not met.
Yaquina Bay is productive for herring. Jigging on the incoming tide is most productive reports pro guide Bill Kremers (541-754-6411).
Southwest - Umpqua anglers are catching fewer shad as the run winds down. Smallmouth bass fishing remains very good.
Jim Boyer fishing out of the Myrtle Bee reported Friday, June 18th, that he took the first Oregon sport-caught albacore tuna of the season. Unfortunately, he had to travel nearly 70 miles off Heceta Head to accomplish the feat.
Chinook fishing offshore out of Brookings was spotty again this weekend but it's due to heat up. Large balls of baitfish have been seen in the lower bay. Bottom fishing is holding up well for several species of rockfish as well as lingcod.
Crabbing has improved in south coast bays and estuaries but limits are rare. A soft tidal exchange this weekend will create good conditions for crabbing.
Surf perch fishing off southwest beaches continues to yield 15-fish limits. Some charter captains when unable to cross a rough bar for salmon offshore have treated customers to red-hot surf fishing, landing over 100 in a day.
Eastern - Fly fishers have had good results recently for rainbows averaging 16 inches at Crane Prairie. This is good news as Crane has been a tough location this year for most anglers.
The stonefly hatch is winding down on the lower Deschutes. Trout have been hot and cold about responding to artificials.
John Day bass anglers will find challenging boating conditions for driftboats. Rafts are best to use in these low flows but the bass bite is good on most days.
Willamette Valley/Metro- Gorge fishing for oversize sturgeon remains consistent although shad anglers are becoming more challenged in their pursuit of fresh bait for sturgeon and crab. Fluctuating water levels are to blame as counts at Bonneville reflect.
Salmon anglers in the gorge are still struggling for consistent action but anglers anchored in strategic locations are taking a few fish daily. Counts are hovering around a thousand fish per day and the run is on track for a good return.
Steelhead numbers are also on the climb but weekend tides do not favor productive beach fishing.
Just over 19,000 Springers and 8,300 summers had crossed at Willamette Falls as of June 15th. Water levels are dropping with the temperature rising to the mid-60s. Shad catches have been fair to good but are due to decline soon. Sturgeon are being hooked in good numbers on the lower Willamette but most have been too small to keep.
Water in the upper Willamette is so low it has forced closure of Wheatland Ferry. It is expected to re-open June 30th following dredging.
Steelheading on the Sandy remains spotty with anglers hooking the occasional summer above Dodge Park. Very few summer steelhead have been hooked in the low waters of the Clackamas with no hot spots.
Fishing is very slow on the North Santiam. Steelheading has picked up somewhat on the South Santiam below Foster Dam.
McKenzie fly anglers are doing well for trout on the upper river. Boaters targeting summer steelhead are reporting surprising results for spring chinook. Small offerings are the key.
Northwest - Estuary sturgeon fishing remains good and oversize fish continue to make up a significant portion of the catch. Weekend anglers are having a hard time finding keepers however as it seems even the fish feel the pressure. The bulk of the keepers are coming from the deeper water out of Hammond up to the Astoria/Megler Bridge. Crabbing in the lower Columbia River is poor.
Salmon seekers on the north coast are resigned to call this years run a bust. River and bay fishing remain too challenging for most. Summer steelheaders are taking a rare fish on the Nestucca River reports pro guide Jesse Zalonis (503-392-5808).
With softening tides and a favorable ocean swell forecast, bottomfishers may want to make the most out of safe boating this weekend. Garibaldi and Astoria hold the highest promise for NW Oregon ports.
Siletz River steelheaders are taking a few fish in the upper reaches but like most coastal rivers, stealthy tactics are necessary and early mornings and evenings should be targeted times.
While effort is light, recreational Chinook fishers launching out of Newport have been taking some fish. Trips should be even more rewarding starting Saturday, June 23rd when the fin-clipped coho retention season starts. Herring jiggers have had some good days recently in Yaquina Bay where crab nets are yielding single digits and a mix of hard and soft shells.
The spring all-depth halibut fishery off the central Oregon coast will be open June 21st through 23rd and July 5th through 7th with the possibility of July 19th through 21st if the quota is not met.
Yaquina Bay is productive for herring. Jigging on the incoming tide is most productive reports pro guide Bill Kremers (541-754-6411).
Southwest - Umpqua anglers are catching fewer shad as the run winds down. Smallmouth bass fishing remains very good.
Jim Boyer fishing out of the Myrtle Bee reported Friday, June 18th, that he took the first Oregon sport-caught albacore tuna of the season. Unfortunately, he had to travel nearly 70 miles off Heceta Head to accomplish the feat.
Chinook fishing offshore out of Brookings was spotty again this weekend but it's due to heat up. Large balls of baitfish have been seen in the lower bay. Bottom fishing is holding up well for several species of rockfish as well as lingcod.
Crabbing has improved in south coast bays and estuaries but limits are rare. A soft tidal exchange this weekend will create good conditions for crabbing.
Surf perch fishing off southwest beaches continues to yield 15-fish limits. Some charter captains when unable to cross a rough bar for salmon offshore have treated customers to red-hot surf fishing, landing over 100 in a day.
Eastern - Fly fishers have had good results recently for rainbows averaging 16 inches at Crane Prairie. This is good news as Crane has been a tough location this year for most anglers.
The stonefly hatch is winding down on the lower Deschutes. Trout have been hot and cold about responding to artificials.
John Day bass anglers will find challenging boating conditions for driftboats. Rafts are best to use in these low flows but the bass bite is good on most days.
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