Oregon fishing today

Willamette Valley/Metro- The Columbia River below Bonneville Dam did put out a few chinook last week but few were of harvestable quality. Chalk this fishery up as over for the season. Catch and release fishing for sturgeon should provide good sport through November. The mouth of the Sandy gave up a handful of silvers to spinner casters and it might be worth a try this week as well.

 
The Willamette has had little to no angling effort and nothing noteworthy to mention. With rivers swelling, there is little reason for anglers to focus on fish that will only be moving through this area.

 

Late mornings and early afternoons will be most productive on the McKenzie as the days grow shorter and colder. Bugs are still abundant with Caddis and BWOs predominant.

 

There are summer steelhead and coho in the North Santiam River but catches have been spotty.

 

The Clackamas River has produced a few silvers and some straggler summer steelhead in the upper stretch from McIver to Barton Park. The mouth of Eagle Creek is a favorite haunt for anglers and silver salmon alike. 

 

The Sandy River is the brightest spot in the metro area as the coho run is finally underway. The water from Oxbow Park to Cedar Creek should be the target area as the fish move through the lower river quickly. Over a thousand fish have entered the hatchery and anglers have been having average success in the immediate area below the creek. The water is reportedly on the dirty, but is expected to clean up before the weekend.  Drifted roe, spinners and bobber/jig combo's have been scoring.

Northwest – Although action on Tillamook Bay has been less than stellar, there are still fish taken every day from the middle bay to the jetty. Most recently, Bay City has produced consistent catches just after high slack. The Ghost Hole has been barren for much of the week. A few fish were taken along the jetty close to low slack on the weak tides early in the week but that will likely change as tidal flows increase. Crabbing in Tillamook Bay is slowing but Netarts remains productive.

 

Tillamook area streams swelled slightly at mid-week but produced few biters, especially on the Wilson. The Trask remains one of the top options but flows will be too low for productive fishing by the weekend. Coho are largely back to the hatchery now but provided poor opportunity for anglers throughout the freshwater fishery. The wild coho season remains open with very few fish taken on the Tillamook system. Action and opportunity should improve this week however.

 

The Nehalem is largely done for chinook but some anglers continue to pursue coho with ample numbers left on the quota. Chinook are spawning in the upper reaches and adjacent tributaries that are closed to fishing. The North Fork Nehalem remains low and coho action at the hatchery is disappointing.

 

The Nestucca produced some chinook on the recent rain but remains only a fair prospect.

 

A chinook over 40 pounds was recently reported from the Necanicum River but the river needs more rain for upriver areas to become productive. There are several trees reported down, making for hazardous boating conditions.

 

Southwest- The ocean is less friendly at this time of year so opportunities for offshore launches are few. Even charters have been challenged to get out this week.

 

With catches of wild coho very good over the past week, the Alsea closed as the quota filled on October 23rd. Chinook catches on the Alsea should be peaking for bobber casters this week. The Siuslaw quota was at 86% as of October 21st although the remaining wild coho fisheries remain in no danger of imminent closure. Fishing has yet to get started at Tahkenitch and Tenmile although Siltcoos has producing coho.

 

Chinook and coho are being caught in fair to good number on the lower Umpqua but smallmouth bass fishing is slowing upriver near Elkton as water temperatures drop. Steelheaders are taking fair numbers on the North Umpqua.

 

Crabbing remains excellent in Coos Bay. Although chinook catches are slowing seasonally in the bay and lower river. Coho fishing has been picking up.

 

Sporadic catches of chinook and coho are falling to trollers on the Coquille River.

 

While many chinook and coho moved upstream with the recent freshet on the Rogue, fresh fish have continued to enter the bay with trolled anchovies taking primarily coho. Steelheading has improved on the middle Rogue with drifted eggs or egg imitations by far the most effective methods to catch them. Flies that mimic salmon eggs are most effective on the upper river for summer steelhead as they're holding below spawning chinook.

 

Trollers using anchovies are making fair to good catches of chinook in the harbor out of Brookings while the majority of these fish have been in the teens, the occasional chinook has topped 30 pounds.

Fishing is fair at Diamond Lake with most anglers catching two or three trout. The limit here remains eight fish due to the excellent trout population.

 

Eastern – Trout fishing is good on the lower Deschutes with redsides falling for small nymphs. Try Prince Nymphs, Hare's Ears or Pheasant Tails. Steelhead are being caught but require some time to do so with the low returns this year. The river is currently blown out and may take some time to recover.

