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.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
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.
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.
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