Oregon fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro - Catch rates don't justify the effort for Columbia River sturgeon anglers. As water temperatures continue to drop, biters will become even more lethargic. Look to the Willamette for warmer water temperatures and better action.

Fresh smelt may soon enter the lower Columbia. Managers are expecting another poor return of smelt to the Columbia and Cowlitz Rivers with a pending decision on an ESA listing for this popular baitfish due out this spring. Sport dippers may still get a limited season on the Cowlitz, likely to be a 12 - 24 hour season one day per week.

Weather this week has drove water temperature down on the lower Willamette to near 40 degrees. It remains to be seen how this cooling affects sturgeon fishing. Winter steelhead are being caught by plunkers at Meldrum Bar.

Small flies are taking trout from the low, clear waters of the McKenzie. Expect very little company given the cold temperatures. The water temperature was 37 and dropping at Vida on Tuesday this week.

The upper North Santiam will offer the best chance of a hookup with wild winter steelhead now as water from Detroit is warmer than that in the lower river. A couple of winters have been taken on the Clackamas River but it's still early for this fishery.

Results have been better on the Sandy where early catches have been above average. Wind this week has made fishing a challenge.

Northwest - Although steelheaders are typically in full swing by this time on the north coast, water and traveling conditions are less than ideal for even the most motivated anglers. Frigid early mornings put fish off the bite and make casting challenging as rod guides often ice up in the below freezing temperatures.

Larger streams offer the best opportunities as fish will likely hold in the deeper slots and holes, awaiting the next rain freshet and warmer weather to draw them upstream.

The Wilson and Nestucca Rivers will be the best bets but anglers should focus their efforts on the warmest times of the day. Bobbers and jigs or nickel spinners work best under these conditions but persistence will be required to entice the lethargic fish in these cold conditions. Chinook are still present on these systems as well but action is slow. The freshest fish will be found downstream of Sollie Smith Bridge.

The North Fork Nehalem and Necanicum Rivers should be peaking right now but these systems are so clear and low that fish aren't moving and those that are present, are not biting.

Tides in Tillamook Bay are still adequate for sturgeon but a cold east wind is making it too uncomfortable for most. Although most anglers target the last few hours of outgoing tide, the first part of incoming tide can be equally productive.

Although a large swell still persists, ocean anglers and crabbers are finding favorable conditions to pursue offshore bottomfish and large Dungeness crab. Catches have been good. The swell is forecasted to continue to moderate making for even better opportunity through tomorrow. Wind waves are expected to increase by Saturday.

Southwest - Following a slow season for winter steelhead in some locations last year, ODFW biologists are predicting good runs and catches on southwest Oregon rivers with results starting early.

Plunkers on the Umpqua have been taking a few steelhead. Sheepshead has been particularly productive. While Umpqua anglers are taking a few and flow is adequate, the water is too clear to fish as well as it could.

Coos anglers have taken a few early winters but this fishery has yet to get underway. Rain would improve results here. Bay fishers are taking good numbers of rockfish and perch. Crabbing has been excellent.

The Coquille is expected to provide good results for steelheaders as is the Millicoma where steelheading has been worthwhile recently. Historically, catches start early on the Millicoma.

Winter steelhead continue to enter the lower Rogue. While it's early for this fishery, it should be very good this season, once it gets underway.

Crabbers dropping pots in the ocean out of the Port of Brookings have been taking consistent limits of large, hard Dungeness. Steelhead have started entering the Chetco River where anglers have scored a few but it's the tail of the chinook season here with winter steelheading yet to take off.

Chinook are holding in the low waters of the Elk and Sixes rivers and are not cooperating with anglers. Rain is needed here to re-invigorate this fishery.

Eastern - Hard core fly fishers are taking redsides on the Deschutes around Mecca Flats. Browns are taking streamers on the middle Deschutes but fishing is slow to fair.

Crescent Lake has been fair for Mackinaw on the troll in frigid conditions. It will remain accessible until snow falls here.

Pro guide Steve Fleming (1-888-624-9424) warns of hazardous ice on the John Day River during what is typically a very good time to target steelhead. A warming trend is needed but several night of near zero temperatures has expansive tracts of water locked up in a freeze.

Pro guide Mac Huff (1-800-940-3688) reports there are good numbers of steelhead present in the Grande Ronde system but anglers will have to also be crafty when targeting these fish. Bobbers and jigs will work when cast between the ice flows but fly anglers will have to wait until the warmest part of the day to have the best chance at a fish.

