Willamette Valley/Metro - Recent rumors of improved fishing for keepers is coming from the gorge. Given that there are very few keepers remaining on the quota, if those rumors are accurate, the fishery is likely to close very soon. The Willamette remains closed to catch and keep fishing but should provide good catch and release opportunities.
Anticipation is running high for metro area salmon anglers. Fishery managers are in the process of modeling 2011 returns and after a banner year on the Willamette last year, anglers are anxious. The Columbia run is likely to be down from last year.
Winter steelhead counts have stalled at Willamette Falls. Bright summer steelhead remain available on the Town Run in the upper Willamette when water conditions allow.
While the McKenzie is driftable, trout fishing has been poor to slow.
North Santiam water levels are high for boating. Watch for new hazards from Shelburn's to Green's Bridge.
Winter steelhead have been hooked and a few landed on the lower Clackamas. The Eagle Creek system may be a better bet this weekend however as high water will have fish on the move.
A few winter steelhead have been banked on the Sandy River but it's early for this system to fish well.
Northwest – Tillamook driftboaters have enjoyed good water conditions to fish in. Action picked up when the water and air temperatures began to rise. Anglers working the upper stretches of the Wilson remain frustrated however as fishers still pursuing chinook and steelhead below Sollie Smith Bridge seem to be intercepting the lion’s share of the fish. Fair numbers of steelhead have been caught on the Wilson already, indicating a good season ahead.
The Kilchis has a few fish available but isn’t fishing as good as most had anticipated. The Trask also has a few late run chinook and a rare steelhead but effort is low. The high water we’re currently experiencing typically bodes well for the Dam Hole on the Trask for early run steelhead.
Smaller streams like the North Fork Nehalem, Necanicum and Three Rivers should all be prime candidates for steelhead right now but North Fork hatchery reported surprisingly few adults in the trap this week. The current rain freshet should stimulate a good push into these systems however.
The Nestucca has been a sleeper lately and in the high water, steelhead are likely to move right into Three Rivers so mainstem fishing will likely remain challenging with the exception of the mouth of Three Rivers itself.
Tillamook Bay remains void of effort. Chinook trollers still have a viable chance in the Ghost Hole after the water clears from this rain event. Sturgeon fishing should be good but little effort exists. A nice tide series starts today but by the weekend, low slack will take place after dark.
Tides will be too strong for good crabbing this weekend. The lower Columbia and Netarts Bay will be the best bets and with a possible delay in the commercial opener, recreational crabbing should remain productive.
Southwest – Crabbing has slowed in bays and estuaries as heavy rains have lowered salinity which always slows Dungeness take. Ocean crabbing opened December 1st. Ironically, after a wild fall, the ocean looks like a possibility for crabbers and fishers this weekend.
The wild coho fishery slowed for trollers on Siltcoos Lake over the past weekend.
Winchester Bay anglers have been doing well for bottom fish off the south jetty when conditions allow safe access. Fishing on the Umpqua has been slow with high, muddy water shutting down the bite.
Winter steelhead have yet to show in the Coquille.
South Coos anglers are taking a few chinook but catches are slowing and most fish are dark.
The Elk and Sixes have been productive lately with some boats taking multiple chinook. High wind has been problematic at times. The ocean fishery off the mouths is closed as of December 1st. Bullard's Bridge should be open during the day but call ODOT to confirm.
Winter steelhead are showing in the lower Rogue with results expected to improve in coming weeks. High, muddy water has challenged steelheaders on the middle Rogue although fishing has been fair at times. The upper Rogue continues to offer the best chance of a hookup with a late-season summer steelhead despite slowing due to higher water.
Boats launching early out of the Port of Brookings have made good catches of rockfish nearshore but few ling cod. Cold water slowed the chinook bite over the past week on the Chetco River although persistent boaters dragging wrapped plugs continued to take a few fish. Low water temperatures didn't prevent early winter steelhead from biting however, as several were taken. December is shaping up to be a good month. The Chetco was 2,700 and dropping on Tuesday this week.
Eastern – A few good-sized trout are being hooked on the Metolius where bull trout are also available.
Steelheading has been good on the Grande Ronde but at last report, a cold snap had formed slushy ice in the river.
