Forecasting for the fishing week of October 24th – October 30th, 2008
Oregon Fisheries Update:
Willamette Valley/Metro- Although chinook season remains open below Bonneville Dam, effort has dropped off significantly as anglers begin to focus more effort at coastal stocks and Columbia River sturgeon. Hatchery coho are still being caught however as Troutdale boats reported 14 hatchery coho retained for 23 boats.
Coho adults and jacks are now making up the bulk of the count at Bonneville Dam. 2008 jack counts mirror those of 2000 which lead to a record return of coho adults to Bonneville Dam in 2001. Steelhead numbers have reduced to a trickle but the fishery above the John Day Dam should be getting underway soon. Trollers using plugs near the surface often intercept quality steelhead well into November.
Sturgeon anglers are still finding success in the Columbia River Gorge. Although shakers make up the bulk of the catch, 1 keeper for every 3.5 boats was tallied over the weekend while bank anglers took a keeper for every 10 rods. Anglers fishing the Willamette and Multnomah Channel are finding shakers but cooling temperatures should improve chances for keeper fish later in the fall.
Sandy River anglers are concentrated at Cedar Creek. Good numbers of coho are present but a weather change will bring fresh fish and stimulate the bite.
Anglers working the Clackamas are finding water clarity a challenge. The coho are very timid and may be more receptive to flies or jigs fished with fluorocarbon leaders in low light conditions. Adults are turning dark and the season will close on the Sandy and Clackamas on October 31st.
Northwest – Although Tillamook Bay remains a bright spot on the North Oregon coast, fishing remains poor for most. Spinners were taking a few fish in the upper bay but herring trollers working the ideal low exchange tides near the mouth fared poorly over the weekend. An absence of 4 and 5-year old fish are a clear indication of poor ocean production when these juveniles went to sea.
Despite the poor results, some large fish are being taken. Lee Garboden landed a 36-pounder in Tillamook Bay on October 20th on a plug cut herring. Several fish over 40 pounds have graced the scales.
The Nehalem is still choked with wild coho with only a rare chinook being taken. The Nestucca and Salmon Rivers remain poor and effort is dropping.
Only a few ocean fishers ventured offshore to take advantage of deep water reefs in recent weeks. They were rewarded with large lingcod however but weekend weather predictions will keep most boats inshore.
Crabbing on most coastal estuaries typically picks up this time of year. Netarts and Tillamook are producing fair catches although a large number of softshell crab seem to be in the mix. The lower Columbia River was producing limits prior to the weekend. A large Humboldt Squid die-off at the mouth of the river may have drawn interest away from sport crabbers baits.
Several razor clam diggers did well over the weekend along Clatsop Beaches. The next minus tide series will occur early next week.
Southwest – The Siuslaw had a nice showing of chinook on the recent tide series. Fair numbers of fish were taken from Tiernan to Mapleton by trollers and bobber fishermen. Coho are also making a nice show and like many other areas along the coast, anglers are mistaking large wild coho for chinook. Anglers are required to release wild coho on all coastal river systems.
Wild coho can be kept however on Siltcoos and Tahkenitch Lakes. The action is beginning to pick and should stay consistent into mid-November. Plugs and spinners take most of the fish and with good returns on other systems, this fishery may be a real draw for anglers this year.
Anglers are anxiously awaiting precipitation to get the Elk and Sixes River fisheries underway. Given the current state of adult returns to Oregon coastal systems, anglers should keep expectations in check knowing that better years are ahead.
Bottomfishers will be challenged by ocean weather for the remainder of the season. When boats can get out, fishing is good for seabass. Lingcod have been harder to entice.
The Rogue River fishery is quickly winding down but south coast anglers have been motivated to fish the Smith River south of the boarder for large chinook. Spoon casters working near the mouth have taken many fish in the 40-pound class.
Eastern – Eastern Oregon steelheaders are gearing up for a productive season. Numbers should be bountiful on the Grande Ronde, Wallowa and Imnaha Rivers with only a short window to fish before ice hampers success.
Bass fishermen working the John Day River are still producing great catches in the 12 to 14-inch range. Fishing for bass should remain good in the deeper holes but this river will transition into steelhead fishing over the next few weeks. Steelhead are present at Rock Creek but action at Clarno should begin to pick up by mid-November.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Oregon Fishing
Willamette Valley/Metro - Although salmon fishing is beginning to slow on the lower Columbia River, anglers fishing the gorge are still taking chinook at a rate of nearly 1 for every other boat. The action should hold up for just another few weeks but the quality of fish will begin to degrade.
