Oregon Fishing Update
Willamette Valley/Metro- With salmon season on the mainstem on the way out, sturgeon fishing is the best option for metro anglers. Pro guide Kevin Newell (360-430-2521) reports taking some quality sized keepers during the catch and release days. Smelt and shrimp were producing the best results and he found the faster flow towards the deadline was best. Tanner Creek was not putting out the numbers of sturgeon it was a week ago but oversized fish are still present in the area.
Sturgeon fishing is very slow on the lower Willamette but will show gradual improvement as the temperature difference between the Willamette and the cooler Columbia widens. Bank fishers are hopeful in the stretch around Meldrum Bar with steelhead expected to show shortly.
The Clackamas has turned muddy with the sunny weather and is seeing very little pressure with coastal rivers offering a far better chance for action.
The Sandy River remains closed to chinook and coho angling. Summer steelheading is over. Expect winter steelhead to be delivered around Christmas. Until then, seek another location for piscatorial pleasure. Respectable numbers of coho did return to the Cedar Creek Hatchery this year. This is hopefully a sign of good things to come.
Mid Columbia/Deschutes River - The steelhead fishery in the John Day Pool and John Day Arm is entering its peak. Boats fishing the area recorded catches of two fish per boat and one fish for every three bank anglers. The wild to hatchery fish ratio remains very close to 50/50.
North Coast - After an excellent week of Chinook fishing, the action should slow down. On Tuesday however, great catches of fresh Chinook were witnessed in the Ghost Hole and the lower Wilson River. Herring are still the bait of choice for later returning Chinook in the bay while tidewater anglers are splitting the catch between plugs and backbounced eggs. As the river levels drop, river action will switch to bay action but the tidewater bobber bite may take off in the Kilchis and Wilson. Chum salmon have entered the Kilchis and Miami in high numbers but this target fishery closed on November 15th.
The Trask is still putting out good catches but it won't hold the same numbers of late returning Chinook that neighboring systems have.
Pro guide Jesse Zalonis (503-392-5808) reports, "The Nestucca is in beautiful shape. Fish are spread through the entire river and have been responding well to all different kinds of gear. We have been doing well on Kwikfish, yes! I have been pulling plugs. And we have been doing well on bobbers and bait, jigs, and drift gear."
On all North Coast streams, as flows drop, fresher fish will be found in the lower sections of these rivers. Female Chinook will begin to lose their quality despite the fact they are nickel bright.
Crabbing was only fair on the lower Columbia with the recent fresh water intrusion but should pick up as river systems flush. Clamming was great on the early part of the minus tide series as the surf subsided. Success will likely drop over the weekend.
Mid-Coast - Yaquina Bay was still producing limits of crab to some following the heavy rain that many feared would push Dungeness out to the ocean. Waldport has slowed.
Chinook fishing on the Alsea was fair prior to the rains, but the freshet drew the fish upstream above deadline. Try elsewhere.
The recent tide series and rain freshet drew ample numbers of wild coho into Tahkenitch and Siltcoos Lakes. Trollers will take quality fish using plugs close to tributary mouths. Regulations are complicated for this fishery- even with a limit of one adult wild coho, so check before you fish.
South Coast - North Umpqua anglers continue to score good catches of summer steelhead in the flies-only stretch of the North Umpqua.
The Sixes produced some bright chinook late last week and into the weekend. Anglers using anchovy or cured salmon eggs fared the best. Without rain, this fishery will taper off quickly until the next freshet. It's currently low and clear.
South Coast Rivers are on the drop. The Coquille fishery is on its way out while the Elk and Sixes Rivers are about to enter their prime. Although fish were present on the sister rivers late last week, the bulk of the fish return the second half of November and the first week of December. Much more action is scheduled to come. The Chetco produced some good results over the weekend but the dry spell should keep action in check until the next rain.
The Rogue River fishery is done for salmon and south coast anglers are anxiously awaiting winter steelhead. This run is due to queue by early December.
Eastern Oregon - Oregon's tire chain law went into effect on Tuesday, November 15th. On mountain pass roads, chains must be carried even when it's not required to put them on. Driver's caught chainless are subject to a fine.
Only a few lakes remain viable options to fish for trout and action should be decent as fish begin to prepare for low food availability through the winter months.
Trout fishing- Green Peter has been producing trout and a few keeper kokanee for trollers recently.
That's about it for the regular stocking this year anywhere this year, but watch this space for winter plants of trophy trout, broodstock and excess steelhead during the winter months in valley lakes and ponds.
http://www.TheGuidesForecast.com Helping people catch more fish.
http://www.NorthwestGuides.com/OregonFishing/ Guided Oregon fishing trips the easy way!
http://www.NorthwestGuides.com/fishing/Bob Rees - Oregon fishing guide and Editor of The Guide's Forecast
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