Thursday, October 31, 2013

Oregon fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro - Bonneville anglers are still catching a few chinook below the dam, but most fish are dark and getting ready to spawn. Angling for salmon from a floating device is prohibited from Beacon Rock upstream to Bonneville Dam Nov. 1 - Dec. 31.

Little effort leaves little to report on the Willamette River. Sturgeon fishing is catch and release only but there are plenty of nice size fish around to bend rods. Late season bass fishing is still a good option in the Lake Oswego/ Milwaukie area and walleye are still on tap in the Multnomah Channel.

Water levels have continued to fall on the McKenzie in relatively dry seasonal conditions. October Caddis patterns have been effective over the past week.

While coho passage at Willamette Falls is tapering off, there are still fish entering the Santiams. Until rain hits and changes everything, water level and flow will be good with the North Santiam River offering as good a chance as any at a coho hookup.

Other than a few straggler late summer steelhead in the upper stretch and the odd coho, little is available on the Clackamas River. The first winter steelhead will show up around Christmas.

On the Sandy, there are some dark chinook in the river as well as a few coho, but the run has been far less than impressive this season. For a chance at a bright coho look to the lower river below Oxbow Park.

Northwest – Chinook seekers on Tillamook Bay continue to struggle for strong results. All week, the jaws have been the most popular but only a handful of chinook have been taken following the peak of the soft outgoing tide. The ocean produced fair results on Tuesday, south of the jetty, but will close after October 31st. The Ghost Hole and Bay City will become primary targets in the incoming tides over the weekend and anglers should get a good idea how the late season will perform, based on weekend results. Wilson and Kilchis fish make up the bulk of the late season catch and tidewater of the Wilson should again perform if the bay sees another shot of fish.

Chum salmon are starting to show in Tillamook Bay and the long range weather forecast indicates they may make a run up the Miami and Kilchis Rivers following the predicted rain. If the weather is significant enough, driftboaters will have ample opportunity for chinook on the Trask, Wilson and Nestucca Rivers well into next week. Retention deadlines exist on some north coast systems so check regulations before heading out.

The Nehalem has finally slowed after a great season and likely won't light up again as the chinook run is done over there. Coho remain available but will also be hard to target.

Most north coast coho quotas are half-met and will remain open through November. Be sure to check the specific basin your fishing however as regulations vary by watershed.

Bay crabbing is fair at best on Tillamook Bay and only slightly better on Nehalem. The lower Columbia will continue to produce great results, particularly on the weaker tide series, which won't be the case this weekend. A good set of clam tides should produce good digging early next week along Clatsop Beaches, pending the height of the surf.

Southwest- As fall rains start this weekend, offshore conditions are forecast to become seasonally challenging as well. Expect higher swells and winds for the week to come.

The ocean is closed to crabbing but will likely reopen December 1. Prior to that date, crab can still be taken in lower bays and estuaries as long as crabbers don't venture into the ocean.

Bay crabbing historically improves in fall and winter in Oregon. The first to produce are generally the larger water bodies such as Winchester and Coos Bays.

Chinook and coho catches are fair to good in Rogue Bay for trollers. Chinook returning to Indian Creek are hitting spinners. Catches of steelhead and coho have slowed at Agness. Steelheading has remained fair but steady for anglers using a variety of baits, lures and flies on the middle river. Fly anglers are continuing to score on the upper Rogue with egg patterns and streamers.

Calm seas and mild winds out of the Port of Brookings encouraged boats to hit the salt over the past week. Bottom fishing results were good with lingcod catches excellent. Halibut fishing is closed as of November 1st. Trolling for chinook in the harbor has been fair. The Chetco River is scheduled to open above the 2.2 mile mark on Saturday, November 2. This is mostly a bobber and bait show but the fishery is dependent on sufficient rain to raise water levels. Otherwise, it could shut down again almost immediately.

Rain is needed to rejuvenate the chinook fishery on the Elk River.

Eastern – Steelheaders on the Deschutes below Warm Springs have had to settle for landing mostly redsides and the occasional whitefish as steelheading has been only fair at best.

