Oregon Fisheries Update:
Willamette Valley/Metro - Bonneville Pool anglers are scoring good catches of keepers right now. Weekend anglers tallied an average of 3 keepers per boat in this under-the-radar fishery. Success should stay consistent as long as the season remains open.
Although only a few serious anglers will participate, early spring chinook catches on the mainstem Columbia below I-5 are not unprecedented. With a good Willamette run in the forecast, a January salmon is a possibility. Fish downstream of the Multnomah Channel at St. Helens for your best opportunity.
Steelhead passage over Willamette Falls has been in the single digits daily since the first of the year. Plunking is slow at Meldrum Bar.
Santiam River levels will be high this week. With just over 1,100 fish passing Willamette Falls, fishing will be fair at best.
Bobber and jigs have been effective for steelhead on the Clackamas. The lower reaches of the Clackamas are likely to produce the best results when flows are down. Eagle Creek has been producing winters but can be crowded when the fish are in.
The Sandy River is in good shape for winter steelheading although catches have been slow to fair recently. Natives and broodstock fish should begin to make a stronger showing later this month. Low, clear water conditions call for early morning starts and small baits and drift bobbers.
Huddelston Pond. Junction City Pond, Walling Pond and Walter Wirth Lake are scheduled to be planted with trout.
Northwest – A cease in precipitation has slowed steelheading on the north coast. Good catches were reported in the middle of last week but tapered by the weekend when most of the angler effort took place. Larger systems such as the Wilson and Nestucca bore the bulk of the effort and fishing was fair, even with some heavy pressure.
Smaller streams remained slow with low, clear water conditions putting fish down. Fair concentrations of fish are said to remain in the lower stretches of some of these rivers however, giving additional hope to those waiting the next rain freshet to hit.
Weather systems modeled through the week should improve fishing conditions on all north coast systems, beginning with the smaller systems when flows are predicted to subside by the weekend. A mix of a few fresh steelhead and numerous spawned out fish will likely be available.
A brief window of opportunity existed for anglers seeking bottomfish and crab offshore on the central and north coasts. Ling cod action was reported as good but crabbing was surprisingly poor. The lower Columbia River however continues to put out good catches of keeper dungeness.
Good tides will occur again over the weekend for Tillamook Bay sturgeon fishers. Coinciding with these tides is good clamming opportunities. Success for diggers largely depends on surf conditions and the combined sea forecast does not look conducive to high success rates.
Southwest – While there are few days during winter when ocean conditions allow recreational boats to fish, ling cod and rockfish catches are excellent at this time of year. Rockfishing is currently open at all depths and cabezon may once again be taken as part of the seven-fish limit.
Rockfishing has been good off the South Jetty at Winchester Bay when it hasn't been stormy. Umpqua steelheaders have been putting in long days with spotty results. The majority of winter steelhead in the
system are wild, which may not be retained here. Fishing has been best at the confluence and into the South Umpqua.
Coos Bay crabbers are taking good numbers of dungeness following the stretch of dry weather. Steelhead catches have been good in the river.
The Coquille River has been producing good catches of winter steelhead.
Elk and Sixes Rivers were low and clear on Tuesday this week but rain is in the forecast and steelheading will be good whenever the water is dropping and clearing following precipitation.
Steelheading has been very good on the lower Rogue. While most of the fish taken here are wild, one unclipped fish over 24 inches may be retained anywhere below the Hog Creek Boat Ramp, up to five per year as of January 1st. Winter steelhead are in the middle Rogue as well where catches have been fair to good. The upper Rogue has been slow with the water low and clear.
The Chetco was producing winter steelhead very well last week as it was dropping. There was a great deal of boat and bank pressure but plenty of hatchery fish were caught. Over the past weekend it fell below optimum level and as of January 11th, was too low and clear to fish at its best. Wild steelhead may be kept on the Chetco with the same restrictions as the Rogue.
Eastern – Trollers working the Columbia mainstem reservoirs have been doing fair for steelhead. The Dalles and John Day Pools will remain the top prospects.
Steelheaders on the Grande Ronde, Wallowa and Imnaha Rivers have poor river conditions to contend with. Ice formation limits angling days but action could pick up with a warming trend.
Crescent trollers made good catches of Mackinaw over the past weekend.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Saturday, January 01, 2011
Oregon Fishing Report
Willamette Valley/Metro - A new 2011 license and tag is required beginning Saturday. Don’t forget to get it before your next fishing or hunting excursion. Licenses and tags are now available from the ODF&W web site.
