Willamette Valley/Metro- Dropping water temperatures and a relentless east wind sank catch rates and effort for the gorge fishery last week. The fish seem to be present but reluctant to bite. Sportanglers caught up on their unused quota late in the season and managers are considering a year-round, 4-day per week season in 2008.
Water temperature is down to a chilly 46 degrees at Willamette Falls. This doesn't bode well for sturgeon fishing in the lower Willamette, which relies on water warmer than the Columbia to attract sturgeon and provide good winter fishing. Sturgeon catches have been poor recently.
Summer steelhead fishing is holding up well on the Clackamas with hardware drawing strikes recently. There are still some bright fish available. It's too early to seriously consider winter fish here.
A few winter steelhead are being caught at the Sandy River but these early fish are natives and must be released. Look for hatchery steelhead to start entering around Christmas.
Rains in mid-November, snowmelt and the need to lower the water level of Detroit Reservoir have combined to push the North Santiam high and swift. In addition, trees have fallen into the river recently. Only experienced boaters with familiarity with the river should try it.
Snow is causing closures of several roads including Old McKenzie Pass and Cascade Lakes Highway. Be certain to check with ODOT before heading out this winter season.
Northwest – Trollers were out in force over the Thanksgiving holiday last weekend but results varied. Most of the effort took place in the Ghost Hole and some fair catches were reported on some days. The west channel was still producing some fish but effort is likely to drop significantly with incoming weather changes and the tapering of the run.
River levels are forecasted to remain stable making for good water conditions for late run chinook on the Wilson River but mountain passes will become treacherous so be cautious when traveling. Other area streams like the Nestucca, Kilchis and Nehalem Rivers witnessed poor returns so anglers will be looking to these systems for early arriving winter steelhead.
The Necanicum, North Fork Nehalem, Wilson, Kilchis and Nestucca Rivers all get returns of winter steelhead this time of year and catches should begin to build. The period from Christmas to New Years is the peak week however.
Pro guide Jesse Zalonis (503-392-5808) reports slow fishing on a low return of Chinook this year on the Nestucca but is optimistic about the winter steelhead run to come.
Crabbers continue to do poor in Tillamook Bay but the lower Columbia is still producing great results. Commercial crabbers have begun to place their pots in the lower Columbia so keepers may become increasingly hard to find although sport-crabbers have a larger retention slot to work from.
Crabbing has been slow to fair out of Newport and Waldport. Ling cod fishing has been good offshore out of Yaquina Bay.
Southwest – Commercial crabbing will commence on schedule in the ocean on December 1st. The crabs are of high quality but rough seas will keep most sport crabbers inside of estuaries.
The next good deluge should bring winter steelhead into southern Oregon coastal streams.
Tides are moderating this week and will be soft for the weekend, which should make for decent Dungeness catches.
Another rough offshore forecast for the coming weekend will probably prevent recreational boaters from venturing out into the ocean.
It's been a disappointing chinook run this season, with most data indicating low numbers. While most rivers experience declining numbers at this time of year, the Elk and Sixes will provide good chinook fishing for another three to four weeks. Providing, that is, that sufficient precipitation keeps the water at fishable levels. It will take a decent amount of rain to fire up the action on the Elk and Sixes as they are low and clear at this time although numbers of chinook have been caught as recently as Monday this week.
The Rogue has been running cold, but steelheading on the upper river has been fair to good.
The Chetco flow was 1,470 cfs as of Tuesday this week and is forecast to increase slightly in the coming days. It's low but fishable, yielding fair results. Best water conditions are between 2,000 and 4,000 cfs. Extreme high tides late last week brought in fresh chinook which will be in deeper holes now. Try pulling plugs or backbouncing cured salmon eggs. Into December, the major shift from chinook to winter steelhead will take place. A few have already been taken.
Eastern – Anglers who bundled up and traveled to Crescent Lake to chase lake trout and browns did fairly well over the long holiday weekend. It will fish well until snow prevents access.
