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/