Willamette Valley/Metro- Although the Columbia remains open for opportunity, passage numbers have plummeted in the recent week. Catch rates downriver indicate low numbers still to come but jack counts seem very strong in creel census data however. An occasional steelhead is showing up for bank anglers between Portland and Longview.
Beginning Friday, fishery managers will extend the deadline from Beacon Rock to Bonneville Dam in a decision on Wednesday. This section of river hasn’t been open for years, indicating the level of confidence that fishery managers have that catch rates will remain low enough not to jeopardize impact rates or catch sharing agreements. Fishing will remain challenging in the high flows and use extra caution when anchoring in this area.
A few sturgeon, including oversize, are starting to show in the below Marker 82 fishery. Shad, the primary bait for oversize anglers are starting to trickle over Bonneville Dam so bait collection isn’t easy. The oversize fishery should peak in the coming weeks but effort has faded over the years.
Over 14,000 spring chinook have been counted at Willamette Falls along with roughly 5,500 summer steelhead. Water color and temperature are good in the lower river although high spring flows have fish off the bite. Chinook are being taken daily in the Oregon City area but results aren’t consistent day to day. With the high flows we’re experiencing this year and the fact that only a fraction of the adult salmon have migrated over the falls, fishing should remain good in Oregon City, especially when flows begin to subside.
Expect higher-than normal flows on the McKenzie but trout and steelhead are available to those willing to adapt.
South Santiam plunkers have taken a few spring chinook in high water conditions. Action should build as Willamette Falls passage increases.
Springers are in the lower Clackamas but so are the sea lions. Summer steelhead are scattered.
A few summer steelhead have been taken on the Sandy with the color remaining good. Springer fishing is slow.
Northwest – Spring chinook have shown in strong numbers on Tillamook Bay. It’s clearly going to be a good run as Tillamook chinook often mimics the Willamette run. Avid angler Pat Vining of Bay City hooked 18 fish in the last 6 days, landing 13 fish for take-home. Spinners and plugs took the bulk of upper bay fish this week.
Upcoming tides dictate lower bay fishing, using herring along the jetty. The soft tides keep adults from migrating into the upper reaches of Tillamook Bay. Bar crossings would be friendly but ocean forecasts are calling for significant wind chop, likely keeping the offshore fleet inshore.
Halibut fishing would likely be productive but the weather forecast makes it appear as if it wouldn’t be fun. To boot, the grade of fish this season has been on the small side. There will be other opportunity into June.
Bay crabbing remains challenging but an overnight soak if the ocean comes down should produce a few quality crab.
Rivers remain low but are forecast to rise this week with the shower activity predicted. Spring chinook and summer steelhead should make their way into the Trask and Wilson Rivers. The Nestucca and Three Rivers should also see a fair bump of salmon this week.
Southwest – All-depth halibut will be open Thursday through Saturday, May 26 through 28 with the next three-day opener starting on June 2nd.
Rough offshore conditions have prevented effort for ocean crab for much of the spring season. Ocean forecasts for the Memorial Day weekend look discouraging.
Crabbing has been fair in Winchester Bay but will slow with the next freshet. Bay chinook fishing is slow. Flows are high but improving on the mainstem Umpqua although another rise is predicted by the weekend. Shad fishing will be good when the water level drops.
Tidewater Coquille anglers are making fair to good catches of striped bass early and late in the day.
Boats launching out of Gold Beach have experienced fair but steady catches of bottom fish and ling cod.
Ocean chinook fishing has been worthwhile but spotty. Lower Rogue springer fishing has been slow with only a few taken daily. Results are slow to spotty for chinook on the middle river. All the action is on the upper Rogue and is likely to remain so. Flows are predicted to be higher and cooler through summer this year, which will require a change of tactics for anglers on the Rogue.
Ocean salmon fishing has been producing fair catches out of the Port of Brookings where the season opened over the past weekend.
Diamond Lake anglers have been able to get out by launching at the north ramp and slogging through slushy snow. Fish are biting light but catches have been fair to good.
Eastern – Salmonflies are hatching on the lower Deschutes below Mecca where the water is high but the color is good. With Golden Stones and Salmonflies hatching in the middle Deschutes, fly fishing has been good.
Crane Prairie has been producing large trout to fly anglers using leach patterns in the Rock Creek area.
