Willamette Valley/Metro - Lower Willamette water temperatures are in the mid-40s with visibility less than two feet. Sturgeon fishing is expected to be worthwhile while winter steelhead continue to chug across in double digits with the year-to-date total approaching 1,700.
Sturgeon anglers were catching some legal fish in the Bonneville Pool over the weekend.
The McKenzie will fall into shape and achieve good color this week to provide decent winter trout fishing on nymphs.
There are no plans to clear the slide below Barton Bridge on the Clackamas which is easily navigable by drift boats but may cause problems later in the year. Although recently the steelheading has been deemed fair, overall, anglers in the Clackamas are calling it a great season. Good numbers of winter fish will continue to enter the river into early April with a mix of wild, broodstock and a rare summer steelhead throughout the next 2 months.
The Sandy has been consistent for winter steelhead with the run improved over seasons past. Gravel is beginning to accumulate in some of the more popular drifts where previously, silt had inundated the lower reaches. Broodstock fish will become more plentiful in the coming weeks.
Sheridan Pond is scheduled to be stocked with hatchery trout.
Northwest - Steelheaders finally got their opportunity late last week when larger river systems finally came into shape after a long period of high water. The Wilson River produced good catches on Thursday and Friday with boat traffic really ramping up over the weekend. A slight rise in river levels dampened effort over the weekend but fishing picked back up again early in the week. A mix of hatchery broodstock steelhead and wild fish were available with reports of some fish nearing 20-pounds already. Most fish were taken side-drifting eggs and yarn.
Smaller streams like the popular North Fork Nehalem dropped off as the water cleared but fish were still being taken daily near the hatchery. The Necanicum, North Fork Nehalem, Three Rivers and Highway 30 streams will contain mostly spawned out fish for the next several weeks. Wild fish will make a showing later in February but effort will dramatically drop off as only catch and release is allowed.
The Nestucca fished fair over the weekend but has since dropped off according to recent reports. The river is expected to remain in fair shape through the weekend although another system may force anglers upstream by Saturday. Like the Wilson, broodstock fish should be available into April but adult returns seem to be a bit down in recent years.
The mainstem Nehalem should start to get fish but it fishes best when most other north coast streams are too low to successfully fish.
Sturgeon fishers are taking advantage of good tides this week on Tillamook Bay. Weather conditions were favorable and recent reports indicate there are fair numbers of fish available. Peak fishing tides will sink past sunset by the weekend but another series should produce results the following weekend.
Crabbing picked up in Netarts Bay recently but the larger estuaries remain challenging with high volumes of fresh water still inundating them. The ocean forecast remains too rough for saltwater recreation.
Southwest - The tide will be incoming at sunrise but look for minus tides after the sun goes down along the southwest coast.
Steelheaders on the Umpqua have been hooking good numbers of winter steelhead but a fin-clipped adult has been rare due to low hatchery returns.
Tenmile Creek should be a good bet for winter steelhead this week as the water is not expected to get too high.
Waters of the North Fork Coquille will drop and clear quickly this week and should provide good winter steelheading. The South Fork Coquille and Millicoma have been productive when the rivers have been in decent shape.
The lower Rogue was productive for plunkers last week but the latest freshet will cause the waters to peak at mid week, dropping thereafter. It should fish by the coming weekend. The middle river has been fishing fair to good. On the upper Rogue, where nearly 2,800 winter steelhead have crossed Gold Ray Dam, action should pick up in the coming weeks.
The Chetco was fishing well, producing a few 20-pounders right up until rain last Sunday pushed the flow to 9,200 cfs. It is expected to fish well by mid-week. Plunkers using Spin 'n' Glos with bait will score from gravel bars as conditions improve. Drift boaters may get a shot in the coming weekend. Another rough weekend is forecast offshore but there may be a window of opportunity on Sunday, January 31st. Check last-minute conditions.
High winds have plagued Elk River steelheaders recently. Water conditions were excellent Sunday then blown out on Monday this week. It'll drop and clear quickly and offer good fishing.
