Thursday, December 27, 2012

Oregon fishing reports


Willamette Valley/Metro- Anglers are reminded that a new 2013 license and tag are required after January 1st. Licenses are available both online and in most sporting goods stores.

 

Rain has kept the local rivers up, yet fishable. The Clackamas and Sandy have both put out decent numbers of steelhead this past week although pressure has been light. The upper sections of both rivers have produced best. Expect effort to increase after the New Year and the catch rates will likely coincide as we approach peak timing. 

 

Eagle creek also kicked out a few fish, although anglers shouldn't expect anything "banner" from this little stream as plants are a small fraction of what they used to be.

 

The Willamette River remains on the high side and turbidity is limiting, but steelhead can still be caught in the less than ideal conditions at Meldrum Bar and the Black-Top at the mouth of the Clackamas. The season’s first spring chinook could be caught here or at Sellwood in the next four weeks. Effort has dropped recently, but sturgeon are still being caught and released in the Portland Harbor and Milwaukie area. Few to no anglers are fishing the Columbia River.

 

McKenzie River levels have been dropping steadily for over a week but remains too high to fish well.

The Santiam system is forecast to drop and clear although numbers of steelhead in the river are fairly low.

 

Northwest – Inclement weather and a sub-par early season bite didn’t stimulate hoards of anglers over the weekend and early this week but interest is still visible on most north coast streams that harbor early returning hatchery fish. The North Fork Nehalem, often the harbinger of north coast streams, is producing fair results with lots of activity on Christmas morning.

 

Other good options over Christmas break include Three Rivers, the Necanicum, Wilson, Kilchis and Trask Rivers in that order. Anglers may start to see some spawned out steelhead as high flows have enabled fish to reach smaller tributaries for spawning.

 

Remaining North Coast rivers and estuaries will close to the taking of chinook salmon beginning January 1st. Cutthroat trout are also abundant in many streams this time of year and are often intercepted while steelhead fishing. They too must be released until late May.

 

Tides are favorable for sturgeon anglers on Tillamook Bay. The season so far has been fair but remains in question for 2013 as managers decide consumptive opportunity for the future. The middle and west channels should produce some action if the weather permits.

 

A predicted east wind may calm ocean conditions by the weekend but commercial crabbing gear may be deployed as early as December 29th so the lower Columbia and offshore opportunity will wane quickly. Bottomfishing should be excellent if weather permits.

 

A taming swell may produce good razor clam digging for Clatsop area diggers but the most productive part of the tide will be after sunset.

 

Southwest- Stormy offshore conditions have prevented charter and recreational craft from enjoying the excellent bottom fishing available this time of year. The long-range forecast shows a rough ocean all week.

This week is the best for whale-watching along the Oregon coast, This can be an impressive sight and an enjoyable fishing-alternative activity for the family.


Umpqua water levels are high and rising. The mainstem is unlikely to recover sufficiently to fish this week.

The Coos and Coquille Rivers were blown on Tuesday this week but will be dropping into the coming weekend.

As the Rogue drops back into shape late this week, the upper river will fish first and should fish well. The hatchery recycled over 2,000 steelhead in this stretch on Christmas Eve. As the lower river becomes fishable, fresh winters will be available. Fresh winters have entered the Applegate River which opens for steelheading January1.

Steelhead numbers have been decent on the Chetco with catch results mirroring water conditions. Unfortunately, the river is rising early this week but it should be fishable by the coming weekend if NOAA forecasts remain accurate. Plunkers using Spin-N-Glos will be the first to hook up as the water drops.

Rain in southwest Oregon has the Elk River too high to fish earlier this week while the Sixes was running muddy. Cured roe has been taking winters on the Elk recently.

Diamond Lake opens to year-around fishing on January 1, 2013. It will be an ice-fishing scene if the ice is safe to access.

 

Eastern – Dedicated trollers have continued to fish Green Peter for kokanee but the water level this week is too low to launch.

Lake Billy Chinook has been fishing well for bull trout. Be prepared for chilly weather and probable snow.

 

SW Washington- With early returns on most systems clearly depressed, the Cowlitz will remain the best option until later returning wild and broodstock fish return later in January through March. The Cowlitz has remained high for much of the winter season so large baits and scented lures will produce the best results.

 

Several regulation changes occur on January 1st so check local listings before heading out.