Sturgeon anglers in the gorge continue to see sturgeon success climb with nearly a keeper per boat taken for boat anglers. Bank anglers are still taking keepers as well at a rate of 1 for every 6 rods.
Chinook and coho are crossing Willamette Falls by the hundreds every day. With a 34-day closure of the fish ladder, the actual totals will remain unknown. Sturgeon fishing is yielding few keepers.
Fishing has been fair to good on the North Santiam with good numbers of steelhead scattered from Mehema to Packsaddle Park. Bobber and jig will catch fish here.
Surfacing coho are frustrating Clackamas River anglers but upcoming rains should stimulate better action. Coho are being caught periodically on Eagle Creek when pods move through.
Coho fishing has been fair on the Sandy River with a significant number of jacks being taken. Action should be very good with precipitation. Use caution - There has been no update on the trees blocking the river above Dabney. Cedar Creek is busy with anglers.
Scheduled to be planted with hatchery trout are Henry Hagg Lake, Mt Hood College Pond, Timber Lake, Dexter Reservoir and Foster Reservoir.
Northwest – Large numbers of coho jacks are present in Young’s Bay near Astoria. Spinner casters working the tidewater areas are taking good numbers of fish. It looks much more promising for next years coho run.
Tillamook Bay anglers are struggling for results. With heavy concentrations of seaweed in the bay, anglers focused most of the week’s effort on a calm ocean but wild coho made up more of the catch than chinook.
Forecasted precipitation could clear the bay of vegetation but river levels are scheduled to rise making driftboating a good option. The Trask River will likely produce the best as the earliest returning fish are headed for this system. Some hatchery coho may also be available. Be sure to positively distinguish between large wild coho and chinook as multiple violations have recently been witnessed.
Also in need of clarification is the ocean crabbing season. Recently adopted to extend to October 15th beginning in 2009, crab pots have been spotted in the ocean this week. Violators will be cited until the ocean opens back up for crabbing on December 1st. Bay crabbing on many north coast estuaries, including Tillamook Bay, has picked up significantly in recent days.
The Nestucca and Salmon Rivers will continue to get chinook into October but catches are beginning to slow from the peak period. The Alsea and Siletz Rivers continue to disappoint.
Razor clam season re-opens along Clatsop Beaches on Wednesday with favorable tides for just the first 2 days. The next tide series will come at mid-month.
Southwest – The tides won't be a factor if wind and wave predictions are accurate; bar crossings into the ocean will likely be treacherous into the weekend.
Fall is an excellent time to pursue sea-run cutthroat trout. Most of the coastal rivers have runs and larger fish are taken through October.
Crabbing has been good out of Florence for big, hard Dungeness.
Bill Kremers (541-754-6411) reports, "Fished the Siuslaw yesterday by Florence. Chinook fishing is slow, but coho is better to good.
Pro guide Jeff Jackson (541-268-6944) reports, "Fishing on the Siuslaw has been fair. We're averaging 2-4 fish/day.
It's been spotty for chinook on the Coos River. A few chinook are falling daily for trolled, plug-cut herring in tidewater on the Coquille.
Winchester Bay has been fair to good for crabbing. Chinook and coho fishing has been worthwhile in tidewater on the Umpqua while smallmouth bass fishing continues to reward anglers upstream. Steelheading has slowed on the North Umpqua following wildfires.
Trollers in Rogue tidewater are catching chinook and coho. Crabbing has also been good. The Grants Pass stretch picked up for chinook over the weekend. Steelheading on the upper Rogue has been spotty.
The fall chinook ocean terminal fishery is open through Saturday, October 4th on the Chetco. Large salmon are taken every year during this brief opportunity.
When the ocean has laid down, boats out of Brookings have taken mostly limits of rockfish. Ling cod have been elusive but they are running large.
Diamond Lake fished well through the weekend with bait the top producer for trout to 20 inches.
Eastern – Steve Fleming (1-888-624-9424) reports the John Day's water is cooling off, and the bite is slow in the morning. but by 10 Am it gets going and is very good in the afternoon.
Pro guide Mac Huff (800-940-3688) reports from the Grande Ronde River that this is the year to catch steelhead (yes, plural) on a dry fly! As the second largest run on record enters the Snake River, steelhead are already occupying the Grande Ronde.
Trollers working the mouth of the Deschutes have been catching more salmon than steelhead lately. Spinners and plugs, especially in green have been producing results.
Fly anglers are doing well for trout on the lower Deschutes and have been surprised occasionally with steelhead hookups. Fishing for large browns on the middle Deschutes has been good as the spawn approaches. Anglers are also sight-fishing for big bull trout in the middle river.
