Oregon Fishing Report

Updated for March 31st, – April 6th, 2006
Oregon Fishing Update

Willamette Valley/Metro - Biologists remain in a quandary as to what actions they should take in the Columbia River spring Chinook fishery. Commercial seasons remain closed and a sportfishing closure will get considerable attention next week. Fish passage at Bonneville is alarmingly low although accurate run size updates aren't feasible until around mid-April. Sport catches had improved in the lower river with Altoona to Longview offering the best options. One boat reported a 6 fish limit on Sunday trolling herring in Clifton Channel. They were however the exception.

Sturgeon fishing remains best in the reservoirs above Bonneville Dam. Only a few keepers are being taken in The Dalles and John Day Pools. Keeper catches below Bonneville remain poor. Walleye catches in these pools remains fair but has dropped off slightly from previous weeks.
Flows on the lower Willamette have increased slightly from 16,800 on March 24th to 20,000 cfs as of March 17th. As hoped, the recent warm rains and relatively mild weather has increased temperatures at Willamette Falls to 48 degrees.

Catch rates should steadily increase as water temperatures climb above 50 degrees and good reports continue to come out of the Sellwood area. Sturgeon fishing is good for shakers but a keeper is a rarity.

Clackamas anglers are seeing fair, steady results for winter steelhead along with a few spring Chinook taken near the mouth. Action will improve as the water temperature rises. Steelhead are spawning on Eagle Creek so use your best judgment.

Pro guide Trevor Storlie (503-307-5601) reports Sandy River steelhead anglers had a good fishing last week with a mix of nearly 50/50 wild to hatchery fish. Good numbers of fish should have moved to the Marmot area where low water techniques like bobbers and jigs should take good numbers of fish. A few more spring Chinook have been taken in the lower river.
With Willamette waters warming, smallmouth bass have begun to shake off their winter lethargy and move about in search of food. While catches have been light, it won't be long until this fishery turns on. Valley ponds will soon be an option for both bass and panfish.
Following heavy stoking of hatchery trout in Oregon lakes in anticipation of spring break, planting this week will consist of Alton Baker Pond, Cottage Grove Reservoir, E. E. Wilson Pond and Junction City Pond.

Northwest – Steelheaders on the North Oregon Coast had to deal with low water conditions over the weekend. Catch rates have dropped but some fresh schools of steelhead are moving in with the fair afternoon tides. The Wilson, Trask and Nestucca are the top producers reports pro guide Jesse Zalonis (503-392-5808) but the Nehalem should come online by midweek with wild fish making up the bulk of the catch. Check the regulations for the North Coast streams that close on April 1st. Spring Chinook fishing opens in Tillamook Bay, the Wilson and Trask Rivers on the 1st but don't expect much until mid-April at the earliest.

The late afternoon tides have yielded good numbers of sturgeon on Tillamook Bay. A 58½ incher was taken by Jase Beard of Wyoming on 3/28. Sand shrimp are producing the best results although mud shrimp are a close second.

Crabbing is fair in Tillamook Bay but better outside in the ocean. A big swell was present early in the week but some bottomfishers got outside for rockfish action on jigs and herring.
Razor clammers did excellent over the weekend on Clatsop Beaches during the evening tides. The tide series shifts to the morning series starting on the 30th and if the surf cooperates, diggers should score easy limits.

Devil's Lake will be stocked with 6,500 hatchery rainbows this week.

Here's your chance to give something back to the Nestucca. The annual fin-clipping party is Saturday, April 8th at the Whiskey Creek Volunteer Salmon hatchery where 105,000 spring Chinook smolts will be processed. No experience is necessary and the job usually wraps up in early afternoon. They'll have doughnuts starting at 8 A.M., coffee and soft drinks on hand and will stop mid-day for a barbeque lunch. The hatchery is on Netarts Bay. It's a good time and a very good cause.

Southwest - Fishing for ling cod and rockfish from jetties and rocky outcroppings has been worthwhile recently when wind and wave action have allowed. Surf perch fishing on ocean beaches has also been good.

Rivers will rise and fall slightly with passing showers this week but overall should be in decent shape for steelhead and spring chinook hopefuls. Rivers are forecast to gradually drop over the weekend.

Mainstem Umpqua steelheaders continue to see fresh, willing fish enter the system but the attention is shifting to the springers which are available up to Elkton. Steelheading has been slow in the North and South forks. Sturgeon fishing below Reedsport was good again this week.
Coos and Coquille anglers are seeing fair results for steelhead. The Smith River has been productive for steelhead at times but is a volatile system subject to rapid changes with weather fronts.

Spring chinook anglers are seeing a gradual improvement in catches on the lower Rogue. Fishing is better for winter steelhead in the Grants Pass stretch but is still reported as only fair. Steelheading is expected to improve in the upper river.

Hatchery trout are scheduled to be planted in Bradley Lake, Upper and Lower Empire Lake and Johnson Mill Pond.

Eastern - Eastern Oregon steelhead season is starting to wind down for the year and area anglers were greeted with rapidly rising rivers last week. Needless to say, success rates plummeted under these conditions reports pro guide Mac Huff (800-940-3688). Action will likely continue to drop off. Smallmouth bass fishing has started up on the John Day River, but muddy water starting the 27th put off such pursuits for a few days. It will be worthwhile when the weather breaks.

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