Willamette Valley/Metro- Mainstem Columbia sturgeon fishing remains poor with water temperatures continuing to drop. This fishery, including the Willamette River and Multnomah Channel, will go to a 4-day per week fishery (Thursday – Sunday) beginning January 1st.
Water temperatures have continued to rise at Willamette Falls along with the water level and the winter steelhead count. Sturgeon fishing has been fair for keeper-sized fish with shaker action all day long. The lower Willamette River is producing the best results with squid and sand shrimp the top baits.
Rain has pushed the Santiam system too high to fish.
Heavy rain over the weekend has the waters of the Clackamas too high to fish as of Monday this week. Plunkers picked up a few winters before the rain hit but Eagle Creek will be the only possibility for a while and is giving up a few fish.
The upper Sandy is reasonably clear but the lower river is off color. Steelheading has been fair but it's early for this river to be posting big numbers. Pontoon drifters experienced some good action from Dodge Park to Oxbow just over a week ago but warned that rock hazards make this stretch treacherous. The bulk of the fish being caught were wild. Low snow levels may keep the Sandy in fishable shape.
Northwest – Most steelheaders are still waiting for good conditions to search for coastal winters. The smaller streams offered up the best opportunities with the Necanicum and North Fork of the Nehalem producing best when in shape. Drifted bait has been working best in the higher water conditions.
Boaters must still be aware of downed trees. The smaller streams are the more technical to drift- especially as the rivers recede.
More precipitation is in the forecast which will keep the larger river systems like the Nestucca and Trask out of shape. Mudslides have kept the Wilson River from running clear since mid-November.
Three Rivers does have fish present with the hatchery hole producing a few fish.
Gnat and Big Creeks will also be strong options this week as returns peak and river levels remain high.
Lacey DeWeert of Woodland, WA and her 5 crabbers had no trouble taking their 72 keeper limit on Sunday out of Hammond. The group used frozen shad between buoys 20 and 22 in about 35 feet of water. The strong incoming tide countered the large run-off and despite the large numbers of commercial pots present, there were plenty of sport-legal crabs available.
Rough surf has kept Clatsop area beaches from being productive for clam diggers this week. Large swells will continue to hit coastal beaches through the weekend so fishing is not an option.
The Alsea produced fair numbers if steelhead over the weekend but was under very heavy pressure.
The Siletz has been off to a good start with large natives and some quality broodstock fish available as well. It will likely be in good shape again after the weekend.
Southwest – Mild tides this weekend would encourage crabbing in bays and estuaries but fresh water has pushed Dungeness out to the ocean. While ocean crabbing is open, wind and wave action will prevent crossing the bars.
South coast rivers which were dropping through December 23rd, though not necessarily to fishable levels, are again on the rise.
The North Umpqua is high but fishable above Elkton. Fair numbers of steelhead were reported by side-drifters this week. The water is muddy below that point.
The Elk River was dropping and clearing over the weekend, but will probably rise again with rain this week. It is getting close to the end of the salmon run here.
The Rogue is too high to fish well this week and is forecast to remain that way for a while.
Plunkers on the Chetco River are the first to score winter steelhead and there have been some big ones in the mix this year. Over the past week, a 20 pound hatchery fish was landed. Rain is in the forecast daily for the coming week, however, which may keep the Chetco above acceptable 6,000 to 8,000 cfs levels, even for plunkers. Drift boaters require a friendlier 4,000 cfs or less.
Eastern – The Deschutes has continued to fish well for a mix of hatchery and native steelhead. The area bordered by the Indian reservation closes on December 31st but the Deschutes will remain open from above Maupin to the mouth.
Trout fishing has been rewarding for anglers at Green Peter.
Cold temperatures have Grande Ronde anglers wary of icy conditions. If temperatures moderate, summer steelhead will be available. The John Day River remains an option as well.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Oregon fishing reports
Willamette Valley/Metro- Fewer than 100 winter steelhead have crossed at Willamette Falls although plunkers at Meldrum Bar have had some good days. Sturgeon fishing has continued to deliver lots of shakers and a fair number of keeper-sized fish. The stretch from St. Johns Bridge to the lower Multnomah Channel have been most productive. This will be the last full week of a 7-day per week fishery in the Willamette and Columbia River from Wauna Powerlines to Bonneville.
