Willamette Valley/Metro- As is commonly the case, catch rates in the Portland area don’t reflect the large numbers of chinook passing Bonneville Dam. These earlier returning fish often don’t fall to anglers working the gorge area as they focus more on migration that feeding and aggressive behavior. Catch rates in the gorge should improve in late September.
Anchor anglers however are witnessing improving catches from Portland to Longview as excitement grows with angler success and the quality of fish being taken in this fishery. Half of the sport boats working this stretch saw action between salmon and steelhead catches. This fishery should really take off this week.
Smallmouth bass fishing remains productive on much of the Willamette above the falls.
Trout catches are as steady as the water conditions on the McKenzie although there are very few anglers on the river.
The North Santiam is stable with the water crystal clear and fishing slow. The remaining, mostly-dark spring Chinook are off-limits as of mid-August.
Steelheading is near-standstill on the Clackamas. Banks are lined with litter and beer cans from Barton to Carver due to the carelessness of the inflatable plastics crowd.
Although the sandy is roiled from glacial runoff, a few fish are being caught. Coho will likely begin to show in catchable numbers by mid-September.
Northwest – The Buoy 10 fishery busted wide open this week with great catches of chinook and some coho around the Astoria/Megler Bridge on both sides of the river. Barbara Trinkle and her family of 5 took a 6 chinook limit by noon on Tuesday, finishing up above Tongue Point where numerous salmon were falling on both the incoming and outgoing tides. The group took most of the fish on plug cut herring, fishing within 7 feet of the bottom in about 30-foot of water.
Chinook retention is slated to close after Sunday, August 28th with numbers reportedly coming in as modeled. Anglers can continue to retain chinook above Tongue Point however although this area fishes best on the smaller tide exchanges, like the current one we are now experiencing.
Coho catches have been sparse but numbers are building with the peak of the “A” run coho due in the next 2 weeks. October can also provide excellent catches; these later running fish are deemed the “B” run.
The ocean out of the Columbia will remain open to coho but will close to the retention of chinook effective Monday, August 29th. There isn’t much effort in the ocean with lower Columbia catches coming into full bloom. The weekend forecast offshore is calling for significant wind waves, further motivating anglers to stay inland.
Ocean crabbing should begin to pick up as males move closer to shore in preparation for fall feeding and spawning. They are still a bit light for meat recovery but that too should change next month.
Nehalem Bay anglers are finding fair success from Wheeler to Nehalem. Trolled herring are taking some fish and improving tides should bolster catches. Bobber tossers are starting to take fish above Nehalem.
The Nestucca and Tillamook districts should begin to see chinook staging this week with better catches occurring by mid-September. Both systems will have small quotas for wild coho this year but Tillamook Bay should see a fair return of hatchery coho as well.
Southwest – Offshore crabbing has resulted in excellent catches. Sorting of softshells is still required but dungeness are hardening. Bottom fishing has been fair to good for rockfish and lingcod. Coho salmon fishing resumes September 1st. Nearshore halibut fishing currently remains open.
Crabbing has been very good this week out of Waldport in Alsea Bay.
Boats fishing the bar at Winchester Bay are taking chinook but those trying should exercise caution in this hazardous area. Reedsport has started producing chinook to trollers. Fishing is fair to good for summer steelhead on the North Umpqua. Smallmouth bass fishing is good near Elkton and in the South Umpqua.
Chinook are being taken daily in Coos Bay while the chinook fishery is just starting to become productive in the lower Coquille.
As seas calmed and fog rolled in over the past week, albacore anglers found fish inside the 15-mile mark out of Gold Beach. Trollers in Rogue Bay have been averaging numerous chinook a day although the fishery is on one day, off the next with salmon moving upriver quickly.
Boats launching out of the Port of Brookings have made trips of 35 to 40 miles to find warm water and tuna but catches have been excellent. Rockfish catches have been excellent as well with lingcod results fair. Lingcod are being taken by jetty fishers in decent numbers.
Eastern – Summer steelhead are moving into the lower Deschutes in good number now with catches improving despite warm water. Early and late day results have been best.