Steelheading has been fair on the Grande Ronde for a mix of hatchery and wild fish.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Oregon fishing
Oregon Fisheries Update:
Got eggs? We’ll GIVE them to you FREE! That’s right. Starting after Thanksgiving, come down to the coast and enjoy a night or two at The Guide’s Guesthouse in Bay City, Oregon. Centrally located, The Guide’s Guest House, brand new construction completed in May of 2007, can comfortably sleep up to 4 people with full kitchen and bathroom. Keep your driftboat safe and sound and with every night booked, you’ll receive a jar of Bob Rees’ personally cured Tillamook Bay chinook roe for your fishing needs! Prices start as low as $37.50/person for a group of 4! It’s a deal! Call Bob or Nancy at (503) 377-9696 or email brees@pacifier.com.
Willamette Valley/Metro- As the weather turns, anglers will lose motivation to fish in the Columbia River Gorge. Keepers also are migrating from this area, in search of warmer waters found downriver and in the lower Willamette. Catch rates have already peaked and are clearly on the decline.
The temperature at Willamette Falls is hovering at the 50-degree mark. Sturgeon fishing has remained reliable with plenty of shakers and a good number of keepers being caught.
The water condition at the Sandy remained good as of Monday this week. A few late summer steelhead are the only fish of interest with salmon closed here and winter steelhead still weeks away.
While Thanksgiving is the traditional winter steelhead kickoff, it's early to expect decent results. Still, a few anglers plan on hitting the Clackamas next week. Fortunately, there are still summers available.
On the Santiam system, steelhead are moving around with normal fluctuations in water conditions at this time of year. Try the stretch from Packsaddle Park down to Stayton.
This is the last week to try for trout and warmwater gamefish at Hagg Lake as it closes for the season at Sundown on Sunday, November 18th.
Northwest – Anglers still holding out hope for productive Tillamook Bay fishing are typically coming home empty-handed this season. The Ghost Hole and West Channel are only occasionally putting out fair numbers of fish. With local area rivers higher then they have been in weeks, most fish are heading right to the river systems.
Monday’s weather system produced good results from the Trask and Wilson Rivers although debris kept anglers from effectively fishing for at least part of the time Tuesday. The initial push of bright fish entered most north coast streams early in the week but forecasters are calling for more rain freshets kicking off a more consistent driftboat season.
In the order of most productive options, the Wilson, Kilchis, Trask, Nestucca, Necanicum and Nehalem Rivers should all be producing fair numbers of fish this weekend. Fish the smaller systems when river levels are high but keep in mind that high winds and rain-soaked riparian areas are ripe for downed sweepers- responsible for lost lives every year.
Anglers were catching chum salmon on the Miami and Kilchis Rivers early in the week but these rivers will close to targeted fishing for these depleted runs beginning Friday. It is catch and release only until then.
Sturgeon are present in Tillamook Bay but crabs are too numerous for anglers to succeed consistently. The west channel fishery is just getting underway.
Crabbing remains poor on Tillamook Bay but fair on Netarts and Nestucca estuaries. The lower Columbia River is excellent for large Dungeness.
Another minus tide series hits north coast beaches on Thanksgiving. Razor clam diggers will likely do best in dry sand digging. Rough surf will likely hamper success however.
The first weeks of November have not been kind to chinook anglers on the Siletz. No new pictures have been posted at Coyote Rock so far this month.
Crabbing is slow to fair at Yaquina and Alsea bays.
Southwest – Another rough week is forecast offshore, keeping recreational boaters off the ocean.
Coho passage at Winchester Dam has been decent with over 1,000 reported as of mid-October. While fishing hasn't been impressive in the mainstem North Umpqua, it is expected to improve as the coho run ramps up. Dropping water temperatures are curtailing smallmouth bass catches in the mainstem as expected. Ling cod fishing has been good out of Winchester Bay when the seas have allowed safe crossing.
Anglers fishing the jetty at Coos Bay have been taking large kelp greenling (known locally as sea trout).
The Elk River was at 4.5 feet on November 11th following nearly an inch of rain on Monday this week. Chinook have been taken but the water level is dropping.
Chetco River levels increased over 4.5 feet from November 12th to the 13th, hitting nearly 6,000 cfs overnight Monday this week. Increased flow is bringing in fresh, chrome chinook which are wasting no time charging upriver. Backbouncing eggs and bait-wrapped plugs will take fish as levels drop. Bank anglers will score with bobber and bait or drifted roe.
When the weather breaks and the bar allows safe passage offshore, bottom fishing is excellent off the southwest coast with rockfish and ling cod in the best condition of the year.
