Willamette Valley/Metro - Since the lower Columbia cleared due to the dropping flows of the Willamette River, the better action has taken place from Kalama to Westport Oregon. Anglers both trolling and anchor fishing with plugs have been faring well. Anglers still working the water around I-5 and the airport are still catching an occasional fish but some are reporting seeing no fish caught after a full day's effort.
April 4th will be the last day to fish the lower Columbia River from Buoy 10 to Bonneville Dam. With the high percentage of upper Columbia bound fish in the catch this year, anglers couldn't expect additional time after the closure. The stretch above Bonneville will remain open until April 24th or until the catch guideline of 1050 fish are retained.
Sturgeon anglers working the gorge for sturgeon was an upsurge in success. Effort remained low but success for keepers was good. The Portland to Longview stretch was productive as well.
Winter and summer steelhead are crossing Willamette Falls in fair numbers with a few springers accompanying. Spring chinook results have been on one day, off the next on the lower Willamette. Oregon City anglers are beginning to see catches improve but additional rainfall may put the river out again. With the upswing in earlier returning 5-year old fish, the peak may come a bit earlier this year. Look for the Willamette to be the go to spot for spring chinook when the water is running clear.
Lower McKenzie water levels rose slightly over the past weekend but the river will fall into good shape this week. Water temperature remains in the lower 40s.
Water conditions should be worthwhile this week on the Santiam systems. Fair numbers of wild winters are available along with a very few summer steelhead.
Sandy steelheaders took fish over the past weekend with jigs and drifted roe drawing strikes.
The Clackamas has been getting a good deal of pressure although catches have only been fair. Bobber and jig has been effective at times but side-drifters are taking the lion's share.
Northwest - Steelheaders remain frustrated at water conditions on the north coast. Smaller streams are fishing best but anglers wanting a hatchery option will be out of luck until late in the weekend at the earliest. Flows are forecast to be high for the rest of the week so fish should be well distributed throughout most river systems.
The Wilson and Nestucca Rivers will remain fair hatchery steelhead options through mid-April. Summer steelhead may also be making their way into the Wilson and Nestucca Rivers. Spring chinook retention is allowed in the Tillamook Basin beginning April 1st. Fishing isn't likely to pick up until mid-May however.
Smolt releases began this week so anglers fishing bait targeting steelhead may find it challenging to keep the hungry juveniles off. Trout season doesn't open until late May due to mis-identification of smolts by novice anglers.
Sturgeon anglers caught some keepers on Tillamook Bay over the last tide series. Good tides won' return for a while however so anglers may turn their focus to crabbing in Netarts Bay. Other estuaries will likely produce poor results due to the influx of fresh water from the last rain freshet.
Bass may begin to stir as temperatures warm this week. Many north coast lakes now harbor largemouth bass and trout imitations may take some of the larger ones.
Southwest - Offshore trips were not a possibility due to rough ocean conditions over the past week and the forecast for the coming week does provide reason for optimism. Ocean salmon fishing is open, bottom fishing outside the 40-fathom line closes on March 31st. Only one cabezon per day is allowed as part of the seven-rockfish per day limit starting April 1st.
South coast surf fishing is heating up, yielding limits of striped perch recently. Pinkfin surf perch, preferred for their table quality, will be showing in greater number shortly.
Avoid a $200 fine - get those studded tires off your fishing rig before April 5th.
Steelheading has been fair to good on the North and South Umpqua when water levels are falling.
Slow crabbing in Winchester Bay will improve as the Umpqua drops and salinity levels improve in the estuary.
Boat launching facilities are up and running following tsunami damage in the Port of Brookings. Waters of the Chetco River closed to salmon and steelhead retention on the last day of March to reopen in June. Trout fishing is closed until May 28th.
Elk River steelheaders did well when water conditions were good recently although about half the fish hooked were spawned out and heading back to sea.
Lower Rogue fishers did well over the past week for a mix of mostly-hatchery spring chinook and mostly-bright winter steelhead. When a storm front hit over the past weekend, the river blew out but is expected to settle down and fish well this week with catches further improving as the water temperature climbs into the lower 50s. Muddy water has hampered steelheading efforts in the middle Rogue at what is potentially the peak of the season here. Upper Rogue steelheaders stand a good chance at a hookup as conditions improve this week.
Eastern - Pro guide Mac Huff (800-940-3688) reports that while steelheading is winding down with two weeks remaining, fishing has been very good on the Grande Ronde.
The middle Deschutes is expected to remain somewhat high until irrigation begins around mid-April. A few brown trout have been taken with nymphing most effective.
High water has prevented any effort on the Crooked River but good results are expected when the flow drops.
Fall River fly anglers have experienced good results using nymphs.