Bull trout are falling for large streamers on the Metolius. Fish deeper water on the upper river for these fish which commonly run over 10 pounds.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Oregon fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro - On the Columbia River below Bonneville Dam, anglers continue to catch fall chinook although the bite is becoming sporadic and many of the fish are getting quite dark. A large portion of the chinook present will spawn right below the dam. Anglers should take note and consider letting these fish spawn in peace. Saturday's sturgeon opener on the Willamette River below Willamette Falls proved to be quite productive for many anglers and the turn-out was also surprising. Many reports came in of boats limiting with three, four or five keepers from Oregon City, Milwaukie, the Portland Harbor and Multnomah Channel indicating the river has plenty of fish in it for catch and release entertainment. Anglers slightly exceeded their 1,000 fish quota by about 200 fish. Bass and walleye anglers have an extended late season stretch of good weather to cash in on. Water temps are still in line for productive fishing.

The weather is beautiful and the fishing is fine on the lower McKenzie. Just go. Take October and other Caddis patterns along with some Adams and some Prince, Possie Bugger and similar nymphs.

The Santiam system has good numbers of coho for those who can crack the code on the challenging fish. Popular lures are jigs and spinners. Try from the rest stop on the mainstem up the North Santiam for the best chance of a hookup.

Not much to report on the Clackamas River but low water and the occasional silver salmon being caught. The next rain might bring a few more into the system.

Water is getting low on the Sandy River as well and a few silvers are still in the system. Best action is reported from the mouth and up near Cedar Creek. Jigs and spinners are the go-to lures with cured roe being the bait of choice.

Northwest – After a great early season, Tillamook Bay fishing has slowed as it has in years past at this time. Historically, mid-October to mid-November has produced great catches and that remains to be seen this year. With an already strong showing of Wilson chinook, the run that fuels the late season bite, anglers remain hopeful and results are likely to improve. Ocean fishing for chinook will close after October 31st but has remained one of the best options lately. Deep reef bottomfish seekers have been taking advantage of the all-depth opportunities and being rewarded accordingly. Ocean crabbing will remain closed until at least December 1st but is slightly improving in coastal estuaries.

The Nehalem remains an option although it too has slowed slightly. The run here is likely to taper after this week but persistent anglers may still be rewarded. Bobber fishers are taking fair quality fish in tidewater using eggs and shrimp combinations.

Another good round of precipitation will do the north coast systems some good but there is none in sight. Until then, anglers should target the tidewater sections of the Nestucca, Siletz and Alsea with the Salmon a distant second choice. Bobber and bait will take the most fish but trollers will take some fish too.

The lower Columbia is absent anglers but crabbing will only get better through late November. Pick the softer tides to maximize catches. Good clamming tides won't come around again until early November.

Southwest- Bottom fishing out of central Oregon ports has slowed. Everyone is still catching rockfish and lings but not limits as they were last week.

As ocean water temperatures drop, it appears that tuna hopefuls have made their last run for the season.

Long-range offshore forecasts look favorable for ocean launches although conditions are predicted to become more challenging late in the coming weekend.

Bay crabbing is expected to show improvement with salinity levels good and weather conditions friendly this week.

Catches of rockfish and lingcod have been good when boats have been able to get out on the ocean from Gold Beach. Trollers in Rogue Bay are taking decent numbers of chinook and coho. Fishing off the mouth of Indian Creek has picked up with chinook gathering to run up to the hatchery on that tributary. Steelhead and coho are available in good number around Agness. Anglers on the middle river are catching steelhead on an assortment of baits and lures. The upper Rogue is fishing well as summer steelhead continue to lie in tailouts below spawning chinook. Fly casters will score with egg patterns.

With the ocean closed for salmon fishing, trollers are working Brookings Harbor while shore-bound anglers cast spoons and spinners from the crab pier but chinook catches have been only fair at best. Fish with the tides for best results. The Chetco River opens above River Mile 2.2 on November 2nd.