Pro guide Joe Salvey (503-349-1411) reports a good sturgeon bite in the lower Willamette and Multnomah Channel with sand shrimp and smelt top baits.
While the North Santiam is high, the water has cleared. A few wild steelhead have been caught and released.
Clackamas steelheaders have been taking a few very early fresh winters at the mouth, from Eagle Creek and in the stretch below the creek.
A brace of hatchery winter steelhead were taken at the Sandy River by a pair of anglers on December 15th. It's still early but the season has officially started. Wild fish are most prevalent in the catches but more broodstock fish will become available in the new year.
Pro guide Brandon Glass (503-260-8285) reports that catching on the Sandy has picked up from Oxbow up to Cedar Creek.
Pro guide Trevor Storlie (503-695-6515) reports that the majority of steelhead present are natives but hatchery fish will be entering after the first of the year.
Huddleston Pond (Willamina) and Sheridan Pond are scheduled to be stocked with rainbows 16-inches or better.
Northwest – Monday produced well for North Fork Nehalem anglers fishing near the hatchery. The run overall has been disappointing although river levels have cooperated for much of the season. Navigational hazards will be an ongoing issue as high winds will once again sweep the north coast mid-week.
The Necanicum, a late December staple, remains accessible from the gravel pit to the Relief Pitcher take-out. This leaves the rest of the river open to bank anglers and fish are available but private property dominates the bank so be aware of where you are fishing.
Favorite rivers along Highway 30 include Gnat Creek and Big Creek. These rivers are good choices when other north coast streams are too high to fish. Friday and Saturday should be productive on these rivers.
Most Tillamook area rivers remain troublesome for driftboaters. The Wilson has yet to clear due to mudslides near Lee’s Camp and the Trask still has a log jam at the Railroad Bridge downstream of Loren’s Drift. On the Trask, bank anglers often find success at the Dam Hole in high water conditions. The Kilchis, one of the best options, still has boating hazards downstream of Kilchis Park.
The Nestucca was in good shape early in the week but scheduled to rise again at mid-week. It may drop back in shape by the weekend with wild and hatchery fish well distributed from 4th bridge to Cloverdale. There were a few chinook still in the system late last week but the quality of fish is on the decline.
Hatchery winter steelhead have been taken from the Siletz and Alsea rivers over the past week. The Alsea typically receives hatchery fish earlier in the season while Siletz fish return in higher numbers starting in late January.
Sturgeon anglers will find favorable tides beginning today but by the weekend, low slack will occur after sunset. Sand shrimp will be a top bait but storms may prevent pumpers from attaining adequate supplies for the weekend needs. Check availability before planning a trip.
It’s already clear that the ocean crab harvest will be down from previous years. Low success rates amongst the commercial fleet is an indicator that sport crabbing in the estuaries will be more challenging this year.
Southwest – Whale watching officially kicks off on December 26th. Watch for "Whale Watching Spoken Here" signs to find trained volunteers.
A strong tidal series is forecast for the coming weekend with the exchange predicted to exceed ten feet although low tides will occur after sundown.
South coast rivers are on the rise this week with heavy rainfall. This will have a detrimental effect on winter steelheading on the mainstem Umpqua which had improved as the water here was dropping and clearing. Over the weekend, steelheaders fishing above Elkton took fish to 16 pounds although averaging several pounds smaller.
Coquille anglers caught hatchery steelhead with the largest scaling 18 pounds over the past weekend.
Anglers will experience good results for Chinook on the Elk and Sixes when precipitation moderates and these volatile rivers are on the drop.
Steelhead fishing was fair to good on the lower Rogue prior to the water rising and will deliver again once the river starts to drop. This fishery lasts into springtime.
The Chetco rose from 2.6 to over six feet from December 16th to the morning of December 18th with the flow approaching 6,000 cfs. Regular readers know this river fishes best around 4,000 cfs and dropping. Fresh winter steelhead are entering now.
Eastern – John Day anglers continue to catch a mix of hatchery and wild fish in the John Day Pool itself. Trollers are taking the bulk of the summer runs but bank anglers are also taking a few.
Anglers fishing the Grande Ronde and lower Imnaha Rivers are landing steelhead at an average of 1 fish for every 9 or 10 hours recreating. These catch rates should remain stable if temperatures don’t fluctuate too much in the coming week. Cold temperatures may cause icing however.