 

District razor clam diggers have options this week:

 

·         Dec. 28, Friday, 6:42 p.m., -0.3 ft., Twin Harbors

·         Dec. 29, Saturday, 7:15 p.m., -0.3 ft., Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Mocrocks

·         Dec. 30, Sunday, 7:47 p.m., -0.2 ft., Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Mocrocks, Copalis,

·         Dec. 31, Monday, 8:20 p.m., 0.0 ft., Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Mocrocks, Copalis

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Oregon fishing reports


Willamette Valley/Metro- A myriad of weather has kept the Willamette Valley rivers high and rolling. In between fronts, there have been a few short lived opportunities to get on the water when conditions allow.

 

Both the Sandy and Clackamas Rivers produced a few of steelhead last week for anglers dodging the storms. On the Sandy, the stretch between Dodge Park and Oxbow Park has been holding up well despite the amount of rain and reports have come in of a few good fishing days..

 

On the Clackamas, slightly higher flows than optimum have been the norm but most days the color has been "steelhead green". The river from McIver Park down to Carver has been producing and fishes the best when flows are on the high side.

 

A few steelhead were caught at Meldrum Bar on the Willamette River last week when the water approached "green", but a brown stain is back and will likely stick around for another week. Still, opportunity remains if anglers fish close to shore with bright fluorescent, spinning lures doused with scent and/or bait.

 

Sturgeon fishing in the Portland Harbor has slowed a bit as did the effort, but good numbers of fish should be available through April till the Columbia begins to warm a few degrees. Weather and cold water have kept the pressure on the Columbia River to an absolute minimum.


Northwest –  Highway 30 streams will once again fish after the most recent high water event. The streams have received a large portion of their early returning steelhead but more fish should be on the way. These rivers fish the best when other larger systems are too high to effectively pursue steelhead.

Further south, the Necanicum River deserves a good look. Although boat anglers have had a difficult time accessing the lower reaches, fish were taken taken there last week in the lower flows. Willing fish are most often found at the heads of holes and in water that is between three and 5 foot deep with a broken surface.

The Kilchis River, another small stream option in Tillamook County is also holding fish. Driftboats and bank anglers fishing the lower flows of the Kilchis over the weekend did not fare well. The Kilchis River seemingly received a poor return of chinook this fall and early winter.

 

The Wilson River was in much better shape over the weekend, with ideal levels for both boat and bank anglers. Traffic was high with only fair reports coming from anglers pursuing both salmon and steelhead. Most Wilson River anglers choose to fish the lower reaches of the river in pursuit of fish that ride the tide upstream. In the early morning, tailouts will hold both salmon and steelhead while later in the day, salmon and steelhead will seek different water types for the remainder of the day.

 

Those fishing small streams for early returning steelhead are still targeting the North Fork Nehalem as well as Three Rivers. As is typically the case, most anglers are targeting fish near the hatcheries from where they were liberated from.

 

The Nestucca and Trask Rivers also still have options but salmon fishing is fading to nothing. Steelhead returns to the systems are slow right now but will improve as January comes around.

 

Southwest- Charters reporting that high winds and heavy seas have made storm watching the only available activity. While winter bottom fishing and ocean crabbing are usually excellent, a break in conditions will be required to get out.

 

Now that coastal rivers have recovered from storm front passage, the salinity level in bays and estuaries is returning to normal and, with it, good catches of crab.

 

The Siletz, Alsea and Siuslaw rivers have been producing winter steelhead with a few large hatchery fish reported over the past week.

 

Steelhead will be good when the Umpqua recovers from heavy rain early this week.

 

Winter steelheading was good on the Coos River until water levels came up on Monday this week.

 

Steelheading was worthwhile on the lower Rogue until another storm front raised water levels overnight on December 18th. When flows recover, fishing will be worthwhile river-wide.  Most of the winter steelhead hooked on the lower Rogue recently have been wild, requiring release, but good numbers of hookups have certainly made the effort worthwhile.

 

While the winter steelhead run has yet to peak on the Chetco River, catches were good over the past week. With plugs a top producer, the occasional hookup with a late chinook has been a real handful. Drifted roe has also been effective for some steelheaders.

 

Anglers on the Elk River caught decent numbers of chinook and steelhead over the past week but results stalled over the weekend. High winds are often challenging here.