While no trout stocking is scheduled for the remainder of 2007, the ODFW will occasionally conduct winter plantings, often of larger trout or broodstock steelhead.
Eastern – The water level is up at the Deschutes and is expected to stay that way for some time. Trout fishing has slowed in the lower river and steelheading remains slow.
Grand Ronde steelheaders experienced decent action in low water over the weekend for a mix of hatchery and wild fish. Recent weather events however should stimulate the bite and more consistent fishing will occur well into the winter months. Pro guide Mac Huff (800-940-3688) reports that a few Grande Ronde steelhead have been taken daily since mid-October but that the water has been very low this year.
http://www.TheGuidesForecast.com/
Got eggs? We’ll GIVE them to you FREE! That’s right. Starting after Thanksgiving, come down to the coast and enjoy a night or two at The Guide’s Guesthouse in Bay City, Oregon. Centrally located, The Guide’s Guest House, brand new construction completed in May of 2007, can comfortably sleep up to 4 people with full kitchen and bathroom. Keep your driftboat safe and sound and with every night booked, you’ll receive a jar of Bob Rees’ personally cured Tillamook Bay chinook roe for your fishing needs! Prices start as low as $37.50/person for a group of 4! It’s a deal! Call Bob or Nancy at (503) 377-9696 or email brees@pacifier.com.
Willamette Valley/Metro- As the weather turns, anglers will lose motivation to fish in the Columbia River Gorge. Keepers also are migrating from this area, in search of warmer waters found downriver and in the lower Willamette. Catch rates have already peaked and are clearly on the decline.
The temperature at Willamette Falls is hovering at the 50-degree mark. Sturgeon fishing has remained reliable with plenty of shakers and a good number of keepers being caught.
The water condition at the Sandy remained good as of Monday this week. A few late summer steelhead are the only fish of interest with salmon closed here and winter steelhead still weeks away.
While Thanksgiving is the traditional winter steelhead kickoff, it's early to expect decent results. Still, a few anglers plan on hitting the Clackamas next week. Fortunately, there are still summers available.
On the Santiam system, steelhead are moving around with normal fluctuations in water conditions at this time of year. Try the stretch from Packsaddle Park down to Stayton.
This is the last week to try for trout and warmwater gamefish at Hagg Lake as it closes for the season at Sundown on Sunday, November 18th.
Northwest – Anglers still holding out hope for productive Tillamook Bay fishing are typically coming home empty-handed this season. The Ghost Hole and West Channel are only occasionally putting out fair numbers of fish. With local area rivers higher then they have been in weeks, most fish are heading right to the river systems.
Monday’s weather system produced good results from the Trask and Wilson Rivers although debris kept anglers from effectively fishing for at least part of the time Tuesday. The initial push of bright fish entered most north coast streams early in the week but forecasters are calling for more rain freshets kicking off a more consistent driftboat season.
In the order of most productive options, the Wilson, Kilchis, Trask, Nestucca, Necanicum and Nehalem Rivers should all be producing fair numbers of fish this weekend. Fish the smaller systems when river levels are high but keep in mind that high winds and rain-soaked riparian areas are ripe for downed sweepers- responsible for lost lives every year.
Anglers were catching chum salmon on the Miami and Kilchis Rivers early in the week but these rivers will close to targeted fishing for these depleted runs beginning Friday. It is catch and release only until then.
Sturgeon are present in Tillamook Bay but crabs are too numerous for anglers to succeed consistently. The west channel fishery is just getting underway.
Crabbing remains poor on Tillamook Bay but fair on Netarts and Nestucca estuaries. The lower Columbia River is excellent for large Dungeness.
Another minus tide series hits north coast beaches on Thanksgiving. Razor clam diggers will likely do best in dry sand digging. Rough surf will likely hamper success however.
The first weeks of November have not been kind to chinook anglers on the Siletz. No new pictures have been posted at Coyote Rock so far this month.
Crabbing is slow to fair at Yaquina and Alsea bays.
Southwest – Another rough week is forecast offshore, keeping recreational boaters off the ocean.