Eastern - Deschutes fly fishers endured cold, snowy and sometimes windy weather over the past weekend to experience fair results nymphing for redsides around Maupin on the Deschutes.
Steelheading has been slow on the Umatilla although a few are being taken in lower than normal flows.
The Grande Ronde remains a good option if night time temperatures don't cause ice formations in the river. Last week, steelheaders averaged a fish for every 2.3 hours of fishing. The Wallowa, Imnaha and Grande Ronde Rivers now enjoy a 5 fin-clipped fish per day limit and it is attainable for the persistent angler.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Oregon Fishing Report
Willamette Valley/Metro - Lower Willamette River volume nearly doubled to well over 60,000 cfs over the weekend. It's dropping and with the visibility less than one foot, sturgeon fishing should improve.
On years of large returns, early spring chinook can be taken by Meldrum Bar plunkers about this time of year. Although a large return isn't predicted for 2010, it should be one of the better returns in recent years. Steelhead should still be available for plunkers when the flows drop a bit more. The faster the flow, the closer to shore fish will migrate.
ODF&W's 2010 trout stocking schedule is now available from their web site. Although the bulk of the stocking effort won't take place until March, some bodies of water are already being stocked with quality trout. Holdover fish are also available in many ponds and lakes.
McKenzie anglers are catching cutthroat trout but steelhead have been elusive with the water high.
The entire Santiam system is high, forecast to rise this week and will be unfishable by the weekend.
The Sandy is high but has good color with fishing slow to fair. A mix of wild and hatchery fish are in the river with jigs most effective.
Clackamas levels have been very high. Eagle Creek drops and clears rapidly. Now that there are winter steelhead showing, expect it to be crowded most days.
Northwest - North Coast steelheaders will again be denied access to the larger systems in the district. Smaller systems like the North Fork Nehalem, Necanicum and Three Rivers in Tillamook County are options although even those streams have been running bank full. Three Rivers was once again putting out fair numbers of steelhead prior to the high water as fish are being recycled.
Small streams in the Astoria area such as the Klaskanine, Big Creek and Gnat Creek will begin to fade as fish start their winter spawn. As fish stake out their spawning territory however, they become more aggressive. Fresh fish may still be available for another week or two but spawned out fish will soon make up the bulk of the catch.
Although the Dam Hole on the Trask fished well recently, high water has this river along with the Wilson and Nestucca high into the weekend. Anglers may still be willing to target steelhead in the slower flows using large baits to entice swift moving fish. Hatchery and wild adults should be well distributed in the high water.
Another low tide series begins this weekend, making for good opportunity for sturgeon anglers on Tillamook and Nehalem Bays. Effort has been low indicating only fair catches.
Offshore weather forecasts indicate poor conditions for surf clam diggers, crabbers and offshore anglers. Don't attempt a bar crossing.
Southwest - As of the latest ODA update, clams are safe to harvest south of the Necanicum River to California and the entire coast is open for the taking of mussels.
Following huge tide swings last weekend, tidal movement will be comparatively tame in the coming week.
The Umpqua, currently high and roiled, should drop and clear sufficiently to fish later this week.
The Coquille system has been an extraordinary producer of winter steelhead but got hammered by recent storms, putting it out of shape. South Fork Coquille anglers did not see the dropping and clearing predicted early this week but conditions are gradually improving and a few winter steelhead are being caught. The East Fork has been non-productive recently.
The Rogue was running high and muddy over the weekend. Hopefully it will clear with a break in the rain this week. Once the river is fishing again, 2010 regulations allow the retention of one wild steelhead 24 inches or longer on the Rogue and up to five per year. Plunkers using Spin 'N' Glos will be the first to connect with chrome winters.
Chetco water levels are dropping and it should be fishing well. Prior to the rise in water level, it was hot one day, cool the next but the freshet surely brought in more fish. Ocean conditions are once again predicted to be too rough to allow for offshore fishing this coming weekend.
There are bright and dark chinook along with winter steelhead on the Elk and Sixes thanks to a very late run here. A greater number of chinook than steelhead on the Sixes were caught on Monday this week, 15 and seven, respectively.