Davis Lake has slowed for bass fishing although trout catches are good.
SW Washington – The Cowlitz remains the bright spot in the district with spring chinook and an occasional steelhead being taken in the upper reaches. Like the mainstem Columbia, jacks counts remain high indicating better years ahead.
The Kalama and Lewis are not drawing a lot of interest from anglers. Hatchery returns have been much lower than expected but with high flows, the run may be late, such is the case on the Columbia. Summer steelhead should begin to make a stronger showing.
Drano Lake and Wind River fisheries are waning, with the adult salmon counts at Bonneville Dam. Fishing in the upper reaches has been good for bank anglers.
Numerous regulation changes happen in this district in early June. Be sure to check regulations before heading out.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Oregon fishing report
Willamette Valley/Metro- Although sport anglers are appreciative for the extended opportunity on the mainstem Columbia, flows are very high, keeping fish on the move and not motivated to bite. Bank anglers working the Rainier stretch were picking up fair numbers of salmon and steelhead in the higher flows. Boat angling will remain challenging.
Adults continue to cross Bonneville Dam in good numbers but jack counts look very promising for next years adult returns. A few shad are beginning to cross the facility as well.
Spring chinook are crossing Willamette Falls by the hundreds every day. Summer steelhead counts remain good. Spring chinook catches on the lower river have been well worth the trip. Despite high water, Oregon City anglers continue to fare well using smaller clusters of eggs and plugs along the shoreline, where flows aren’t as strong.
McKenzie fly anglers have been doing well for cutthroat and redsides. Nymphs and attractor patterns are most effective in water that's higher than seasonal average and likely to stay that way for a while.
The entire Santiam system remains too high to fish well although summer steelhead are available with better odds on the South Santiam which is forecast to be dropping. Watch out for a log jam at the confluence.
Fish low on the Clackamas for the best chance of hooking a chinook or steelhead. Sea lions have been eating springers as far upriver as High Rocks.
Anglers on the Sandy are catching a few summer steelhead and spring chinook but it's been slow. Although only a fair run is in the forecast, peak season is upon us.
Northwest – Spring chinook catches are beginning to improve on Tillamook Bay. Anglers working the jetty late last week took fair numbers of quality fish. This week, effort is switching to the upper bay where anglers are taking a few fish on spinners or herring. Chinook have entered the lower Trask.
Low flows will continue to keep springers low in the system on both the Wilson and Trask Rivers but bobber and bait casters should encounter some opportunities. Some summer steelhead should be available on the Wilson and Nestucca Rivers but stealthy tactics will have to be employed.
Some sturgeon remain in Tillamook Bay and may provide fair catches into early June. Anglers however will be focusing mainly on salmon in the coming weeks.
Ocean conditions allowed for good halibut catches on last weeks all-depth opener. Halibut season is closed this week but will resume for 3 days beginning May 26th. Fishing should remain excellent.
Bar crossings will be dangerous this weekend but the ocean may be in fair condition to target bottomfish. Crabbing is fair at best with an overnight soak producing the best results.
Razor clam digging is excellent along the north coast although tides will peak out before the weekend hits. Fair digging should last through the weekend however.
Sturgeon fishing on the lower Columbia is predictably slow with the high, cold run-off from upriver tributaries. Action will likely remain slow into mid-June.
Southwest – Ocean chinook fishing has been slow to spotty with bottom fishing producing good numbers of rockfish and lingcod. Halibut fishing is open within 240 feet with the next all-depth opportunity taking place Thursday through Saturday, May 26-28.
Crabbing is only fair in Winchester Bay due to freshwater runoff. Striped bass action is fair, sturgeon catches are slow. A few chinook have been taken in the estuary. Spring chinook fishing has been good on the Umpqua mainstem with catches improving on the North Umpqua. South Umpqua fishing will reopen with trout season.
A few striped bass are being taken in Coos Bay and in tidewater on the Coquille with best catches at first and last light or overnight.
Boats launching out of Port Orford for all-depth halibut on May 12-14 did well although offshore conditions were challenging on the 13th. Most charters and many recreational boats took limits with some fish 50 pounds or better.
