Fishing! 9/27/12

Willamette Valley/Metro- Pro guide Chris Vertopoulos (503-349-1377) reports the fall salmon run up the lower Columbia River is tapering off but good opportunity still exists. The best action will be from the mouth of the Sandy River up to Bonneville Dam. Anchor fishermen and bank anglers have been doing best, while backtrollers take up the slack. Smaller sized bait-wrapped Kwikfish in size K13, K14 and K15 have been getting it done. Recent reports indicate that the faster, 20-30 ft. water has produced best. Further downstream, anglers are still catching fish on wobblers and Kwikfish alike, but the lower river has most likely already seen the bulk of the run pass by. 

With October Caddis ever more abundant, water conditions perfect and pleasant fall weather ongoing, fly fishers are enjoying good results on the McKenzie River.

Coho and summer steelhead entering the North Santiam should be available to anglers around the mouth of the little North Fork and Stout Greek.

On the Clackamas, no reports of silvers in the river yet, but a modest showing could appear any day now.

 

The Sandy has seen a few silvers taken on the river with most of the action reported from Oxbow Park downstream. Expect the Cedar Creek area to turn on soon as these fish will arrive and make a showing upriver, with or without rain. A handful are also being taken at the mouth by anglers casting weighted spinners.

Northwest – Recent reports from the lower Columbia indicate there are still a surprising number of coho around with some boats reporting more hatchery fish than wild for a change. The soft tide series recently booted out keepers near the Desdemona Light Marker while anglers indulged in easy Dungeness crab limits in the same area.

 

With the recent calm water, offshore anglers found on-again, off again success for albacore about 40 miles west of the river mouth. Live bait continues to produce the best results. Reports of a hooked marlin are likely accurate although still uncommon off of Oregon. Anglers are hopeful of one final series of opportunities before fish move out of range until next summer.

 

Tillamook Bay anglers are enjoying a productive season although rough seas kept anglers inside for the first time in a while on Monday slowing angler momentum. Seaweed and eelgrass is hampering success but fish are available throughout the bay. A large percentage of the catch are 3-year old fish, averaging around 12 pounds but fish to 40 pounds have been taken lately.

 

The Trask tidewater also has fair numbers of fish present but the soft tide series has them off the bite. With no measureable rain in sight, action should remain fair in the tidewaters of most north coast streams.

 

The Nehalem is producing fair catches of chinook and an occasional coho. Coho seem largely absent from most systems however but the wild run should start showing by early October.

 

The Nestucca, Salmon, Siletz and Alsea should all have catchable numbers of fish available to both bank and boat anglers. Catches should start to peak this week.

Crabbing remains phenomenal in the ocean and good in most estuaries. The fresher the crab bait, the better the results.

 

Southwest- Tuna fishing was good out of Depoe Bay late last week, rewarding sports and charter boats with good catches of large albacore. The end of this fishery is looming, but it’s not over yet.

Rockfish and Dungeness limits along with good catches of ling cod were the rule out of central Oregon ports over the past weekend.

The wild coho fishery started on September 15^th on several southwestern systems. A few have been caught but the season has just started.

Nearshore halibut re-opened of the central coast on Monday, September 24^th. It is scheduled to run through October 31^st but is more likely to deplete the 4,700-pound quota prior to that date.

Crabbing in Winchester Bay is quite good while trollers targeting chinook in the bay have seen an improvement over the past week with herring behind a flasher.

Bottom fishing out of Bandon has been excellent with rockfish on the surface some days, allowing fast action casting with light gear or fly rods. Salmon fishing has been slow to fair.

Fishing out of Gold Beach lit up over the past week with scores of fall chinook landed in the Rogue estuary, three of which were over 50 pounds. Offshore boats are scoring rockfish, ling cod and plenty of crabs. Lower Rogue fishers are taking a mix of adult chinook and jacks. Half-pounders are gobbling spinners around Agness.   Back-trolled plugs are taking chinook on the middle Rogue while the flies-only upper Rogue has slowed for summer steelhead in low water conditions.

There is no chinook fishing out of Brookings until the “Bubble” fishery opens October 1^st to high expectations.

Eastern – Fishing for redsides has been decent on the lower Deschutes during the morning and evening caddis hatches.