 

Fish the Metolius during the warmest part of the day for best results. Hatches can be sparse during typical cloudy days although insects will be active when it's sunny.

 

SW Washington- Although the Cowlitz and Kalama both have steelhead, coho and chinook available, most effort and success is coming from the North Fork of the Lewis River. The Lewis will likely be the highlight for the remainder of the year although the Cowlitz may produce fair coho catches into early November.

 

The mouths of the Klickitat and White Salmon will remain primary targets for coho anglers although chinook continue to fall on the Klickitat system. The coho fishery will last into mid-November but it’s clear that the return this year isn’t as strong as it has been in years past.

Oregon fishing reports

 

Willamette Valley/Metro-  Bonneville continues to kick out a few straggler chinook for the few who put in some time. Most are starting to show some color and should be left to spawn. This fishery is for all purposes "over" as fish begin to focus on the spawning phase of their lifecycle. A few coho have reportedly been caught at the mouth of the Sandy River over the weekend, but since the rain showed up, these fish are in a hurry to get up the river.

 

A few coho may be available at the mouth of the Clackamas River but adults will be motivated to move upstream from the recent rain event.

 

On the Clackamas, A few silvers and a handful of late summer steelhead have been reported. Eagle creek should put out a few silvers with the next good rain.

 

A few pods of silvers have been spotted rushing through the lower Sandy River. This late in the season they rarely hesitate until they reach the mouth of Cedar Creek and anglers wanting a crack at them should direct their efforts to the mile or two below the mouth of the creek. The road to the Sandy Fish Hatchery will close for repaving for up to two days during the week of Oct. 22-26.

 

Rain hasn't slowed action on the McKenzie; if anything, fishing is better now. Redsides are responding to a variety of wets and dries although October Caddis is a predominant pattern.

 

Steelhead are available and in decent condition on the North Santiam. Rainfall has coho moving upstream near Stout Creek and the Little North Fork.

 

The family fishing event scheduled for Saturday, October 20th at Canby Pond has been cancelled.

Northwest – The season’s first rains have finally brought change to the north coast district. The much needed precipitation swelled rivers on Tuesday, making for ideal driftboat opportunity early in the week. Catches were predictably good on the Trask with some fish reported in the Wilson as well. By the weekend, rivers are predicted to be low again, which will make fish spooky for driftboaters and bank anglers alike. This will have been the first of many driftboating opportunities in the next several weeks however as north coast fisheries should remain productive into mid-December.

 

Tillamook Bay fishing slowed with the onset of wet and windy weather. A few fish were taken at Bay City over the weekend but it was clear that chinook and coho were staging in preparation for their run up the district’s rivers. Another batch of fresh fish should be on their heels however.

Coho have been largely absent on many north coast streams. Although it’s still too early to predict how accurate the wild coho prediction is, early indications of the hatchery run seem to have been over-predicted. Anglers remain hopeful that the fishery will blossom after this rain freshet.

 

The Nehalem is slowing for chinook but should ramp up for coho in the coming weeks. A lot of fish moved upriver over the weekend. There are coho at the North Fork hatchery but they are not biting well.

 

The Nestucca should remain a fair option through October but the Salmon likely has seen the bulk of the fresh chinook already. The Siletz should soon peak and bobber fishing on the Alsea should be great this weekend.

 

The offshore weather prediction looks up in the air but chinook fishing may remain a good option near estuary mouths where it is safe to fish. Ocean crabbing is now closed after a productive season. Estuaries should remain a good option, even more so when the rain freshet makes its way out. Netarts Bay is a top option.

 

Southwest- Lingcod catches out of central Oregon ports have been stellar now that boats may access deep water to pursue them. In addition, some really nice rockfish are being taken.

 

It remains to be seen if the nearshore halibut season, scheduled through October 21st, will go the distance. As of October 7th, only 30% of the quota remained available. A few days of calm seas will likely finish it off.

 

Ocean crabbing closed on October 15th but will re-open on the first of December.

 

Crabbing has been very good in Winchester Bay. Bobber and egg anglers are picking up chinook on the upper bay and lower Umpqua mainstem. Steelheading has been fair on the North Umpqua.

 

Coos Bay has been excellent for crabbing, producing limits of Dungeness in great condition. Chinook fishing has been good for trollers using anchovies or herring.

 

Chinook catches have slowed with coho fishing improving on the lower Coquille. Some of the best crabbing on the coast is available here.