At the Odell kokanee derby held over the past weekend, anglers made decent catches of fish averaging over 12 inches.
Jigging has been more effective than trolling at Paulina with kokanee schooled in good numbers.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Oregon Fishing Report
Willamette Valley/Metro- Although not consistent every day, summer steelheading in the gorge remains excellent. Bank anglers witnessed an unprecedented ½ fish per rod average over the weekend with half of those fish needing to be released because of their wild origin. Boaters did well for steelhead too with the seasons first fall chinook showing in the catches. Steelhead will remain the main focus for another week but with the strong return of salmon in the forecast, fishing should pick up earlier than normal for the chinook fishery above Tongue Point.
With daily counts dwindling, roughly 44,000 spring Chinook and 21,000 summer steelhead are now upstream from Willamette Falls, the majority of which are in the tributaries. Lower river temperatures are approaching the mid-70s. Smallmouth bass fishing is good in the upper Willamette.
Water conditions remains good with the McKenzie stable. Trout fishing has been fair to good.
Steelhead are available in the North Santiam with best results early in the day around Mehama. Spinner fishers landed a few springers on the South Santiam over the past weekend.
First light steelheading has produced a few on the Clackamas recently. Try the upper river with bobber & jig.
Fishing has been very slow on the Sandy over the past week.
Northwest – Fishing on the lower Columbia is picking up for chinook. Coho catches remain light in the river but chinook anglers are targeting their quarry at the mouth of Young’s Bay. The Rogue River strain of chinook are plentiful right now, indicated by a modified left ventral clip. These are high quality fish raised in net-pens in Young’s Bay, primarily for the terminal gillnet fishery inside Young’s Bay. Action here should be strong through this week when mainstem fish make a stronger showing.
Although trolled herring are a staple on the lower river, the new size 8 Flash Glo spinner has been responsible for several chinook this week near Young’s Bay. Troll spinners about 30 inches behind a chartreuse fish flash in 19 to 22 foot of water for a good chance at a chinook.
Offshore salmon fishers out of the mouth of the Columbia are finding more consistent catches of chinook in close and coho in about 260 feet of water NW of the river entrance. Fishing should continue to pick up off of the mouth with both coho and chinook staging and feeding heavily over the next few weeks.
Although effort increased this week for offshore coho, catches remained subdued out of Garibaldi. The offshore fishery is slated to close after August 13th but will remain open to chinook. Nearly 60% of the coho quota is likely to remain underutilized although many of those fish are destined for the Columbia fishery.
Chinook catches remain fair in the Wheeler area on Nehalem Bay. Some chinook are being caught just outside of the jaws of the Nehalem although this is a dangerous place to fish. Fishing inside the estuary is likely to pick up later this month but you have to be knowledgeable of the changing regulations in this area.
Tillamook Bay is likely to see their first chinook closer to the end of the month. A stronger return is predicted from the last 2 years. Wild coho returns are expected to be higher as well.
Tuna remain far offshore but anglers willing to travel are taking fair numbers of fish. Trolling success will likely continue to wane as live bait and jigging become more popular this month. The weekend offshore forecast looks favorable for a run to the tuna grounds.
Southwest – A few chinook have been taken at the Winchester Bay jaws contingent upon ocean conditions. Bay crabbing has been slow to fair with sorting of softshells required. A few chinook have been caught at Reedsport but it's early for this fishery although the occasional fish has been caught in the lower mainstem. Steelheading remains good in the North Umpqua with smallmouth bass fishing only fair in the South Umpqua due to lower than normal water temperatures.
Charleston coho anglers experienced an improvement in catches offshore over the past week. Ocean crabbing has been fair although some are soft. Check regulations for upcoming closures.
Boats out of Gold Beach have been scoring limits of rockfish and lingcod when offshore conditions have allowed safe crossing. Trollers in Rogue Bay have done well on some days although chinook have been going off the bite periodically. Fall chinook are upriver in higher than normal water conditions with boaters using plugs to take them as high as Galice. Summer steelhead and half-pounder catches are improving in the lower river. While chinook fishing is over in the upper Rogue, summer steelheading has been good and should hold up for a while.