Oregon Fisheries Update

Willamette Valley/Metro- 2010 fishing licenses become available starting December 1st at all licensed outlets as well as the new online licensing system. It should be another good year to obtain a hatchery harvest card which allows for unlimited annual harvest of fin-clipped salmon and steelhead.

Sturgeon action in the gorge continues to slow with shakers still available. Anglers will begin to switch their sturgeon efforts to the lower Willamette River where action is picking up dramatically reports pro guide Joe Salvey (503-349-1411).

The flow at Willamette Falls is up from last week while the water temperature is down. As long as the water in the lower Willamette is warmer than the Columbia, sturgeon fishing should remain worthwhile. Anglers are reporting good numbers of fish on their fish finders with shakers far out-numbering keepers in the lower river. Smelt remains the top bait with sand shrimp a close second.

The McKenzie River will be dropping until the next round of rainfall. Trout fishing will be fair to good.

The Clackamas is producing summer steelhead in fair numbers. McIver anglers are hooking up on bobbers & jigs.

The once traditional Thanksgiving winter steelhead kickoff has changed on the Sandy since the introduction of later-running broodstock. Winters will enter in December with better odds in January and February stated pro guide Trevor Storlie (503-307-5601). These fish are better biters and average larger in size than the previous strain of fish that were planted. Coho season will remain open for the remainder of the year but action has slowed dramatically and wild fish will likely make up the bulk of the catch.

Flow at the North Santiam moderated Tuesday this week. Steelhead and a few coho are scattered and fishing is slow.

Walling Pond and Walter Wirth Lake are scheduled for planting with legal and larger hatchery trout.

Northwest - Anglers have been patiently waiting for better water conditions to pursue the last of the fall chinook in north coast tributaries. Early in the week, the reprieve finally came although results still varied.

The lower Kilchis River fished well on Monday reported pro guide Brandon McGavran (360-607-1327) but most anglers waited until Tuesday to pursue chinook on the smaller tributary. Driftboaters working downstream of Kilchis Park found some success but action is likely to taper quickly until the next weather system arrives. A few hatchery steelhead were reported.

The Wilson remained too muddy to have high expectations early in the week and another weather system is likely to put the river back out of shape for the holiday weekend. The Wilson is likely to be one of the better late-producing chinook systems into early December. Some hatchery steelhead should be available here as well but the run won't peak until later in February.

The Trask and Nestucca are also late season options but the bulk of the salmon run on those rivers has already passed. Hatchery steelhead should be available on the Nestucca throughout the system reports pro guide Jesse Zalonis (503-392-5808) but like the Wilson, its peak is later in winter when the traditional wild component also begins to build.

Trollers can still take chinook in Tillamook Bay but more high winds will likely deter effort. Sturgeon should become more available in the coming weeks with a good tide series starting tomorrow.

Crabbing in most north coast estuaries has slowed with the fresh water infusion. Although Netarts isn't as susceptible to the fresh water influx, it too has slowed. The ocean show no sign of becoming friendly, otherwise, crabbing would be excellent.

Southwest - Ocean crabbing season opens December 1st with offshore Dungeness in excellent condition.

Pro guide Bill Kremers (541-754-6411) reports the Alsea River is nicely dropping into shape, so it should be in good condition by Wednesday and thru the Thanksgiving weekend.

Fishing for wild coho on Siltcoos Lake has been slow to fair but the few that are being landed are large and bright.

Pro guide Jeff Jackson (541-268-6944) reports he was out at Siltcoos over the weekend. Pretty slow. 2 bites, 2 fish. Saw one other caught.

The North Umpqua water level has been high recently which stalled fishing over the past weekend. Crabbing in Winchester Bay has slowed due to fresh water reducing salinity levels.

Steelheading picked up recently in the Coos River.

While there's not much happening on the lower Rogue, half-pounders are being taken around Agness with summer steelhead and the occasional hatchery coho coming to plug-pullers in the Grants Pass stretch.

Chetco anglers enjoyed excellent chinook fishing at the opener above the Highway 101 Bridge on November 19th. With fish scattered, catches are expected to remain good as long as the flow remains less than 4,000 cfs. Plugs have been a big hit with the chinook but boat and bank anglers have also been landing fish.

Chinook fishing is fair to good on the Elk River with the water condition excellent earlier this week. Sixes River has been productive but is under greater pressure.

Pro guide Andy Martin (206-388-8988) reports the Chetco and Elk salmon fishing remains good.

Eastern - Crescent Lake has continued to produce large lake trout on deep-trolled lures. Be prepared for extremely cold weather if you go.

Trout fishing has rebounded on the Crooked River following a few years of mediocre results here.