 

Salmon fishing is heating up in the Rogue estuary with trollers taking good numbers of chinook as well as coho. Anchovies fished with a spinner blade will take either. Steelheading has picked up over the past week on the middle river. Rainfall should serve to raise water temps on the upper Rogue and stimulate the summer steelhead bite for fly anglers.

 

With the closure of the Chetco Bubble on October 14th, chinook fishing is restricted to Brookings Harbor. The bubble fishery seemed to run hot or cold but did produce a couple of fish which pushed the 50-pound mark. Chinook catches inside the harbor have been improving. Crabbing has been only fair. Offshore bottom fishing is producing good catches of large rockfish and lingcod.

 

Several inches of rain have fallen on the southwest coast and while no reports have been forthcoming, salmon fishing should kick off on the Elk River.

 

The trout limit at Diamond Lake remains eight fish. While few are taking limits, those who locate a pod of fish at the south end of the lake are doing well. Rain is expected to improve prospects.

 

Eastern – Anglers at the mouth of the Deschutes have been taking decent numbers of steelhead and some large chinook salmon. Fish are on the move with several hundred chinook and steelhead counted at the Sherars Falls trap since the first of the month. Redsides are cooperating with fly fishers above Trout Creek.

 

With cool, rainy weather, the remaining fire restrictions have been lifted on federal lands in central Oregon.

 

SW Washington- Anglers are catching some coho on the Cowlitz while the Kalama and Lewis are producing more chinook. The Lewis is the best prospect for retention of chinook with the run likely to last several more weeks.

 

Effort and success are dropping at Drano Lake but farther east in the gorge, the Klickitat should remain an option, especially for coho well into November. It’s clear however that coho numbers are down.

Oregon fishing for October 12

Willamette Valley/Metro- Mediocre salmon fishing continues at Bonneville, although fish passage over the dam is dwindling. A few chinook and the occasional coho are caught by boaters and bank anglers alike. Bait-wrapped Kwikfish and spinners are getting fish for the boaters, while wobblers and spin n glows are preferred by fishermen working off the shore. The October opener for sturgeon has been cancelled due to the quota being caught but remains open for catch and release.

 

The Willamette River is producing a handful of smallmouth for anglers putting in some effort. Last week some coho were reported off the mouth of the Clackamas River, but the falls count dropped significantly earlier this week.

October caddis are hatching in the evening on the McKenzie River. Matching this hatch will yield large trout.

 

There are a few coho in the North Santiam which is open for them to the Stayton/Scio Bridge. It opens upstream on November 1.

The Clackamas has put out a few coho and almost an equal amount of late summer steelhead from Barton Park upstream to Rivermill Dam, but anglers are working hard for a few opportunities.

 

The Sandy River has been a disappointment to coho anglers as of yet, but some hold hope that there is still more to come. A few have been caught at the mouth and even fewer up at Cedar Creek but the forecasted rain for the weekend could bring a strong push.

Northwest – North coast anglers have enjoyed several days of flat calm seas. Most are pursuing chinook out of Tillamook and Nehalem but bottomfish remains another excellent option. Some lingcod and plentiful sea bass are providing good sport.

 

The small tide exchange and calm ocean yielded excellent catches early this week along the jetties and inside the jaws and adjacent ocean. That changes by tomorrow however with rough seas and high winds likely to close the ocean for several days. Ocean crabbing closes on October 15^th and it has been excellent out of most north coast ports with crabs filling out nicely.

 

Forecasted rains should bring in wild coho that have been largely absent. Numbers should be building with few hatchery coho already in the system. The Trask River should be a strong option by the weekend if the rain event comes to fruition.

 

A few chum salmon have begun to show at the mouth of Tillamook Bay. Although they are legal to retain in the ocean, they don’t make for high quality table fare. Chum must be released in all coastal estuaries and rivers but it looks to be another productive run for this rebounding specie.

Nehalem Bay is still producing fair catches of chinook and some coho. Chinook numbers should dwindle however but coho numbers should improve.

 

Netarts Bay is producing good catches of Dungeness crab and should continue to do so through the fall.

 

Southwest- Rockfish expeditions yielded limits for ocean anglers off the central coast early this week although the ling bite slowed as did offshore crabbing results.

 

Wild coho are being taken at select south coast estuaries although some locations have emerged more productive than others. Siuslaw anglers are faring best with over 60% of the quota taken as of October 7th. Coos and Alsea systems are producing fair numbers.

 

Nearshore halibut remains open. At the last data update through the end of September, 89% of the quota remained available. This fishery will continue through October if the quota holds out.

