Oregon fishing report

Oregon Fishing Update

Willamette Valley/Metro - Columbia River salmon anglers are reporting steady catches but anglers remain restricted to fishing below the I-5 bridge. Surprisingly, some of the best fishing has taken place in the troll fishery when flows aren't strong enough to work plugs in the current. To put this fishery in perspective, boat anglers that manage 2 to 3 fish for a days play are doing quite good. Dam passage at Bonneville remains lower than biologists hoped for and managers will meet this afternoon to discuss the fate of the sport and commercial fisheries. Pro guide Brad Shride (206-463-9230) reports this, "I have been down fishing on the Columbia River for Springers out of the Cathlamet area. There are some Springers around in the 10 to 12 pound range with an occasional 15 to 20 pound Springer. This week the afternoon bite has been the ticket to multiple hook-up success. Trolling cut plug herring has been the offering of choice but the tides this week have been very conducive to anchor and plugs on the out going tide. Chrome, chartreuse and chrome, chartreuse with orange seems to be the color of choice. Put in your time and you will be rewarded with a Spring Salmon. I will be heading to the Cowlitz River after this is over.

Last minute action notice that the Columbia River spring Chinook fishery will remain open for the time being. The next compact meeting to discuss the fishery will be on Tuesday, April 11th. Managers may then decide to close the fishery as early as April 13th but a short term notice for an earlier closure can be a possibility.

Active hazing of sealions is taking place at Bonneville Dam but most question the effectiveness of the tactics employed. For more information on what exactly they are doing about the marine mammal issue at Bonneville, go to: http://www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/tmt/agendas/2006/0405.html

Speculation in this space a couple of weeks ago turned out to be correct. The harassment of sea lions on the Columbia by ODFW officials, escalated from noise to rubber bullets, has proven mostly ineffective. Since these voracious mammals are decimating salmon, steelhead and most recently breeder sturgeon populations, the State officials have applied for a Federal permit to use real bullets.

Water temperature at Willamette Falls has hit the 50-degree mark but the warmer water has not yet been reflected in a dramatic increase in spring Chinook passage as hoped. The year-to-date total was a only 30 at the last report on April 4th although trollers and anchor fishers are experiencing an improvement in the action on the lower river.

Sellwood Bridge remains popular and crowded. While the improved water temps haven't motivated springers to migrate, it has improved the sturgeon bite. The lower river and Multnomah Channel has produced lots of shakers and several keepers.

Steelheading was fair to good on the Sandy for weekend anglers. There are still finclipped fish available thanks to the broodstock program. The pressure is high with many anglers trying for fish before the run winds down.

It's slow going on the Clackamas but a few steelhead are being landed here as well.
Trout have been stocked this week at Henry Hagg Lake, Huddleston Pond, St. Louis Pond, Trojan Pond, Alton Baker Pond, Cottage Grove Pond, Cottage Grove Reservoir, Creswell Pond, Detroit Reservoir and Dexter Reservoir.

Mid Columbia - The Dalles Pool remains the best option for walleye anglers but the Bonneville Pool was also productive with almost a fish per rod recorded over the weekend.

Northwest - River levels remain low on most north coast streams and steelhead effort and success has dropped off. With the good fishing this season anglers experienced in the region, it is logical to believe the next rain freshet will bring further steelhead success. Late winter fish, summer steelhead and an early spring Chinook are all options. Downstream running steelhead will also grab gear so practice safe catch and release tactics.

Sturgeon fishing has slowed somewhat and pressure was heavy last weekend with favorable weather and the opener of spring Chinook season. Success will not be significant until later in April. Big tide exchanges will bring the best results.

Crabbing remains challenging on most north coast estuaries and the ocean hasn't been an option for sport boats lately.

It's getting late in the year for steelheading on the Siletz. The few taken above tidewater over the weekend were natives.

Trout were planted this week at Carter and Cleawox lakes.

Southwest - Many South coast rivers closed for steelhead on April 1st. Be sure to check the regulations before venturing out.

South Umpqua steelheaders are enjoying excellent water conditions and good catch rates this week. Boaters and bank anglers experienced a slight improvement in spring Chinook catches over the weekend but the run is getting off to a slow start.

Springers are getting stronger in numbers, as the water temps continue to rise. Lower Rogue boaters are reporting 2-3 landings a day, with anchovy and spinners working best. This fishing should get stronger this week as river levels are dropping a bit and temperatures are approaching ideal. On the Upper Rogue, near Grants Pass, steelhead fishing remains consistent but may be slowing down just a bit.

The Chetco, Sixes and Elk rivers are seeing drops in steelhead numbers but increasingly good spring chinook fishing. These rivers need to increase in temperature about two degrees for fishing to be ideal. The size and quality of the early fish is phenomenal, which bodes well for the next few weeks on all southern Oregon rivers!

Bradley Lake, Lower Empire Lake, Upper Empire Lake and Powers Pond were planted this week with hatchery trout.

Eastern Oregon - Northeast Oregon and southeast Washington are now suffering from similar high-water problems that the west side was dealing with a few weeks ago. Pro guide Mac Huff (800-940-3688) reports, "The Grande Ronde seems to be at the upper limits of good fishing, but the results are defying expectations and steelheaders continue to find success, even in the current high-water conditions."

The best prospect at the moment is the Wallowa River, which, so far, has missed all of the spring freshets and remains at late-winter water levels and is relatively low and clear. The catch rate there likely remains near last week's rate of four-hours per fish.

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