The Grande Ronde and Imnaha Rivers are heating up for steelhead. Anglers were averaging a fish for every 5.1 hours of effort. With a bag limit of 5 steelhead per day, the trip is worth making when the fish are biting.

The John Day Pool saw some good steelhead fishing last week. On November 17th, six boats surveyed took 12 keeper steelhead and released a few wild ones. Bank fishing has dramatically slowed between the John Day Dam and the mouth of the John Day River. Steelhead fishing is picking up on the John Day mainstem reports Steve Fleming of Mah-Hah Outfitters 888-624-9424. Fish are traveling an average of seven miles per day.

Oregon Fishing Report

Willamette Valley/Metro - Sturgeon effort continues to decrease in the Columbia River gorge despite a slight up tick in success rates with the increased flow. Bank anglers are faring best. Fair shaker action remains but anglers are reluctant to use up quality bait in a catch and release fishery.

Water level on the lower Willamette has been fluctuating with the visibility 2.5 to 3 feet and temperature in the high 40's. Sturgeon fishing has been improving.

The McKenzie water level has been dropping over the past week along with the water temperature. Fishing has slowed with temps in the low 40's.

Detroit Reservoir is predicted to be at winter level November 20th, after which the North Santiam level should moderate. Steelheading is slow to fair.

Clackamas anglers have been banking a few summer steelhead around McIver.

Coho is about wrapped up on the Sandy although a few bright fish remain in the Oxbow to Cedar Creek stretch. Pro guide Trevor Storlie (503-307-5601) reports the Sandy is high but in good shape with a few bright fish here but the majority are spawners There are a few summers around but most are anticipating the winter steelhead run but Thanksgiving is way too early since steelhead production has switched to a later returning broodstock.

Northwest - The first significant rain event hit the coast on Monday, blowing out every river in the district at least until mid-week. Another system may keep larger rivers out of play through the weekend.

Prior to the high water, action for chinook remained fair at best with a few fish coming from the Wilson late last week. Despite good water conditions, most anglers came up empty handed. A small handful of steelhead were reported downstream of Mills Bridge.

Chum salmon made a fair showing on the Kilchis River but the target fishery is now closed. The Kilchis will remain one of the better bets this week as its smaller watershed clears more rapidly than the other larger basins.

The Trask produced fair late last week and a few winter chinook will be available through the month.

Tillamook Bay is still capable of producing chinook into December with the Ghost Hole being a primary target location for herring trollers. Sturgeon have been present in the west channel for some time but the rain freshet may stimulate them to bite more consistently. Fresh sand shrimp will be a likely producer.

The Nestucca had small pockets of fresh chinook last week but like other larger rivers in the area, will be out of shape through the weekend if predicted rainfalls hit reports pro guide Jesse Zalonis (503-392-5808).

Crabbing will turn off in most coastal estuaries with the rain freshet. The exception will be the lower Columbia River where the softer tide series next week should produce easy limits for persistent crabbers. Netarts Bay is also a fair option.

Ocean crabbing will reopen on December 1st although offshore weather conditions are likely to be too treacherous for recreational craft. Combined seas are forecasted to be 17 feet on Saturday.

Southwest - Southwest rivers have been dropping over the past week but this situation can change with storm fronts. Rain will have a greater effect on rivers once the ground is thoroughly saturated. Rain was falling on Tuesday this week and is expected to increase as the weekend approaches.

The summer all-depth halibut season off the central Oregon coast will be on Fridays and Saturdays only in 2010. The good news is that fishers may keep ling cod outside the 30-fathom line prior to limiting on halibut.

The wild coho fishery at Tahkenitch has been slow bit Siltcoos is producing fair to good catches. Trolling small, brightly-colored plugs has been most effective.

Plugs are taking good numbers of coho on the Umpqua. This is a catch-and-release fishery with virtually no hatchery keepers available.

Chinook fishing has further slowed on the lower Rogue while steelheading on the middle and upper river is worthwhile.

While the Chetco came up enough for chinook to migrate upstream, there is insufficient flow for these fish to enter spawning tributaries. It remains closed above the Highway 101 Bridge. If the offshore forecast holds true, launching for bottom fish won't be a possibility this coming weekend.

A few chinook are being taken from the Elk and Sixes rivers. The Elk is clearer and has been productive on corky and egg rigs.

Eastern - Cold weather and snow has had no adverse effect on steelheading at the Grande Ronde where catches remain very good around Troy.

Crescent Lake is producing large mackinaws to trollers willing to negotiate a few inches of snow and endure frigid temperatures.

