Oregon Fishing Update
Willamette Valley/Metro - Columbia River anglers will see their fishery close at midnight Thursday, April 13th. Although the recreational handle of spring Chinook may indicate the pre-season prediction was correct, Bonneville Dam passage needs to improve dramatically before further opportunities can be explored.
Success had dropped off for mainstem fishers and water releases that flush smolts downstream are partly to blame. Prior to the increase in flow, the river from Altoona to Westport had posted the best results.
Spring Chinook passage at Willamette Falls remains low with only 35 over as of April 7th. Summer steelhead counts are doing somewhat better with year-to-date totals nearing the 350 mark. While the lower Willamette level rose on Monday this week, the flow didn't increase significantly. The water temperature has yet to top 51 degrees at the Falls.
These conditions are reflected in the fishing. It's very slow. Multnomah Channel has produced modest catches recently. It is the route frequently taken by spring Chinook and the water is often a couple of degrees warmer than at the Falls. There have been recent signs of improvement at Oregon City but consistency is not the rule. Sellwood Bridge has also slowed.
Most of the summer steelhead heading up the Willamette are bound for the Santiam system and while there are too few this early to provide prime fishing, anglers are taking some along with a few late wild winter fish. Pro guide Bill Kremers (541-754- 6411) reports, "The McKenzie River is providing some great trout catches with size 14 dark caddis producing the best opportunities."
Low on the Clackamas offers the best chance of a spring Chinook or summer steelhead encounter. Success remains low however.
Recent rainfall may improve prospects on the Sandy for springers, but reports lately haven't been encouraging.
Haldeman Pond, Dorena Reservoir, East Freeway Lake, E. E. Wilson Pond, Foster Reservoir, Junction City Pond, Timber Linn Lake, Walling Pond and Walter Wirth Lake are scheduled to be stocked with trout this week.
Northwest รข€“ North Coast steelhead success remain dormant with water desperately needed for a fresh influx of fish reports pro guide Jesse Zalonis (503-392-5808). Area anglers are in hot pursuit of the first confirmed salmon harvested from the bay but rumors have circulated about a wild fish released early in the week.
Sturgeon effort has dropped off and so has the catch. Better tides begin this week however and a combination salmon/sturgeon trip is a viable option for Tillamook Bay anglers. Spinners in the upper bay for salmon and sand shrimp in the middle section could prove productive.
The ocean remains closed due to high swells and will likely remain that way into the weekend. Crabbing is slow on most north coast estuaries.
Waters planted this with hatchery trout include Battle Lake, Bay City Reservoir, Cape Meares Lake, Carter Lake, Cleawox Lake, Coffenbury Lake, Cullaby Lake, Devil's Lake, Lake Lytle, Smith Lake, South Lake, Tahoe Lake, Town Lake and Woahink Lake.
Southwest - With a calm ocean on Monday, April 10th, South coast bottom fishers had easy passage. Results were good with numerous ling cod taken up to 30 pounds along with good rockfish catches.
With the exception of the closure South of Florence, recreational ocean salmon fishing is open but no catches have been reported.
Surf perch fishing off the ocean beaches remains a productive pastime. Any rig capable of throwing sufficient weight to hold bottom will work. Clams, shrimp or mussels are effective baits.
Offshore halibut season opens seven days a week on May 1st but is restricted to waters inside the 40-fathom line from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain. The first all-depth fishery of the 2006 spring season will open May 11 through 13th with more days to follow. Halibut quotas, up 4% from last year, have doubled over the last decade.
It's been scratch fishing for springers on the mainstem Umpqua River over the last week. Any anglers landing a salmon considers himself very lucky. Sturgeon catches out of Reedsport are mostly oversized.
Rogue steelheaders are scoring fish in the upper river. It is hoped that warmer temperatures this week will take the chill off the water in the lower Rogue and improve the spring Chinook fishery.
Eel Lake, Upper and Lower Empire Lake, Emigrant Lake, Cole River, Howard Prairie, Hyatt Lake, Lost Creek Lake, Applegate Lake, Selmac Lake and Willow Lake will be planted with trout rainbow trout this week.
Eastern - Steelhead fishing is open from the northern boundary of the Warm Springs Reservation to the Columbia with the exception of Shears Falls downstream to Buckhollow Creek. Until 4/22, trout and steelhead fishing is closed from the northern boundary of the reservation upstream to the Pelton re-regulation dam. Trout fishing is holding up well on the lower Deschutes. The middle Deschutes (Sunriver Zone) and upper river are closed.
Many central Oregon lakes and rivers are currently closed or lack access until roads are opened. Some waters are scheduled to open April 22nd, others on May 26th. As always, call 511 for road conditions and check the regulations before making a cast.
Hatchery trout will be planted in the South Fork Crooked River, Pinehollow Reservoir, Rock Creek Reservoir and Taylor Lake this week.
Further east, steelheading has also dropped off significantly on the Grande Ronde and Umatilla. Most fish are in the process of spawning states pro guide Mac Huff (800-940-3688).
Oregon fishing guide
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