Sunday, April 27, 2008

Oregon fishing report

Oregon Fisheries Update:

Willamette Valley/Metro- With the Columbia River from Bonneville Dam downstream now closed to salmon, steelhead and shad fishing, anglers will be seeking other opportunities in tributaries or upstream fisheries. Although lower river catch rates dropped dramatically in the closing days, success near Bonneville was excellent and dam counts verify the run is well underway.

Many of these prized fish are destined for upper river tributaries and will be challenging to pursue in the Columbia River reservoirs. Check updated regulations for open tributaries along the Columbia River as those fisheries will be peaking in the coming weeks.

Sturgeon will also become a focus for metro anglers from Bonneville to Buoy 10 in the coming weeks and catch rates are beginning to climb with the warming water temperatures. The best stretch will be in the Columbia River gorge with smelt a top choice to use as bait.

Counts of salmon and steelhead have slowed with a drop in the water temperature caused by unseasonably
cold weather. Trollers and anchor fishers have experienced minor flurries of springer action but overall,
fishing has been slow. Sturgeon fishing has been fair to good.

Steelhead are scattered on the North Santiam and fishing is slow.

Trout fishing on the McKenzie has been good between weather fronts with Caddis hatches occurring amidst the March Browns.

Water levels at the Clackamas are down from last week and the color is good. Steelheading is spotty but fresh summers are being caught daily.

Sandy anglers are taking a few summer steelhead but most are thinking about springers. There are chinook in the river and numbers will be increasing.

Scheduled for trout planting are Haldeman Pond, Henry Hagg Lake, Huddelston Pond, Salmonberry Lake, Silver Creek Reservoir, Timothy Meadows Reservoir, Trojan Pond, Blue River above Reservoir, Blue River Reservoir, Carmen Reservoir, Clear Lake, Detroit Reservoir, Dexter Reservoir, E. E. Wilson Pond, Fall Creek, Foster Reservoir, Freeway Lake East, Green Peter Reservoir, Junction City Pond, Leaburg Lake, the McKenzie River above Leaburg Lake, Roaring River Park Pond, Salmon Creek, Smith Reservoir, Walling Pond, Walter Wirth Lake, Willamette River Coast Fork and the Middle Fork Willamette above Hills Creek Reservoir.

Northwest – A significant rise in river levels was forecasted for north coast streams at mid-week but when flows do drop, steelhead will make up the bulk of the catch reports pro guide Jesse Zalonis (503-392-5808). Although it’s likely a few summer steelhead may be in the creel, spent winter run fish headed back to sea will likely make up the bulk of the catch. An early spring chinook may also be available but most won’t return until mid-May.

Tides won’t be ripe for estuary sturgeon fishing in Tillamook or the Astoria area but friendly seas are forecasted for the weekend which should give bottomfishing enthusiasts some good opportunity for lingcod, seabass and surf perch. Be sure to check bar conditions before crossing.

North of Cape Falcon near Manzanita, halibut season opens on May 1st. Anglers are allowed to fish 7-days per week with a daily bag limit of 1 halibut per day, 6 per year.

Crabbing remains poor in most north coast estuaries and ocean crabbing is likely to be only slightly better if boats can get there this weekend.

Alder Lake, Big Creek Reservoir, Big Creek Reservoir, Buck Lake are scheduled to be stocked with hatchery trout.

Southwest – Halibut season will open on the central and south coast on May 1st inside the 40-fathom line with the first all-depth fishery May 8th through 10th.

As the winter steelhead run winds down on the Umpqua, spring chinook catches continue to improve and anglers have been diversifying tactics to target the fresh salmon.

Springer fishing has been slow in the Rogue with the water cold. In spite of challenging conditions, a few chinook are being taken daily. Warmer weather will trigger snowmelt which will, in turn, keep the water cool.

Surf casters have continued to take limits of perch off southwest beaches.

Boats crossing the bar and returning early at Brookings Harbor have been able to beat rough ocean conditions and are limiting on rockfish and lingcod in fairly shallow water.

Due to persistent snow and ice at Diamond Lake, the Kokanee Power Trout Derby which was scheduled for May 17th & 18th has been re-scheduled for June 7th & 8th.

Eastern – Trout fishing is fair on the lower Deschutes in mid-40-degree water that's at above-average flows. Mid-day is yielding best results.