 

Hosmer Lake has been slow for most, worthwhile for experienced fly fishers who are taking decent numbers of Atlantic salmon and brook trout.

 

Green Peter continues to produce good numbers of kokanee, about two-thirds of which are of table quality but it is evident that the spawn is nearing.

 

SW Washington- The Cowlitz and Lewis Rivers remain top options for district anglers with chinook making the strongest showing although coho are not far behind.

 

Fair numbers of sturgeon are below Bonneville Dam but consumptive opportunity doesn’t open up again for another few weeks.

 

Columbia River Gorge anglers are enjoying a productive period, targeting chinook at the tributary mouths hovering with small clusters of eggs. Jigs can also be effective fished here but are more likely to take coho when they start showing in the coming weeks.

SW Washington fishing

SW Washington- Fall chinook success is improving with the Cowlitz, Lewis and Kalama all options. The Lewis is likely to offer the best opportunity for the next several weeks with a large forecast likely to come to fruition into November. Summer steelhead and soon coho are also options on these systems. Sea-run cutthroat trout numbers will be improving for another few weeks.

The Wind and Drano Lake fisheries are ramping up but most anglers are focusing their efforts just outside of these tributaries.

The White Salmon is beginning to produce fair numbers of chinook and the Klickitat River has seen some chinook per rod counts over the last week

Oregon fishing reports

Willamette Valley/Metro- The Columbia's water temperature has cooled a few degrees since last week and one would expect the bite to improve, although most anglers reported "just average" fishing over the weekend. Although not at its peak yet, Bonneville Dam has been kicking out decent numbers of chinook although most recently Bonneville anglers have been complaining about a slow bite. The mouth of the Cowlitz has been fishing well and with a fraction of the usual crowd since regulations are now more complicated. Check the local area you wish to fish before venturing out. Just downstream from the mouth of the Sandy, anglers are also doing well for kings with wobblers and Kwikfish.

No reports from the lower Willamette and little to no angling pressure. Expect smallmouth bass fishing to improve when we have a spell of cooler weather.

Hatches are abundant on the McKenzie and the river is fishing very well. Caddis patterns and attractors are effective now.

Despite good numbers of summer steelhead and stable river conditions in the North Santiam, the bite has been off so fishing is slow.

No reports of silvers on the Clackamas yet but stay posted. Look for something to happen with the first freshet of rain.

“There are rumors of jumping silvers up at Cedar Creek, but expect the best opportunity casting Blue Fox spinners at the mouth of the Sandy.”

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will host a Family Fishing event Saturday, Sept. 22 at St. Louis Ponds from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Northwest – Although the lower Columbia is still producing some hatchery and plenty of wild coho, pressure is dropping off and soon, catches will too. Crabbing will only improve through November.
Tillamook is heating up with anglers able to take advantage of good ocean conditions, taking fair numbers of chinook but little sign of coho showing. Trolled herring is working well in the ocean and for most of the popular bay spots but upper bay trollers are using spinners with some success. There is a rare chinook or coho being taken in the west channel.

Tidewater of the Trask and Tillamook Rivers do have chinook available to bobber tossers but as always, are particular as to the time of the tide they will bite.  The lower reach of the Wilson River likely won’t harbor catchable numbers until early October.

The Nehalem is producing fair numbers of chinook and an occasional coho. This fishery should improve for both species but coho numbers should increase dramatically in the next few weeks. Like most systems, hatchery numbers are likely to be down this year but a limited wild coho fishery is underway here.

Southwest- A trip of greater than 50 miles out of central Oregon ports has been required to find tuna over the past week. The reward was good numbers of albacore 25 to 35 pounds each.
The wild coho season opened September 15th on the Siletz, Yaquina, Alsea, Siuslaw, Umpqua, Coos and Coquille systems. These fisheries are scheduled to continue through November 30th or fulfillment of quotas which vary from one system to the next as does the bag limit. Check the regulations.

Anglers on the Umpqua will be targeting coho. The South Umpqua closed to all fishing on September 15th.

Starting October 1, Tenmile, Siltcoos and Tahkenitch lakes open for wild coho. This is primarily a troll fishery with spinners and plugs effective. Coho grow rapidly and will be pushing the 20-pound mark at that time of year.

Chinook fishing has been good at Coos Bay for trollers using plug-cut herring with the area around McCullough Bridge particularly productive. Crabbing has also been good in the bay.

