Thursday, November 27, 2014

Oregon fishing update

Willamette Valley/Metro - Bonneville numbers remain depressed as we enter the winter blues. If you're into wildlife watching, go to the Bonneville area and watch the Stellar Sea Lions chow down on your broodstock sturgeon; it's epic this time of year. Sorry, is my frustration playing out? Warmer temperatures may produce some coho catches in the gorge but other than that, action is slow.

With the Willamette River water level rising and turning muddy, Sturgeon fishing on the lower river has only improved. With many anglers awaiting the arrival of winter steelhead, the catch-and–release action has been a fun interim alternative.

McKenzie River and the Santiams will blow out this weekend and remain unfishable into the coming week.

Once the Clackamas River recovers from storms due to arrive Saturday and Sunday, there may still be a few summer steelhead and coho available but most anglers are hoping for early winter steelhead.

No catches of winters have been confirmed from the Sandy although there are still summers and a few coho, most of which are dark. Expect the river to recover sufficiently to fish by mid-week.

Northwest – A flurry of great action took place last Sunday when air and water temperatures warmed and staging estuary chinook made a run upriver on the Trask and Wilson Rivers. Action has slowed since and only an occasional pod of chinook will roll through the Tillamook district into mid-December. The Kilchis is an option too.

Early winter steelhead should be available on some north coast systems. The North Fork Nehalem is producing a few winter steelhead but only from the handicap ramp, much to hatchery worker's surprise. There hasn't been much interest however. It's still early. Other early winter steelhead options are the Wilson, Kilchis, Three Rivers and Necanicum systems.

Weaker tides this weekend could produce some fair bay crabbing. The lower Columbia is the best option but sport crabbers will have to put up with commercial gear that will start soaking on November 28th.

It's transition time in this district; limited opportunity exists.

Southwest- Winter fishing for rockfish and lingcod is excellent when boats can get out. Launches should be possible early next week. In addition, ocean crabbing becomes legal once again starting December 1.

In last week's newsletter, the closure of Tenmile, Tahkenitch and Siltcoos was stated incorrectly. All of the above lakes will open for wild coho fishing through December 31st, 2014. Thanks and a tip o' the fishing hat to subscriber Bill S. for catching the gaff.

The first winter steelhead of the season may be caught on the Alsea as conditions improve in the coming week.

Native steelhead will be available on the mainstem Umpqua when it drops and clears sufficiently following the storm front due to hit this coming weekend.

The Rogue is forecast to blow out this coming Saturday and Sunday. Even the upper river will experience a significant rise. Once it recovers, fishing will continue for the tail-end of the Chinook run and summer steelhead.

The Chetco should clear sufficiently to plunk early next week with backbouncers and plug-pullers getting in on the action around mid-week. Fishing has been decent as Chinook commonly run big at this time of year as the run is winding down.

The late Chinook run on the Elk and Sixes has rewarded anglers with nice fish following every recent freshet as the rivers rapidly drop and clear.

Eastern – The lower Deschutes has been fair to good for trout and summer steelhead although the water has been roiled from muddy outflow below White River.

Enthusiasts of cold-weather trolling are getting their fix (as well as some dandy lake trout) at Crescent Lake.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Oregon fishing update

Willamette Valley/Metro - With coho and chinook numbers at Bonneville further declining, the salmon fishery on the lower river is effectively over. Sturgeon anglers will likely begin to focus on the Willamette, where water temperatures are more conducive to sturgeon that are often lethargic this time of year.

The Willamette will be on a slow, steady rise in the coming week and is expected to get muddy, sturgeon fishing is really the only option.

McKenzie River fly fishers may expect fair results with nymphs in the absence of hatches.

While there are coho and summer steelhead in the North Santiam River, fishing has been slow to fair. Expect the South Santiam to get muddy.

Willamette Valley streams and rivers will be on the rise this weekend.

Northwest – Few anglers are still working the Tillamook system but chinook remain available in the bay and tidewater stretches. The west channel has finally started paying dividends to trollers with the last half of incoming, high slack and the first part of outgoing the most productive. Again, few anglers are participating and action could slow on the predicted upcoming rain freshet.