The John Day has been kicking out some steelhead to trollers and bobber & egg fishers. Fish are well distributed throughout the system and move an average of 7 miles per day when water levels rise. Steelhead are in the system, and with each rising of the river flow another pod comes in. So, watch the river gauge and when it goes up sharply figure it will send in another pod. All steelhead techniques seem to be working, with none working a lot better than another reports Mah-hah Outfitters, pro-guide, Steve Fleming, (toll free) 1-888-624-9424. Last week, hatchery fish made up a large percentage of the catch in the mainstem Columbia, just above the John Day Dam.

Steelheading on the Deschutes has been spotty.

Oregon Fishing Update

Oregon Fisheries Update:

Willamette Valley/Metro - Catches of sturgeon in the Bonneville area continue to drop as keepers got culled from the population from the higher effort in the month of October. Fishery managers will be weighing further cutbacks in the 2010 quota as it appears keeper range fish are seeing a downturn in population.

Salmon effort is non-existent at Bonneville but a few anglers remain persistent trolling the mouth of the Sandy River. Catches here have slowed as recent rain freshets sent anxious adults to the spawning grounds and hatcheries upriver.

Water temperature at Willamette Falls as of November 2nd had dropped to 52 degrees. An average of about 200 coho per day were crossing in the last week of October with the YTD total about 24,000. Sturgeon fishing is fair at best in the Portland Harbor.

The McKenzie has been challenging but is producing some redsides.

The mainstem, North and South Santiams are open for coho. A few are as high as the Little North Fork with catches reported at Greens Bridge and Jefferson.

Eagle Creek on the Clackamas is crowded and off-color with mostly dark coho present but it is producing a few bright fish.

Sandy's Cedar Creek came up over the weekend and was muddy on Monday. Returning adult coho are expected throughout the month and with the recent extension, anglers should have good opportunity for bright fish for another few weeks.

Most moving water closed to trout fishing at the end of October. Check regulations for your favorite body of water.

Junction City Pond was stocked Friday, October 30th with legal and larger trout. Limits of trout averaging 12 inches are being caught by boat and bank anglers in the low water at Henry Hagg Lake.

Day-use fees will be waived at Federal Forest Service sites on Veterans Day, November 11th.

Northwest - Chinook catches in Tillamook have improved slightly with most chinook being taken in the Ghost Hole. The large tide series currently underway should put fish into the estuary into the coming weekend. Most fish are averaging between 20 and 24 pounds with an occasional 30 pounder in the mix.

Upper Tillamook Bay has been producing an occasional chinook but the bulk of the effort is now concentrated on the lower bay. Later returning fish are typically destined for the Wilson and Kilchis Rivers triggering most anglers to target the east side of the estuary.

The Wilson tidewater has had small schools of fish available to bobber and fly fishers. More fish should stage there until the next rain freshet sends them upstream. That rain freshet is due to hit over the weekend.

Coastal rivers did see a significant rise last weekend that pushed chinook and coho into all major watersheds. Good fishing was short lived however as flows dropped quickly and the lack of adults this season had anglers looking elsewhere early in the week.

Chum salmon are present in the Wilson, Kilchis and Miami Rivers and must be released unharmed.

Another storm system may put coastal systems out again but when water levels drop back in, the Wilson and Kilchis Rivers should be good fishing for chinook and an occasional chum salmon. The Nestucca should also produce fair catches this late in the season.

Although crabbing has improved in many coast estuaries, strong tides will keep crabbers from witnessing good catches over the weekend. An excellent crab tide series takes place just before Thanksgiving.

Southwest - With the ocean kicking up this weekend, boaters will be unable to launch anywhere on the southwest Oregon coast.

Coho are being taken on the mainstem Umpqua but most are wild.

While the Tahkenitch wild coho fishery has been slow, Siltcoos, while crowded, has been producing some fish. Silvers are scattered with a concentration at the outlet. Troll Wiggle Warts or spinners to take fish here.

With fresh chinook moving into the Coos, catches picked up slightly but it has been spotty.

Trollers are taking fair catches of chinook on the lower Coquille. The wild coho fishery remains open here with about 50% of the quota filled but it has been slow.

Catches in Rogue Bay have continued to slow as rain draws fish upstream. Fish have been caught at the mouth of Indian Creek. Early and late in the day is most productive. Bank anglers are also scoring here.

Chinook moved upriver on the Chetco with recent precipitation. Fishing is scheduled to open above the Highway 101 Bridge starting Saturday, November 7th but low water and flow may keep it closed.

Anglers have taken some large chinook at the mouth of the Elk River with a 58-pounder landed on Halloween.