Coho passage at Winchester Dam has been decent with over 1,000 reported as of mid-October. While fishing hasn't been impressive in the mainstem North Umpqua, it is expected to improve as the coho run ramps up. Dropping water temperatures are curtailing smallmouth bass catches in the mainstem as expected. Ling cod fishing has been good out of Winchester Bay when the seas have allowed safe crossing.
Anglers fishing the jetty at Coos Bay have been taking large kelp greenling (known locally as sea trout).
The Elk River was at 4.5 feet on November 11th following nearly an inch of rain on Monday this week. Chinook have been taken but the water level is dropping.
Chetco River levels increased over 4.5 feet from November 12th to the 13th, hitting nearly 6,000 cfs overnight Monday this week. Increased flow is bringing in fresh, chrome chinook which are wasting no time charging upriver. Backbouncing eggs and bait-wrapped plugs will take fish as levels drop. Bank anglers will score with bobber and bait or drifted roe.
When the weather breaks and the bar allows safe passage offshore, bottom fishing is excellent off the southwest coast with rockfish and ling cod in the best condition of the year.
While no trout stocking is scheduled for the remainder of 2007, the ODFW will occasionally conduct winter plantings, often of larger trout or broodstock steelhead.
Eastern – The water level is up at the Deschutes and is expected to stay that way for some time. Trout fishing has slowed in the lower river and steelheading remains slow.
Grand Ronde steelheaders experienced decent action in low water over the weekend for a mix of hatchery and wild fish. Recent weather events however should stimulate the bite and more consistent fishing will occur well into the winter months. Pro guide Mac Huff (800-940-3688) reports that a few Grande Ronde steelhead have been taken daily since mid-October but that the water has been very low this year.
http://www.TheGuidesForecast.com/
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Oregon fishing reports
Willamette Valley/Metro- Although salmon fishing remains open on the mainstem Columbia, the section from Beacon Rock to Bonneville Dam closes to fishing from a floating device. This is the most productive stretch below Bonneville this time of year but fish are beginning to turn dark, making poor tablefare.
Sturgeon fishing has slowed somewhat in the gorge but remains open 7 days per week though the end of the year. Keepers are becoming more challenging to find but both bank and boat anglers are taking them daily.
The coho run across Willamette Falls has been winding down most of October. The water is a chilly 50 degrees and sturgeon, which may be retained seven days a week, remains the best fishing option in the lower Willamette. Multnomah Channel has been providing catch-and-release action for good numbers of smaller sturgeon.
Water level and flow on the North Santiam will be variable for weeks to come. Some decent steelhead are available but fishing is spotty.
Fishing on the Clackamas has stalled. Hundreds of coho may be seen holding in holes on Eagle Creek but they are all dark fish.
There's very little pressure on the Sandy and very few fish are being caught.
The upper McKenzie has recovered from the past rain and is providing fair trout fishing to fly anglers.
Walling Pond and Walter Wirth Lake are scheduled to be planted with legal-sized and larger trout.
Northwest – Tillamook Bay continues to be the bright spot for anglers seeking chinook on the north coast. Although catches dropped in recent days, fish are well dispersed in the lower bay with the jaws, Ghost Hole and the west channel all producing a few fish. Softer tides over the weekend should stimulate better fishing in a time period when action is usually peaking.
The ocean is closed to salmon fishing outside of the Tillamook Bay Terminal area. The “bubble” will remain open until November 15th and commercial trollers will be taking advantage of a 15-day season beginning November 1st. The weekend ocean forecast does not look favorable for recreational vessels.
The Wilson tidewater that is usually producing good catches is reported as poor. Bobber fishers are usually tallying good numbers by now but many potential biters migrated upstream on the last rain freshet. Those fish are dark now.
All north coast streams are low and clear now and returning fish will anxiously await the next significant fall rain.
Crabbing is good in Netarts and Nestucca estuaries and excellent in the lower Columbia. Softer morning tides give crabbers a strong advantage this weekend.
Southwest – Most streams and rivers on the south coast have dropped and are in need of rain. With no precipitation in long-range forecast, anglers will need to be resourceful.
Steelheading on the North Umpqua has been slow all season with low run numbers. It's about over now as steelhead are heading up tributaries where fishing is not allowed.
Crabbing has been slow to fair in Winchester Bay.
Coos Bay has been delivering limits of Dungeness with crabbing expected to get even better into November. Both numbers and size of crab will improve.
