Oregon Fisheries Update:
Columbia River Spring Chinook Allocation Meeting
February 8, 2008 - 8:00 AM
http://www.theguidesforecast.com/2008allocationmeeting.pdf
Willamette Valley/Metro- The chilly water of the lower Willamette has sturgeon biting even more timid this week. While there are plenty of shakers around, only a few keepers have been taken by anglers willing to move around to find the fish, then offering a variety of baits. Plunkers at Meldrum Bar have had a very slow week for steelhead.
A few native winters are being caught on the Santiam system but there just isn’t a lot of fresh steelhead in the system. While the flow is at seasonal average, the water temperature is in the high 30s, making it difficult to get the available winters to bite. Numbers should build into March.
Clackamas anglers are finding steelhead scattered throughout the system. Fishing has been fair.
Steelhead were taken through the recent cold snap on the Sandy but keep an eye on river conditions now that the freezing level is on the rise.
While the McKenzie was in great shape over the past weekend, fishing was poor with water temps in the 30s. Rain is likely to blow it out this week.
E. E. Wilson, Sheridan Pond and Junction City Pond are scheduled to be stocked with trout this week. Walling Pond and Walter Wirth Lake will receive legal and larger-sized rainbows.
Northwest – Low flows kept most anglers from being motivated over the weekend. Clear, cold water and inclement weather made for challenging conditions and the bulk of the early run winter steelhead are spawning.
Some quality broodstock steelhead were taken in the Wilson and Nestucca Rivers but these prized fish will be present in higher numbers later in February and into March. The upper reaches of these systems, particularly the Wilson are still holding biting steelhead. Low water conditions allow for alternative techniques and bobber and jig fishing is likely to produce well under these conditions. Wild fish numbers will also build into March with most coastal systems likely to see good returns.
The Trask River yielded some fish early in the week and a rare winter chinook can still be found. These late-run fish must be released as the salmon season won’t open until April 1st in this district.
Area rivers are forecast to rise for most of the week but could remain fishable. Anglers are likely to find mostly spawned out hatchery fish on the Necanicum, North Fork Nehalem, Wilson, Kilchis and Nestucca Rivers. Cold weather will keep success rates low and coast range passes treacherous. Use caution when traveling.
Only a few sturgeon anglers braved the weekend weather but a few keepers were taken in the upper end of the south channel of Tillamook Bay. Keepers ranged from 42 to 48 inches and fell to sand shrimp late in the incoming tide.
On the Nestucca, pro guide Jesse Zalonis (503-392-5808) reports that the bite has slowed with cold temperatures.
Crabbing remains slow but Netarts Bay is still producing a few keepers and is likely holds the most promise on the coast.
Siletz water levels are predicted to rise about two feet this week, hitting the seven foot level by the coming weekend. Steelheading has been fair when the water conditions have been favorable but a far cry from good success rates earlier in the season.
Pro guide Bill Kremers (541-754-6411) reports that he fished the Alsea in harsh weather Thursday this week without landing any steelhead.
Crabbing in Alsea Bay has not been productive over the past week.
Southwest – Offshore boaters caught limits of nice ling cod last week when the ocean laid down, but rough seas and high winds will prevent bar crossings this week.
Rain and snow hit the south coast hard this week. Pro guide Jeff Jackson (541-268-6944) predicts it'll take a stretch of dry weather for it to fish again.
Plugs took steelhead over the weekend on the Umpqua. Both he North and South Umpqua have been productive this season.
Action slowed for steelhead plunkers on the lower Rogue recently but drift boaters have done well from Foster to Quosatana. Side drifting has been most effective.
Chetco steelheaders are looking forward to rain this week as the river was running very low into the past weekend. Fishing has been outstanding overall this season and effort has been running high as well.
Eastern – The John Day River is choked with ice jams and is unsafe for boating. Cold temperatures may keep the river locked up for several more weeks but a warming trend should set off a steelhead bite and a few smallmouth bass.
The same holds true for the Grande Ronde and Imnaha Rivers where staging steelhead remain untouched until the region experiences a warming trend.
Walleye anglers await the same weather change in the mainstem Columbia above the John Day Dam.
Cooper Creek Reservoir is scheduled to be planted with hatchery trout.