Eastern - Paulina has been kicking out some jumbo brown trout. See the subscription version of TGF for more along with a photo of a 14-pounder.

Steelheading has been consistent on the lower Deschutes where water temperatures are staring to drop.

Although the Imnaha water level is low, steelheading has been good.

While results have been spotty one day to the next, Grande Ronde steelheaders have made some good catches.

John Day anglers are getting their season underway with catches from both boat and bank anglers underway. Action should begin to ramp up in the coming weeks with a peak towards the Thanksgiving holiday. Improvements are going to be made to LaPage Park in the near future so anglers are encouraged to call the responsible office before driving all the way up there. The Army Corps office number is (541) 506-7819.

Oregon Fishing Update

Willamette Valley/Metro - Anglers chasing coho on the mainstem near the mouth of the Sandy River are still doing well with spinners and plugs taking the majority of fish. Action should remain steady for another few weeks or until significant rains send fish upstream. Boats walleye fishing in the area are averaging 2 kept fish per boat.



Gorge anglers are still catching an occasional chinook but these fish are now making poor tablefare. Sturgeon fishing has slowed for both bank and boat anglers with boaters taking a legal fish for about every third party. Late run coho numbers are peaking at Bonneville Dam indicating better fishing at the mouths of upstream tributaries in the coming days.



While the counts at Willamette Falls lag behind a week, coho number easily exceed a record-smashing 20,000 adults so far this season. Falls temperatures are up to the high 50s as the flow moderates. Bright steelhead are available below Dexter Dam.



McKenzie water levels have returned to those measured October 12th after spiking on October 14th. It is fishing well for summer steelhead.



Fluctuating water levels have further hampered an already problematic fishery on the North Santiam. Wild steelhead are being hooked around Mehema.



The Clackamas remains a tough fishery. A few coho were taken over the past weekend on jigs in the deeper, slower pools.



Coho catches are spotty on the Sandy with many dark chinook in the mix. The water is clear. Eagle Creek fish are black.


Northwest – After a poor performance over the weekend, Tillamook Bay chinook catches have improved in recent days. Low slack along the inside of the north jetty produced good catches early in the week. The morning low tide series continues to improve into the weekend for anglers using herring near the bottom. Ray B. Townsend of Milwaukie landed a 25-pounder in the ocean on Monday.



Although forecasters failed to accurately predict rainfall amounts last weekend, thousands of adult coho and some chinook moved upstream on the Trask and North Fork Nehalem where hatcheries are expecting big numbers of fish to return. So far, returns are below expectations and conditions remain challenging with extreme low and clear water. Only slight river fluctuations are in the forecast, keeping driftboats trailered through another weekend.



Good bar and ocean conditions allowed for ample harvest of rockfish in both nearshore and deep reef areas. The south jetty out of the mouth of the Columbia River produced fine catches of black sea bass. Weather forecasts for the near future offer little hope of offshore recreation into the weekend.



Coho fishing in the lower Columbia has finally diminished. Only a rare fish will be taken as adults move into tributary systems for a November spawn.



Crabbing in the lower Columbia is productive as well but last weekends strong tides likely didn’t produce as good as this weekend’s will. Unfortunately, high slack will occur during the dark hours but with the weak exchange, productive crabbing should happen all day long.



Southwest – One of the best ocean Dungeness seasons in history came to a close on October 15th. Bay and estuary crabbing is good and improving with crab in excellent condition.



Coho are in at Tahkenitch but remain concentrated near the outlet. No fishing is allowed below the Highway 101 Bridge. The dam opened on the 17th.



Umpqua side drifters have been doing well for coho on the Elkton stretch of the Umpqua.


With a wild coho fishery in the Coos, Coquille and Yaquina rivers for the first time in many years, Umpqua anglers witnessed thousands of native fish present and hope for a season here in the future.

Coos anglers saw a slowing in chinook hookups and while there are lots of coho in the system, most are wild which must be released.



Trollers in Rogue tidewater have continued to see steady action with chinook, jacks and coho although action slows whenever the ocean is rough.



It's mostly a coho show in the Coquille system where nearly half of the 1,500 wild coho quota allowed here has been taken.



Offshore forecasts look dicey for ocean launches out of the Port of Brookings this coming weekend. Good-sized chinook are entering the Chetco providing fair to good opportunities below the Highway 101 Bridge. The river above the bridge opens November 11th.



Chinook moved into the lower Elk and Sixes with recent rain but additional precipitation is needed to get this fishery underway. There are some fish being taken in the tidewater areas however.

Eastern – Steelhead are being hooked on the Deschutes from Madras to the mouth. Water level is up but clarity is good on the lower river.



