Oregon Fishing Update
Willamette Valley/Metro - Although certainly early for spring chinook on the mainstem Columbia, the river saw its first one cross Bonneville on January 19th. The first commercially caught salmon was landed last week weighing 23 pounds. Water conditions are good but still a bit cold for sport anglers. Early returning salmon seem to bite herring best in the colder water. The Multnomah Channel is a good early season bet.
Pro guide Jeff Knotts (509-3566-4052) reports fair fishing for steelhead above McNary Dam.
At 15,000 cfs, flows at Willamette Falls haven't been at this level since early November last year. Winter steelhead counts have gradually declined in these lower flows with the total as of Monday at nearly 1,400. Sturgeon fishing has been slow but will improve as water temperatures rise. Steelheading has been slow but a few are being landed at Meldrum Bar. Spring hopefuls are trolling the Sellwood Bridge area where herring is the favored bait.
Pro guide Bill Kremers (541-754-6411) reports slow fishing for sturgeon with the better catches coming from above the St. Johns Bridge.
The Clackamas is running very clear and producing few steelhead. The stretch from Carver to Clackamette is most likely to produce according to Pro guide Brandon Glass (503-666-5370).
Pressure is very light on the low, clear waters of the Sandy River and steelhead catches are fair. Anglers are reporting the wild catch making up 70% of the landings according to Pro guide Jack Glass (503-666-5370). Lowering flows are exposing new sandbars making for challenging navigation. East winds are challenging anglers.
Detroit is at proper level for flood control so no additional releases will add to the waters of the North Santiam where levels are good. Anglers are enjoying an improving catch-and-release fishery for native winter steelhead despite the water remaining cold.
E. E. Wilson Pond is scheduled to be planted with hatchery trout. Huddleston Pond, Walter Wirth Lake, Junction City Pond and Walling Pond were stocked last week and again this week.
Northwest – Steelheaders continue to find challenging conditions on most north coast streams reports pro guide Jim Stevenson (503-881-5289). Low, clear water has rendered smaller systems nearly unfishable. Larger rivers like the mainstem Nehalem are producing a few fish but numbers will increase as we progress into the month.
The North Fork Nehalem and Three Rivers on the Nestucca are very slow but could rebound on the next weather system.
Tillamook Bay sturgeon anglers are not producing high catches despite good effort. Crabbing has also slowed in the bay along with the Netarts estuary.
Razor clam digging was good along Clatsop Beaches at mid-week but will likely slow as the last half of the tide series closes out the weekend.
The Siletz has been tough as well but anglers working the lower portions of the river are coming up with some quality broodstock and wild fish.
Crabbing is once again worthwhile at Yaquina Bay.
The North Fork Alsea is too low to fish. A few steelhead are coming from the lower Alsea mainstem.
Scheduled for trout stocking are Alder Lake Big Creek Reservoir 1 and 2, Cleawox Lake, Dune Lake, Munsel Lake and Olalla Creek Reservoir.
Southwest – Surf casters are doing well on South coast surf perch when wind and wave conditions allow fishing.
Pro Guide Jeff Jackson (541-268-6944) reports making some decent catches recently on the Siuslaw.
Despite water that remains a little high and quite chilly, winter steelhead catches have been fair in the mainstem Umpqua.
Boaters on the Rogue are side-drifting or pulling plugs to pick up adult steelhead and half-pounders. Use caution in low flows.
Good quality cured salmon eggs, small corkies, puff balls and plugs combined with long, light leaders are accounting for steelhead in the low, crystal clear waters of the Chetco. This river has been remarkably productive in all conditions this season.
Ocean crabbers have scored limits of Dungeness late last week during calmer days. Rock fishing has been very good offshore.
When conditions haven't been conducive on the Chetco, steelheaders have been successful by traveling a little further South to the Smith, which has been red hot at times.
Trout stocking will resume in February in the Southwest Zone.
Eastern – McNary area trollers are taking a few steelhead on deep diving plugs. The bite improves as afternoon air and water temperatures moderate.
Pro guide Rick Arnold (541-480-1570) reports fair to good catches of brown, bull and rainbow trout at Lake Billy Chinook.
Grande Ronde steelheaders are still posting fair catches although some icing is occurring along river banks.
Planting of hatchery trout in Central Oregon will resume in March.