With a new year comes a renewed quota for sturgeon. One of the better bets will be the Bonneville Pool where anglers can often score good results targeting keepers just upstream of Bonneville Dam. A quota of 1,400 fish has been established for this fishery.
Anglers fishing from Bonneville Dam downstream to the Wauna Powerlines will also have a renewed but reduced quota beginning January 1st. Anglers are reminded however that the area near Rooster Rock Park that was so productive the last 2 years is not closed until the end of April. Check regulations for detailed information. Angling will remain poor in this stretch until spring however.
Flows over Willamette Falls have moderated and should be dropping in the coming days. Steelhead are once again on the move. The sturgeon quota for the lower Willamette appears destined for a reduction from 3,600 fish in 2010 to 2,550 in 2011 due to a decline in keeper-sized fish populations. A decision on the opener, scheduled originally for January 1, will be made in a meeting on February 5th.
Trees are a likely hazard in the North Santiam from recent heavy rain. For those trying it, use large baits or lures for catch-and-release wild winter steelheading.
The Clackamas and Sandy Rivers were on the rise earlier this week but should drop, clear and fish well with the dry, cold weather that's in the forecast.
Share ideas, comments and concerns about Oregon fisheries at the ODFW Open House on Jan. 4, 2011 from 6 PM to 9 PM at the ODFW Headquarters, 3406 Cherry Avenue NE in Salem.
Northwest – The North Coast continues to get pounded by rain storms but weather models indicate a moderating pattern which should give anglers good access to most systems over the weekend. Smaller systems will fish first and hatchery fish should be plentiful on streams receiving plants.
The North Fork Nehalem should produce well as should the Necanicum, Three Rivers, Big and Gnat Creek and the Klaskanine River near Astoria. Look for those to fish by this afternoon or tomorrow.
Larger systems such as the Wilson, Trask and Nestucca produced good results before the steady rise so fish are available on these systems. The upper reaches will fish best by the weekend and all stretches should be fishing good late in the week if weather models hold. The Vanderzanden launch on the upper Wilson has been repaired.
Chinook were caught prior to the last high water but will close on December 31st on the north coast.
Bait always works best in the higher flows when fish are moving. Eggs or shrimp will produce the best but use hot colors along with your favorite bait. Hardware and plugs will come on stronger when flows drop.
Anglers should find a mix of darker fish and this will likely be the last good push of fresh hatchery fish on the early producing streams. Rivers with broodstock programs like the Nestucca and Wilson should produce well into April.
Good sturgeon tides begin today for anglers interested in pursuing keepers on Tillamook Bay. A calming weather pattern may afford cold-blooded anglers some good opportunity through the weekend. Sand shrimp should produce some results in the west channel.
Strong morning incoming tides will limit productive crabbing on Netarts Bay and the lower Columbia River. East winds may make the lower Columbia hazardous to boaters.
Southwest – Rough seas have prevented recreational crabbers from making much of an effort recently but when it has been possible to drop posts and traps, ocean crabbing has been good.
The mainstem Umpqua was high but stable earlier this week and should fish if rainfall moderates as predicted. A few winter steelhead have been taken on the North Umpqua but many here are wild. Steelheading was worthwhile in the South Umpqua prior to the last storm.
Coos Bay has continued to produce good catches of Dungeness between storms.
Coquille anglers enjoyed good results with winter steelhead over the past weekend until rain pushed the river out of shape on Sunday.
Chinook as well as winter steelhead have been caught whenever the Elk and Sixes have come into shape. Conditions were deteriorating mid-week but can improve quickly on these small rivers.
Water level and flow was on the rise as of December 28th and will take some time to return to decent shape. Plunking with Spin 'N' Glos has been effective on the lower Rogue in lower flows. Summer steelhead are biting whenever the water has dropped on the upper river.
Flows on the Chetco River dropped over the past weekend to allow plunking. Steelheaders were successful but rain again pushed the level up early this week. With moderating precipitation forecast for this week, fishing should be good as the levels drop. Steelhead are well distributed throughout the system and this is historically one of the best times of year for winters.
Eastern – Deep trollers scored large Mackinaw at Crescent Lake over the past weekend in chilly weather.
Steelheaders willing to brave frigid weather should find success when flows drop on the Grand Ronde, Umatilla and John Day Rivers. Cooler weather will slow flows but river ice may form if the weather pattern persists.