Spring chinook fishing is slowing on the lower Rogue. Anchor fishing migration lanes with wrapped plugs has been most productive on the middle river. Catches of springers are fair to good on the upper Rogue as chinook push upstream. Wild steelhead and salmon must be released river-wide.
Bottom-fishers launching out of the Port of Brookings have enjoyed excellent results for a variety of rockfish and lingcod along with good catches of dungeness. Ocean chinook season opened south of Humbug Mountain on Saturday, May 14. Fishing for surfperch is good on south coast beaches. Fishing is closed in the Chetco River.
Eastern – Action for redsides keying on large salmon flies is just starting on the lower Deschutes. Nymphing has been most effective with occasional action on dries. River flows are swelling in the spring run-off, which will further compromise river conditions.
The Umatilla River has fishable numbers of spring chinook but river flows remain too high for productive fishing. As flows drop, catches will improve.
Adults continue to cross Bonneville Dam in good numbers but jack counts look very promising for next years adult returns. A few shad are beginning to cross the facility as well.
Spring chinook are crossing Willamette Falls by the hundreds every day. Summer steelhead counts remain good. Spring chinook catches on the lower river have been well worth the trip. Despite high water, Oregon City anglers continue to fare well using smaller clusters of eggs and plugs along the shoreline, where flows aren’t as strong.
McKenzie fly anglers have been doing well for cutthroat and redsides. Nymphs and attractor patterns are most effective in water that's higher than seasonal average and likely to stay that way for a while.
The entire Santiam system remains too high to fish well although summer steelhead are available with better odds on the South Santiam which is forecast to be dropping. Watch out for a log jam at the confluence.
Fish low on the Clackamas for the best chance of hooking a chinook or steelhead. Sea lions have been eating springers as far upriver as High Rocks.
Anglers on the Sandy are catching a few summer steelhead and spring chinook but it's been slow. Although only a fair run is in the forecast, peak season is upon us.
Northwest – Spring chinook catches are beginning to improve on Tillamook Bay. Anglers working the jetty late last week took fair numbers of quality fish. This week, effort is switching to the upper bay where anglers are taking a few fish on spinners or herring. Chinook have entered the lower Trask.
Low flows will continue to keep springers low in the system on both the Wilson and Trask Rivers but bobber and bait casters should encounter some opportunities. Some summer steelhead should be available on the Wilson and Nestucca Rivers but stealthy tactics will have to be employed.
Some sturgeon remain in Tillamook Bay and may provide fair catches into early June. Anglers however will be focusing mainly on salmon in the coming weeks.
Ocean conditions allowed for good halibut catches on last weeks all-depth opener. Halibut season is closed this week but will resume for 3 days beginning May 26th. Fishing should remain excellent.
Bar crossings will be dangerous this weekend but the ocean may be in fair condition to target bottomfish. Crabbing is fair at best with an overnight soak producing the best results.
Razor clam digging is excellent along the north coast although tides will peak out before the weekend hits. Fair digging should last through the weekend however.
Sturgeon fishing on the lower Columbia is predictably slow with the high, cold run-off from upriver tributaries. Action will likely remain slow into mid-June.
Southwest – Ocean chinook fishing has been slow to spotty with bottom fishing producing good numbers of rockfish and lingcod. Halibut fishing is open within 240 feet with the next all-depth opportunity taking place Thursday through Saturday, May 26-28.
Crabbing is only fair in Winchester Bay due to freshwater runoff. Striped bass action is fair, sturgeon catches are slow. A few chinook have been taken in the estuary. Spring chinook fishing has been good on the Umpqua mainstem with catches improving on the North Umpqua. South Umpqua fishing will reopen with trout season.
A few striped bass are being taken in Coos Bay and in tidewater on the Coquille with best catches at first and last light or overnight.
Boats launching out of Port Orford for all-depth halibut on May 12-14 did well although offshore conditions were challenging on the 13th. Most charters and many recreational boats took limits with some fish 50 pounds or better.
Spring chinook fishing is slowing on the lower Rogue. Anchor fishing migration lanes with wrapped plugs has been most productive on the middle river. Catches of springers are fair to good on the upper Rogue as chinook push upstream. Wild steelhead and salmon must be released river-wide.
Bottom-fishers launching out of the Port of Brookings have enjoyed excellent results for a variety of rockfish and lingcod along with good catches of dungeness. Ocean chinook season opened south of Humbug Mountain on Saturday, May 14. Fishing for surfperch is good on south coast beaches. Fishing is closed in the Chetco River.