While the Elk River is running low and clear in the absence of precipitation, it gave up more than a dozen chinook on Sunday, October 20.

Trout catches continue to slowly improve at Diamond Lake with bait fishing on the north end yielding the best results.

Eastern – Trout fishing remains better than steelheading on the lower Deschutes although fresh summers continue to enter. Water level and flow have improved with upstream irrigation efforts shut down.

Fly anglers are reminded that during extended mild, sunny weather, trout will be making terrestrials a significant part of their diet.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Oregon fishing report for 10/18/13

Willamette Valley/Metro - The Columbia River below Bonneville Dam continues to produce the odd productive day for chinook salmon, but more and more days are slow. The majority of the run has passed, but 2,000 to 5,000 kings a day are still ascending the ladders. Many of the fish staging below the dam are destined to spawn there and a high percentage are already donning their spawning colors, so anglers should take consideration and let them do their thing, unmolested.

Silver salmon are still climbing the ladder at Willamette falls at a rate of 200 - 400 per day and fishermen continue to take a few at the mouths of the Tualatin, Molalla and Yamhill Rivers. Silvers above the falls can be harvested regardless of having a fin-clip or not. Below the falls, little is happening except for the odd silver caught at the mouth of the Clackamas or at Meldrum Bar. A one day sturgeon retention opener is slated for Saturday, October 19th. Late season bass and walleye fishing is likely good, but few anglers are participating.

The McKenzie River is fishing well as brightly-colored foliage gives evidence of fall arriving. Rivaling the brilliance of the leaves are the large, colorful redsides coming to hand for fly fishers. Drifted nymphs are effective early in the day with Caddis imitations and Adams effective as the day warms.

Bright coho can be seen rolling and jumping at various locations on the North Santiam but getting them to bite or strike is always a challenge.

Good water conditions prevail on the Clackamas River but few fish are there to catch. Very slow fishing for silvers has been the norm this season. Eagle Creek is the destination for most Clack silvers, but the water is getting low and the few fish that are there are scattered.

The Sandy offers better opportunity for silver salmon and the odd chinook. The river is still holding at a good level since last week's rain and fish are scattered from the lower river up to Cedar Creek. The fish seem to be more concentrated in the upper stretch. Both coho and chinook salmon must be fin-clipped to retain on the Sandy.

The family fishing event scheduled for October 19 at Canby Pond has been cancelled. Blame it on the weeds which are too thick to allow for a pleasant fishing experience.

Northwest – Although far from the blistering hot beginning anglers witnessed on Tillamook Bay, action for chinook remains consistent with the ocean and the Ghost Hole still producing some of the best catches. Calm ocean weather has drawn a renewed interest in the nearshore for chinook and the outlook seems favorable through the weekend. Too bad ocean crabbing is now closed as Lee Richey of Tualatin and his crew of 4 took their 60-Dungeness crab limits along with 4 chinook on Tuesday, just south of the jetty out of Tillamook Bay. Crabbing in Tillamook Bay itself is just fair but should improve pending any other storm fronts. The upper bay may turn on again with the strong tide series over the weekend.

Tidewater reaches of the Tillamook streams has slowed recently but may improve again following the strong upcoming tide series. The Wilson River should hold the greatest promise after mid-October.

The Nehalem system has jump started again, following the prolonged period of turbid water following the last rain event. Trollers working the mouth continue to do very well with some coho in the mix. Pressure has let up but the good fishing continues. No north coast estuary is close to achieving their coho quota and is slated to go through November.

The lower Columbia is vacant of anglers but one guide boat reported 2 chinook and 4 hatchery coho last week with fairly consistent catches of coho still coming. The strong tide series this weekend could bring about another small shot of coho for those wanting a serene experience. Crabbing is excellent downstream of Hammond.

Southwest- Offshore conditions are supposed to moderate into the coming weekend according to long-range forecasts. Nearshore and deep water lingcod fishing has been good with rock fishers taking mostly limits. Ocean crabbing has slowed but is still worthwhile.