 

Crabbing has been good in Winchester Bay. Chinook fishing has been good in the lower mainstem of the Umpqua River. Smallmouth fishing is worthwhile around Elkton and will remain so until the water temperature drops. On the North Umpqua, where chinook season is closed, steelheading is fair to good.

 

Coos Bay anglers are taking chinook on trolled anchovies or herring with coho responding to pink lures along the jetties.

 

Sporadic chinook catches are reported on the Coquille although wild coho fishing has picked up.

 

The salmon bite turned on in the Rogue estuary when the ocean calmed over the past week, providing trollers with plenty of action. Most hookups have been with wild silvers although hatchery coho and chinook have been plentiful as well. Half-pounders are being taken at Agness while catches of adults has been decent in the middle Rogue. Summer steelheading slowed in the upper Rogue due to low, cold water.

 

Chinook are stacking at the Chetco River jaws, providing decent action for bubble anglers and soon to trollers in Brookings Harbor. The Chetco Bubble fishery is open through October 14th. Some ocean anglers are limiting on rockfish once everyone has taken a chinook.

 

While fall rains are starting this week off the north coast and into the valley, it will be late in the weekend before precipitation comes to southwest Oregon, potentially to jump-start chinook fishing on the Elk and Sixes rivers.

 

Eastern – Lower Deschutes steelheaders enduring slow fishing are being rewarded with larger-than-average fish on occasion.

 

Fishing on the Crooked River has been good as this one produces in low water conditions. That will change with rainfall.

 

Small nymphs have fooled a few steelhead on the Imnaha, but with low water conditions and low dam counts, fishing has been tough.

 

Steelheading picked up over the past week on the Grande Ronde with active fish taking surface offerings.

 

SW Washington- District anglers remain challenged by good numbers of non-biting chinook and coho in the Cowlitz, Kalama and Lewis Rivers. Upcoming rains should dramatically improve results and fresh fish should enter each of these systems. Check regulations carefully as each watershed differs.

 

The mouths of the White Salmon and Klickitat are producing good catches of chinook and some coho. Anglers averaged about a chinook per rod counting jacks last week and that’s not likely to change given the ratio of jacks to adults passing Bonneville Dam.

Oregon fishing - October 5

Willamette Valley/Metro- As fishing for salmon winds down on the lower Columbia, anglers are still finding a few fish in key spots from the mouth of the Sandy up to Bonneville dam. Last week had a surge of coho activity down in the estuary, indicating that there's more to come. A few coho were taken this week at the Sandy's mouth by spinner tossers and the very occasional chinook is being hooked. Up at the dam, the fishing has been just "good" on the best days and just average most days. Look for another week of possibility here.

Not much activity from the lower Willamette, other than a few coho have been caught in the Multnomah Channel. Troll red, orange or fire tiger plugs upstream for best results. A couple of coho have also been caught at the blacktop below Clackamette Park. Bass and Walleye are also present but few anglers are putting in any time pursuing them.

McKenzie flow has been stable with the level dropping slightly over the past week. Fall trout fishing is as good as it gets with Caddis and PMDs hatching.

The North Santiam is high but stable. Fishing has been slow. Large numbers of salmon are spawning from Packsaddle to Mehama.

There are reports of a handful of coho in the Clackamas River, but very little catching is happening.

 

In the Sandy River, a smattering of coho are being spotted rolling all the way up to Cedar Creek but not in numbers that are getting anglers excited.

Northwest – Limits of hatchery coho were still common out of Astoria over the weekend although most would expect action to slow anytime now. The upcoming weak tide series may make for some fair combo crabbing and salmon fishing in the Astoria area. Seas off of the south jetty of the Columbia may even offer some fair lingcod and rockfish options.

 

Tillamook Bay chinook catches have slowed but strong winds and high seas haven’t helped matters. The additional disturbance has caused eel grass and seaweed to inundate the estuary, making it challenging for anglers to keep their offerings effectively fishing. Weekend anglers would be best suited fishing along the jetty and the ocean may once again be an option if the swell and wind waves subside.

 

Nehalem Bay has been producing hit and miss action for mostly chinook with more coho likely to show in the coming two weeks.

 

Wild coho have been largely absent on most north coast estuaries thus far. Anglers are anxiously awaiting the additional opportunity to harvest this rebounding resource as the run should begin to show in force anytime now. North coast estuaries may differ in regulation so check carefully before heading out.

Rivers remain as extreme low levels kegging salmon in the lower reaches of tidewater. Bobber fishing has been fair at best but should improve as tides wane this weekend.