Eastern – Action for redsides keying on large salmon flies is just starting on the lower Deschutes. Nymphing has been most effective with occasional action on dries. River flows are swelling in the spring run-off, which will further compromise river conditions.
The Umatilla River has fishable numbers of spring chinook but river flows remain too high for productive fishing. As flows drop, catches will improve.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Oregon fishing report
Willamette Valley/Metro- Fishery managers continue to look at good passage rates over Bonneville. Of particular interest is the jack count. Court ordered spill in recent years has drastically improved survival rates, which will translate into excellent opportunity next season. Managers will likely meet later this week to discuss options for a re-opener downstream of Bonneville Dam.
The water has remained clear and is warming in the lower Willamette with the flow fairly stable. Chinook fishing slowed this week but should improve with stronger tides. Over 2,000 springers crossed at Willamette Falls on May 5th. Anglers working the Oregon City area cite the importance of sizing down baits for willing springers. Shrimp and egg combinations are working the best but keep the size of your egg clusters to 10 to 15 berries. The Middle Fork is fishing well for trout.
McKenzie fly anglers are enjoying good fishing for trout with the water cold but stable and a variety of dries and nymphs effective. Look for stoneflies starting to hatch. A few summer steelhead are being taken.
Steelheading is slow on the Clackamas although there are a few springers in the lower river. The spring chinook run should peak later this year as high, cold water will influence success for the next few weeks. Fishing could remain good into July this season.
Sandy fishing remains slow. Steelhead remain the primary focus. Only a few summers are around with an occasional late winter run being taken. Fly fishers interested in two-handed casting will want to check out the Spey Class at Oxbow Park Friday through Sunday this week.
Summer steelhead fishing has been fair on the South Santiam.
Northwest – Effort has all but disappeared for steelhead on the north coast. Some summer run fish should be nosing into the Wilson and Nestucca Rivers.
Spring chinook have been caught in the upper bay and Trask tidewater. The fishing will only improve from here with favorable tides beginning around the 15th for upper bay trollers. This should be the first good push of springers on Tillamook Bay although the better fishing is likely to happen later in the month.
River levels are dropping which should aid estuary anglers. A small bump in river levels is in the forecast just after the weekend which could provide a rare opportunity for driftboaters on the Trask and Wilson Rivers for spring chinook and a rare summer steelhead.
There should still be some sturgeon available in Tillamook Bay with the upcoming minus tide series. Keepers should be available for those soaking shrimp in the upper and middle estuary.
Ocean enthusiasts may have a welcome opportunity this weekend with swell forecasts tolerable for those seeking bottomfish, offshore chinook, crab and halibut. With the limited opportunity that has presented itself this season, action should be great.
The all-depth fishery for halibut opens up today through Saturday and action should be excellent for those willing to make a run. The hot spot out of Garibaldi is about 24 miles NW of the jetty tips.
Southwest – Bottom fishing has been worthwhile off the central Oregon coast with near-limits the rule for rockfish along with a few lingcod. Halibut may be taken seven days a week inside the 40-fathom line with all-depth fishing opening Thursday through Saturday this week.
Crabbing has produced only fair results in Winchester Bay. Spring chinook catches have picked up on the Umpqua mainstem. North Umpqua steelheading is fair while the South Umpqua remains closed.
Little effort for ocean chinook has taken place out of Charleston. Crabbing has been fair with best results in the lower bay.
Boats crossing the bar out of Gold Beach have experienced good fishing for rockfish and fair to good ling catches when offshore wind has allowed access. Ocean salmon fishing was a bust for the most part over the past week. Spring chinook are being hooked daily on the lower Rogue although more wild fish are showing up in catches. Results have slowed as the water clears. Fishing for springers has been fair on the middle river. Upper Rogue steelheaders are catching a fair to good number of fish with many in decent condition for this time of year.
Offshore bottom fishing has been rewarding for boats launching out of the Port of Brookings with charter and recreational anglers taking limits. Ocean chinook fishing will open on Saturday, May 14th. Surf perch fishing has been good off area beaches.
Diamond Lake anglers will have to wait for the spring thaw as ice covering the water has become too soft to walk on. Hopes are high for Memorial Day weekend.