Although flows remain high on the John Day, big smallmouth bass should be a viable target in the dropping flows into the early weeks of May reports pro guide Steve Fleming (1-888-624-9424).

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Sunday, April 13, 2008

Oregon fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro- Salmon season is in full swing on the Columbia River with the highest catch rates of the season from Bonneville Dam to the I-5 Bridge. Trolled herring are taking the bulk of the fish downstream of the gorge while spinners and plugs are responsible for Bonneville area fish. Four-year old adults are making up the bulk of the catch averaging between 12 and 16 pounds. This fishery will peak in the next 2 weeks but increased spill to aid smolts downriver could curb angler success.

Summer steelhead are passing Willamette Falls in double digits as the water temperature continues to inch toward the 50-degree mark. Springers are being caught daily on the lower Willamette and at the head of the Multnomah Channel, but it is slow. Sturgeon fishing is good for those willing stay mobile to locate larger fish.

A mix of bright and dark steelhead are being hooked on the Clackamas River with a scattering of hatchery summer fish is available.

A few broodstock winters have been taken on the Sandy and summer steelhead are just starting to enter.

The North Santiam will be subject to fluctuations in level and flow but numbers of fish available is improving daily. A total of 16 summer steelhead had entered the trap at Foster Dam on the South Santiam as of April 3rd.

The March Brown hatch has been coming on reliably in the afternoons on the McKenzie and while fishing hasn't been as hot and heavy as the hatch, it has been good at times.

Scheduled for trout stocking are Creswell Pond, Detroit Reservoir, Dexter Reservoir, Dorena Reservoir, E. E. Wilson Pond, Foster Reservoir, Freeway Lake East, Green Peter Reservoir, Junction City Pond, Roaring River Park Pond, Timber Linn Lake, Walling Pond, Walter Wirth Lake and Waverly Lake.

Northwest – North coast anglers are still pursuing steelhead on the Wilson, Trask and Nestucca Rivers but the run is certainly coming to an end. Brian Barr and Josh Lowe of Eugene fished the Wilson on Friday from Mills Bridge to Sollie Smith landing 6 steelhead using Kwikfish. Five of the 6 landed were hatchery fish but 2 were released because they were dark.

The Nestucca has also been producing good catches but has lost some of its consistency as the season winds down reports pro guide Jesse Zalonis (503-392-5808) and Kent Anderson (503-550-6303). Anglers are targeting fish in the upper reaches with the recent high water.

Next on tap in the Tillamook area is spring chinook but numbers won’t be substantial until the large minus tide series in mid-May. A few early fish are usually caught late this month however.

Calm seas are in the ocean forecast for the weekend. Limits of bottomfish should be easily attained for anglers knowing where to target these fish. Pressure has been light all season due to poor weather conditions. Ocean crabbing will also be a good option.

Crabbing in Yaquina Bay remains poor and the herring are yet to show.

Bay City Reservoir, Cape Meares Lake, Carter Lake, Cleawox Lake, Devils Lake, Hebo Lake, Lake Lytle, Lorens Pond, Smith Lake, South Lake, Tahoe Lake and Town Lake are scheduled to be planted with hatchery trout.

Southwest – Angers will be fishing the tail end of a mid-day minus tide series through the weekend.

Pro guide Bill Kremers (541-754-6411) reports fair fishing for ling cod, good results for rockfish and slow crabbing out of Depoe Bay this week

Although winter steelheading will continue even as it winds down on the North and South Umpqua through April, with the first spring chinook trickling in, angler's attention has been focused on the latter. The North Umpqua dropped to decent levels this week.

Spring chinook fishing has been only fair, but has remained steady from the mouth of the Rogue River to Agness. The problem so far has not been a lack of fish but water temperatures which have stubbornly remained in the 40s. The time of year is right to warm the river however, and catches are expected to continue to improve through April.

Limits of rockfish and ling cod are being taken out of Brookings with even inexperienced anglers returning to port with good catches.

Scheduled for trout planting are Bradley Lake, Eel Lake, Emigrant Lake, Applegate Reservoir, Lake Selmac, Howard Prairie Reservoir, Hyatt Reservoir and Libby Pond.

Eastern – Check river flows before heading over to the John Day River for bass. If the river is over 1000 CFS, fishing will be challenging reports pro guide Steve Fleming at Mah-Hah Outfitters (1-888-624-9424). Quality sized fish are available however and are taking a variety of crankbaits and plastics.