Eastern - The Metolius is putting out a few rainbows and the occasional bull trout.
Although ice may still hamper Grand Ronde steelheaders, there are plenty of fish available for those willing to brave cold conditions. The action may also heat up if air temperatures continue to rise.
John Day Pool anglers are still catching fish however effort has dropped off significantly.
On years of large returns, early spring chinook can be taken by Meldrum Bar plunkers about this time of year. Although a large return isn't predicted for 2010, it should be one of the better returns in recent years. Steelhead should still be available for plunkers when the flows drop a bit more. The faster the flow, the closer to shore fish will migrate.
ODF&W's 2010 trout stocking schedule is now available from their web site. Although the bulk of the stocking effort won't take place until March, some bodies of water are already being stocked with quality trout. Holdover fish are also available in many ponds and lakes.
McKenzie anglers are catching cutthroat trout but steelhead have been elusive with the water high.
The entire Santiam system is high, forecast to rise this week and will be unfishable by the weekend.
The Sandy is high but has good color with fishing slow to fair. A mix of wild and hatchery fish are in the river with jigs most effective.
Clackamas levels have been very high. Eagle Creek drops and clears rapidly. Now that there are winter steelhead showing, expect it to be crowded most days.
Northwest - North Coast steelheaders will again be denied access to the larger systems in the district. Smaller systems like the North Fork Nehalem, Necanicum and Three Rivers in Tillamook County are options although even those streams have been running bank full. Three Rivers was once again putting out fair numbers of steelhead prior to the high water as fish are being recycled.
Small streams in the Astoria area such as the Klaskanine, Big Creek and Gnat Creek will begin to fade as fish start their winter spawn. As fish stake out their spawning territory however, they become more aggressive. Fresh fish may still be available for another week or two but spawned out fish will soon make up the bulk of the catch.
Although the Dam Hole on the Trask fished well recently, high water has this river along with the Wilson and Nestucca high into the weekend. Anglers may still be willing to target steelhead in the slower flows using large baits to entice swift moving fish. Hatchery and wild adults should be well distributed in the high water.
Another low tide series begins this weekend, making for good opportunity for sturgeon anglers on Tillamook and Nehalem Bays. Effort has been low indicating only fair catches.
Offshore weather forecasts indicate poor conditions for surf clam diggers, crabbers and offshore anglers. Don't attempt a bar crossing.
Southwest - As of the latest ODA update, clams are safe to harvest south of the Necanicum River to California and the entire coast is open for the taking of mussels.
Following huge tide swings last weekend, tidal movement will be comparatively tame in the coming week.
The Umpqua, currently high and roiled, should drop and clear sufficiently to fish later this week.
The Coquille system has been an extraordinary producer of winter steelhead but got hammered by recent storms, putting it out of shape. South Fork Coquille anglers did not see the dropping and clearing predicted early this week but conditions are gradually improving and a few winter steelhead are being caught. The East Fork has been non-productive recently.
The Rogue was running high and muddy over the weekend. Hopefully it will clear with a break in the rain this week. Once the river is fishing again, 2010 regulations allow the retention of one wild steelhead 24 inches or longer on the Rogue and up to five per year. Plunkers using Spin 'N' Glos will be the first to connect with chrome winters.
Chetco water levels are dropping and it should be fishing well. Prior to the rise in water level, it was hot one day, cool the next but the freshet surely brought in more fish. Ocean conditions are once again predicted to be too rough to allow for offshore fishing this coming weekend.
There are bright and dark chinook along with winter steelhead on the Elk and Sixes thanks to a very late run here. A greater number of chinook than steelhead on the Sixes were caught on Monday this week, 15 and seven, respectively.
Eastern - The Metolius is putting out a few rainbows and the occasional bull trout.
Although ice may still hamper Grand Ronde steelheaders, there are plenty of fish available for those willing to brave cold conditions. The action may also heat up if air temperatures continue to rise.
John Day Pool anglers are still catching fish however effort has dropped off significantly.