Pro guide Joe Salvey (503-349-1411) reports a good sturgeon bite in the lower Willamette and Multnomah Channel with sand shrimp and smelt top baits.
While the North Santiam is high, the water has cleared. A few wild steelhead have been caught and released.
Clackamas steelheaders have been taking a few very early fresh winters at the mouth, from Eagle Creek and in the stretch below the creek.
A brace of hatchery winter steelhead were taken at the Sandy River by a pair of anglers on December 15th. It's still early but the season has officially started. Wild fish are most prevalent in the catches but more broodstock fish will become available in the new year.
Pro guide Brandon Glass (503-260-8285) reports that catching on the Sandy has picked up from Oxbow up to Cedar Creek.
Pro guide Trevor Storlie (503-695-6515) reports that the majority of steelhead present are natives but hatchery fish will be entering after the first of the year.
Huddleston Pond (Willamina) and Sheridan Pond are scheduled to be stocked with rainbows 16-inches or better.
Northwest – Monday produced well for North Fork Nehalem anglers fishing near the hatchery. The run overall has been disappointing although river levels have cooperated for much of the season. Navigational hazards will be an ongoing issue as high winds will once again sweep the north coast mid-week.
The Necanicum, a late December staple, remains accessible from the gravel pit to the Relief Pitcher take-out. This leaves the rest of the river open to bank anglers and fish are available but private property dominates the bank so be aware of where you are fishing.
Favorite rivers along Highway 30 include Gnat Creek and Big Creek. These rivers are good choices when other north coast streams are too high to fish. Friday and Saturday should be productive on these rivers.
Most Tillamook area rivers remain troublesome for driftboaters. The Wilson has yet to clear due to mudslides near Lee’s Camp and the Trask still has a log jam at the Railroad Bridge downstream of Loren’s Drift. On the Trask, bank anglers often find success at the Dam Hole in high water conditions. The Kilchis, one of the best options, still has boating hazards downstream of Kilchis Park.
The Nestucca was in good shape early in the week but scheduled to rise again at mid-week. It may drop back in shape by the weekend with wild and hatchery fish well distributed from 4th bridge to Cloverdale. There were a few chinook still in the system late last week but the quality of fish is on the decline.
Hatchery winter steelhead have been taken from the Siletz and Alsea rivers over the past week. The Alsea typically receives hatchery fish earlier in the season while Siletz fish return in higher numbers starting in late January.
Sturgeon anglers will find favorable tides beginning today but by the weekend, low slack will occur after sunset. Sand shrimp will be a top bait but storms may prevent pumpers from attaining adequate supplies for the weekend needs. Check availability before planning a trip.
It’s already clear that the ocean crab harvest will be down from previous years. Low success rates amongst the commercial fleet is an indicator that sport crabbing in the estuaries will be more challenging this year.
Southwest – Whale watching officially kicks off on December 26th. Watch for "Whale Watching Spoken Here" signs to find trained volunteers.
A strong tidal series is forecast for the coming weekend with the exchange predicted to exceed ten feet although low tides will occur after sundown.
South coast rivers are on the rise this week with heavy rainfall. This will have a detrimental effect on winter steelheading on the mainstem Umpqua which had improved as the water here was dropping and clearing. Over the weekend, steelheaders fishing above Elkton took fish to 16 pounds although averaging several pounds smaller.
Coquille anglers caught hatchery steelhead with the largest scaling 18 pounds over the past weekend.
Anglers will experience good results for Chinook on the Elk and Sixes when precipitation moderates and these volatile rivers are on the drop.
Steelhead fishing was fair to good on the lower Rogue prior to the water rising and will deliver again once the river starts to drop. This fishery lasts into springtime.
The Chetco rose from 2.6 to over six feet from December 16th to the morning of December 18th with the flow approaching 6,000 cfs. Regular readers know this river fishes best around 4,000 cfs and dropping. Fresh winter steelhead are entering now.
Eastern – John Day anglers continue to catch a mix of hatchery and wild fish in the John Day Pool itself. Trollers are taking the bulk of the summer runs but bank anglers are also taking a few.
