Oregon Fishing Update
Willamette Valley/Metro - Heavy rain will have anglers tying rigs, sharpening hooks and cleaning reels this week in the Willamette Valley.
Flow regulation on the Columbia River however gives desperate anglers a chance to participate safely in the sturgeon fishery. Gorge anglers are still taking good numbers of keepers- particularly near the deadline. Oversized fish are still being landed and but smelt tipped with shrimp or squid is taking the majority of biters.
Success for boat and bank anglers in the John Day Pool is gaining momentum and the action should continue to improve as the month progresses. Trollers take steelhead using plugs going with the theory that darker colors work best on dark days, metallic colors on bright days.
Daily counts of all anadromous fish at Willamette Falls were at or near zero at the end of October. As of November 1st all steelhead will be counted as winter-run fish. At this time last week, flows were just over 10,000 cfs at the falls.
Sturgeon like muddy water, but heavy wood debris coming downstream will make boating too dangerous to consider until it clears out.
Last week, we remarked that the Clackamas "doesn't fish well over 12.5 feet." At this writing, it's over 22 feet and rising.
The Sandy crested early Tuesday afternoon, and while muddy, will return to fishable color when the freezing level drops. Unfortunately, it won't offer any opportunities until winter steelhead start running.
The North Santiam is a raging torrent and will remain higher than normal as the level at Detroit Reservoir must be reduced over 40 feet in the next three weeks for flood control. No trout stocking is scheduled for Oregon waters this week.
Northwest – Chinook fishing in the Tillamook district was red-hot prior to the current weather system moving on shore. Unfortunately, it hit the day the North Coast Rendezvous began but anglers fishing in the fundraiser still did well on Thursday. Severe weather hit by Friday and success plummeted.
The Wilson River hit an all-time high on Monday evening, cresting nearly 23 feet. Trailers and vacant boats were swept downstream and all north coast streams and estuaries are too dangerous to navigate. Unbelievably, smaller streams like the Kilchis and Necanicum may reach fishable levels by Friday. When the north coast streams do clear, the fishing will be excellent for fall chinook. Fresh fish will be available in all reaches of floatable waters and bank anglers will have excellent access to fresh fish in all watersheds. Leafy debris may frustrate some anglers until flows drop further.
The Nestucca, Trask, Wilson, Kilchis and Necanicum should all produce excellent catches of chinook over the weekend barring any other major rain events. Wild coho will also be present in good numbers and have been running large this year. Caution should be taken to properly identify your catch before harvest.
Big numbers of bright chinook were in the upper reaches of Alsea tidewater late last week. Bobber fishers scored excellent results on Thursday but the rising river put fish off the bite by Friday. Driftboaters should score excellent results by the weekend.
The Siletz River crested at about 23 feet in the early morning hours of November 7th. It was 2.5 last week. Although the run was sub-par this fall, action for driftboaters working the lower stretches should prove productive for backbouncers and plug pullers.
Even with all the fresh water influx, lower Columbia River crabbing will remain productive. Tides will moderate this weekend and anglers should take advantage of the late afternoon incoming tides when crabbing.
Southwest – While bobber fishermen would argue to the contrary, rain was needed on the South coast. Chinook holding at the top of tidewater are running upstream with the freshet, salmon holding offshore are entering estuaries and rivers which are getting flushed of leaves. Certainly, this is a 'blowout' week. All Southwest rivers are over the banks with heaviest rainfall occurring the afternoon of November 7th and more on the way. The smaller, more volatile systems will fish first during even brief respites in precipitation. The Elk and Sixes rivers will drop and clear quickly when rain subsides. With an extended break or moderation, the larger systems will be fishable last. Chinook are on the move and fishing will be good when water conditions allow.
Eastern - Rain triggered a "glacial outburst flood" on the White River, which flows from Mt. Hood into the Deschutes, causing damage to Highway 35 bridge under which it flows. The Hood River, carrying large trees downstream, took out the bridge at Red Hill Road.
Grande Ronde steelheading is underway but success is not outstanding. It typically peaks closer to Thanksgiving and when the weather stabilizes, action should pick up.
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