Friday, January 01, 2010
Oregon fishing report
Willamette Valley/Metro - With little current in the lower Willamette, sturgeon fishing slowed over the past weekend. It's difficult to keep a boat straight on the incoming tide. Sand shrimp and squid have been taking mostly shakers and the occasional keeper-sized fish.
The Multnomah Channel can be a good place to target sturgeon this time of year, especially towards the head of the channel.
The McKenzie is low and clear but the water temperature has been rising slightly. There are still steelhead available below Leaburg Dam.
Winter steelhead are being taken on the Clackamas with jigs being a top producer. Results will improve here into January but many of the early run fish may be entering their spawning phase.
The Sandy should be in great shape for steelheading this week and holds promise for winters. Scott Harden of Portland recently posted a 3-fish day with the largest being an 18-pound native, released to spawn in the wild. Low and clear early in the week, rain will improve the flow and color. Try spinners here.
Confusion surrounds the new aquatic invasive species permit. Check the department's home page for clarification: www.dfw.state.or.us/. Licenses and tags for the 2010 season can also be purchased here and anglers are reminded that they can't legally fish after today without their new paperwork.
Northwest - Steelheaders experienced good fishing on many north coast streams just after the most recent drop in river levels. Many anticipated great fishing for hatchery fish but reality pointed to more challenging fishing.
A good showing of wild steelhead were witnessed by north coast anglers but opportunities slowed when flows dropped and a strong east wind chilled the bite. The Wilson remained one of the better bets but anglers were forced to seek fish in the extreme lower portions of these systems once they dropped down to low levels. The most recent report from the Wilson was slow fishing, even downstream of Sollie Smith Bridge when historically, this can be a good week to pursue fish down there.
The Nestucca had fish available last week but has since slowed for even the most persistent angler. Wild fish were prevalent in the recent low water but anglers are waiting for slightly warmer weather and higher flows. The river should fish again early next week.
It's still a bit early for steelhead on the mainstem Nehalem and most other north coast rivers have to be too low before this river begins producing fish under ideal conditions. It should start producing well in late January.
Small stream anglers targeting steelhead on the North Fork Nehalem, Three Rivers and the Necanicum found challenging conditions in the low, clear and cold weather. These rivers should get a final shot of early run steelhead once systems swell again as predicted by mid-week. Recycled steelhead should be available on the North Fork Nehalem and Three Rivers systems.
Sturgeon effort picked up with the favorable tides on Tillamook Bay last weekend. Although reports were spotty, this is peak season for these fish. Quality tides will still be available through the weekend but peak time is after dark essentially suspending all effort.
A large freshwater influx, high tides and rough seas will produce poorly for crabbers this weekend. It would be a wasted effort.
Despite great tides, razor clam digging north of the Necanicum River remains closed. Rough seas will likely limit success for diggers to the south.
Southwest - Minus tides will occur after dark this week creating opportunities for clam diggers with appropriate lighting to spot bivalves. A head-mounted lamp works well.
Umpqua anglers have had some good days for winters with the best yet to come. Currently it's fair on the mainstem.
East Fork Coquille was non-productive over the past weekend. Only a handful of fish were caught on the South Fork.
Steelheading on the Coos has been slow to fair. East Fork Millacoma is producing a few steelhead but remains thick with wild coho.
The water was low and clear on the lower Rogue early this week. Rain will improve conditions here.
Chetco steelheaders have been taking a few chromers on a variety of baits and lures. The Chetco was below optimum levels early this week but precipitation is in the forecast. Check the levels; it fishes best between 1,400 and 4,000 cfs. Results will improve as the winter steelhead run hit its prime in January. When boats have been able to cross the bar they found excellent results for rockfish and made good catches of ling cod and crab. Boaters should expect a rough ocean over the New Years weekend.
Fishing for winter steelhead has been worthwhile on the Elk River.
Eastern - Pro guide Mac Huff (800-940-3688) reports slow steelheading and very cold conditions on the Grande Ronde River. Rain will help to thaw the banks, break up ice jams and improve the fishing.
Deschutes anglers enjoyed fair to good steelheading in chilly conditions over the holiday weekend.