It appears it will be a while before rain falls so it'll be some time before the Elk and Sixes are fishable. They are currently very low and clear with no fish present.
While Chinook and coho are few and far between, steelhead fishing on the Rogue has been decent at times around Agness, The flies-only stretch of the upper Rogue is expected to deliver fair to good results this week. This is a catch and release affair as most of the steelhead will not be of hatchery origin.
Chetco chinook anglers experienced some very good fishing early last week but action diminished as the river dropped. Now low and clear, the next rains will re-invigorate this fishery. Traditionally, the Chetco provides very large Chinook at this time of year when water conditions are conducive.
Eastern – Nymphing has produced good catches of trout on the lower Deschutes, but steelheading was very slow over the past weekend and earlier this week. The Deschutes is now closed to trout fishing from the north end of Warm Springs to Pelton Dam.
Steelheading is improving on the Grande Ronde with some nice, bright, hatchery fish being taken.
Sturgeon fishing has slowed somewhat in the gorge but remains open 7 days per week though the end of the year. Keepers are becoming more challenging to find but both bank and boat anglers are taking them daily.
The coho run across Willamette Falls has been winding down most of October. The water is a chilly 50 degrees and sturgeon, which may be retained seven days a week, remains the best fishing option in the lower Willamette. Multnomah Channel has been providing catch-and-release action for good numbers of smaller sturgeon.
Water level and flow on the North Santiam will be variable for weeks to come. Some decent steelhead are available but fishing is spotty.
Fishing on the Clackamas has stalled. Hundreds of coho may be seen holding in holes on Eagle Creek but they are all dark fish.
There's very little pressure on the Sandy and very few fish are being caught.
The upper McKenzie has recovered from the past rain and is providing fair trout fishing to fly anglers.
Walling Pond and Walter Wirth Lake are scheduled to be planted with legal-sized and larger trout.
Northwest – Tillamook Bay continues to be the bright spot for anglers seeking chinook on the north coast. Although catches dropped in recent days, fish are well dispersed in the lower bay with the jaws, Ghost Hole and the west channel all producing a few fish. Softer tides over the weekend should stimulate better fishing in a time period when action is usually peaking.
The ocean is closed to salmon fishing outside of the Tillamook Bay Terminal area. The “bubble” will remain open until November 15th and commercial trollers will be taking advantage of a 15-day season beginning November 1st. The weekend ocean forecast does not look favorable for recreational vessels.
The Wilson tidewater that is usually producing good catches is reported as poor. Bobber fishers are usually tallying good numbers by now but many potential biters migrated upstream on the last rain freshet. Those fish are dark now.
All north coast streams are low and clear now and returning fish will anxiously await the next significant fall rain.
Crabbing is good in Netarts and Nestucca estuaries and excellent in the lower Columbia. Softer morning tides give crabbers a strong advantage this weekend.
Southwest – Most streams and rivers on the south coast have dropped and are in need of rain. With no precipitation in long-range forecast, anglers will need to be resourceful.
Steelheading on the North Umpqua has been slow all season with low run numbers. It's about over now as steelhead are heading up tributaries where fishing is not allowed.
Crabbing has been slow to fair in Winchester Bay.
Coos Bay has been delivering limits of Dungeness with crabbing expected to get even better into November. Both numbers and size of crab will improve.
It appears it will be a while before rain falls so it'll be some time before the Elk and Sixes are fishable. They are currently very low and clear with no fish present.
While Chinook and coho are few and far between, steelhead fishing on the Rogue has been decent at times around Agness, The flies-only stretch of the upper Rogue is expected to deliver fair to good results this week. This is a catch and release affair as most of the steelhead will not be of hatchery origin.
Chetco chinook anglers experienced some very good fishing early last week but action diminished as the river dropped. Now low and clear, the next rains will re-invigorate this fishery. Traditionally, the Chetco provides very large Chinook at this time of year when water conditions are conducive.
Eastern – Nymphing has produced good catches of trout on the lower Deschutes, but steelheading was very slow over the past weekend and earlier this week. The Deschutes is now closed to trout fishing from the north end of Warm Springs to Pelton Dam.
Steelheading is improving on the Grande Ronde with some nice, bright, hatchery fish being taken.
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