Eastern – Big stoneflies are just starting to show on the lower Deschutes. Warm weather this week should trigger the hatch. Nymphing has been taking redsides this week. Salmonflies are evident on the middle river.
The Umatilla is an option for spring chinook anglers. Although the count is only a few hundred fish, the action should jump in the coming weeks as this run builds over time.
The water has remained clear and is warming in the lower Willamette with the flow fairly stable. Chinook fishing slowed this week but should improve with stronger tides. Over 2,000 springers crossed at Willamette Falls on May 5th. Anglers working the Oregon City area cite the importance of sizing down baits for willing springers. Shrimp and egg combinations are working the best but keep the size of your egg clusters to 10 to 15 berries. The Middle Fork is fishing well for trout.
McKenzie fly anglers are enjoying good fishing for trout with the water cold but stable and a variety of dries and nymphs effective. Look for stoneflies starting to hatch. A few summer steelhead are being taken.
Steelheading is slow on the Clackamas although there are a few springers in the lower river. The spring chinook run should peak later this year as high, cold water will influence success for the next few weeks. Fishing could remain good into July this season.
Sandy fishing remains slow. Steelhead remain the primary focus. Only a few summers are around with an occasional late winter run being taken. Fly fishers interested in two-handed casting will want to check out the Spey Class at Oxbow Park Friday through Sunday this week.
Summer steelhead fishing has been fair on the South Santiam.
Northwest – Effort has all but disappeared for steelhead on the north coast. Some summer run fish should be nosing into the Wilson and Nestucca Rivers.
Spring chinook have been caught in the upper bay and Trask tidewater. The fishing will only improve from here with favorable tides beginning around the 15th for upper bay trollers. This should be the first good push of springers on Tillamook Bay although the better fishing is likely to happen later in the month.
River levels are dropping which should aid estuary anglers. A small bump in river levels is in the forecast just after the weekend which could provide a rare opportunity for driftboaters on the Trask and Wilson Rivers for spring chinook and a rare summer steelhead.
There should still be some sturgeon available in Tillamook Bay with the upcoming minus tide series. Keepers should be available for those soaking shrimp in the upper and middle estuary.
Ocean enthusiasts may have a welcome opportunity this weekend with swell forecasts tolerable for those seeking bottomfish, offshore chinook, crab and halibut. With the limited opportunity that has presented itself this season, action should be great.
The all-depth fishery for halibut opens up today through Saturday and action should be excellent for those willing to make a run. The hot spot out of Garibaldi is about 24 miles NW of the jetty tips.
Southwest – Bottom fishing has been worthwhile off the central Oregon coast with near-limits the rule for rockfish along with a few lingcod. Halibut may be taken seven days a week inside the 40-fathom line with all-depth fishing opening Thursday through Saturday this week.
Crabbing has produced only fair results in Winchester Bay. Spring chinook catches have picked up on the Umpqua mainstem. North Umpqua steelheading is fair while the South Umpqua remains closed.
Little effort for ocean chinook has taken place out of Charleston. Crabbing has been fair with best results in the lower bay.
Boats crossing the bar out of Gold Beach have experienced good fishing for rockfish and fair to good ling catches when offshore wind has allowed access. Ocean salmon fishing was a bust for the most part over the past week. Spring chinook are being hooked daily on the lower Rogue although more wild fish are showing up in catches. Results have slowed as the water clears. Fishing for springers has been fair on the middle river. Upper Rogue steelheaders are catching a fair to good number of fish with many in decent condition for this time of year.
Offshore bottom fishing has been rewarding for boats launching out of the Port of Brookings with charter and recreational anglers taking limits. Ocean chinook fishing will open on Saturday, May 14th. Surf perch fishing has been good off area beaches.
Diamond Lake anglers will have to wait for the spring thaw as ice covering the water has become too soft to walk on. Hopes are high for Memorial Day weekend.
Eastern – Big stoneflies are just starting to show on the lower Deschutes. Warm weather this week should trigger the hatch. Nymphing has been taking redsides this week. Salmonflies are evident on the middle river.
The Umatilla is an option for spring chinook anglers. Although the count is only a few hundred fish, the action should jump in the coming weeks as this run builds over time.