Now that fresh water has been replaced with that of a salty nature, bay crabbers should expect some improvement in catches.

Winchester Bay trollers have continued to hook up with chinook on herring with most catches coming from the jaws and below the Highway 101 Bridge.

Florence boaters have taken a few large chinook trolling herring in tidewater over the past week. Pressure has been moderate.

Rogue Bay has provided some productive periods over the past week with scores of fish landed on some days. Catches are a mix of chinook and coho. Indian Creek chinook have finally started showing in catchable numbers and are hitting spinners. Steelhead and coho are being taken at Agness. Steelheading has been decent on the middle river with flies, lures and bait all effective at times. Upper Rogue fishing continues to yield consistent results for steelhead.

The Chetco Ocean Terminal Area Fishery closed October 13th with at least one 50-pounder and several 40-pound chinook landed. Trollers attention will now focus on Brookings Harbor from the jaws to the mouth of the Chetco River. Trolled anchovies are most effective. Halibut may be taken out of Brookings through the last day of October.

No chinook have been reported from the low, clear waters of the Elk or Sixes Rivers. Look for these to turn on later in the year.

Eastern – steelheading is fair to good on the lower Deschutes. Counts ramped up at Sherars Falls over the past week. Expect lower flows as the Bureau of Reclamation has the outflow from Wickiup down to a trickle to allow the reservoir to fill.

Steelheading has improved on the Grande Ronde River with some anglers reporting multiple fish. Flies and spinners have been effective.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Oregon fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro - Fishing for chinook salmon below Bonneville Dam has dropped off a bit, as have the counts over the dam. The peak of the run has now passed and more sporadic fishing should be expected for the next few weeks. However, fish are still being caught and some good days are still in order for back trollers and anchor fishermen alike.

The Willamette River holds some opportunity for coho salmon at the mouth of the Clackamas, but hot fishing is not likely. As the water clears from last week's storm, bass and walleye fishing will pick up for the season's finale. The section from Ross Island to Lake Oswego should fish best for smallmouth bass and the Multnomah Channel will be the go-to spot for late season walleye.

The entire McKenzie River is fishing very well for fly anglers. Large redsides have been looking up lately, creating exciting opportunities for dry patterns. In the absence of surface activity, nymphs have been effective.

Thanks to thousands of coho which have passed over Willamette Falls, these fish far outnumber steelhead on the North Santiam. Fishing for coho has been fair to good at times.

The Clackamas River has dropped into prime shape for early fall coho fishing, but the numbers of fish available are disappointing. A few pods of fish scoot by from time to time but relatively few get caught. Clackamas coho are notorious for being non-biters, but with fewer hatchery fish planted in the last few years, the outlook for decent action is mediocre at best. Anglers intent on trying for the random coho would be well advised to spend their time near and in Eagle Creek.

The Sandy River offers better opportunity for coho and chinook salmon than the Clack. Best action for coho would be from Oxbow Park up to Cedar Creek and the few chinook salmon that are available, would be better sought after down low in the system. Chinook are mixed stock, with both darker tules and a few brighter "quality" fish.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will host a Family Fishing Event Saturday, Oct. 12 at Mt. Hood Pond in Gresham. The event is free and open to anglers of all ages. ODFW staff and volunteers will help participants learn how to set up tackle, cast and land fish.

Hagg Lake closes for the season on November 24th but will be open year 'round starting in 2014.

Northwest – North Coast fishing, particularly in Tillamook Bay have been nothing short of epic. Anglers working Tillamook Bay, as well as the lower reaches of the Wilson and Trask Rivers are realizing catches that haven't been witnessed in many years. In Tillamook Bay itself, the west channel produced many boat limits last weekend and although it has dropped off, remains a strong option. Todd Liebow of Portland took his 2-fish limit on Sunday; a 25-pounder from Bay City and a 16-pounder from the West Channel on trolled herring. The Ghost Hole is still producing good catches too, especially around the last part of outgoing tide and the first part of incoming. The middle and upper bay is also producing consistent results and could pick up when the morning tide series intensifies over the weekend.