Steelheading is improving on the Imnaha with hardware anglers outfishing fly rodders.



The Grande Ronde is improving for steelhead with reports of a fish landed for every 6.7 hours of effort. Anglers are reminded that the bag limit on the lower Grand Ronde, Imnaha and Wallowa Rivers has increased to 5 per day in response to a record number of steelhead passing into the system.



Once the river temperature warms, the smallmouth bass bite is epic on the John Day River. Steelhead are beginning to show in the lower stretches.

Oregon Fishing Report

Forecasting for the fishing week of October 16th – October 22nd, 2009



Willamette Valley/Metro - Trollers are beginning to master coho fishing near tributary mouths like the Sandy and Washougal on the Washington side and action should continue steady through the middle of November. Chinook catches have tapered in the Bonneville area and sturgeon anglers are only finding an occasional keeper. Bank anglers will likely fare best as fish congregate in the faster flows upstream of the boating deadline.



Coho counts, not updated since October 5th, indicate about 700 per day crossing at Willamette Falls as the temperature and water level drop. Water conditions will change this week with precipitation. Sturgeon fishing should improve in the lower river as the water cools.



The North Santiam has continued to frustrate anglers despite the fact the many coho over the Falls should be destined for Santiam tributaries.



The McKenzie Two-Fly Tournament on October 10th netted $4,000 for lower river improvements. Fishing for redsides is good on the upper river.



Anglers may retain limits of three hatchery coho on the Clackamas, Eagle Creek, Sandy River, the upper Willamette and its tributaries through the end of the year. Several limits were taken on the Sandy over the past weekend. The last day to retain chinook on the Sandy is October 31st.



Scheduled for trout planting are Mt Hood Pond, Detroit Reservoir, Walling Pond and Walter Wirth Lake.


Northwest – Effort has dropped off at Buoy 10 but persistent anglers found easy limits upstream of the Astoria/Megler Bridge on Saturday. By Sunday however, the bite had already slowed. The Buoy 10 fishery should dramatically slow after this weekend but a strong incoming tide should provide one last opportunity for those seeking quality coho this late in the season.



Crabbing is excellent in the lower Columbia but with an evening minus tide over the weekend, crabbers must be adamant about pulling pots shortly after high slack or lose them to the strong ebb tide.



Tillamook anglers will find challenging conditions as foul weather hits the north coast. Most anglers are coming up empty but herring trollers in the Ghost Hole are finding occasional success. Frank Ness of Lake Oswego landed a 24-pound buck on Friday but a good portion of the fish being landed are smaller 3-year old fish, weighing in around 15 pounds or less. Stronger tides over the weekend and the likelihood of a closed bar that will prevent an ocean harvest should improve bay fishing over the weekend. Tillamook Bay should be peaking this week although a low return will still limit success rates.



Ocean crabbing closes today but this fishery provided awesome opportunity for those with ocean going craft. Limits of commercial-sized legals were the norm; all a product of a regulation change instigated by a vested sportsman and a willing fish and wildlife agency.



The Nestucca remains only fair for chinook with effort dropping off from previous weeks.



Rain in the forecast is expected to raise north coast rivers only about a foot in height. It shouldn’t take much rain to stimulate a run of fish upstream but rivers will remain almost too low to boat. The lower stretches of the Trask and Nestucca Rivers should produce the best but a more significant rain is needed to really jumpstart the driftboat season.



Southwest – Razor clam harvest has re-opened on the coast from Yaquina Bay to the California border. The best clamming takes place north of Tillamook Head near Cannon Beach but toxicity levels remain too high for safe consumption in that area.


Coho and chinook catches have been improving in Winchester Bay and salmon are starting to move upriver.



Coquille anglers are seeing a brief flurry of action for coho and chinook just prior to high tide. Less than half of the wild coho quota has been taken. Chinook and the occasional coho are being boated by Coos trollers with the bite near high tide here as well, although wild coho may not be retained.



Chinook catches remain good in Rogue Bay and upriver to Agness. Coho numbers are increasing. The Rogue estuary fishes best inside the jaws on the outgoing tide. The long awaited removal of Savage Rapids Dam will provide new water for anglers to master as well as bolster fish populations.



The chinook run in the Chetco which is a late-starter historically, is fair and will improve in weeks to come. The river will remain closed below Highway 101 until the first week in November unless rain raises the water level. The ocean laid down over the past weekend allowing boats to take advantage of excellent rockfishing and make good catches of large ling cod.



The Elk and Sixes should start fishing for chinook with rain this week.