With a new year comes a renewed quota for sturgeon. One of the better bets will be the Bonneville Pool where anglers can often score good results targeting keepers just upstream of Bonneville Dam. A quota of 1,400 fish has been established for this fishery.
Anglers fishing from Bonneville Dam downstream to the Wauna Powerlines will also have a renewed but reduced quota beginning January 1st. Anglers are reminded however that the area near Rooster Rock Park that was so productive the last 2 years is not closed until the end of April. Check regulations for detailed information. Angling will remain poor in this stretch until spring however.
Flows over Willamette Falls have moderated and should be dropping in the coming days. Steelhead are once again on the move. The sturgeon quota for the lower Willamette appears destined for a reduction from 3,600 fish in 2010 to 2,550 in 2011 due to a decline in keeper-sized fish populations. A decision on the opener, scheduled originally for January 1, will be made in a meeting on February 5th.
Trees are a likely hazard in the North Santiam from recent heavy rain. For those trying it, use large baits or lures for catch-and-release wild winter steelheading.
The Clackamas and Sandy Rivers were on the rise earlier this week but should drop, clear and fish well with the dry, cold weather that's in the forecast.
Share ideas, comments and concerns about Oregon fisheries at the ODFW Open House on Jan. 4, 2011 from 6 PM to 9 PM at the ODFW Headquarters, 3406 Cherry Avenue NE in Salem.
Northwest – The North Coast continues to get pounded by rain storms but weather models indicate a moderating pattern which should give anglers good access to most systems over the weekend. Smaller systems will fish first and hatchery fish should be plentiful on streams receiving plants.
The North Fork Nehalem should produce well as should the Necanicum, Three Rivers, Big and Gnat Creek and the Klaskanine River near Astoria. Look for those to fish by this afternoon or tomorrow.
Larger systems such as the Wilson, Trask and Nestucca produced good results before the steady rise so fish are available on these systems. The upper reaches will fish best by the weekend and all stretches should be fishing good late in the week if weather models hold. The Vanderzanden launch on the upper Wilson has been repaired.
Chinook were caught prior to the last high water but will close on December 31st on the north coast.
Bait always works best in the higher flows when fish are moving. Eggs or shrimp will produce the best but use hot colors along with your favorite bait. Hardware and plugs will come on stronger when flows drop.
Anglers should find a mix of darker fish and this will likely be the last good push of fresh hatchery fish on the early producing streams. Rivers with broodstock programs like the Nestucca and Wilson should produce well into April.
Good sturgeon tides begin today for anglers interested in pursuing keepers on Tillamook Bay. A calming weather pattern may afford cold-blooded anglers some good opportunity through the weekend. Sand shrimp should produce some results in the west channel.
Strong morning incoming tides will limit productive crabbing on Netarts Bay and the lower Columbia River. East winds may make the lower Columbia hazardous to boaters.
Southwest – Rough seas have prevented recreational crabbers from making much of an effort recently but when it has been possible to drop posts and traps, ocean crabbing has been good.
The mainstem Umpqua was high but stable earlier this week and should fish if rainfall moderates as predicted. A few winter steelhead have been taken on the North Umpqua but many here are wild. Steelheading was worthwhile in the South Umpqua prior to the last storm.
Coos Bay has continued to produce good catches of Dungeness between storms.
Coquille anglers enjoyed good results with winter steelhead over the past weekend until rain pushed the river out of shape on Sunday.
Chinook as well as winter steelhead have been caught whenever the Elk and Sixes have come into shape. Conditions were deteriorating mid-week but can improve quickly on these small rivers.
Water level and flow was on the rise as of December 28th and will take some time to return to decent shape. Plunking with Spin 'N' Glos has been effective on the lower Rogue in lower flows. Summer steelhead are biting whenever the water has dropped on the upper river.
Flows on the Chetco River dropped over the past weekend to allow plunking. Steelheaders were successful but rain again pushed the level up early this week. With moderating precipitation forecast for this week, fishing should be good as the levels drop. Steelhead are well distributed throughout the system and this is historically one of the best times of year for winters.
Eastern – Deep trollers scored large Mackinaw at Crescent Lake over the past weekend in chilly weather.
Steelheaders willing to brave frigid weather should find success when flows drop on the Grand Ronde, Umatilla and John Day Rivers. Cooler weather will slow flows but river ice may form if the weather pattern persists.
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