Sunday, May 08, 2011
Oregon fishing report
Willamette Valley/Metro- Spring chinook anglers continue to be sidelined as thousands of chinook pour over Bonneville Dam. Managers may take a look at a re-opener but momentum must continue to build to bring optimism. Over 50,000 fish crossed Bonneville in just the last 7 days.
The level, flow and visibility are good on the lower Willamette and Multnomah Channel. Over 2,000 springers have crossed the Falls. Spring chinook anglers have been on a roller coaster ride of action but when the bite has been on, it's been rewarding. Oregon City has had an occasional great bite but most fish seem to be staging below Milwaukie. This should be a break out week for Oregon City anglers.
Nymph fishing on the Middle Fork Willamette is yielding large rainbows.
McKenzie water level is on the drop, temperatures are on the rise and fish are looking up with March Browns hatching.
Over 12,000 spring Chinook are forecasted to enter the Clackamas system. Try the lower river to intercept early arrivals. Steelhead fishing is improving.
There are steelhead and a few springers in the waters of the Sandy but fishing has been slow and results spotty. Chinook fishing should be peaking soon but a mediocre run is in the forecast.
Northwest – With waters getting low and clear, steelheaders employing stealth techniques are still getting late winter steelhead on the Wilson and Nestucca Rivers. Bank anglers have an advantage in these lower flows but must target fish higher in the watersheds. Most winter fish are turning dark but a few bright winter fish are still present with a few summer run fish on their heels.
Still no glowing reports of spring chinook although one was reported at the Trask hatchery last week. One reliable report from upper Tillamook Bay had a local netting a chinook on Monday that spewed eggs in the bottom of the boat, indicating a late run fall fish. The fish was returned to the water but definitely an anomaly. Better tides will occur the week after this one.
Sturgeon are still being reported from the middle and lower bay on Tillamook. They should be easy targets in this weeks minus tide series.
Bay clamming should be easy on most coastal estuaries. Razor clamming has been challenging along Oregon beaches but if the surf calms, digging should improve.
Calm seas are in the forecast for Friday only. Bottomfishing should be excellent. Crabbing will be challenging and the offshore forecast is calling for rough water again by the weekend.
All-depth halibut season opens today north of Cape Falcon for three days per week, Thursday through Saturday. South of Falcon, nearshore (inside of 40 fathoms) opened on May 1st. Halibut often come close to shore this time of year to feed on softshell dungeness crab. The first all-depth fishery in this zone opens on May 12 – 14.
Southwest – With excellent returns predicted for the majority of south coast rivers, offshore chinook fishing should be very good this season.
Umpqua water level and flow has disallowed fishing recently but the river is forecast to recover by the coming weekend. Spring chinook will be in the upper mainstem and steelheading should be good for hatchery fish on the South Umpqua.
While there hasn't been much hoopla about ocean chinook catches, boats launching out of Charleston have made good catches of large fish recently.
When ocean conditions have allowed launches out of Gold beach, catches of rockfish and lingcod have been good.
Boats in productive locations on the lower Rogue have had plenty of hookups with spring chinook on the lower Rogue. Salmon are running about 50% hatchery keepers. Fishing is fair on the middle river. Steelheading remains good on the upper Rogue with springers starting to make an appearance. Wild steelhead must be released as of May 1st.
Offshore launches out of the Port of Brookings have produced a colorful mix of rockfish and lingcod as well as decent takes of ocean dungeness.
Ice and snow will likely greet Diamond Lake fishers again this coming weekend but most are taking limits of large trout by auguring to water level. The daily bag limit is now eight fish.
Eastern – Deschutes anglers are taking redsides averaging 15 inches on a combination of top and sub-surface offerings but dry action is expected to improve as water levels drop and the weather improves. Action has been decent on the middle Deschutes with the Salmonfly hatch occurring later this month.
Although the weather has been unsettled, John Day anglers have been taking large smallmouth bass.
SW Washington – Steelhead remain the top choice for SW Washington anglers. However, the Cowlitz does have a mix of spring chinook and steelhead right now. Summer steelhead are starting to show.
The Kalama has a mix of early summer run steelhead, late broodstock and wild winter fish with only a rare chinook showing.
The Washougal has summer run fish but will peak later into June.