Ocean chinook fishing has picked up out of the Port of Brookings over the past week. As salmon appeared only a few miles offshore and offshore conditions moderated, the bite was actually good at times. Bottomfishers reaped offshore rewards of rockfish, lingcod and the occasional pacific halibut. Tropical ocean water temperatures have been far offshore, preventing recreational tuna fishers from pursuing them but that situation may soon change. Surf perch fishers have been taking limits casting from area beaches. The Chetco River is closed to all fishing above River Mile 2.2.
The blue-green algae advisory remains in place at Diamond Lake. Fishing has been worthwhile but trout should be skinned before cooking.
Eastern – Warm water in the lower Deschutes has kept summer steelhead numbers low although counts at Sherars Falls picked up a little in the first week of August. Trout fishing is best early and late in the day on the lower river.
Wallowa River fly fishers are doing well on nymphs for smaller fish during the day with large trout hitting attractor patterns in the evening. Wallowa Lake has been productive for stocked trout.
SW Washington – The Cowlitz, especially the lower reaches, is a fair option for summer steelhead.
Anglers should start to see chinook penetrating several district streams but regulations vary so study them carefully before venturing out.
Good steelhead counts at Bonneville should continue to fuel fisheries on the Klickitat River and Drano Lake. Action should stay favorable until fall chinook arrive in the coming weeks.
With daily counts dwindling, roughly 44,000 spring Chinook and 21,000 summer steelhead are now upstream from Willamette Falls, the majority of which are in the tributaries. Lower river temperatures are approaching the mid-70s. Smallmouth bass fishing is good in the upper Willamette.
Water conditions remains good with the McKenzie stable. Trout fishing has been fair to good.
Steelhead are available in the North Santiam with best results early in the day around Mehama. Spinner fishers landed a few springers on the South Santiam over the past weekend.
First light steelheading has produced a few on the Clackamas recently. Try the upper river with bobber & jig.
Fishing has been very slow on the Sandy over the past week.
Northwest – Fishing on the lower Columbia is picking up for chinook. Coho catches remain light in the river but chinook anglers are targeting their quarry at the mouth of Young’s Bay. The Rogue River strain of chinook are plentiful right now, indicated by a modified left ventral clip. These are high quality fish raised in net-pens in Young’s Bay, primarily for the terminal gillnet fishery inside Young’s Bay. Action here should be strong through this week when mainstem fish make a stronger showing.
Although trolled herring are a staple on the lower river, the new size 8 Flash Glo spinner has been responsible for several chinook this week near Young’s Bay. Troll spinners about 30 inches behind a chartreuse fish flash in 19 to 22 foot of water for a good chance at a chinook.
Offshore salmon fishers out of the mouth of the Columbia are finding more consistent catches of chinook in close and coho in about 260 feet of water NW of the river entrance. Fishing should continue to pick up off of the mouth with both coho and chinook staging and feeding heavily over the next few weeks.
Although effort increased this week for offshore coho, catches remained subdued out of Garibaldi. The offshore fishery is slated to close after August 13th but will remain open to chinook. Nearly 60% of the coho quota is likely to remain underutilized although many of those fish are destined for the Columbia fishery.
Chinook catches remain fair in the Wheeler area on Nehalem Bay. Some chinook are being caught just outside of the jaws of the Nehalem although this is a dangerous place to fish. Fishing inside the estuary is likely to pick up later this month but you have to be knowledgeable of the changing regulations in this area.
Tillamook Bay is likely to see their first chinook closer to the end of the month. A stronger return is predicted from the last 2 years. Wild coho returns are expected to be higher as well.
Tuna remain far offshore but anglers willing to travel are taking fair numbers of fish. Trolling success will likely continue to wane as live bait and jigging become more popular this month. The weekend offshore forecast looks favorable for a run to the tuna grounds.