 

Eastern – Water level, flow and temperature are good with the river a little colored from recent rain. Steelheading has been slow.  Fishing for redsides has been fair to good, however, with caddis and Blue-Winged-Olives hatching mid-day.

 

As long as Crooked River flows remain low, fishing will be reliable here. Check weather conditions as snow has been falling periodically.

 

SW Washington- Although returns to local area hatcheries are less than half of what they were last season, catches are still coming from the Cowlitz when flows cooperate. Most of the action is around the trout hatchery which is common for this time of year.

 

The Lewis, Kalama and Washougal systems are also options for early returning steelhead but returns are also reflecting another down year for adults. Chinook remain an option on the Lewis River but the condition and quantity of fish are fading.

 

Check the WDF&W web site for additional trout fishing opportunities this time of year.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Oregon fishing report


Oregon Fisheries Update:

 

Willamette Valley/Metro- A break in the weather this week gave the valley rivers a chance to drain and drop. The Willamette remains high and murky but the sturgeon will still readily feed, so opportunity awaits the willing catch and release angler. Reports are still coming in of fair to good action from the lower Portland Harbor and the Milwaukie area. Smelt, sand shrimp and herring are the favorite baits. Little to no effort is taking place on the Columbia River with nothing to report.

 

Only one sturgeon may be kept in the 2013 angling year although no open seasons have been announced for the lower Columbia or Willamette Rivers. This decision was announced December 10 as a transition to catch-and-release only for sturgeon in Oregon waters starting in 2014.

 

The McKenzie River has dropped since heavy storms over the past week but is still too high this week to fish well. With Detroit Reservoir over-full, extra water is being diverted into the North Santiam which will keep the river high all this week.

 

The Clackamas and Sandy both have winter steelhead and despite the high water conditions a handful have been caught. On the Clackamas, focus on the upper section of river between Rivermill Dam and Carver until the river falls to that perfect 12.5 ft. level. Catches on the Sandy have come from both low and high on the river with decent reports from Lewis and Clark State Park and up to Dodge Park. Look to this week for an improvement in the water conditions and the catch for both rivers.


Northwest –  Despite poor weather and less than ideal conditions, salmon and steelhead anglers are still plying Tillamook County waters in pursuit of fresh fish. Although the peak of early season steelheading is upon us, there are equal numbers of anglers still looking for late-season chinook.

 

Tillamook Bay is still putting out fresh chinook with a few still being taken from the Ghost Hole to Bay City, particularly just after high tide. Incoming is a traditional time to target troll-caught chinook in the bay but fishing can also be fair on the first part of outgoing tide. Anglers were taking advantage of good sturgeon tides this week on Tillamook Bay with some fair keeper fishing taking place in the west channel.


Rivers were in ideal condition through the weekend with the Kilchis still putting out some fresh chinook and a rare hatchery steelhead. The Wilson is a more likely target with better numbers of chinook and early run steelhead available. Water levels are scheduled to remain stable into this weekend.

 

The smaller systems continue to be the primary target for winter steelhead with the North Fork Nehalem, Three Rivers and the Necanicum the best options for both bank and boat anglers. Boating remains hazardous on these systems however with constant wind-fall and saturated banks causing instability. These tributaries are more likely to produce than the larger mainstem stretches these fish first enter.

Razor clam digging was good along Clatsop Beaches early in the week but a volatile ocean may quell results by the weekend. The best tide will happen after sunset.

 

Southwest- Charters and recreational boats have been able to launch out of central Oregon ports over the past few days, resulting in mostly limits of rockfish and lingcod.

 

Recreational ocean crabbing, which opened December 1, has been yielding good results. The ODFW announced this week that commercial efforts will be delayed through December 30 to allow quality to improve. Cabezon may be kept by bank-bound anglers but not by boat fishers until January 1, 2013.

 

Steelheaders on the Alsea have taken a few fresh winter fish over the past week.

 

The mainstem Umpqua dropped to fishable levels at mid-week but is forecast to begin rising, then roller coaster in level through the coming weekend.

 

The Coos and Coquille Rivers both took a heavy hit from storms over the past week and are unlikely to reach fishable levels and clarity before the coming weekend.

 

Plunkers on the lower Rogue experienced spotty success using scented Spin 'n' Glos as waters dropped and cleared. Steelhead must be fin-clipped to keep until January 1, 2013. The middle Rogue has dropped and when it's fishable, fresh winter steelhead will be available around Galice and near the mouth of the Applegate River. High water conditions on the Upper Rogue have made fishing a challenge this week. Steelhead will be available as the water drops but quality will be mixed.

