Oregon fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro - Effort for sturgeon downstream of Bonneville Dam is nearly non-existent. Sturgeon fishing opens up above the dam on Jan 1 for a small winter quota, likely to be filled fast.

The Willamette River at Oregon City is in great shape for catching a Christmas steelhead. Plunkers at Meldrum bar are getting an occasional fish, but they aren't setting the river on fire. Catch and release sturgeon fishing in the Portland harbor is lighting up however and more anglers should participate in this urban winter fishery.

McKenzie River levels were still rising on Tuesday this week from earlier precipitation but without rain in the forecast, it will be dropping all week. Prospects are fair for fly fishers targeting winter trout.

Winter steelhead counts are picking up at Willamette Falls which will soon create a catch-and-release fishery on the North Santiam for those who favor it. Some feel these wild fish should be left alone.

The Clackamas River is running a bit it on the high side, but the color is very fishable. A few early steelhead are spread out in the upper stretch between Carver and McIver Parks, but better numbers aren't due until mid-January. Expect the river to drop into prime shape by the weekend.

Sandy River anglers are also experiencing higher than optimum, murky water mostly due to the ascending freezing level. A slow fall is predicted through the weekend. Steelhead have been dispersed throughout the system, but better numbers are on the way.

Northwest – Winter steelhead fishing on the north coast remains fair at best. The most reliable resources, the North Fork Nehalem hatchery and Big Creek hatchery hotlines, report slow action with just a few fish moving into hatchery traps following the last rain freshet and peak season timing. It's clear the early returns are not going to be large, hopefully, the later returning broodstock and wild run hasn't suffered the same fate.

Driftboaters working the Necanicum River over the weekend report poor success. Some fish were taken off the bank but success rates were low. A few fish were reported in the tail-outs but low, clear water kept fish skittish and off the bite.

Regardless of the sub-par returns, the Wilson and Nestucca systems as well as the North Fork Nehalem remain the best chance for the early season. This will be peak week for quality steelhead, just don't expect great results with the upcoming weather pattern and poor returns.

There is a good set of weekend tides to entice a last chance at a keeper sturgeon on coastal estuaries. Action is likely to be fair at best with juvenile crab likely to intercept offerings before sturgeon have a chance.

Razor clam diggers will see good tides over the weekend but the surf conditions will likely keep clams from coming close to the surface for diggers to harvest.

Crabbing has slowed in most coastal estuaries. Even the consistent lower Columbia River is a fair-at-best option this time of year, even poorer, considering the extreme tide series this weekend.

Southwest- Rough ocean conditions have prevented offshore boats from launching recently but when they can get out, good results for rockfish and lingcod can be expected.

Lingcod are moving into shallow water in anticipation of spawning in January and February, to the delight of rock and jetty anglers.

Crabbing is fair at Winchester Bay. Winter steelhead are being taken below Sawyers Rapids on the Umpqua mainstem but treat these wild fish with respect. Hatchery fish are on the way.

Boaters at Coos Bay and in tidewater on the Coquille are reporting fair but steady crabbing. A few winter steelhead have been caught but anglers are advised to hit the lower stretches of any coastal stream in low water conditions.

With the bay fishery done for the year at Gold Beach, anglers are hitting various stretches of the Rogue with mixed results. Brief rainfall early this week sparked a little winter steelhead action on the lower river but catches have stalled due to low, clear and cold water. Anglers on the middle Rogue are taking a few, mostly wild steelhead and inadvertently the occasional coho on a variety of lures but it has been spotty. Steelheaders on the upper river continue to take summers but these fish are well past their prime and winter steelheading won't be a viable option until February next year.

Commercial crabbers report slow fishing out of Brookings. Rainfall made little change in Chetco levels with the river continuing to drop with the flow predicted to be less that 400 cfs by the coming weekend. Catching a steelhead in these conditions will be extremely challenging.

Crabbing out of Port Orford is reported as good. A little rain fell on the area earlier this week but it had very little impact on the low, clear water on the Elk River.

Eastern – The cold waters of the Grande Ronde River are reported to be providing fair fishing for steelhead to anglers dressed for frigid weather. The Imnaha is another option but not as likely to produce as the Grand Ronde.

The John Day is largely frozen over with boat travel not possible. Action won't resume until warmer weather persists.

Oregon fishing reports

Willamette Valley/Metro - Fish and wildlife statistics show a dramatic decrease in angler effort and success in the gorge fishery. Foraging stellar sea lions have changed the behavior of fish in the gorge but the shift to the Willamette has paid dividends for anglers working that water.