Sturgeon anglers in the gorge continue to see sturgeon success climb with nearly a keeper per boat taken for boat anglers. Bank anglers are still taking keepers as well at a rate of 1 for every 6 rods.
Chinook and coho are crossing Willamette Falls by the hundreds every day. With a 34-day closure of the fish ladder, the actual totals will remain unknown. Sturgeon fishing is yielding few keepers.
Fishing has been fair to good on the North Santiam with good numbers of steelhead scattered from Mehema to Packsaddle Park. Bobber and jig will catch fish here.
Surfacing coho are frustrating Clackamas River anglers but upcoming rains should stimulate better action. Coho are being caught periodically on Eagle Creek when pods move through.
Coho fishing has been fair on the Sandy River with a significant number of jacks being taken. Action should be very good with precipitation. Use caution - There has been no update on the trees blocking the river above Dabney. Cedar Creek is busy with anglers.
Scheduled to be planted with hatchery trout are Henry Hagg Lake, Mt Hood College Pond, Timber Lake, Dexter Reservoir and Foster Reservoir.
Northwest – Large numbers of coho jacks are present in Young’s Bay near Astoria. Spinner casters working the tidewater areas are taking good numbers of fish. It looks much more promising for next years coho run.
Tillamook Bay anglers are struggling for results. With heavy concentrations of seaweed in the bay, anglers focused most of the week’s effort on a calm ocean but wild coho made up more of the catch than chinook.
Forecasted precipitation could clear the bay of vegetation but river levels are scheduled to rise making driftboating a good option. The Trask River will likely produce the best as the earliest returning fish are headed for this system. Some hatchery coho may also be available. Be sure to positively distinguish between large wild coho and chinook as multiple violations have recently been witnessed.
Also in need of clarification is the ocean crabbing season. Recently adopted to extend to October 15th beginning in 2009, crab pots have been spotted in the ocean this week. Violators will be cited until the ocean opens back up for crabbing on December 1st. Bay crabbing on many north coast estuaries, including Tillamook Bay, has picked up significantly in recent days.
The Nestucca and Salmon Rivers will continue to get chinook into October but catches are beginning to slow from the peak period. The Alsea and Siletz Rivers continue to disappoint.
Razor clam season re-opens along Clatsop Beaches on Wednesday with favorable tides for just the first 2 days. The next tide series will come at mid-month.
Southwest – The tides won't be a factor if wind and wave predictions are accurate; bar crossings into the ocean will likely be treacherous into the weekend.
Fall is an excellent time to pursue sea-run cutthroat trout. Most of the coastal rivers have runs and larger fish are taken through October.
Crabbing has been good out of Florence for big, hard Dungeness.
Bill Kremers (541-754-6411) reports, "Fished the Siuslaw yesterday by Florence. Chinook fishing is slow, but coho is better to good.
Pro guide Jeff Jackson (541-268-6944) reports, "Fishing on the Siuslaw has been fair. We're averaging 2-4 fish/day.
It's been spotty for chinook on the Coos River. A few chinook are falling daily for trolled, plug-cut herring in tidewater on the Coquille.
Winchester Bay has been fair to good for crabbing. Chinook and coho fishing has been worthwhile in tidewater on the Umpqua while smallmouth bass fishing continues to reward anglers upstream. Steelheading has slowed on the North Umpqua following wildfires.
Trollers in Rogue tidewater are catching chinook and coho. Crabbing has also been good. The Grants Pass stretch picked up for chinook over the weekend. Steelheading on the upper Rogue has been spotty.
The fall chinook ocean terminal fishery is open through Saturday, October 4th on the Chetco. Large salmon are taken every year during this brief opportunity.
When the ocean has laid down, boats out of Brookings have taken mostly limits of rockfish. Ling cod have been elusive but they are running large.
Diamond Lake fished well through the weekend with bait the top producer for trout to 20 inches.
Eastern – Steve Fleming (1-888-624-9424) reports the John Day's water is cooling off, and the bite is slow in the morning. but by 10 Am it gets going and is very good in the afternoon.
Pro guide Mac Huff (800-940-3688) reports from the Grande Ronde River that this is the year to catch steelhead (yes, plural) on a dry fly! As the second largest run on record enters the Snake River, steelhead are already occupying the Grande Ronde.
Trollers working the mouth of the Deschutes have been catching more salmon than steelhead lately. Spinners and plugs, especially in green have been producing results.
Fly anglers are doing well for trout on the lower Deschutes and have been surprised occasionally with steelhead hookups. Fishing for large browns on the middle Deschutes has been good as the spawn approaches. Anglers are also sight-fishing for big bull trout in the middle river.
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