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
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
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.