With the Rogue River dropping and water temperature up, fall chinook fishing is expected to improve. Coho are also in the mix here but must be fin-clipped to keep. Half-pounder fishing is good around Agness. The middle Rogue is fishing quite well for chinook with wrapped Kwikfish effective. Fly-rodders swinging streamers on the upper Rogue are enjoying a good summer steelhead fishery.

In addition to fine numbers of rockfish and large lingcod, Pacific halibut are being caught out of Brookings. Local angler Geoff Ashby took one estimated at 90 pounds over the past week. The Chetco Bubble chinook fishery opens October 1-14 and is expected to produce plenty of big fish. Completion of roadwork 13 miles up the north bank of the Chetco River has been delayed. Travelers will be subject to a detour for two additional weeks.

Chinook fishing on the Elk and Sixes will get underway when fall rains arrive.

Two tagged trout worth $100 apiece remain available at Diamond Lake but only if caught before the 1st of October. Air temps have dipped below freezing at night but afternoons have been warm. Fishing is fair.

Eastern – Results for steelhead on the Deschutes has been variable but with fish spread through Maupin, there's plenty of productive water. Counts at Sherars Falls have been decent most days with about 75% of the steelhead of hatchery origin.

The Crooked River is fishing well for anglers using nymphs or dries, depending on hatches.
The challenging Metolius has been fishing particularly well lately with lots of bugs hatching. Green Drake and Golden stone patterns have been particularly effective at times.

SW Washington- Fall chinook success is improving with the Cowlitz, Lewis and Kalama all options. The Lewis is likely to offer the best opportunity for the next several weeks with a large forecast likely to come to fruition into November. Summer steelhead and soon coho are also options on these systems. Sea-run cutthroat trout numbers will be improving for another few weeks.

The Wind and Drano Lake fisheries are ramping up but most anglers are focusing their efforts just outside of these tributaries.

The White Salmon is beginning to produce fair numbers of chinook and the Klickitat River has seen some chinook per rod counts over the last week.

Oregon fishing reports for 9/14/12

Willamette Valley/Metro- The Columbia River is kicking out chinook salmon from Tongue Point all the way up to Bonneville Dam, with coho and steelhead being part of the catch to boot. Nearly 15,000 chinook a day are passing through the Bonneville Dam fish ladders and that number will likely double any day now. But surprisingly more than 1500 steelhead a day are still making the commute. Although Bonneville hasn't seen the peak of its action yet, this fishery is already in full swing. Backtrolling sardine wrapped Kwikfish will be the preferred method for boaters while plunking a spinner, wobbler or spin n glow will work well for the bank bound anglers. The Bonneville fishery will peak by the end of September but last well into October.

 

Check the new regulations before fishing your stretch of the Columbia as new ones exist this year. Wobbler plunkers are finding sporadic success despite large numbers of fish passing through the Portland to St. Helens area. The upcoming stronger tide series may bolster catches.

 

There might be a few coho staging below the mouth of the Clackamas on the Willamette River but no successful reports have surfaced as of yet. Bass fishing will pick up with the cooler temperatures and any fall freshets.

 

The recent cool spell and lower overnight temperatures have combined to boost results for fly fishers targeting trout and steelhead on the McKenzie River.

 

Steelheading has been slow to fair on the South Santiam. On this and other rivers, try fishing below spawning salmon with roe or egg imitations.

 

No reports of coho on the Clackamas yet. Given that fewer coho have been planted the last few years, a small return is expected. These fish will shoot right up to Eagle Creek and the water below Rivermill Dam.

 

Reports have come in of a few coho being caught at the mouth of the Sandy and rumors of a handful milling around up at Cedar Creek. At the mouth, casting spinners is the method of choice either from a boat or wading out to the sand bar and casting into the deeper channel. When some measurable rain comes to the valley, the coho will pour up towards Cedar Creek.

Northwest – Chinook and coho catches were blistering late last week through the weekend on the lower Columbia near Astoria. Easy limits were the rule but fishing has now slowed and will likely quickly taper for the remainder of the season. Coho will be the main focus, along with recreational crabbing on the lower Columbia but coho returns are forecasted to be lower than in previous years so don’t expect easy limits here.