 

Despite high water levels at the Chetco dumping mud into Brookings Harbor, crabbing was good late last week and into the weekend. Limits have been the rule and the Dungeness being taken are large and heavy. Water levels and flows are dropping this week although the Chetco may experience another rise over the coming weekend with passing fronts.

 

Elk River anglers enjoyed decent water conditions over the past weekend where late chinook are mixed with a few early winter steelhead. Conditions were better and the pressure was high on the Sixes River into this week as it clears a little later.

 

Eastern – Levels have been high on the lower Deschutes recently but there should be some steelhead available for those who know how and where to fish here when the water is up.

 

Crooked River levels remain low with anglers experiencing good results here. Trout are running eight to 12 inches with the occasional larger fish. Midges are the primary pattern of interest here.

 

SW Washington- The Cowlitz River is the best early season bet for fair sized winter steelhead. The trout hatchery is putting out fair catches although success has been reported river-wide.

 

The Lewis, Kalama and Washougal Rivers are also steelhead favorites but catches are not expected to be great as witnessed in recent years. Fresh chinook remain an option on the Lewis but catches are slowing for the year.

 

Razor clam digs are scheduled throughout the week along SW coastal beaches. Check the WDF&W website for details.

Thursday, December 06, 2012

Oregon fishing reports for December 6th


Willamette Valley/Metro- Again the rains have left the rivers high and dirty, leaving little opportunity (if any) to go fishing locally. Catch and release sturgeon fishing on the Willamette and Columbia Rivers remains the only option left until we get a break from the weather and the rivers have a chance to drop. Right now the Willamette is by far the more productive of the two rivers and is producing very good action despite the high water. Fish smelt, sand shrimp or pickled herring for these bottom dwellers in 20-80 ft of water. If you are fishing from a boat, remember to anchor out of the debris lanes or you risk getting taken out by a drifting tree.

 

When the rivers do begin to drop, look to the Sandy, Clackamas and Meldrum bar to produce some fresh winter steelhead although action won’t be all that great until later into the winter.

 

McKenzie River levels have been too high to fish this week, approaching bank full at times.

 

The Santiam system will be too high and swift to fish for a while.


Northwest –  Like most of Northwest Oregon, district rivers have been too high to effectively fish. If river models remain accurate, systems should come back into check by the weekend. This leaves both chinook and steelhead an option but late season chinook success has not impressed anglers lately. Most north coast streams will close for chinook at the end of the month.

 

The Wilson and Kilchis are the remaining late season chinook options. Tillamook Bay may also produce a few fish through the weekend.

 

Smaller systems such as the North Fork Nehalem, Necanicum, Kilchis and Three Rivers should clear prior to the weekend with winter steelhead primarily on tap. If the early run is going to materialize, this should be a productive week for steelheaders. Following the recent chain of storms, these more dynamic smaller streams will be littered with debris. The lower Necanicum is impassable due to downed trees.

 

Tides are favorable for sturgeon this weekend and Tillamook Bay should have a few available. It may be some of the last consumptive opportunity that anglers get for the foreseeable future.

 

With exception of the lower Columbia, bay crabbing should be poor given the amount of fresh water that has recently inundated the north coast.

 

Southwest- Recreational ocean crabbing opened on December 1st. Offshore conditions haven't been friendly, however, as it's been over a week since any boats have launched. Commercial efforts will be delayed at least until December 15th to allow Dungeness quality to improve.

 

Fresh water washing into coastal estuaries has virtually shut down bay crabbing this week.

 

The wild coho fishery in river systems closed on December 1st but will continue through December 31st in Tenmile, Tahkenitch and Siltcoos lakes.

 

Rogue levels were on the drop Sunday and Monday this week but started rising again on Tuesday, December 4th. The water is predicted to approach flood stage at Agness, then drop into the coming weekend. The Rogue will still be high but should be fishable for plunkers by Saturday or Sunday if the forecast remains accurate. In any case, the upper river will be a good prospect for summer steelhead with a good return to Cole River hatchery this year.