Crabbing remains fair in most estuaries and should be excellent if the ocean calms down again.

 

Fair numbers of chinook are reported in the Nestucca, Salmon and Alsea systems but anglers are having a hard time motivating them to bite.

 

Southwest- The offshore 30-fathom limit was lifted on October 1^st, allowing all-depth fishing for rockfish and lingcod. Nearshore halibut fishery is ongoing after a revised quota of 4,786 pounds. Unfortunately, wind and wave conditions earlier this week prevented much effort. 

Long range forecasts indicate moderating swells and winds late this week with a friendly ocean over the coming weekend.

Chinook fishing is good in Coos Bay as is crabbing. Wild and hatchery coho are being caught along the jetties and up to Dellwood.

The lower Umpqua is fishing well for chinook while smallmouth catches are good around Elkton. Steelheading is fair to good on the North Umpqua.

Bottom fishing out of Bandon has been excellent whenever boats have been able to get out. Rockfish have been on the surface periodically.

Trollers in the Rogue estuary had a couple of good days over the past week although ocean swells shut down fishing more often than not. Half-pounders are being taken in good numbers around Agness. Chinook fishing slowed on the lower and middle Rogue. Upper river flows have dropped further, creating challenging conditions for fly fishers although catches remain steady.

Chinook fishing was less than spectacular at the opening of the Chetco Bubble on October 1^st although the lower Chetco has been producing fish to 35 pounds or better. Trolling anchovies has been most effective.

Diamond Lake anglers are doing best on the south side, averaging four or five broad-shouldered trout per trip with few eight-fish limits reported. 

 

Eastern – Steelhead are scattered on the Deschutes with results erratic. Best numbers are above Maupin. Fishing for redsides has been good with little competition as most are focusing on the alternate fishery. Counts of steelhead and Chinook picked up over the past week at Sherars Falls.

Trout fishing has been very good on the Crooked. Low water here only seems to improve results. Caddis are coming on as Pale Morning Dun hatches are on the wane.

 

SW Washington- District streams are running extremely low for this time of year. Chinook are present in good numbers, especially on the Cowlitz and Lewis Rivers. Action on these streams should improve substantially when fall rains arrive.

 

Chinook and some coho are being taken at the mouths of the White Salmon and Klickitat Rivers. Action for coho should only improve from here.

 

Fishery managers rescinded the proposed sturgeon season above Bonneville Dam beginning October 20^th. Higher than expected catch rates were realized effectively closing most of the Columbia River and Willamette River harvest for the remainder of the year. Catch and release fishing remains a good option. Retention is allowed in The Dalles Pool Thursdays through Saturdays, until the 300 fish quota is met.

 

Soapbox Update: This is a call to sportanglers. THE most important call in the history of sportfishing! Here is the information from NSIA’s Liz Hamilton:

 

The gillnetters are showing, through their participation in recent meetings what Columbia River mainstem gillnetting means to them. Last week’s meeting in Washington resulted in only a handful of sportfishing industry representatives present…gillnetters filled the room.

 

The Columbia River is the single-largest driver of Sportfishing-related expenditures in the region. For 20 years NSIA has worked hard to open the door for your business to this incredible wealth of sustainable business opportunity. The time has arrived to show-up, be counted and be heard.

 

Governor Kitzhaber has a plan on the table that will deliver the goods. His compromise will provide better protection for wild fish and better economic returns on the fisheries in the river. 

 

It’s not going to happen unless you show-up and participate. If getting the gillnets out of the main stem Columbia River is important to you and your business then you’ll show through your actions just how important that opportunity is. Your participation is needed to succeed.

 

To win this, here’s what we need from you:

 

• Attend every meeting! The next two are:
• October 6 in the Columbia Room of the state Legislative Building at 614 Sid Snyder Ave. S.W. in Olympia.

 

• October 18, in Portland 7900 NE 82nd Ave. Portland, OR. This is a joint commission work group meeting. Public Comment will be taken.

 

• Write to the Commissions! odfw.commission@state.or.us,
  commission@dfw.wa.gov
• STAY TUNED AND READY!

 

Your message is easy. Tell them what this proposal means and how important it is to your business and to you personally.  Call NSIA today and let us know you’re going to participate. We need to hear from you now.  (503) 631-8859

 

We’ll keep you posted and be there every step of the way to support you and the message you bring.

 

This is the single-largest development for NW Sportfishing in the past 50 years. Don’t miss it!