 

Chinook are starting to nose into north coast estuaries in force with good catches reported district wide last weekend. Soft tides were conducive to great lower bay fishing although seaweed sometimes hampered success. Tillamook and Nehalem Bays as well as the Alsea system will be prime targets for the next several weeks. Trolled herring will take the bulk of the catch but spinners will work well in upriver areas. Coho should become more prevalent in the coming weeks with most seasons opening up for wild coho beginning September 15^th but annual bag limits and open days vary by basin so check regulations carefully.

 

With no rain in sight, action for chinook will remain focused in the estuary and tidewater sections of most systems. Bobbers and bait may prove productive when the weekend tides intensify.

 

Bay and ocean crabbing remains productive but an unusual number of soft-shell crab are showing up in the catches.

 

Southwest- Surf perch fishing continues to produce 15-fish limits for long-rodders angling from south coast beaches.

 

The non-selective coho fishery has been rewarding for most offshore anglers and will continue Thursday, September 13th through Saturday, September 15th.

 

Tuna fishing has been spotty out of Newport and Depoe Bay over the past week. It's been scratch fishing although an occasional Dorado has been landed, a certain indicator of warm water nearshore.

 

Chinook fishing has been good on the lower Umpqua with fish taking plugs or cured roe. The upper mainstem and South Umpqua are providing good smallmouth fishing while steelheading is worthwhile on the North Umpqua.

 

Boats launching out of Charleston over the past week have traveled 18 miles or more offshore to find tuna. Bottom fishing has been good as has crabbing in the ocean and in Coos Bay. Chinook fishing in Coos Bay has been very productive over the last week and will likely continue to produce well into September.

 

Ocean chinook fishing was slow out of Gold beach early this week amidst tons (literally) of migrating whales. Bottom fishing was redemptive, however, with rockfish limits, lings to 40 pounds and great crabbing. Fall chinook, half-pounders and adult summer steelhead are being caught on the lower and middle Rogue. While closed to chinook fishing, the upper Rogue has been productive for steelhead although only flies may be used.

 

Chinook fishing closed offshore south of Humbug Mountain on Sunday, September 9th, but was a spectacular fishery for the Port of Brookings. Even better results are expected when the Chetco Bubble opens for two weeks beginning the 1st of October, during which, chinook weighing 30 to 50 pounds will be caught.

 

Eastern – As fall approaches with milder weather and cooler nights, steelheading will improve on the Deschutes. Summer steelhead counts are picking up at Sherars Falls.

 

The Metolius has been fishing well with a variety of bugs hatching including Green Drakes.

 

With the water level dropping, all bag limits have been lifted at Thief Valley Reservoir near Baker.

 

SW Washington- District anglers will begin focusing on fall chinook for the next several weeks. With chinook in good shape this early in the season, anglers are more likely to find eager biters earlier rather than later in the season. Small clusters of eggs under a bobber or backbounced should produce fair results on the Cowlitz, Kalama and Lewis Rivers.

The Lewis River opens up on September 15^th for the retention of wild chinook and fishing should be good.

 

Drano Lake anglers are showing improved catches of fall chinook and as steelhead passage remains uncharacteristically strong for this time of year, they remain a viable option as well. The larger “B” strain of steelhead should be showing in good numbers for the next few weeks.

Oregon fishing reports

Willamette Valley/Metro- Pro guide Chris Vertopoulos (503-349-1377) reports, “The Columbia River anchor fishery is well underway with chinook being caught from Tongue Pt. to Bonneville Dam. The mouths of the Cowlitz, Kalama, Lewis, Washougal and Sandy Rivers are popular with anchor fishermen and in some cases bank anglers as well. Although it is peak season, the bite can still be very volatile at times. The Kalama, Washougal and Sandy have some access for the bank angler to cast spinners to the staging salmon. Chinook counts over Bonneville have bumped substantially, while although still present, the steelhead count has dwindled. 

 

“On the Willamette, there have been no reports of silvers off the mouth of the Clackamas yet but it could be as little as a week away.”

Cool overnight temperatures have continued to improve prospects for trout on the McKenzie River. It's mostly a caddis show but include nymphs in your arsenal.

Trout fishing is fair on the North Santiam while summer steelheading is slow.

 

Although there might still be a few summer steelhead present on the Clackamas, fishing for them will be slow at best. Look for the first of the silvers to show up by mid-month, especially if we get any precipitation at all.