With dam passage at an impressive season high, Drano Lake and the Wind River fisheries are well underway. Fishing should be excellent for the next 2 weeks as fish not familiar with sport gear continue to cross Bonneville.
The level, flow and visibility are good on the lower Willamette and Multnomah Channel. Over 2,000 springers have crossed the Falls. Spring chinook anglers have been on a roller coaster ride of action but when the bite has been on, it's been rewarding. Oregon City has had an occasional great bite but most fish seem to be staging below Milwaukie. This should be a break out week for Oregon City anglers.
Nymph fishing on the Middle Fork Willamette is yielding large rainbows.
McKenzie water level is on the drop, temperatures are on the rise and fish are looking up with March Browns hatching.
Over 12,000 spring Chinook are forecasted to enter the Clackamas system. Try the lower river to intercept early arrivals. Steelhead fishing is improving.
There are steelhead and a few springers in the waters of the Sandy but fishing has been slow and results spotty. Chinook fishing should be peaking soon but a mediocre run is in the forecast.
Northwest – With waters getting low and clear, steelheaders employing stealth techniques are still getting late winter steelhead on the Wilson and Nestucca Rivers. Bank anglers have an advantage in these lower flows but must target fish higher in the watersheds. Most winter fish are turning dark but a few bright winter fish are still present with a few summer run fish on their heels.
Still no glowing reports of spring chinook although one was reported at the Trask hatchery last week. One reliable report from upper Tillamook Bay had a local netting a chinook on Monday that spewed eggs in the bottom of the boat, indicating a late run fall fish. The fish was returned to the water but definitely an anomaly. Better tides will occur the week after this one.
Sturgeon are still being reported from the middle and lower bay on Tillamook. They should be easy targets in this weeks minus tide series.
Bay clamming should be easy on most coastal estuaries. Razor clamming has been challenging along Oregon beaches but if the surf calms, digging should improve.
Calm seas are in the forecast for Friday only. Bottomfishing should be excellent. Crabbing will be challenging and the offshore forecast is calling for rough water again by the weekend.
All-depth halibut season opens today north of Cape Falcon for three days per week, Thursday through Saturday. South of Falcon, nearshore (inside of 40 fathoms) opened on May 1st. Halibut often come close to shore this time of year to feed on softshell dungeness crab. The first all-depth fishery in this zone opens on May 12 – 14.
Southwest – With excellent returns predicted for the majority of south coast rivers, offshore chinook fishing should be very good this season.
Umpqua water level and flow has disallowed fishing recently but the river is forecast to recover by the coming weekend. Spring chinook will be in the upper mainstem and steelheading should be good for hatchery fish on the South Umpqua.
While there hasn't been much hoopla about ocean chinook catches, boats launching out of Charleston have made good catches of large fish recently.
When ocean conditions have allowed launches out of Gold beach, catches of rockfish and lingcod have been good.
Boats in productive locations on the lower Rogue have had plenty of hookups with spring chinook on the lower Rogue. Salmon are running about 50% hatchery keepers. Fishing is fair on the middle river. Steelheading remains good on the upper Rogue with springers starting to make an appearance. Wild steelhead must be released as of May 1st.
Offshore launches out of the Port of Brookings have produced a colorful mix of rockfish and lingcod as well as decent takes of ocean dungeness.
Ice and snow will likely greet Diamond Lake fishers again this coming weekend but most are taking limits of large trout by auguring to water level. The daily bag limit is now eight fish.
Eastern – Deschutes anglers are taking redsides averaging 15 inches on a combination of top and sub-surface offerings but dry action is expected to improve as water levels drop and the weather improves. Action has been decent on the middle Deschutes with the Salmonfly hatch occurring later this month.
Although the weather has been unsettled, John Day anglers have been taking large smallmouth bass.
SW Washington – Steelhead remain the top choice for SW Washington anglers. However, the Cowlitz does have a mix of spring chinook and steelhead right now. Summer steelhead are starting to show.
The Kalama has a mix of early summer run steelhead, late broodstock and wild winter fish with only a rare chinook showing.
The Washougal has summer run fish but will peak later into June.
With dam passage at an impressive season high, Drano Lake and the Wind River fisheries are well underway. Fishing should be excellent for the next 2 weeks as fish not familiar with sport gear continue to cross Bonneville.
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