Rivers remain low and fish are more likely to be residing in the tidewater sections of the Wilson and Trask systems. Bobber and bait is the likely technique but most anglers are anxious for the next rain freshet, which is on tap for this weekend. The best late season chinook prospects are the Kilchis and Wilson Rivers.

Steelheaders are anxiously awaiting the results of the next freshet. Steelhead have already been reported on the North Fork Nehalem but recent results are not impressive. Hatchery steelhead should be available on the North Fork Nehalem, Necanicum, Wilson, Kilchis, Nestucca and Three Rivers as well as the Alsea on the north coast, following the weekend rain freshet. We're still 3 weeks away from consistent fishing however.

Crabbing should be improving on many north coast estuaries but a strong tide series this weekend, coupled with predicted high winds, may not make estuaries a friendly place to recreate.

Southwest- Offshore bottom fishing is excellent at this time of year but ocean conditions seldom allow boats to safely cross the bar.

Mussel harvesting is closed from Heceta Head near Florence south to the California border. It's advised to call the shellfish hotline at 1-800-448-2474 for the latest info before heading out to take mussels anywhere on the coast.

Coastal precipitation has caused salmon to move out of tidewater and into the river systems all up and down the Oregon coast.

Coho fishing in Siltcoos, Tahkenitch and Tenmile lakes has been fair to good for boats trolling spinners or plugs. This fishery will remain open through the last day of November.

Catch and release winter steelhead fishing is fair and improving on the mainstem Umpqua. Fishing for summer steelhead is slow on the North Umpqua.

Winter steelheading on the Coos and Coquille won't start up until December.

Trolling in Rogue Bay is wrapped up for the season although Chinook and a few winters are being taken in the lower river. Middle Rogue steelheading is fair while it's good on the upper river.

Anglers will be plunking for a while as the level and flow of the Chetco will rise with the weekend storm front.

The late Chinook run on the Elk and Sixes has been producing fish with recent rainfall.

Eastern – East side temperatures are frigid and snow has fallen in most places. Despite these conditions, a few fly fishers are taking fish on the Deschutes.

Winter trolling for lake trout has started on Lake Billy Chinook and at Crescent Lake.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Oregon fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro - Water level of the lower Willamette we will see little change due to rain this week. Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing has been good.

Winter fly fishing is expected to be fair on the McKenzie.

Fishing on the Santiams is slow and expected to remain that way for a while.

Clackamas and Sandy level and flow will remain little changed in the coming week. Coho fishing is slow. Targeting late summers is best at this time. Winter steelhead are on the way.

Metro - The Bonneville fishery is over with only dark Chinook remaining in the catch. Coho numbers at Bonneville are also finally in the downturn. It's about time to put the salmon gear away and hope for a productive spring Chinook run.

North Coast - Frigid weather kept most anglers off of Tillamook Bay recently but Chinook remain available for those fishing Bay City and the Ghost Hole. Herring remains the top bait but the bite has been best at first light and then it becomes a struggle for the rest of the day.

District rivers remain in excellent shape for drift-boaters and bank anglers. The Wilson will be the best bet but the Kilchis and Trask are also options. The tidewater stretch or below Sollie Smith should continue to output the best catches.

North Fork Nehalem hatchery workers have reported their first winter steelhead returns. The recording stated 2 winter steelhead were in the trap on Wednesday, somewhat confirming theory that the run may be large this year, especially given the magnitude of the coho return. It's still a bit early to get too excited, especially when a cold east wind is blowing.

Crabbing should be good in most coastal bays this weekend and if the east wind doesn't blow up too bad, the lower Columbia should be an excellent option.

Central & South Coast Reports - The ocean is open to all-depth fishing for rockfish and ling cod through the end of the year.

Ocean crabbing remains closed until December 1st but bay crabbing is making up for it with boats taking limits or near-limits from many coastal estuaries.

Halibut fishing is closed coast-wide now. The next opportunity will come in spring of 2015.