 

While Umpqua levels are on the rise this week, a break in the weather will have water levels dropping and clearing. The South Umpqua should reward steelheaders with hatchery winter fish over the coming weekend. Salmon and steelhead are accessing the North Umpqua above Soda Springs Dam for the first time in 60 years thanks to a new fish ladder.

 

When the Coquille comes back into shape late this week, fresh winter steelhead should be available.

 

Chetco flows swelled to well over 34,000 cfs near Brookings mid-week. A rapid drop is expected that should allow fishing late this week. As the water drops and clears, there should be decent numbers of winter steelhead to catch. Slides upstream will delay clearing this week.

 

The Elk River was dropping and clearing early this week. Waters of the Sixes take a little longer to clear but with only light showers alternating with dry periods in the forecast, there should be opportunities in these systems for late-run chinook and early winter steelhead.

 

Eastern – Steelheading has been slow on the lower Deschutes with fewer summers returning this season. Anglers prepared to put in their time to locate fish should see a little action, however. Just keep in mind that the stretch from Pelton Dam to the Northern Reservation boundary will close on the last day of December.

 

The Crooked River continues to fish well.

 

Soapbox Update: Copied from our trusted allies of the Association of NW Steelheaders:

 

Process to reform CR fisheries culminates Friday
Rulemaking calls for improved conservation and more opportunity. Please attend meeting and/or contact your state's wildlife commission

 

The Northwest Steelheaders have been strong supporters and allies of the Governor's directive to reform Lower Columbia River fisheries. Many of the concepts outlined in the Governor's vision are concepts that we have been working on since our inception more than 50 years ago, and others are consistent with our policy decisions since 2003. We feel the Governor's vision as presented in his August letter was spot on correct in the direction we support, and we have supported the Governor, the Commissions and their agencies through this process.

 

The joint ODFW/WDFW work group that met three times over the last few months have made their recommendations to agency staff, and ODFW now has a draft rulemaking. The ODFW Commission will vote on the rulemaking at their meeting in Portland on Friday. There needs to be strong showing from anglers and conservationists. This is the last and most important meeting, hope to see you there! Here are the details to Commission meeting:

 

8 am Friday, Dec. 7
Holiday Inn Portland Airport, Willamette Room
8439 NE Columbia Blvd.
Portland, OR

For agenda and background materials click HERE (See Appendix H):


 

Here are the key concepts that Steelheaders supports in the draft rulemaking:

  • The majority of the changes to allocation, and especially spring and summer chinook allocation. We believe these will provide much more opportunity, including longer seasons and better catch rates.
  • The development and implementation of alternative selective gear such as purse and beach seines, and the removal of all gillnets from the mainstem by the end of the transition period.  

Here is what we do not support:

  • Sportfishing exclusion zone in front of Youngs Bay.
  • Rules requiring the use of barbless hooks in the Columbia and select lower river tributary areas.
  • Any fee collected from sport anglers that is given to commercial fishermen to switch gear.

Steelheaders has communicated in detail with the Governor's Office, both Commissions and agency staff. To see our comments to the ODFW Commission, please click HERE.


 

This really is a historic moment. Sure, it's not perfect, and we will have to make a few small sacrifices, but Steelheaders believes this process to be an overall win for sport fishing and conservation, and we encourage you to show support by attending the meeting and/or writing the Commissions.

 

In Washington, send your message to: Miranda Wecker, Chair, Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, commission@dfw.wa.gov

 

In Oregon, send your message to Bobby Levy, Chair Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission, odfw.commission@state.or.us

 

SW Washington- District rivers remain too high for successful fishing but could drop back into shape by the weekend. Chinook remain an option on the Lewis but anglers will primarily focus their efforts on winter steelhead.

 

The Cowlitz, Lewis, Kalama and Washougal should all hold steelhead by the weekend. It’s too early to tell how the 2013 run is materializing.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Oregon fishing reports


Willamette Valley/Metro- Just as the weather turns for the better and the rivers begin to drop into shape, another storm front enters the region sending them back into the willows. The Willamette is high and off color and will remain so for at least another week to ten days, depending on the next set of storms. This should not deter the angler wanting to catch and release sturgeon. Fishing has been good despite the high water and a growing handful of eager fishermen are taking part. Smelt, squid, herring and sand shrimp fished in 20-80 feet of water remains the main-stay. From the mouth at Kelly Point Park up to Oregon City is the place but don't ignore the Multnomah Channel. The Columbia River will offer also similar opportunity, using the same baits in the favorite hang-outs. Pressure should be light. Nothing confirmed yet, but a few steelhead should be ringing bells at Meldrum Bar on the Willamette, expect an improvement when the water begins to clear.