 

It wouldn't be unheard of for a savvy angler to pick up an early silver at Cedar Creek on the Sandy, or even a late summer steelhead, but the summers are all but over and the silvers are likely a couple weeks off.

Northwest – Good numbers of salmon still remain in the Buoy 10 fishery. Bob Keerins and his group from Portland took a 6 chinook and 6 coho limit from the area on Sunday. Although this section of river closed to the retention of chinook on Tuesday, ample numbers of hatchery coho remain and chinook catches should improve above Tongue Point prior to the weekend. Jack salmon may also be kept in this area and numbers are plentiful this year.

 

The ocean north of Cape Falcon (Manzanita) opened up for the taking of any salmon, including wild coho on Monday. Catches are good but anglers should fish closer to the river mouth instead of the traditional coho grounds SW of the Columbia River Buoy.

 

South of Cape Falcon, the ocean opens up for any salmon for several 3-day per week seasons beginning tomorrow through Saturday. Wild coho should be plentiful, especially near the mouths of Tillamook and Nehalem Estuaries.  Some hatchery coho should begin to show in these same estuaries and limited wild coho take will be allowed on many north coast systems. Check regulations for more detail.

 

Chinook fishing continues to improve on the Tillamook and Nehalem systems. Softer tides this weekend should make lower bay fishing and the adjacent ocean waters productive. Ocean crabbing is excellent with crab finally filling out nicely.  Crabbing should also be good in most north coast bays.

 

Albacore fishing should be excellent when the ocean allows. Tuna are responding best to live bait versus clones or jigs. This is common for this time of year.

 

Southwest- Coho fishing out of central Oregon ports has been excellent with mostly limits reported. Best fishing has been in the morning. Wild or hatchery coho may be kept every Thursday, Friday and Saturday through September 22nd unless the quota of 11,800 fish is taken.

Limits of pinkfin surf perch are being taken off south coast beaches. Fishing is best on the incoming tide in a moderate surf.

Trollers using plug-cut herring around Reedsport are taking a few chinook. Better results are coming from the jaws and coho fishing, when open, has been good just outside the bay entrance. Bay crabbing has been good.

Boats out of Charleston have been taking good numbers of tuna over the past week, often within 20 miles of port. Bay crabbing remains excellent. The 13th Annual Coos Basin Salmon Derby will take place September 8-9 in from the Empire Boat Ramp to the head of tidewater. The derby begins at 5 a.m. Saturday and ends at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Chinook fishing was slow on the lower Coquille over the past weekend.

The charter report out of Gold Beach included early-day limits of chinook over the past week along with plenty of rockfish and very large lingcod to bottom fishers. Trolling results in Rogue Bay should improve as river temperatures rise, keeping chinook in the estuary. Results upriver for steelhead, half-pounders and fall chinook have been good.

Chinook fishing out of the Port of Brookings has been good but with coho retention disallowed on this stretch of the coast, anglers need to be certain of the species of salmon they keep. Halibut fishing is allowed south of Humbug Mountain through October and boats have been making fair to good catches.

Eastern – Fishing for steelhead on the lower Deschutes will improve through September. Warm water has slowed movement in the Columbia as well as the Deschutes. Trout fishing is fair but should improve with cooler weather.

Green Peter is producing good numbers of kokanee on the troll at roughly 60 feet deep.

The ODFW announced recently that it will suspend fishing in several Lahontan cutthroat trout streams in southeast Oregon due to severe habitat damage from the recent Holloway fire. The specific streams are here: http://bit.ly/R3ni5t

 

SW Washington- Efforts in the SW district tributaries should start to bump this week. Chinook will be entering the lower Lewis, Kalama and Cowlitz Rivers with savvy boaters working the lower stretches of these systems using small baits and light lines. Eggs will take the lion’s share of the catch. Bank anglers will use bobbers and bait in well-defined holes. The mouths of these systems should also produce well for anglers using hardware fished near the bottom.

 

With Bonneville counts on the climb, the Wind River and Drano Lake fisheries should start to see significant bumps in chinook production. Although these fish often have lock-jaw at these popular destinations, there should still be fair opportunity for harvest.

 

Numerous new regulations take effect this month so be sure to check regulations before heading out.