Southwest – A few chinook have been taken at the Winchester Bay jaws contingent upon ocean conditions. Bay crabbing has been slow to fair with sorting of softshells required. A few chinook have been caught at Reedsport but it's early for this fishery although the occasional fish has been caught in the lower mainstem. Steelheading remains good in the North Umpqua with smallmouth bass fishing only fair in the South Umpqua due to lower than normal water temperatures.
Charleston coho anglers experienced an improvement in catches offshore over the past week. Ocean crabbing has been fair although some are soft. Check regulations for upcoming closures.
Boats out of Gold Beach have been scoring limits of rockfish and lingcod when offshore conditions have allowed safe crossing. Trollers in Rogue Bay have done well on some days although chinook have been going off the bite periodically. Fall chinook are upriver in higher than normal water conditions with boaters using plugs to take them as high as Galice. Summer steelhead and half-pounder catches are improving in the lower river. While chinook fishing is over in the upper Rogue, summer steelheading has been good and should hold up for a while.
Ocean chinook fishing has picked up out of the Port of Brookings over the past week. As salmon appeared only a few miles offshore and offshore conditions moderated, the bite was actually good at times. Bottomfishers reaped offshore rewards of rockfish, lingcod and the occasional pacific halibut. Tropical ocean water temperatures have been far offshore, preventing recreational tuna fishers from pursuing them but that situation may soon change. Surf perch fishers have been taking limits casting from area beaches. The Chetco River is closed to all fishing above River Mile 2.2.
The blue-green algae advisory remains in place at Diamond Lake. Fishing has been worthwhile but trout should be skinned before cooking.
Eastern – Warm water in the lower Deschutes has kept summer steelhead numbers low although counts at Sherars Falls picked up a little in the first week of August. Trout fishing is best early and late in the day on the lower river.
Wallowa River fly fishers are doing well on nymphs for smaller fish during the day with large trout hitting attractor patterns in the evening. Wallowa Lake has been productive for stocked trout.
SW Washington – The Cowlitz, especially the lower reaches, is a fair option for summer steelhead.
Anglers should start to see chinook penetrating several district streams but regulations vary so study them carefully before venturing out.
Good steelhead counts at Bonneville should continue to fuel fisheries on the Klickitat River and Drano Lake. Action should stay favorable until fall chinook arrive in the coming weeks.
Sunday, August 07, 2011
Oregon fishing report
Willamette Valley/Metro- Steelheaders working the river below Bonneville continue to produce great catches of summer steelhead with more hatchery keepers in the mix this week. Boaters continue to do the best but bank anglers held their own in what is usually past the peak season. With passage behind schedule, action should remain good through the month of August is water temperatures don’t warm much more. Anglers are now allowed to retain chinook whether they are fin-clipped or not. The limit is one chinook per day. Regulations vary by section so check carefully.
Sturgeon fishing from Buoy 10 to Bonneville Dam is now closed to retention but remains open for catch and release opportunity. The popular fall fishery from Wauna Powerlines to Bonneville Dam will reopen in early October with fair fishing expected when water temperatures cool again.
Chinook passage was good as steelhead numbers continued to wane on the last week of July at Willamette Falls. Water temperatures in the lower river have topped 70 degrees.
Summer steelhead fishing has been fair to good on the McKenzie River. Trout fishing has also been producing good catches. The McKenzie rose from 3.65 feet to over 5 feet and from 970 cfs to about 2,800 cfs below Leaburg Dam in a matter of a few hours on Monday night. Power canal work was being performed.
North Santiam levels have dropped. Steelhead are available while chinook are showing some color.
Previous weeks on the Clackamas were producing fair results for lower river anglers but warmer temperatures and rafting traffic has slowed the bite. Action will remain best in the early morning hours with fish distributed well into McIver Park.
Chinook have been hooked over the past week above Cedar Creek on the Sandy River but steelhead will remain the focus for most through this month. Just an average run of coho is expected later in the fall.