Anglers fishing the Grande Ronde and lower Imnaha Rivers are landing steelhead at an average of 1 fish for every 9 or 10 hours recreating. These catch rates should remain stable if temperatures don’t fluctuate too much in the coming week. Cold temperatures may cause icing however.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Oregon fishing
Willamette Valley/Metro- Willamette water temperatures rose with the tropical storm early this month but cold weather is causing the temps to drop again. Water visibility remains less than one foot. Sturgeon fishing is slow for keepers, good for shakers.
The forecast for Willamette spring chinook in 2008 was released this week and is a disappointing 29,000 hatchery fish. Managers will be discussing season options but with only about 6,000 harvestable fish, a compromise in the Columbia fishery below I-5 or the Willamette itself is likely.
From Portland to Bonneville Dam, sturgeon fishing was poor. With dropping temperatures, sturgeon success will continue to drop. Anglers are hopeful that a winter smelt run will stimulate the bite but another poor return is predicted which will restrict sport dippers in pursuit of the favored sturgeon bait.
The Clackamas turned green over the past weekend and is now quite fishable. A few winter steelhead are trickling in but numbers will be low until mid-January.
The water at the Sandy River has cleared but sand has once again become problematic. When the Sandy River opens on the first of January, 2008, the new deadline will be at Salmon River. There will be no bait or lure restrictions.
Pro guide Brandon Glass (503-260-8285) wrote to say that the Clackamas is probably a better bet than the Sandy this early in the season.
Water at the North Santiam is running too high to fish and will remain that way due to snowmelt and the reduction of the water level at Detroit.
Trout fishing is slow to fair on the McKenzie, but the reward is fat, feisty fish to 20 inches.
Walling Pond and Walter Wirth Lake are scheduled to be planted with catchable-sized and larger rainbows.
Northwest – Following last weeks devastating storm, rivers are now starting to recover but options are limited due to damage inflicted by high winds and saturated river banks.
The bridge to the put-in at the largest Sitka Spruce tree on the Necanicum River is compromised and the road is closed. Portland angler John Weed reported that section of the river “looked like an air raid took place”, referencing the large number of downed trees blocking safe boat passage on this north coast favorite. His crew picked up two fresh steelhead in the downstream stretch from Johnson’s gravel pit to the take out at the Relief Pitcher. They were driftfishing roe.
The North Fork Nehalem is reported as poor for steelhead. Sweeper logs are reported across the upper drift from the hatchery to the county line. A sweeper log took the life of Jim Erickson in this same stretch almost a year ago.
End-of-season chinook hopefuls are still waiting for the Wilson to clear from numerous slides still silting the river. It is on the mend but by the time it clears, the river will likely be too low to fish with any success. With few steelhead present and well scattered, anglers will find it challenging to find fish. The winter broodstock collection is underway but to participate, you have to register with STEP biologist Tracy Crews at (503) 842-2741 in the Tillamook office.
The Kilchis River, another December favorite for chinook, yielded poor results last week as it cleared quickly. Steelhead were reported in the tailouts of the upper drift.
The Trask River still has a remnant winter chinook run but like most area streams, it too was affected by the recent storm. A large log jam prevents passage at the railroad bridge about 1.5 miles above the highway 101 takeout.
Steelhead were reported in Three Rivers and the Nestucca was on the mend and is currently fishable. Catches are expected to be light.
Pro guide Bill Kremers (541-754-6411) fished the Alsea on Monday, catching jack salmon and coho but no steelhead, On Tuesday, he took one 12-pound steelhead on the Siletz.
The ocean allowed recreational boats to cross the bar out of Newport Sunday and Monday this week where anglers scored rockfish and lingcod and enjoyed good crabbing.
The Alsea and Siuslaw Rivers have cleared of debris and should have a few winter steelhead present. These rivers will be low and clear by the weekend.
Southwest – Wind and wave action is forecast to prevent recreational boaters from crossing into the ocean this weekend.
The Umpqua was at good level and color at mid-week. Fishing this weekend should be worthwhile for steelhead and coho.
Coos anglers have hooked chinook and coho over the past week but failed to locate and find fresh winter steelhead.
Anglers on the Elk and Sixes have done well for chinook over the past week but action is slowing as these rivers are getting skinny. The Elk is at the four-foot level this week.
With the Rogue River back in shape, anglers should find fresh winter steelhead around Agness.
