Willamette Valley/Metro- Some anglers are beginning to find sturgeon in shallow water in the gorge. Some quality keepers are available. Frustrated by season cutbacks, anglers continue to witness high interception rates of Stellar sea lions predating on oversize sturgeon at Bonneville Dam.

Daily winter steelhead counts are on the upswing once again with about 3,500 upstream as of the latest data. Boat pressure is increasing around the Sellwood Bridge as hopefuls troll herring for springers. Salmon are taken nearly every day although the fish per rod average is less than impressive. Flows and turbidity are predicted to remain stable, enabling anglers a continued opportunity for the region’s highest quality fish.

The McKenzie has been steadily dropping but may experience a slight rise from rain this week.
North Santiam flows are expected to be decent until the next heavy rain. Wild steelhead numbers are improving.

Winter steelhead are scattered in modest number on the Clackamas. Spinners or bobber & Jig have drawn strikes.

Sandy steelheaders have taken fish over the past week at Dodge and Oxbow parks. Sidedrifters in the lower reaches are finding more consistent action as the late run fish make a stronger showing.

Unlike most Willamette Valley lakes which are open year-around, Henry Hagg Lake opens for the season on Saturday, March 3rd. Hundreds of enthusiastic anglers are expected to participate in this productive metro fishery. A nice batch of holdover trout are expected.
 
Northwest –  Water levels on the larger north coast systems remained high over the weekend but anglers willing to work with those conditions found some success on the remaining hatchery steelhead streams using eggs or shrimp for bait.

Smaller systems fished well with the Necanicum a late season favorite for anglers looking to tangle with primarily wild fish. On Friday, Lori Howe of Raleigh Hills hooked into an exceptional steelhead on the black pirate hot shot, only to lose it in a submerged root wad after an epic battle. The Necanicum is wrought with wood debris with multiple hazards including 2 downed trees near the Necanicum Junction which are impassable. Willing anglers need to drag their boats about 40 feet over a gravel bar to get downstream past the obstruction.

The North Fork Nehalem and Kilchis Rivers are reporting primarily wild fish present. The hatchery runs on these systems is finished.

The mainstem Nehalem remains too high and off-color for productive fishing although steelheaders working tributary mouths may find some success.

Water levels are expected to rise again before the weekend but by Saturday, most systems should be fishing well. Large broodstock steelhead, tipping the scales to over 20 pounds, have been taken in the Wilson River recently. The late run broodstock fishery and a quality wild steelhead fishery peaks in March, making the north coast a favored target for Willamette Valley veterans.

Crabbing remains good in Tillamook and Netarts Bays. Anglers working the jetties are taking more consistent numbers of rockfish and an occasional lingcod. Smaller tide exchanges produce the best results but those are at night this weekend.

Southwest – Ocean conditions aren’t boat-friendly this week although there may be a brief window of opportunity on Saturday according to offshore forecasts. When conditions allow, bottom fishing is good for rockfish and lingcod.

Crabbing has been poor offshore due to rough ocean conditions.

Crabbing improved in Winchester Bay but may be negatively impacted by precipitation this week. Sturgeon fishing has slowed around the 101 Bridge. South Umpqua steelheaders have been doing well for hatchery steelhead but rising waters will hamper efforts this week.

Lower Rogue spring chinook anglers are enthusiastic now that fish have started to enter the estuary. Unfortunately, river levels are forecast to spike with rainfall. Levels are predicted to be dropping over the coming weekend but the water will be a little high. The upper Rogue may be the best bet for winter steelhead.

Good numbers of herring were taken over the last weekend in Brookings harbor. The run is late this year and is usually short-lived. The Chetco River will be high but dropping in the weekend to come, creating winter steelhead opportunities for plunkers.

Elk and Sixes rivers are on the rise with rain this week but should fish well for winter steelhead as the water drops and clears.

Eastern – The Crooked River remains a best bet for trout on the East side.

Steelheading should be productive in the Grande Ronde but water levels are high this week.
SW Washington – Late season steelhead are making a stronger showing on the Kalama. The Cowlitz is another option but the bulk of that run has passed. The Lewis River is also a fair option for mostly wild fish with spring chinook still likely a month away.

Spring chinook are starting to show in better numbers for Davis Bar trollers. Numbers should start to build with peak opportunity the first week in April. Larger fish tend to show earlier in the run however.

The Washougal River has slowed for hatchery steelhead but a fair run of wild fish should show through March.