Northwest – The Buoy 10 opener was less than impressive but the best tide was later in the day when most anglers had folded up their effort. Success rates will likely remain subdued this week. Gillnets are scheduled to fish for 9 hours beginning August 4th at 9:00 p.m. It is the only scheduled opener for the river downstream of the Kalama this summer.
Catch and keep sturgeon fishing is now closed but anglers experienced one of the best years in recent memory. Quality sized keepers fell in good numbers for the whole month of July.
Offshore anglers are just now getting back to work after a long week of onshore flow, keeping the ocean lumpy. Coho success remains low with not even a third of the quota taken. The fishery will last through the 13th of August, even though anglers will fall far short of the 15,000 allowable catch. The first non-selective ocean coho season in nearly 2 decades will occur in early September; details to follow.
Rough weather and shifting temperatures disappointed albacore anglers for much of the week. Improving conditions should excite tuna chasers once again but anglers will still have to expect a long run west to run into qualifying temperatures. Live bait becomes more popular this time of year but fish should still respond to trolled clones and cedar plugs. Some larger fish should begin to show in the catches.
Although effort remains light, some chinook are starting to show in the Nehalem system. Anglers will still have to know the detailed regulations and softer tides this week may stall the bite at Wheeler or Nehalem. Fall regulations for chinook and coho are relaxed from last year however.
District rivers remain low and clear, challenging steelheaders on the Wilson and Nestucca Rivers. Trout fishing should be a strong option in the estuaries and tidewater sections of most north coast watersheds with tides playing a critical role in the lower reaches and early mornings producing the best results higher up.
Southwest – Coho catches off the central Oregon coast were warm one day, cold the next over the past week. Bottom fishing inside the 20-fathom line was also spotty. Boats are landing fair to good numbers of albacore. All-depth halibut re-opens August 5th and 6th.
Chinook catches near the bar at Winchester Bay have been good at times with some days producing multiple hookups. Crabbing is slow to fair in the bay. Smallmouth bass fishing is good in the South Umpqua. Summer steelhead catches are fair to good in the North Umpqua.
Charter boats out of Charleston have seen an improvement in coho hookups and success with albacore when offshore conditions have allowed.
Surf perch fishing from south coast beaches has been very good with many anglers bagging 15-fish limits.
Offshore trips out of Gold Beach were rare over much of the past week, with high offshore winds preventing boats from crossing to the ocean. Local reports indicate chinook starting to stack up in Rogue Bay which means the troll fishery should improving soon. Chinook catches are gradually improving in the middle river. The upper Rogue is closed to chinook above Dodge Bridge where anglers continue to do well for summer steelhead.
Tuna are about a 30-mile trip out of Brookings, but ocean conditions have prevented boats from trying recently. Crabbing from the public pier in the harbor has been excellent.
Eastern – Steelhead and chinook passage has been slow but steady on the Deschutes according to counts at Sherars Falls.
Green Peter is producing fair to good catches of mixed-size kokanee.
Although slowing, the Wallowa River closes after August 7th for spring chinook.
John Day smallmouth fishing is excellent for sheer quantity. River flows are around 1600 cfs with the river remaining most navigable above 1000 cfs.
SW Washington – The Cowlitz remains the best option for tributary anglers below Bonneville Dam with the Lewis and Kalama Rivers still down in returning hatchery adults. The Washougal River is a rare bright spot in the district.
Drano Lake and the Klickitat River fisheries should be going full speed right now. Passage at Bonneville is peaking, fueling good opportunity for these summer favorites.
Sturgeon fishing from Buoy 10 to Bonneville Dam is now closed to retention but remains open for catch and release opportunity. The popular fall fishery from Wauna Powerlines to Bonneville Dam will reopen in early October with fair fishing expected when water temperatures cool again.
Chinook passage was good as steelhead numbers continued to wane on the last week of July at Willamette Falls. Water temperatures in the lower river have topped 70 degrees.
Summer steelhead fishing has been fair to good on the McKenzie River. Trout fishing has also been producing good catches. The McKenzie rose from 3.65 feet to over 5 feet and from 970 cfs to about 2,800 cfs below Leaburg Dam in a matter of a few hours on Monday night. Power canal work was being performed.