The Chetco had fallen below four feet and was running at 2,200 cfs at Brookings on Tuesday. Fresh, bright winter steelhead are available, but fishing has become challenging in the low, clear water.
Eastern – Deschutes anglers should expect to fish higher flows through the remainder of the steelhead season but braving the cold may be worthwhile with B-run fish in the river now.
The forecast for Willamette spring chinook in 2008 was released this week and is a disappointing 29,000 hatchery fish. Managers will be discussing season options but with only about 6,000 harvestable fish, a compromise in the Columbia fishery below I-5 or the Willamette itself is likely.
From Portland to Bonneville Dam, sturgeon fishing was poor. With dropping temperatures, sturgeon success will continue to drop. Anglers are hopeful that a winter smelt run will stimulate the bite but another poor return is predicted which will restrict sport dippers in pursuit of the favored sturgeon bait.
The Clackamas turned green over the past weekend and is now quite fishable. A few winter steelhead are trickling in but numbers will be low until mid-January.
The water at the Sandy River has cleared but sand has once again become problematic. When the Sandy River opens on the first of January, 2008, the new deadline will be at Salmon River. There will be no bait or lure restrictions.
Pro guide Brandon Glass (503-260-8285) wrote to say that the Clackamas is probably a better bet than the Sandy this early in the season.
Water at the North Santiam is running too high to fish and will remain that way due to snowmelt and the reduction of the water level at Detroit.
Trout fishing is slow to fair on the McKenzie, but the reward is fat, feisty fish to 20 inches.
Walling Pond and Walter Wirth Lake are scheduled to be planted with catchable-sized and larger rainbows.
Northwest – Following last weeks devastating storm, rivers are now starting to recover but options are limited due to damage inflicted by high winds and saturated river banks.
The bridge to the put-in at the largest Sitka Spruce tree on the Necanicum River is compromised and the road is closed. Portland angler John Weed reported that section of the river “looked like an air raid took place”, referencing the large number of downed trees blocking safe boat passage on this north coast favorite. His crew picked up two fresh steelhead in the downstream stretch from Johnson’s gravel pit to the take out at the Relief Pitcher. They were driftfishing roe.
The North Fork Nehalem is reported as poor for steelhead. Sweeper logs are reported across the upper drift from the hatchery to the county line. A sweeper log took the life of Jim Erickson in this same stretch almost a year ago.
End-of-season chinook hopefuls are still waiting for the Wilson to clear from numerous slides still silting the river. It is on the mend but by the time it clears, the river will likely be too low to fish with any success. With few steelhead present and well scattered, anglers will find it challenging to find fish. The winter broodstock collection is underway but to participate, you have to register with STEP biologist Tracy Crews at (503) 842-2741 in the Tillamook office.
The Kilchis River, another December favorite for chinook, yielded poor results last week as it cleared quickly. Steelhead were reported in the tailouts of the upper drift.
The Trask River still has a remnant winter chinook run but like most area streams, it too was affected by the recent storm. A large log jam prevents passage at the railroad bridge about 1.5 miles above the highway 101 takeout.
Steelhead were reported in Three Rivers and the Nestucca was on the mend and is currently fishable. Catches are expected to be light.
Pro guide Bill Kremers (541-754-6411) fished the Alsea on Monday, catching jack salmon and coho but no steelhead, On Tuesday, he took one 12-pound steelhead on the Siletz.
The ocean allowed recreational boats to cross the bar out of Newport Sunday and Monday this week where anglers scored rockfish and lingcod and enjoyed good crabbing.
The Alsea and Siuslaw Rivers have cleared of debris and should have a few winter steelhead present. These rivers will be low and clear by the weekend.
Southwest – Wind and wave action is forecast to prevent recreational boaters from crossing into the ocean this weekend.
The Umpqua was at good level and color at mid-week. Fishing this weekend should be worthwhile for steelhead and coho.
Coos anglers have hooked chinook and coho over the past week but failed to locate and find fresh winter steelhead.
Anglers on the Elk and Sixes have done well for chinook over the past week but action is slowing as these rivers are getting skinny. The Elk is at the four-foot level this week.
With the Rogue River back in shape, anglers should find fresh winter steelhead around Agness.
