Oregon Fishing Report

Updated for for the week of July 15th – July 21st, 2005

Columbia River sturgeon fishing in the estuary came to a close on the 10th of July. It will re-open from the 15th through the 17th for fish in the 45 to 60 inch range. Best fishing will be above the Astoria/Megler Bridge and the tides (incoming) will work in the favor of fishermen. Sturgeon fishing in the Bonneville area continues to be challenging for keepers but the oversize fishery remains fair to good for anglers using floater shad for bait.

Columbia River salmon fishing is poor in the gorge and only fair for down-river plunkers. Poor tides will limit success this week on the lower river. The bulk of the summer run Chinook have passed Bonneville Dam and the temperature is running around 65 degrees.

Ocean fishing out of Astoria/Illwaco has been fair for those anglers willing to travel several miles offshore to get these salmon. A mix of fin-clipped coho and a few Chinook are present but be prepared to fish the 280 to 320 foot water SW of the CR Buoy to get into fish.

Ocean fishing out of Garibaldi has slowed from the previous week but the storm front could be to blame for scattered fish. Chinook may be as equal an opportunity as coho but you will have to modify your technique to target them. Details in the full-length version of this newsletter. Some summer steelhead and sea-run cutthroat may be willing after the cool down and cloud cover from previously in the week. Bottom fishing is strong when the seas are friendly.

Chinook fishing remains fair with coho catches very low out of Depoe Bay. Bottom fishing is excellent, which has led to this:

Beginning Saturday, July 15th, the bag limit for rockfish will be five instead of eight fish per day according to an ODFW release dated July 13, 2005. This decision was made to protect the groundfish species and avoid a total closure.

Salmon trollers using downriggers have been most successful as the fish have been running deep out of Winchester Bay for chinook averaging in the teens with a few topping the 20-pound mark. Tuna are being caught far offshore.

A few Fall fish have been taken by trollers in Rogue Bay but it's still early for this fishery.
The lower Willamette is drawing less angler interest as steelhead and chinook counts at the Falls dwindle. The shad run is just about over.

The Sandy is slow for steelhead. A few springers remain available in the system. The occasional spring chinook has been taken from the nether regions of the Clackamas River but fish upstream remain reluctant to take bait or lure. North Santiam steelheaders are encountering fine river conditions and catching summer steelhead in many places.

Bass fishing is good for those trying very early or late in the day.

Kokanee fishing is good at Odell and Green Peter for those using the right techniques.
Trout have been planted in the following locations this week: Breitenbush River, Carmen Reservoir, Clear Lake, Leaburg Lake, Upper McKenzie River, Quartzville Creek, Salt Creek, North Fork Santiam River, Badger Lake, Lake of the Woods, Fall River, Shevlin Pond and Spring Creek.