North Santiam levels have dropped. Steelhead are available while chinook are showing some color.
Previous weeks on the Clackamas were producing fair results for lower river anglers but warmer temperatures and rafting traffic has slowed the bite. Action will remain best in the early morning hours with fish distributed well into McIver Park.
Chinook have been hooked over the past week above Cedar Creek on the Sandy River but steelhead will remain the focus for most through this month. Just an average run of coho is expected later in the fall.
Northwest – The Buoy 10 opener was less than impressive but the best tide was later in the day when most anglers had folded up their effort. Success rates will likely remain subdued this week. Gillnets are scheduled to fish for 9 hours beginning August 4th at 9:00 p.m. It is the only scheduled opener for the river downstream of the Kalama this summer.
Catch and keep sturgeon fishing is now closed but anglers experienced one of the best years in recent memory. Quality sized keepers fell in good numbers for the whole month of July.
Offshore anglers are just now getting back to work after a long week of onshore flow, keeping the ocean lumpy. Coho success remains low with not even a third of the quota taken. The fishery will last through the 13th of August, even though anglers will fall far short of the 15,000 allowable catch. The first non-selective ocean coho season in nearly 2 decades will occur in early September; details to follow.
Rough weather and shifting temperatures disappointed albacore anglers for much of the week. Improving conditions should excite tuna chasers once again but anglers will still have to expect a long run west to run into qualifying temperatures. Live bait becomes more popular this time of year but fish should still respond to trolled clones and cedar plugs. Some larger fish should begin to show in the catches.
Although effort remains light, some chinook are starting to show in the Nehalem system. Anglers will still have to know the detailed regulations and softer tides this week may stall the bite at Wheeler or Nehalem. Fall regulations for chinook and coho are relaxed from last year however.
District rivers remain low and clear, challenging steelheaders on the Wilson and Nestucca Rivers. Trout fishing should be a strong option in the estuaries and tidewater sections of most north coast watersheds with tides playing a critical role in the lower reaches and early mornings producing the best results higher up.
Southwest – Coho catches off the central Oregon coast were warm one day, cold the next over the past week. Bottom fishing inside the 20-fathom line was also spotty. Boats are landing fair to good numbers of albacore. All-depth halibut re-opens August 5th and 6th.
Chinook catches near the bar at Winchester Bay have been good at times with some days producing multiple hookups. Crabbing is slow to fair in the bay. Smallmouth bass fishing is good in the South Umpqua. Summer steelhead catches are fair to good in the North Umpqua.
Charter boats out of Charleston have seen an improvement in coho hookups and success with albacore when offshore conditions have allowed.
Surf perch fishing from south coast beaches has been very good with many anglers bagging 15-fish limits.
Offshore trips out of Gold Beach were rare over much of the past week, with high offshore winds preventing boats from crossing to the ocean. Local reports indicate chinook starting to stack up in Rogue Bay which means the troll fishery should improving soon. Chinook catches are gradually improving in the middle river. The upper Rogue is closed to chinook above Dodge Bridge where anglers continue to do well for summer steelhead.
Tuna are about a 30-mile trip out of Brookings, but ocean conditions have prevented boats from trying recently. Crabbing from the public pier in the harbor has been excellent.
Eastern – Steelhead and chinook passage has been slow but steady on the Deschutes according to counts at Sherars Falls.
Green Peter is producing fair to good catches of mixed-size kokanee.
Although slowing, the Wallowa River closes after August 7th for spring chinook.
John Day smallmouth fishing is excellent for sheer quantity. River flows are around 1600 cfs with the river remaining most navigable above 1000 cfs.
SW Washington – The Cowlitz remains the best option for tributary anglers below Bonneville Dam with the Lewis and Kalama Rivers still down in returning hatchery adults. The Washougal River is a rare bright spot in the district.
Drano Lake and the Klickitat River fisheries should be going full speed right now. Passage at Bonneville is peaking, fueling good opportunity for these summer favorites.
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