Crescent Lake has continued to provide trollers with large Mackinaw. Run large plugs on downriggers here and dress for frigid conditions.
The Multnomah Channel can be a good place to target sturgeon this time of year, especially towards the head of the channel.
The McKenzie is low and clear but the water temperature has been rising slightly. There are still steelhead available below Leaburg Dam.
Winter steelhead are being taken on the Clackamas with jigs being a top producer. Results will improve here into January but many of the early run fish may be entering their spawning phase.
The Sandy should be in great shape for steelheading this week and holds promise for winters. Scott Harden of Portland recently posted a 3-fish day with the largest being an 18-pound native, released to spawn in the wild. Low and clear early in the week, rain will improve the flow and color. Try spinners here.
Confusion surrounds the new aquatic invasive species permit. Check the department's home page for clarification: www.dfw.state.or.us/. Licenses and tags for the 2010 season can also be purchased here and anglers are reminded that they can't legally fish after today without their new paperwork.
Northwest - Steelheaders experienced good fishing on many north coast streams just after the most recent drop in river levels. Many anticipated great fishing for hatchery fish but reality pointed to more challenging fishing.
A good showing of wild steelhead were witnessed by north coast anglers but opportunities slowed when flows dropped and a strong east wind chilled the bite. The Wilson remained one of the better bets but anglers were forced to seek fish in the extreme lower portions of these systems once they dropped down to low levels. The most recent report from the Wilson was slow fishing, even downstream of Sollie Smith Bridge when historically, this can be a good week to pursue fish down there.
The Nestucca had fish available last week but has since slowed for even the most persistent angler. Wild fish were prevalent in the recent low water but anglers are waiting for slightly warmer weather and higher flows. The river should fish again early next week.
It's still a bit early for steelhead on the mainstem Nehalem and most other north coast rivers have to be too low before this river begins producing fish under ideal conditions. It should start producing well in late January.
Small stream anglers targeting steelhead on the North Fork Nehalem, Three Rivers and the Necanicum found challenging conditions in the low, clear and cold weather. These rivers should get a final shot of early run steelhead once systems swell again as predicted by mid-week. Recycled steelhead should be available on the North Fork Nehalem and Three Rivers systems.
Sturgeon effort picked up with the favorable tides on Tillamook Bay last weekend. Although reports were spotty, this is peak season for these fish. Quality tides will still be available through the weekend but peak time is after dark essentially suspending all effort.
A large freshwater influx, high tides and rough seas will produce poorly for crabbers this weekend. It would be a wasted effort.
Despite great tides, razor clam digging north of the Necanicum River remains closed. Rough seas will likely limit success for diggers to the south.
Southwest - Minus tides will occur after dark this week creating opportunities for clam diggers with appropriate lighting to spot bivalves. A head-mounted lamp works well.
Umpqua anglers have had some good days for winters with the best yet to come. Currently it's fair on the mainstem.
East Fork Coquille was non-productive over the past weekend. Only a handful of fish were caught on the South Fork.
Steelheading on the Coos has been slow to fair. East Fork Millacoma is producing a few steelhead but remains thick with wild coho.
The water was low and clear on the lower Rogue early this week. Rain will improve conditions here.
Chetco steelheaders have been taking a few chromers on a variety of baits and lures. The Chetco was below optimum levels early this week but precipitation is in the forecast. Check the levels; it fishes best between 1,400 and 4,000 cfs. Results will improve as the winter steelhead run hit its prime in January. When boats have been able to cross the bar they found excellent results for rockfish and made good catches of ling cod and crab. Boaters should expect a rough ocean over the New Years weekend.
Fishing for winter steelhead has been worthwhile on the Elk River.
Eastern - Pro guide Mac Huff (800-940-3688) reports slow steelheading and very cold conditions on the Grande Ronde River. Rain will help to thaw the banks, break up ice jams and improve the fishing.
Deschutes anglers enjoyed fair to good steelheading in chilly conditions over the holiday weekend.
Crescent Lake has continued to provide trollers with large Mackinaw. Run large plugs on downriggers here and dress for frigid conditions.
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