Anglers are catching a steelhead or two every other day at Meldrum Bar on the lower Willamette River. After the next big rain and the river gets a bump and warms, look for the catch to improve. Catch and release sturgeon fishing might be a better option as water conditions improve for this fishery. Boaters fishing the water above and below the St. Johns Bridge are getting fair numbers of fish daily as this winter fishery becomes more and more popular. A whole or half anchovy has been the best bait.

McKenzie River flows are a decent level for fishing but with the water temperature only in the high 30s, there are better options for anglers.

Very few Santiam-bound steelhead are moving up the Willamette while coastal rivers are just turning on. In addition, there is no hatchery winter steelhead fishery here and trout fishing is closed.

With good water conditions prevailing, the Clackamas River is putting out the occasional winter steelhead, although the bulk of the run is still over a month away. The river between Barton and Riverside Park would be the best stretch to work for any opportunity.

The Sandy River also has a few dispersed winter steelhead, but a good rain is needed to bring the river up and pull fresh fish in. The Oxbow to Dabney Park stretch will put out the most fish. Bobber and jig will get fish for bank fishers while pulling plugs will score for the boaters.

Northwest – Steelheaders are still struggling to find reason to pursue early run steelhead on the north coast. The signature system, the North Fork Nehalem has yet to produce any measureable catches at the hatchery although water conditions certainly haven't helped. None-the-less, a significant rain freshet is nowhere in sight but any rise in river levels will stimulate a bite.

Big and Gnat Creek, the Klaskanine, Necanicum, Kilchis and Three Rivers are all options but none are producing banner early returns of steelhead. We're entering peak season for this run of fish.

Larger systems such as the Wilson and Nestucca Rivers are best options in low water conditions and those systems are only producing a rare fish. Boaters are working the extreme lower reaches and the tidewater stretches of north coast streams and small concentrations of fish should be pocketed up where bobber and jig fishers could score results. These streams also remain open for chinook but action is dismal.

Despite good tides, effort for sturgeon on Tillamook Bay has been low. It's likely that sturgeon will continue to stage on the Columbia in hopes for another probable productive smelt run, likely to hit next month.

Ocean conditions are likely to remain too rough to recreate through the weekend. Bottomfishing can be excellent this time of year, weather permitting.

Southwest- Bottom fishing off the central Oregon coast was good over the past weekend when boats were able to get out. Near-limits of rockfish, lingcod and Dungeness were taken.

With commercial crabbers agreeing on a price of $2.65 per pound, offshore efforts got underway on Monday this week and is expected to have an effect on recreational ocean and bay crab catches.

Keep an eye on offshore predictions to sneak out for action with bottom-dwellers. The forecast looks friendly on Friday, Dec. 29, but that forecast may change.

Winchester Bay has been producing a few decent crab but it has been slow to fair at best. Look for winter steelheading on the Umpqua to pick up in January.

Crabbing has remained fair but steady at Coos Bay and in tidewater on the lower Coquille.

Low water has winter steelheading off to a slow start on the lower Rogue although a few have been landed. Boats on the middle river are taking the occasional coho but anglers targeting steelhead have been mostly disappointed. Pressure is light in low flows and frigid temperatures on the upper Rogue although catches of summer steelhead and coho have made it worthwhile for a few well-insulated anglers.

Nearshore reefs produced good catches of lingcod and rockfish to boats fishing out of the Port of Brookings. Fishing for chinook is slow in the low, clear waters of the Chetco although winter steelhead have been entering the system despite river conditions. A slight increase in flows is predicted for the coming weekend and with it, an overall improvement in action.

The subtle rainfall at Port Orford early this week had little effect on river levels. A few chinook were taken over the past weekend so perhaps there's hope for a late-season fishing flurry.

Sub-zero temperatures overnight at Diamond Lake have formed ice thick enough to tempt a few out on the surface near the bank, but it will be a week or more until it's considered safe for ice fishing.

Eastern – While Deschutes flows are acceptable for fishing, expect bitter cold temperatures at times on the east side. Trout fishing has been slow to fair, steelheading remains slow with fish scattered.

Flows at Crooked River are down to 70 cfs and fishing is fair to good.

Oregon fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro - On the Columbia, few reports from even fewer fishers give the impression your effort isn't worth the reward. Anglers will have several months to look forward to the first returns of spring chinook. If waters warm, a pilot run of smelt may make a winter showing.

