Oregon Fishing Update
Willamette Valley/Metro - Sturgeon fishing continues to slow in the gorge as water temperatures begin a steady decline. This fishery will continue to slide until spring and keepers will become increasingly available from the mouth of the Willamette downstream. Smelt will remain the top bait and a few fresh smelt are being taken from commercial netters in the lower river.
Steelhead anglers are beginning to see a downturn in their fishery as summer run fish begin to feel the need to migrate to winter spawning grounds. Tributary fisheries like the John Day may linger for another few weeks with bobber and bait taking the majority of fish.
Precipitation pushed the Willamette River to over 90,000 cfs at the Falls on December 15th, increasing water temps to 48 degrees. As the water dropped, so did the temperature, back down to a chilly 42 degrees by Monday of this week. The visibility remains less than one foot. Sturgeon fishing has been fair in Portland Harbor and Multnomah Channel.
It's still early for reliable winter steelhead action on the Clackamas although fish have started entering the hatchery facility on Eagle Creek.
Water conditions are good on the Sandy which is typical when the freezing level is low. Since this river is 100% broodstock steelhead, the run is still a few weeks away.
The Molalla River is blocked by a log jam and impassable to driftboaters. The hatchery program ceased several years ago however a remnant wild run exists later in the season.
The North Santiam remains very high with trees and debris causing potentially dangerous situations at various locations. Check ahead and boat with care.
Huddleston Pond in Sheridan will receive 350 'Trophy Trout' (16 inches or better) this week. Scheduled to be planted with 'Catchable Sized' trout (eight to 10 inches) are Junction City Pond, Carmen Reservoir, Clear Lake, Leaburg Lake, upper McKenzie River, Quartzville Creek, Santiam River North Fork and Trail Bridge Reservoir.
Northwest – The Kilchis produced good catches of chinook on Sunday and Monday. Not many anglers are targeting hatchery steelhead with such a strong showing of late winter chinook. A downed tree will keep driftboaters from using the section of river from Kilchis Park to the logger bridge.
Flows are expected to remain relatively stable through the weekend making the Wilson River the best bet for late winter chinook and steelhead. Hatchery plants of steelhead were distributed further upstream giving bank anglers good opportunity above Mills Bridge. Lower river anglers should focus more on chinook until flows drop lower.
Only a handful of boats are targeting chinook in the Ghost Hole and a rare chinook was caught early in the week. Tillamook estuary anglers should focus their efforts on sturgeon at this point with a nice minus tide series currently underway. Unfortunately, the peak part of the tide is occurring after sunset.
The Trask and Nestucca Rivers have slowed for chinook and only a few steelhead are showing in Three Rivers.
Steelheading is slow on the Alsea according to pro guide Bill Kremers (541 754 6411) who goes on to predict that it'll be after Christmas before this one starts to produce.
Crabbing has picked up in the lower Tillamook Bay and remains good in Netarts Bay. Softer tides will allow for expanded crabbing opportunities by the middle of next week.
Southwest – The South coast has been blessed with an earlier-than-normal winter steelhead run this year and the forecast is for above average numbers of fish.
Winter steelheading has been fair to good on the mainstem Umpqua above Scottsburg. Warming conditions could get the sturgeon fishing underway below Reedsport. It's overdue.
Chinook fishing is expected to improve on the Coquille with waters dropping and clearing.
Coos River anglers are enjoying a winter steelhead run that is underway earlier than in seasons past.
The Elk has dropped and cleared since the last rain and is producing quality Chinook.
Winter steelhead are entering the lower Rogue in sufficient quantity to have created a worthwhile fishery. This run doesn't usually get underway until the last week of December but was jump-started by the recent heavy rains. Steelhead are running 8 to 15 pounds.
While over 30,000 cfs last week, the Chetco flow had moderated to 3680 cfs as of Tuesday this week. Many of the Chinook moved upstream with the freshet but winter steelhead catches are on the increase.
Eastern - Weather in Northeast Oregon has recently made the fishing opportunities spotty. Water levels became unmanageable a week ago, then cold weather arrived earlier this week and brought water levels into good fishing conditions. By midweek, water temperatures had dropped enough to create slush ice in the river. Not necessarily bad for catching, but it adds a new element and eliminates fly fishing and drift fishing bait. Catch rates have dropped from recent weeks due to volatile weather conditions.
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