Bobber fishing in the lower Wilson is excellent and last week's high water produced excellent catches for driftboaters over the weekend on the Trask and Nestucca Rivers as well. River levels are expected to remain stable but the strong early showing of Wilson and Kilchis River chinook are an indication that Tillamook area anglers will likely have good fishing well into Thanksgiving.

The Nehalem River has had an epic run as well although fishing tapered with the recent high water. The system should be well primed for the weekend however as the run is sure to continue well into October. The North Fork Nehalem hatchery reports fair coho fishing, particularly from the handicap platform although the bite is likely to taper.

Crabbing has picked up in some coastal estuaries, likely due to the fall crab spawn approaching. Ocean crabbing may be an option over the weekend if the calming trend continues. Deep-reef bottomfishing will also be productive for lingcod and sea bass out of Garibaldi.

Southwest- Without depth restrictions as of October 1, offshore boats have been taking limits of lingcod out of Newport and Depoe Bay. Nearshore bottom fishing has been excellent. Ocean crabbing remains rewarding but will close at the end of day on October 15th.

Long-range offshore forecasts predict a moderating trend into the coming weekend with mild swells at manageable duration and coastal winds becoming breezes.

Chinook fishing has been good on the Umpqua River bar. Hatchery coho may be kept anywhere on the Umpqua, wild coho are legal to take below the Scottsburg Bridge. The North Umpqua is producing some steelhead but be prepared to find campgrounds such as Fisherman's Bend and Susan Creek closed and locked.

Trollers on Rogue Bay have had some good days over the past week, landing both chinook and coho. About 15% of the coho have been hatchery keepers however. Anglers are still waiting for decent numbers of Indian Creek chinook to show. These fish are due to show any day now. Adult steelhead and half-pounders are being taken at Agness with best results early and late in the day. Now that chinook fishing is closed on the middle Rogue, anglers are targeting steelhead with fair results. Drifting flies for steelhead holding below spawning chinook has been an effective technique on the upper Rogue.

When trollers have been able to get out for the Chetco Bubble fishery, it has not disappointed. Plenty of 20 pounders have been landed and a few have topped 30. Cut-plug purple label herring has been most effective. This fishery will remain open through Sunday, October 13. Fishing is closed above River Mile 2.2 until November 2nd although an early opener of the waters above may occur if flows justify doing so in mid to late October.

The mouth of the Elk River produced chinook earlier this week despite low, clear water conditions.

Despite lower water temperatures at Diamond Lake, fishing remains only fair at best. Try the south end with Power Bait or night crawlers.

Eastern – Following a spike in water levels at the end of September, the lower Deschutes has returned to stable flows. Steelheading and trout fishing are worthwhile.

Trout to 14-inches or better have been responding to October Caddis patterns on the Wallowa River.

Steelhead are bound for the Imnaha and Grande Ronde Rivers at the 10-year average which means better numbers this season than last.

Thursday, October 03, 2013

Oregon fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro - Chinook counts over Bonneville Dam have sunk to 5,000 to 7,000 per day. Although these numbers indicate a steep decline, it's still strong for this late in the run. Considering the amount of rain we have had and the timing, now is the time for the backtrollers below the dam to have their best action. Once this week's unstable weather subsides, good fishing should resume.

The Willamette River has bumped up a couple notches and the visibility is deteriorating. This gets coho excited but puts them on the move as well. Expect fishing at the mouth of the Clackamas to be "off' until after the weekend when the river cleans back up.

The McKenzie River blew out on Monday this week but is predicted to recover by the coming weekend.

A few coho have been caught recently on the Santiam near Jefferson. It has been estimated that about one-quarter of the coho which pass over Willamette Falls are destined for the Santiam system.

The Clackamas River jumped up to over 17 feet and is now on a slow drop. Expect fishing for silvers to resume when the river clears and gets within reach of the 13 ft. mark.

Like the Clack, the Sandy River is also high and dirty. If predictions are spot on, it should drop back into fish-able shape by Sunday or Monday. By then, expect fishing for silvers and chinook to continue through October.

