Willamette Valley/Metro- The Columbia River remains high for this time of year, helpful to juvenile fish migrating downstream but tough on sport anglers in pursuit of the adult variety. Catch rates for summer chinook and steelhead were slow last week. Summer chinook season is now closed but steelhead catches should ramp up in the coming weeks with spinners and spin-n-glos tipped with shrimp producing the best results along rocky outcroppings in the Columbia River Gorge.
The Willamette River continues to kick out spring chinook. On Sunday there was a decent bite at the head of the Multnomah Channel. The usual springer haunts like Sellwood and Willamette Park are barren of salmon fishermen so little is discernible other than speculation.
There is little pressure on the Clackamas other than above Barton where summer steelhead are present in good numbers. The springer show is nearly nonexistent but the deeper holes should provide a few stragglers.
As the water level drops on the Sandy, the deeper slots upstream of Oxbow Park have been the only game in town here. Both steelhead and late springers should provide some action through the middle of the month.
As the water level drops on the Sandy, the deeper slots upstream of Oxbow Park have been the only game in town here. Both steelhead and late springers should provide some action through the middle of the month.
With the water level dropping over the past week, McKenzie fly fishers have been hooking impressive numbers of wild redsides and the occasional bull trout on large dry flies and small nymphs. Steelheading has been fair.
Steelheading has been worthwhile on the upper North Santiam. About 2,500 spring chinook and nearly 4,000 summer steelhead have been counted at Forster Dam on the South Santiam. Fishing is good.
Northwest – Catch and keep sturgeon fishing closes below Wauna beginning on July 5th. Catch rates have varied lately but models indicate anglers will have achieved their quota by then. Catch and release opportunities should still provide a quality experience.
Offshore salmon action remains good out of Astoria with chinook still a primary target in the nearshore waters just north of the Columbia River entrance. Anglers fishing in 28 to 30 foot of water with anchovies are posting consistent results. Coho numbers, although still inconsistent are improving with a fair grade of fish showing for this early in the season.
There are only two more 3-day halibut openers for the north of Falcon all-depth halibut fishery. Forty-one percent of the quota remains with a likely balance to be transferred to the summer quota unless anglers ramp up their effort.
Warm water has inundated much of the north coast and it’s seemingly affecting the ocean coho bite. Catches are poor out of Garibaldi and several north coast ports but that should improve odds for albacore in the near-term. Ocean crabbing is fair with Tillamook Bay crabbers yielding 6 to 8 keepers per boat despite the strong tide series.
Southwest – Chinook catches have been fair to good out of southwest ports. With ocean coho open as of July 1st, limits should come a little easier. Coho must be fin-clipped and at least 16 inches to keep and may be retained through July 31st or a quota of 8,000 fish.
Albacore have been coming to the docks out of central Oregon ports almost daily. Catches will only improve through July. The limit is a generous 25 tuna per angler.
While the spring all-depth halibut season wrapped up on June 29th and 30th, the nearshore fishery continues inside the 40 fathom curve with 26% of the 32,000-pound quota remaining as of June 24th.
Bay crabbing has been good for numbers, poor for keepers. Ocean crabbing is producing limits or near-limits although many are a little soft this time of year.
Pinkfin perch continue to be taken in Winchester Bay with best results coming early mornings. Mainstem Umpqua fishing has slowed with algae thick. Springers are being taken on the North Umpqua. Smallmouth bass fishing is improving on the South Umpqua.
Late-run springers are being taken in modest number on the lower Rogue. Fall fish are already on the way. Best results are from Agness down to Quosatana Creek. The middle river has been slow to fair. Upper Rogue fishers are taking good numbers of spring chinook and summer steelhead catches are improving.
Chinook fishing has been good just a couple of miles out of the Port of Brookings. Offshore rockfishing is excellent and lingcod are being taken to 20 pounds or better.
Weather fronts shut down the trout bite at Diamond Lake over the past weekend but good weather this week will have them back on the prowl for food. Bait fishers will do best here.
Eastern – Elk Lake is putting out good-sized brook trout for anglers throwing plugs.
With caddis and Pale Morning Duns hatching, the Metolius has been fishing well.
Kokanee fishing was slow to fair at Green Peter early this week with the weather unsettled.
Wickiup has been slow for kokanee although a few large fish have been taken.
SW Washington – The Cowlitz River remains the best option for summer steelhead with spring chinook winding down. The Lewis and Kalama are also good options for steelhead.
Most anglers continue to pursue summer steelhead on the banks of the Columbia with plunkers taking fair numbers of steelhead using hot-colored spin-n-glos tipped with coon shrimp.
As fish passage at Bonneville Dam ramps up, the Drano Lake fishery will improve for summer steelhead. Anglers have their best luck fishing at night but early morning can also produce fair results.
The Klickitat River should also begin to produce fair catches of steelhead throughout the month of July.
Soapbox Update: Do you value state forest lands for growing the wild salmon and steelhead you like to catch? The North Coast State Forest Coalition needs your support for developing permanent conservation areas on state forest lands. Go here: http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50686/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=7998
to sign a petition, asking the Oregon Department of Forestry to develop these high value fish and wildlife habitats into areas of permanent conservation. Waters currently open to harvest will remain that way as well as hunting grounds. Read the petition and call or email Bob Rees with any questions or concerns.
Bob Rees: brees@pacifier.com or (503) 812-9036
We’re also looking for business or organizational endorsements for this initiative. We’d be happy to present this information to your interested group of people.