On the Willamette, despite the frigid weather, some steelhead were taken from Meldrum Bar last week. Plunkers are casting their lines, fixing their rods into a rod holder and retreating to their warm vehicles in anticipation of a bite. Expect an improvement with the warming temperatures. Sturgeon fishers also had catch and release success in the Portland Harbor using smelt, squid, sand shrimp and anchovies will all entice hungry sturgeon.

McKenzie River water levels have been steadily dropping for over a week. Without a winter steelhead run, trout are the species to target for hearty fly fishers.

The North Santiam holds little of interest to anglers this time of year with few target species to pursue.

Bitter cold has kept anglers indoors and off the water on the Clackamas River. The water level remains very fishable but the extremely cold water temperature makes for tough fishing.

Like the Clackamas, the Sandy is a frozen ghost town for fishermen. Although there may a few steelhead in the system, getting them to bite is a challenge in the cold water. Wait for the coming rain to warm the river a few degrees and add a bit of color, then give it a try.

Northwest – Hazardous roads and plummeting temperatures have kept many anglers from trying their hand at coastal steelheading. Early indications from the North Fork Nehalem are less than impressive; only 46 steelhead were in the trap for a 2 week collection period, not giving anglers much hope for early season success. The upcoming weather front and associated warmer weather will give anglers a good idea how the rest of the season will unfold. Only a moderate bump in river levels is forecast so water temperatures will play the biggest role for weekend anglers.

The Highway 30 systems, the Necanicum, North Fork Nehalem, Kilchis, Wilson, Nestucca and Three Rivers are all options once precipitation changes the current low and clear water conditions. A rare late-season chinook may come from the Wilson or Trask Rivers.

Ocean crabbing and fishing was great on a calm ocean last week but those conditions may not return for quite some time. Commercial crabbers are likely to set pots on the 13th, effectively out-competing the recreational fleet.

The upcoming minus tide series may offer the last chance for coastal sturgeon on Tillamook or Nehalem Bays. Although action largely depends on a winter food source for lower Columbia sturgeon, some fish are certainly present.

Southwest- Offshore bottom fishing has been good out of Newport and Depoe Bay. One cabezon may continue to contribute to a seven-rockfish bag limit through December 31. Travel carefully as coast range roads may remain icy for a while.

Recreational ocean crabbing has been worthwhile but wintry when boats have been able to get out. Commercial efforts, originally scheduled for Dec.1, will commence on Dec. 16 if crabbers agree on market prices.

Coos Bay crabbing has been worthwhile with salinity levels high. Tidewater in the lower Coquille is producing Dungeness as well. Winter steelheading has yet to be worthwhile here.

Winchester Bay crabbing has shown a marked improvement. While the Umpqua is currently low and clear, the next round of precipitation will bring with it a bounty of bright winter steelhead. Rain this week is forecast to push the mainstem at Elkton over 2,500 cfs and that will put fish in the river.

Trolling for chinook on Rogue Bay is done for the year. Anglers on the lower Rogue are reporting an improvement in catches of winter steelhead. Side-drifting bait or swinging flies has been most effective. Flies, spinners and plugs have been producing slow to fair catches on the middle river although most fish are wild and must be released. Few anglers are trying the upper Rogue but results have been good for summer steelhead in winter temperatures. Most lures are effective as is bait above Shady Cove boat ramp where it's legal.

Limits were the rule for crabbers out of the Port of Brookings following the opening for ocean crabbing on Dec. 1. Dungeness are stuffing pots dropped in 100-foot depths and nearly every one is over legal size. Fishing for rockfish and lingcod has also been excellent. It has been optimistically stated that winter steelheading seems to be running about two weeks ahead of schedule on the Chetco. Catches of wild, hatchery and half-pounder steelhead would make that an accurate statement, however. Some of the adults have weighed 12 to 14 pounds and as many as a dozen half-pounders have been taken by a single group of anglers in a day.

A little rain in the forecast this week may improve low, clear conditions at the Elk and Sixes rivers. Fishing in the ocean off the river mouths is closed.

Eastern – It's cold on the lower Deschutes with water temperatures in the mid-40s. Those who have been able to keep their guides free from ice have reported slow to fair fishing for steelhead.

Steelhead are being taken by fly anglers on the frigid Grande Ronde River on nymphs and streamers; fish mid-day for best results.