The Chetco had fallen below four feet and was running at 2,200 cfs at Brookings on Tuesday. Fresh, bright winter steelhead are available, but fishing has become challenging in the low, clear water.
Eastern – Deschutes anglers should expect to fish higher flows through the remainder of the steelhead season but braving the cold may be worthwhile with B-run fish in the river now.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Oregon fishing update
Willamette Valley/Metro- The winter sturgeon fishery in the gorge remained inaccessible during the inclement weather but warmer temperatures may improve the bite slightly. Smelt and shrimp will be the best offering. With the stabilizing weather pattern, the stretch from the mouth of the Willamette to the mouth of the Cowlitz should also improve this week.
The tropical storm which hammered the area early this week has raised water temperatures which were dropping to near 40 degrees late last week. The impact to the lower Willamette sturgeon fishery is a recent improvement. With temperatures remaining somewhat stable, the fishery is likely to continue improving this week. Winter steelhead were caught at Meldrum Bar before the storm passed.
Waters of the North Santiam are high and muddy. It won't fish this week.
A few Eagle Creek stock winter steelhead have entered the Clackamas although the deluge has the water up and roiled. At 24.5 last week, it is predicted to drop from high mid-week levels to 28 feet at Oregon City by the weekend.
The Sandy is not fishable following the torrential rain. Once the river falls into a fishable state, the winter steelhead fishery will be underway. Like the Clackamas, the bulk of the winter steelhead are later returning broodstock or native run although steelhead have already been caught prior to the storm.
Blue-winged olives (a typical winter pattern) will be effective for trout on the McKenzie when it drops back into shape.
Junction City Pond is scheduled to be stocked with 12-inch trout. West Salish Pond was planted with brood trout last week.
Northwest – Northwest Oregon rivers were just falling below flood level late Tuesday and will likely be fishable again by the weekend. For fall chinook, most area rivers are done but the Wilson will likely hold another late shot of quality chinook destined for the Little North Fork of the Wilson when the river recedes.
The Kilchis also typically receives a December run of chinook but if the November run on this river is any indication, anglers shouldn’t expect much. This river will clear before any other in Tillamook County. It could fish as early as Thursday.
Winter steelhead have been caught on the Kilchis, Nestucca, Wilson and North Fork of the Nehalem Rivers. A mix of both Alsea stock and broodstock steelhead were retained. For anglers specifically seeking early returning steelhead, the Necanicum, North Fork Nehalem, Three Rivers, Kilchis, Wilson and Nestucca Rivers in that order, should produce light catches well into the weekend.
Drift clusters of eggs or sand shrimp in higher flows and pull plugs as the rivers drop and fish begin to hold. Chinook are also likely to be found in the tailouts in higher flows and likely to take backtrolled plugs. Wild coho will also be present, are likely to be mis-identified as steelhead or small chinook and must be released unharmed. Male chinook will make the best tablefare as hens, even though they may be bright, often have pale flesh as they are so close to the end of the spawning season.
Record setting winds and heavy precipitation have toppled scores of trees along our riverbanks. Driftboaters must exercise extreme caution when drifting. The smaller streams will have accumulated the most obstacles but no river is immune to hazards of navigation. It will be a critical week to wear lifevests.
Bay crabbing is shot in most estuaries but Tillamook and Nehalem Bay sturgeon fishing may be worth a try. Sturgeon were observed in Tillamook Bay at the end of November and with most crabs back at sea, the action could pick up. Softer minus tides in the late afternoon make for ideal conditions for those using sand shrimp. Debris from the recent flood however may hinder success.
Southwest – Heavy rain is likely to have chased Dungeness out of local estuaries. While the ocean is open and forecast to lie down in the coming weekend, winds may prevent crossing of bars. A series of mild minus tides late in the day is predicted for Saturday and Sunday.
Angers hoping for warm rain to improve coho and steelhead fishing on the North Umpqua got it in spades. There should be fish available when levels drop.
The Elk will drop rapidly, as usual, and will provide a decent prospect for chinook to anglers who time it right.
The Rogue was heading for the nine-foot level and over 19,000 cfs at Agness on Tuesday this week. It'll be a while before this river will fish but fresh steelhead are coming in.
At Brookings, the Chetco topped 21,000 cfs and nearly 15 feet earlier this week but was dropping and should be fishable by the weekend. It remains to be seen if any of those late chinook which showed last weekend will remain but there will be winter steelhead available.