Many streams and rivers on the east side remain roiled and some lakes, such as Little Lava, Wickiup and Davis Lake, remain iced over but warm weather this week is expected to improve conditions in the near future.

Sunday, April 06, 2008

Oregon fishing

Oregon Fisheries Update:

Willamette Valley/Metro- Spring chinook anglers should begin to hit their stride in the next few weeks as the weather pattern stabilizes, water temperatures warm and the run nears its peak. Anglers working the mainstem Columbia at Portland continue to log high catches. Washington Fish and Wildlife logged a respectable one salmon for every 5.4 anglers fishing.

Oddly, anglers working the lower river downstream of Longview are struggling for consistent results. Trollers working the Westport area on the lower Columbia are only finding an occasional fish. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to indicate success in upriver fisheries. This fishery, from Buoy 10 to the Hayden Island West powerline towers will close 1 hour after sunset on Friday, April 4th.

Pro guide Brandon McGavran (360-607-1327) reports limits for his clients and a springer for himself on Monday, March 31st with various areas producing fish.

Willamette Falls water temperatures remain in the low 40’s as the level and flow moderate. Clarity on the lower Willamette is marginal but improving with spring chinook catches increasing recently for boaters. Fishing will further improve as the water temperature rises. The first spring chinook of the 2008 season crossed the Falls on March 27th.

Smelt, squid, herring and anchovies have all produced sturgeon at times with Sellwood and the lower river to the mouth kicking out mostly shakers and the occasional keeper.

The Clackamas is showing some signs of life for anxious anglers. Summer steelhead catches improved over the past week and while it's only fair, the run is underway. Vandalism has been a problem in popular parking areas. Be vigilant and don't store gear in your rig while fishing.

North Santiam water temperatures have been too low to provide optimum fishing, but with the Willamette Falls summer steelhead count nearing the 500 mark, action will be improving with warmer weather this week.

The March Brown hatch is in progress on the McKenzie and is a good one this year. Rainbow and cutthroat trout are responding accordingly.

Henry Hagg Lake, Sheridan Pond, St Louis Pond, Trojan Pond, Alton Baker Canal, Cottage Grove Pond and Cottage Grove Reservoir are scheduled to be stocked with trout.

Northwest – Steelheaders braved wintry weather over the weekend, still pursuing late run wild and hatchery fish on many north coast streams. Wilson and Nestucca River anglers were still finding success and flows should remain stable with the late addition of a coastal snow-pack late last week. Some darker fish are beginning to show in the catches.

Many smaller coastal streams are now closed to steelhead fishing. Rivers that have hatchery programs for steelhead and salmon are likely still open but check local regulations before heading out. Spring chinook is the next fishery on tap but catches won’t begin to peak until mid-May.

Offshore anglers had good opportunity on Monday for an ocean harvest but effort remained light due to the inconsistent ocean conditions.

Offshore crabbing out of Newport has improved with a few large crab showing in pots but no limits reported. Bottom fishing has been good with some nice lingcod in the mix.

Southwest – Umpqua anglers braved the occasional snow flurry over the past weekend to enjoy fair to good catch and release fishing for large, bright native steelhead. Steelheading has been fair but steady on the North and South Umpqua. Anglers have been encouraged recently with the appearance of spring chinook in the lower river. Sturgeon fishing may be another option with a morning minus tide series starting Sunday, April 6th.

Lower Rogue River spring chinook anglers scored again over the past week, with a few springers topping the 30-pound mark. Following a slow season last year, the strong, early start is encouraging.

Surf fishing off southwest beaches continues to deliver limits of pinkfin and striped perch.

Offshore bottomfishing out of Brookings has been limited by rough ocean conditions but when wind and wave allow, it's fabulous. A variety of rockfish are available any time the ocean lays down. The Chetco closed to salmon and steelhead fishing on March 31st.

Scheduled for hatchery trout planting this week are Bluebill Lake, Empire Lake, Johnson Mill Pond, Millicoma Pond, Powers Pond, Saunders Lake and Sru Lake.

Eastern – Despite freezing air temperatures overnight and cold water conditions, the John Day River has been delivering decent catches of large smallmouth bass and the fishing is expected only to improve into April.

Redside fishing on the lower Deschutes has been fair with the water level a little lower than average for this time of year.

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