Scheduled trout stocking has concluded for the year in coastal zones.

Eastern – Catches were slow in eastside streams and river over the past weekend with the weather changing but should improve with rain this week.



Chinook are being hooked in addition to steelhead in the lower Deschutes now.



It's been chilly on the Grande Ronde with about 25% of anglers taking home steelhead. The department has increased the daily bag limit of steelhead to 5 per day as dam passage indicates a near-record run is likely to many district rivers. Check the ODF&W website before heading to your favorite destination as complex regulations are always changing to maximize conservation benefit.

Oregon fishing update

Oregon Fisheries Update:

Willamette Valley/Metro- Anglers are beginning to pick up an occasional keeper sturgeon near the mouth of the Willamette River but fresh smelt is a key bait if anglers want to get results. The Bonneville Pool is putting out a few keepers as well to both bank and boat anglers.

Incidental commercial catches of spring chinook are on the increase on the lower Columbia River while in pursuit of sturgeon. The average size of the salmon is shrinking to around 20 pounds possibly indicating the presence of the typically smaller upper Columbia bound stock.

Not much in the way of sport caught salmon this week reports Pro guide Brandon McGavran (360-607-1327). Better times are ahead!

Water temperatures of the lower Willamette are rising which should have a positive effect on fishing. Sturgeon fishing is fair to good when the fish can be found. Spring chinook fishing remains slow as is often the case after a brief flurry of activity witnessed a few weeks ago.


Pro guide Bill Kremers (541-754-6411) slow fishing for sturgeon around St. Johns but that it's the best of choices in the lower Willamette.

Fly anglers did very well for trout over the past weekend on the lower McKenzie.

Rain has improved the water temperature along with the winter steelhead bite on the Clackamas River. Bobber and jigs seems to be most effective here but rising river levels will likely shift effort to sidedrifting bait.

Steelheading has picked up and the Sandy as well with winters showing a preference for spinners. Fish will become much more distributed after the high water recedes. Varying techniques will take holding fish with bait a likely preference. Plunkers may do well in the lower river when flows stabilize.

The North Santiam is a good bet for solitude. There are very few anglers trying for very few steelhead in the river.

Scheduled for trout stocking this week are Henry Hagg Lake, St Louis Ponds, Alton Baker Canal, Cottage Grove Pond, Cottage Grove Reservoir, E. E. Wilson Pond, Junction City Pond, Walling Pond and Walter Wirth Lake.

Northwest - The first week of March is typically a good one for winter steelhead on the north coast. With the most significant precipitation in weeks, rivers have swelled and when the recede, steelhead fishing will be excellent.

Smaller streams like the Kilchis and North Fork Nehalem will produce early results in the higher flows but few quality hatchery fish will be present in these systems. Anglers wishing to take home a keeper will focus their efforts on the Wilson and Nestucca Rivers. Fish will be well distributed for both bank and boat anglers by the weekend.

Other rivers like the Trask will get good returns of wild fish this week with slightly lighter effort. Bait will be the key to success in the higher flows and anglers should use brighter colors to find fish in the turbid waters.

The Nehalem River will be a poor choice for at least a week.

Sturgeon fishing on Tillamook Bay showed slight improvement later in last weeks tide series but will likely slow this week. Most anglers will focus their efforts on steelhead in these ideal conditions.

A series of fronts will keep the ocean unfishable through the weekend and even surf fishing will be dangerous for a while.

Alder Lake, Big Creek Reservoir 1 & 2, Buck Lake, Carter Lake, Cleawox Lake, Dune Lake, Elbow Lake, Georgia Lake, Lost Lake (Lane County), Munsel Lake, North Georgia Lake, Olalla Creek Reservoir, Perkins Lake, Siltcoos Lagoon and Thissel Pond are scheduled to be planted with trout.

Southwest - Rock and jetty fishing has been worthwhile on the south coast, yielding various species of rockfish, greenling and improving catches of ling cod.

Much of the southwest is getting rain, heavy at times, pushing some rivers out of shape. With no break in the long-range weather forecast, it may be a while before all but the smallest rivers are fishable.

Water levels have improved on the South Fork Coquille over the past week and steelhead catches picked up. The Coos system remains low and clear, however. Crabbing has been worthwhile out of Charleston as well as Bandon. When the seas have flattened, bottom fishers have done well out of Charleston.

While the lower Rogue received some fresh winter steelhead, the bite is slow due to low, cold and clear water. The river level rose over four feet at Agness this week with a passing storm. It fished well above Foster Bar before the rain and is expected to be good when the river starts to drop.

Sixes River steelheaders saw some action over the last week as the water level rose and achieved excellent color.