Northwest – The Tillamook and Nehalem systems remain the focal points for most sportanglers on the north coast. Recent turbulent weather kept anglers from fishing over the weekend however Kelly Murray of Hillsboro took her 2-chinook limit in one pass on a stormy Tillamook Bay on Saturday, trolling a herring at Bay City near the top of the tide. The recent rains have swollen the district's rivers and fishing on the Trask, Necanicum and both the North and South Forks of the Nehalem should be excellent prior to the weekend. The Nestucca and Salmon Rivers should also produce great action. Check each rivers regulations as there are large areas closed to harvest. This early season opportunity is often a rare one as the districts rivers frequently aren't floatable until next month.

Once the rivers and estuaries clear, action should pick up again although it's likely that estuary staging chinook and coho will all pass into the river systems. Following this freshet, the Nehalem is likely to drop off but Tillamook Bay will remain a stalwart producer well into November and early December. Hopefully, the freshet will clear the estuaries of troublesome, free-floating eel grass and seaweed that historically fouls anglers gear while pursuing chinook.

The influx of fresh water will likely further slow estuary crabbing. It could however stimulate sturgeon activity in Tillamook and Nehalem estuaries when large populations of sturgeon tend to make a mass exodus from the Columbia River, destined for other coastal estuaries in search of winter forage. These coastal estuaries remain the last open areas for sturgeon retention until the end of the year, when the large scale closure is likely to last for a long time.

Stronger tides will slow lower Columbia crabbing but there may be fair at best action for late season coho in the Astoria area. Of greater interest may be the evening minus tides starting on Saturday, where razor clam diggers may find good digging conditions after a long summer closure north of Tillamook Head at Seaside. You'll need a lantern and a watchful eye on the surf behind you. Use extreme caution when digging at night.

Southwest- Offshore conditions disallowed boating adventures over the past weekend and into the early part of this week but seas are predicted to calm considerably as the weekend approaches.

There has been a quiet conversation about running for tuna on Friday, October 4th but aside from that, albacore fishing is all but over for the year.

As of October 1, there is no longer a 30-fathom restriction on bottom fishing. Catches are expected to be excellent and cabezon retention which was scheduled to close at the end of September has been extended, possibly through the rest of the year.

Ocean coho closed the last day of September with the quota unfulfilled. Chinook will remain open offshore through October.

Coho seem to be dominating catches at Winchester Bay with bank-bound anglers hooking up on spinners while trollers using herring are taking fish below Gardiner.

Despite off-color water in Coos Bay, many bobber and bait fishers landed chinook from the dock on Monday this week. There are good numbers of salmon entering the bay.

While offshore trips haven't been an option over the past week out of Gold Beach, the Rogue Bay has periodically produced a mix of adult chinook, coho and mixed-specie jacks. Anglers on the lower river are still awaiting the big push of Indian Creek chinook. With chinook closed above the Hog Creek Boat Ramp as of October, targeting steelhead is the only option on the Grants Pass stretch. Fishing should remain worthwhile on the upper Rogue despite low water temperatures. Look for steelhead holding below spawning chinook where egg imitations should be effective and low light conditions most productive. Water level and flows should be normal by the weekend.

The highly-anticipated Chetco Ocean Terminal Area Fishery opened October 1st with the ocean too rough to fish. As conditions moderate this week, action should follow. This opportunity, during which the largest chinook of the season are typically landed, will continue through October 13th.

The Elk and Sixes Rivers were high and muddy on Monday this week but had started to drop and clear with that trend expected to continue through the week.

Eastern – The Deschutes was marginally affected by recent rainfall with the level and flow returning to normal. The majority of steelhead hookups over the past week have been wild fish. Counts of chinook and steelhead remained good at Sherars Falls through the last day of September.

Steelheading has yet to get started on the Grand Ronde and Imnaha Rivers with summers slow to make their way up the Columbia this year. Numbers are showing at Bonneville Dam but remain low at Lower Granite.