Oregon fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro - On the Columbia, few reports from even fewer fishers give the impression your effort isn't worth the reward. Anglers will have several months to look forward to the first returns of spring chinook. If waters warm, a pilot run of smelt may make a winter showing.

On the Willamette, despite the frigid weather, some steelhead were taken from Meldrum Bar last week. Plunkers are casting their lines, fixing their rods into a rod holder and retreating to their warm vehicles in anticipation of a bite. Expect an improvement with the warming temperatures. Sturgeon fishers also had catch and release success in the Portland Harbor using smelt, squid, sand shrimp and anchovies will all entice hungry sturgeon.

McKenzie River water levels have been steadily dropping for over a week. Without a winter steelhead run, trout are the species to target for hearty fly fishers.

The North Santiam holds little of interest to anglers this time of year with few target species to pursue.

Bitter cold has kept anglers indoors and off the water on the Clackamas River. The water level remains very fishable but the extremely cold water temperature makes for tough fishing.

Like the Clackamas, the Sandy is a frozen ghost town for fishermen. Although there may a few steelhead in the system, getting them to bite is a challenge in the cold water. Wait for the coming rain to warm the river a few degrees and add a bit of color, then give it a try.

Northwest – Hazardous roads and plummeting temperatures have kept many anglers from trying their hand at coastal steelheading. Early indications from the North Fork Nehalem are less than impressive; only 46 steelhead were in the trap for a 2 week collection period, not giving anglers much hope for early season success. The upcoming weather front and associated warmer weather will give anglers a good idea how the rest of the season will unfold. Only a moderate bump in river levels is forecast so water temperatures will play the biggest role for weekend anglers.

The Highway 30 systems, the Necanicum, North Fork Nehalem, Kilchis, Wilson, Nestucca and Three Rivers are all options once precipitation changes the current low and clear water conditions. A rare late-season chinook may come from the Wilson or Trask Rivers.

Ocean crabbing and fishing was great on a calm ocean last week but those conditions may not return for quite some time. Commercial crabbers are likely to set pots on the 13th, effectively out-competing the recreational fleet.

The upcoming minus tide series may offer the last chance for coastal sturgeon on Tillamook or Nehalem Bays. Although action largely depends on a winter food source for lower Columbia sturgeon, some fish are certainly present.

Southwest- Offshore bottom fishing has been good out of Newport and Depoe Bay. One cabezon may continue to contribute to a seven-rockfish bag limit through December 31. Travel carefully as coast range roads may remain icy for a while.

Recreational ocean crabbing has been worthwhile but wintry when boats have been able to get out. Commercial efforts, originally scheduled for Dec.1, will commence on Dec. 16 if crabbers agree on market prices.

Coos Bay crabbing has been worthwhile with salinity levels high. Tidewater in the lower Coquille is producing Dungeness as well. Winter steelheading has yet to be worthwhile here.

Winchester Bay crabbing has shown a marked improvement. While the Umpqua is currently low and clear, the next round of precipitation will bring with it a bounty of bright winter steelhead. Rain this week is forecast to push the mainstem at Elkton over 2,500 cfs and that will put fish in the river.

Trolling for chinook on Rogue Bay is done for the year. Anglers on the lower Rogue are reporting an improvement in catches of winter steelhead. Side-drifting bait or swinging flies has been most effective. Flies, spinners and plugs have been producing slow to fair catches on the middle river although most fish are wild and must be released. Few anglers are trying the upper Rogue but results have been good for summer steelhead in winter temperatures. Most lures are effective as is bait above Shady Cove boat ramp where it's legal.

Limits were the rule for crabbers out of the Port of Brookings following the opening for ocean crabbing on Dec. 1. Dungeness are stuffing pots dropped in 100-foot depths and nearly every one is over legal size. Fishing for rockfish and lingcod has also been excellent. It has been optimistically stated that winter steelheading seems to be running about two weeks ahead of schedule on the Chetco. Catches of wild, hatchery and half-pounder steelhead would make that an accurate statement, however. Some of the adults have weighed 12 to 14 pounds and as many as a dozen half-pounders have been taken by a single group of anglers in a day.

A little rain in the forecast this week may improve low, clear conditions at the Elk and Sixes rivers. Fishing in the ocean off the river mouths is closed.

Eastern – It's cold on the lower Deschutes with water temperatures in the mid-40s. Those who have been able to keep their guides free from ice have reported slow to fair fishing for steelhead.

Steelhead are being taken by fly anglers on the frigid Grande Ronde River on nymphs and streamers; fish mid-day for best results.