Wild coho are now in and available at Siltcoos, Tahkenitch and Tenmile Lakes.

Coho are still entering the Alsea System with fish scattered up to the deadline at Rivers Edge boat ramp.

Catches of Chinook have really tapered off for trollers at Coos Bay although rock-fishing is good from the jetties. Crabbing, as usual, is some of the best on the coast.

There's not much happening for salmon fishers at Rogue Bay now. Steelheading on the middle Rogue has been worthwhile. Steelheading on the upper Rogue has been quite good.

The Elk and Sixes may see enough precipitation to once again be fishable.

Central & Eastern – The Deschutes holds promise for larger steelhead now although few are fishing it.

Reports from Crooked River indicate that trout are being caught there.

Thursday, November 06, 2014

Oregon fishing update

Willamette Valley/Metro - Gorge options are largely over for the year. Historically, there used to be a productive sturgeon fishery here, but not since the Stellar Sea Lions moved in. Trollers may still ply the gorge waters in pursuit of late season coho.

Willamette flows have started to drop and while coho counts are impressive, they too are on the wane. Visibility has improved although catch-and-release sturgeon fishing has held up for the very few trying it. One report indicated a fish on every cast. Multnomah Channel should once again produce some walleye as the water continues to drop and clear with a break in the weather.

Level and flow of the McKenzie River are on a steady drop. With little rain in the forecast over the coming week, this trend will continue. Fly fishing should be good.

With water flows about 5,000 cfs at Mehama, the North Santiam River is still higher than optimum but is predicted to drop into mid-November so it will just keep getting better. Coho are in the river.

With the Clackamas running at roughly 2,100 cfs on today, November 6th, it should continue to fish well over the coming week. Coho are scattered up to and into Eagle Creek.

The Sandy River started rising on November 3rd and was mostly high and muddy until mid- week when it started to drop. Coho fishing remains good but many fish are darkening.

Northwest – Tillamook is still putting out chinook and local area river systems are producing good chinook catches as well. The bay remains consistent at the Bay City Piling with the Ghost Hole taking second place. There were some fish in the upper bay on Thursday with fair numbers of fish taken from Cap Johnson's to the Oyster House Hole.

The Wilson has been producing chinook from Mills Bridge to the mouth and following the moderate river rise, water levels should be ideal by Friday. Fish will begin to hold in deeper water instead of moving, by the weekend. The Trask and Nestucca remain strong options into next week with plugs becoming more effective as flows drop.

Crabbing is a poor option on all estuaries this weekend, largely due to fresh water inundation and strong tidal exchanges. The lower Columbia still offers the best opportunity but be cognizant of stronger tides taking buoys under.

Razor clam diggers may see some good action over the weekend as a calming swell and a slowdown in rain could cause clams to come to the sand surface to feed.

Southwest- Offshore conditions should allow boats to get out on the ocean Friday and Saturday this week.

While ocean salmon fishing closed on October 31st, the month of November provides excellent opportunities for rockfish and lingcod without any limitations on the depth at which anglers might fish,

Crabbing has been good for boaters at Winchester Bay. Chinook and occasionally coho are being caught in the bay and up the Umpqua mainstem. Steelheading is fair on the North Umpqua.

Steelheading is slow in the low waters of the lower Rogue, fair in the middle river and improving on the upper Rogue where the flies-only regulation now allows lures and in some stretches, bait.

Bottom fishing is good out of Brookings. Chinook fishing has been good at times on the Chetco River. The upper river opened to Nook Creek on the 1st of November.

The Elk and Sixes Rivers are once again low and will remain that way for at least a week and possibly longer. When rains do come, Chinook will follow. This is a late season run which will still be bringing joy to salmon fishers as the holiday season approached.

Eastern – Steelheading is slow to fair on the lower Deschutes. Counts at Sherars Falls indicate decent numbers of fish heading upriver although catches in this area remain disappointing.

Steelhead have been taken daily on the Grande Ronde River although anglers have had to invest some time on locating and landing them.

Wickiup and Crane Prairie, both of which closed on November 1st, will not reopen until springtime.