McKenzie levels reached bank full briefly on November 21st, remaining high since that date.

 

Following the last rain storm, the entire Santiam system is too high to fish and will remain so through the coming weekend.

The Clackamas is green, but on the high side as of this writing, but another rise is likely by the weekend. Little opportunity is available here until the river recedes again. About the only possibility would be plunking large spin n glo's at Riverside Park. Target fish close to shore as fish are most likely to take the path of least resistance.

 

The Sandy River has already given up a couple of winter steelhead from the lower river. High water conditions will make fishing difficult to futile this week. Like on the Clack, plunking the lower river with big winged bobbers could produce a fish or two for the eager angler.


Northwest – The Tillamook district remains the best place to intercept fresh-run chinook and the Wilson tops the short list of prospects. Anglers working the Wilson from the Highway 101 Bridge downstream are taking fish first thing in the morning as well as around high tide. Back-bounced bait and plugs are taking most of the fish.

 

Although the Kilchis, Trask and Tillamook Rivers all remain options, the area is expected to receive more precipitation and high winds which could put systems out of reach again by the weekend.

 

Tillamook Bay itself is only producing a rare troll-caught chinook and may continue to do so through mid-December. Coho fishing closes on most coastal systems beginning December 1st. The run was likely over-predicted.

 

Sturgeon fishing in Tillamook Bay should be underway with late afternoon tides producing a few keepers in the west and center channels. Crabbing will be poor except for the lower Columbia, where it’s excellent near high slack.

 

Most anglers will begin focusing on winter steelhead with the North Fork Nehalem, Necanicum, Three Rivers, Wilson, Nestucca and Kilchis most likely to produce in that order. Steelhead are taken daily now near the North Fork Nehalem hatchery and should continue through early January.

 

Southwest- Boats launching out of central Oregon ports found deep water ling cod on the bite Monday this week with rockfishing somewhat slower.

 

Wild coho may be taken from Tenmile, Siltcoos and Tahkenitch Lakes through the end of December although river systems will close on November 30th. Check your preferred river system to be certain quota remains available before fishing.

 

Ocean crabbing opens on Saturday, December 1st but will be delayed until at least December 15th for commercial efforts. Bay crabbing has been a washout - literally - with fresh water entering coastal estuaries.

 

High water will prevent effective fishing efforts on south coast streams and rivers through the coming weekend.

 

The Rogue will get slammed by another round of storms this week but will be a decent prospect for winter steelhead when it recovers. Fishing for late summer steelhead has been decent on the middle Rogue when conditions have allowed. Upper Rogue waters came into shape on Black Friday, producing good catches of summer steelhead two feet or better in length. Fishing will remain good until the next storm hits.

 

Just as the Chetco has started recovering from the last round of rainfall, another storm front is forecast to hit the southwest on Thursday, and with it, another blowout of the river. The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook over this period for Curry County. When it drops and clears, target winter steelhead here.

 

Anglers on the Elk River caught decent numbers of chinook over the past weekend. Further dropping and clearing this week will be followed by another rise and roiling late this week.

 

Eastern – Several nice summer steelhead were taken in the high but dropping waters of the Deschutes over the past weekend. Local redsides were also cooperative.

 

The John Day Pool will remain a strong option for steelhead trollers although success rates should begin to drop in the coming week. Wild fish still make up the bulk of the catch.

 

Soapbox Update: NSIA’s 13th Annual Banquet is this Saturday, December 1st. We’ll get to revel in huge successes this year as NSIA’s participation in discussion have helped bring a significant change about how the states of Oregon and Washington manage the Columbia River. Join us in this fun-filled event by checking out details here: www.nsiafishing.org.

 

SW Washington- Winter steelhead are starting to show on some district streams with the Cowlitz likely to produce the best early run catches of the big 3. The Kalama, Lewis and Washougal are all winter steelhead options too but don’t receive the same hatchery returns as the Cowlitz.

 

The Lewis remains the best bet for late run chinook when the flows become fishable. Although many of the fish are dark, some fresh run fish should still be available through mid-month.

 

Check the WDF&W web site for razor clam openings; they are scheduled through December 1st.