Oregon fishing report 12/5/13

Willamette Valley/Metro - The Columbia below Bonneville Dam has been a ghost town for fisherman. If you're willing to brave the wind, the rain and the cold (and quite possibly some snow) you could have some action catching and releasing sturgeon.

A report finally came in of a winter steelhead taken from Meldrum Bar. Although not confirmed, supposedly a few have also been taken by the back-trollers at the mouth of the Clackamas River. This is the season, catch and release sturgeon fishing in the Portland Harbor should produce solid action for anglers willing to give it a try.

McKenzie level and flows are moderating following the freshet early this week. Fish caddis patterns and Blue-winged Olives patiently. A big McKenzie River redside is a worthwhile payoff.

Waters of the North Santiam crested on December 2nd but have been dropping since that date. While steelhead are scarce and coho uncooperative, rainbow and cutthroat trout will take Caddis imitations on the Stayton to Shelburne stretch all day long.

An adventurous angler reportedly caught two winter steelhead on the Clackamas River last week. Although it's still pretty early, more fish should show once the river drops back into shape by the weekend.

Winter steelhead are finally showing up on the Sandy River. After the high water recedes, look for angler effort to increase and more fresh fish to show up in the catch.

Boaters: If you haven't done so already, be sure to winterize your craft.

Northwest – Tillamook chinook fishing remains slow. After a brief battering of storms and a quick rise in river levels, anglers were forced to take a few days off of effort. Swollen rivers are now coming back into shape but steelhead will be on the minds of most, following a poor showing of late season chinook.

The Wilson and Kilchis Rivers will remain prime late season options for chinook with some returning early hatchery steelhead as well. The early component of steelhead will give us an idea as to how the rest of the season will perform. The first streams to fish after significant rainfall are the North Fork Nehalem and Three Rivers. Effort was high for Three Rivers anglers on Tuesday but conditions will improve by Wednesday and Thursday for most North Coast streams. After the strong deluge and high winds, rivers can become hazardous to drift. Rumors of a downed tree on the North Fork Nehalem might make it impossible to safely float this weekend. The Necanicum River is much the same although apparently did not get the rainfall that Tillamook County streams received.

With dropping water temperatures and an east wind influence, the bite likely won't take off but late mornings and early afternoons should produce best. Steelhead should be present in most north coast streams.

The lower Columbia River remains a strong crabbing option with a good tide series happening over the weekend. Clam digging will be best before the weekend; especially with the forecasted mild surf. Diggers will need lanterns and warm clothes to produce catches.

With the east wind knocking down the ocean swell, offshore crabbing and bottomfishing should be a strong option if you can tolerate the cool temperatures. Lingcod and seabass should be willing and available on most rocky reefs but the south jetty out of Astoria is reporting poor catches. Adult Dungeness males are more likely to be found at depths greater than 35 feet this time of year.

Southwest- Long-range central Oregon offshore forecasts indicate friendly launch conditions for the coming weekend. Bottomfishing and crabbing should be excellent. Commercial efforts for crab have been delayed until December 15th and possibly longer as testing of Dungeness showed meat content too low for market standards.

Crabbing has been slow in Yaquina Bay although some hard, legal Dungeness are being taken.

Bright chinook were taken out of the Siuslaw over the past weekend although it's getting late in the season for this river.

Trollers at Siltcoos Lake have been taking wild coho on plugs recently. This fishery is open through the end of the year although fish are starting to show some color.

Lower Rogue anglers are taking the occasional winter steelhead although half-pounder catches have been fair to good. Fishing on the middle river has been slow to fair for summer steelhead. Upper Rogue anglers continue to take steelhead thanks in part to ongoing recycling of fish from Coles River Hatchery. Most of these summers are pretty colorful at this time of year. Coho are also in the mix.

When the ocean has cooperated, limits of lingcod and rockfish have been taken out of the Port of Brookings. The Chetco is coming off another minor freshet with water predicted to be low and dropping into the coming week. Bobber and bait fished in deeper holes will take chinook. Prospects for winter steelhead will improve in January.

Rain is still needed to jump-start the chinook fishery on the Elk River. Precipitation in the southwest corner of the state over the past weekend was not enough to effect river levels.

Fishing remains slow at Diamond Lake.

Eastern – Crooked River is still flowing at 72 cfs and is producing trout. Anglers are using nymphs for the most part.

Mid-day fishing is likely to be most productive for steelhead in the chilly waters of the Grande Ronde River.