Eastern – As steelhead are settling into their winter holding pattern and with little effect from the storm, fishing has shown some improvement on the lower Deschutes.
Crooked River fly fishers are taking a mix of trout and whitefish in cold-weather conditions.
The tropical storm which hammered the area early this week has raised water temperatures which were dropping to near 40 degrees late last week. The impact to the lower Willamette sturgeon fishery is a recent improvement. With temperatures remaining somewhat stable, the fishery is likely to continue improving this week. Winter steelhead were caught at Meldrum Bar before the storm passed.
Waters of the North Santiam are high and muddy. It won't fish this week.
A few Eagle Creek stock winter steelhead have entered the Clackamas although the deluge has the water up and roiled. At 24.5 last week, it is predicted to drop from high mid-week levels to 28 feet at Oregon City by the weekend.
The Sandy is not fishable following the torrential rain. Once the river falls into a fishable state, the winter steelhead fishery will be underway. Like the Clackamas, the bulk of the winter steelhead are later returning broodstock or native run although steelhead have already been caught prior to the storm.
Blue-winged olives (a typical winter pattern) will be effective for trout on the McKenzie when it drops back into shape.
Junction City Pond is scheduled to be stocked with 12-inch trout. West Salish Pond was planted with brood trout last week.
Northwest – Northwest Oregon rivers were just falling below flood level late Tuesday and will likely be fishable again by the weekend. For fall chinook, most area rivers are done but the Wilson will likely hold another late shot of quality chinook destined for the Little North Fork of the Wilson when the river recedes.
The Kilchis also typically receives a December run of chinook but if the November run on this river is any indication, anglers shouldn’t expect much. This river will clear before any other in Tillamook County. It could fish as early as Thursday.
Winter steelhead have been caught on the Kilchis, Nestucca, Wilson and North Fork of the Nehalem Rivers. A mix of both Alsea stock and broodstock steelhead were retained. For anglers specifically seeking early returning steelhead, the Necanicum, North Fork Nehalem, Three Rivers, Kilchis, Wilson and Nestucca Rivers in that order, should produce light catches well into the weekend.
Drift clusters of eggs or sand shrimp in higher flows and pull plugs as the rivers drop and fish begin to hold. Chinook are also likely to be found in the tailouts in higher flows and likely to take backtrolled plugs. Wild coho will also be present, are likely to be mis-identified as steelhead or small chinook and must be released unharmed. Male chinook will make the best tablefare as hens, even though they may be bright, often have pale flesh as they are so close to the end of the spawning season.
Record setting winds and heavy precipitation have toppled scores of trees along our riverbanks. Driftboaters must exercise extreme caution when drifting. The smaller streams will have accumulated the most obstacles but no river is immune to hazards of navigation. It will be a critical week to wear lifevests.
Bay crabbing is shot in most estuaries but Tillamook and Nehalem Bay sturgeon fishing may be worth a try. Sturgeon were observed in Tillamook Bay at the end of November and with most crabs back at sea, the action could pick up. Softer minus tides in the late afternoon make for ideal conditions for those using sand shrimp. Debris from the recent flood however may hinder success.
Southwest – Heavy rain is likely to have chased Dungeness out of local estuaries. While the ocean is open and forecast to lie down in the coming weekend, winds may prevent crossing of bars. A series of mild minus tides late in the day is predicted for Saturday and Sunday.
Angers hoping for warm rain to improve coho and steelhead fishing on the North Umpqua got it in spades. There should be fish available when levels drop.
The Elk will drop rapidly, as usual, and will provide a decent prospect for chinook to anglers who time it right.
The Rogue was heading for the nine-foot level and over 19,000 cfs at Agness on Tuesday this week. It'll be a while before this river will fish but fresh steelhead are coming in.
At Brookings, the Chetco topped 21,000 cfs and nearly 15 feet earlier this week but was dropping and should be fishable by the weekend. It remains to be seen if any of those late chinook which showed last weekend will remain but there will be winter steelhead available.
Eastern – As steelhead are settling into their winter holding pattern and with little effect from the storm, fishing has shown some improvement on the lower Deschutes.
Crooked River fly fishers are taking a mix of trout and whitefish in cold-weather conditions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)