Chetco flows spiked to about 17,000 cfs overnight on February 23rd. Good catches of herring were being brought into the Port of Brooking prior to the deluge.

Cooper Creek Reservoir will be planted with trout late this week. Trout stocking will take place in most southwest locations in March.

Eastern - Redside trout fishing is fair on the lower Deschutes using caddis pupa and Blue-Winged Olive emergers.

Lake Billy Chinook has continued to provide fair to good fishing for nice-sized kokanee on the troll.

Pro guide Steve Fleming (888-624-9424) reports that steelhead have migrated far up the and that the low, clear water is too cold for smallmouth to start biting.

Oregon fishing update

Oregon Fisheries Update:

Willamette Valley/Metro- 2008 licenses and tags are no longer valid. Be sure to purchase 2009 paperwork before your next outing. The outlook for salmon and steelhead is one of the best in several years.

Although sturgeon fishing on the mainstem Columbia is poor, anglers are reminded of the new head-to-fork length measurement for sturgeon beginning January 1st. Under the new rule, a 42-inch sturgeon translates into 38 inches with the upper limit at 56 inches. Check the ODF&W website for additional conversions.

Rain has warmed the Willamette to over 40 degrees at Willamette Falls and pushed the visibility below one foot. While this isn't ideal for steelhead plunking, these conditions should improve sturgeon fishing.

The North Santiam is unlikely to fish well until mid-February and into March when late run, wild winter steelhead oftentimes produces good catches.

Waters of the Sandy River are high and muddy. Explorers should be cautious as there is woody debris and ice washing down this week. The level was 12 feet at Bull Run on Tuesday.

There has been no action reported from the swollen, muddy Clackamas this week. When we get a break in precipitation, Eagle Creek will come into shape early and steelheading should be worthwhile this late in the season. Chrome winters were spotted here as recently as Christmas day. The Clackamas is forecast to drop to 14 feet at Estacada with little change in the level for several days thereafter.

Planting of legal-size and broodstock trout to 15 pounds will resume this week. Skipped last week due to snow and ice, Huddleston Pond, Junction City Pond, Walling Pond and Walter Wirth Lake will all get a visit from the ODFW tank truck. A tipster tells us stocking will take place on New Year's Eve.

Northwest – Local rivers witnessed the most significant rise in river levels in several weeks. Stockpiled snow in the headwaters of these watersheds will likely keep rivers charged for the next few weeks barring a swift warming trend.

Anxious steelheaders were close to getting optimum river levels by the New Year holiday but another weather system will keep the more productive streams off-color at least until the weekend. Smaller streams may offer some opportunity but bank fishing will likely be the only option as high winds and saturated river banks will have large wood debris impeding navigation.

Astoria area streams may offer the best opportunity with Big Creek, Gnat Creek and the Klaskanine River fair options until the next river rise. Action has been reported as fair at best however and this is peak season for returning steelhead adults on these smaller streams.

With estuaries saturated with fresh water associated with snow melt and rough seas in the forecast, crabbing will be a poor option on most coastal bays with the exception of Netarts Bay. High winds will challenge boaters through the weekend.

High water in coastal estuaries often draws sturgeon in and sends bait-picking crab back out to sea. Although we certainly have muddy waters at the coast, a weak tide series will limit success for sturgeon anglers until the next good minus tide series the following week.

The Alsea rose to 13.5 feet overnight on December 28th but has been receding since then. While it's not forecast to drop below the eight foot level this week, winter steelheading is expected to be good when the water clears. Fish were caught here as recently as Saturday.

Southwest – With wind and waves predictably high, offshore fishing will not be an option out of any central or southern Oregon port.

The mainstem Umpqua started to blow out Sunday, December 28th and is still out of shape. It is expected to fish well when there is a break in the weather.

The Rogue River blew out on Monday this week, rising to over nine feet at Grants Pass and almost 16 feet at Agness. It's dropping rapidly and may fish by New Year's Day. The recent freshet is sure to have brought in bright fish.

The Elk River rose from 4.5 on December 24th to nearly 15 feet on Monday this week. While it's a muddy mess now, it will recover quickly when the rain stops for a couple of days.

After hitting 50,000 cfs, the Chetco River has been dropping but as of Tuesday this week the water level was still over 10 feet at Brookings, muddy and unfishable. Steelheading was excellent prior to the deluge and is expected to be worthwhile once the water recedes.


Eastern – For anglers who can endure cold temperatures and difficult roads, the Deschutes has been in good shape and is exhibiting decent color. Fishing for trout and steelhead has been fair to good.