Oregon fishing update

Oregon Fishing Update

Willamette Valley/Metro - With temperatures stabilizing, gorge anglers had fair to good fishing for keeper sturgeon in the Columbia River Gorge over the weekend. The best fishing remains in the gorge while Kelly Point Park is a distant second. Fishing downriver of the mouth of the Willamette is fair for shakers but keepers are scarce.

Despite a low prediction for returning smelt this winter, rumors of their presence are coming from downriver. Although this used to be an indicator for the winter sturgeon fishery in the lower Columbia, it is no longer a reliable factor.

It was slow going for sturgeon fishers on the Willamette during the last Thursday through Saturday opener, but a few keepers were caught on a variety of baits. Winter steelhead are falling in modest numbers to plunkers at Meldrum Bar. As a natural consequence, the number of anglers along the bank of the Willamette below the Clackamas River is increasing.

As the Clackamas drops and clears, a few early steelheaders are sure to give it a try. Steelhead are occasionally taken in late December, but the run will get underway in December and should be worth a trip in February. Sandy River steelhead are on a similar schedule.

Despite the fact that Detroit Reservoir is not yet down to winter low levels serving as flood protection, the levels of the North Santiam are fishable. Boaters should watch for debris, logs and changes in channels. The number of summer steelhead entering the trap at Foster Dam has dwindled to near-zero and no winter fish have entered.

While few trout plantings are on the schedule for the remainder of the year, the ODFW will periodically stock brood trout and steelhead in valley lakes and ponds in wintertime. So it was with the inadvertently unpublicized planting last week. Anglers will find brood trout in Walling Pond, Walter Wirth Lake, Junction City Pond, West Salish Pond and Sheridan Pond.
Oregon licenses and harvest cards became available on December 1st at license agents state wide.

Northwest – Large numbers of anglers are still trying for late winter chinook in Tillamook Bay. A great bite in the Ghost Hole was witnessed on Monday but it had tapered by Tuesday. There is still lots of wood debris floating in the bay but the water has good clarity.

The Wilson River has been very productive this week with a mixed bag of both dark and bright chinook. Catches have been excellent since the weekend but expect continued high effort. It is clear that the Wilson and Kilchis runs are strong this year. With so many chinook in the river, steelheaders are timid about using lighter gear. Steelhead have been taken on most north coast streams however.

The Nestucca also fished very well for both bright and dark chinook since the weekend. Fresher fish will be found in downstream drifts and although action should slow, persistent anglers are still likely to find success. According to Pro guide Kent Anderson (503-550-6303), "The Nestucca finally got green again and fished good for the past 5 days(Weds-Sun).

Smaller north coast streams like the Necanicum and North Fork Nehalem are likely to be too low for safe drifting. More rain is forecasted for early next week making these streams prime for the taking of steelhead.

Siletz winter steelhead hopefuls are trying with little success. This is another river with a successful broodstock run which will pick up in January and February
Crabbing in Yaquina Bay has improved, rewarding some folks with limits. Mid-day will be the best time to toss nets, rings and traps this weekend.

The Alsea recently produced good numbers of fresh and colored chinook and an occasional winter steelhead downstream of Five Rivers. The nearby Siuslaw should soon produce winter steelhead as well.

Extreme tides kept most crabbers from attaining easy limits. Tides will soften by the middle of next week.

Southwest – On the Umpqua, Sayers Rapids has rewarded steelheaders with a few bright winter fish over the weekend but sturgeon fishing has yet to take off in the estuary.

A few steelhead nave been taken on the Coos and Coquille, with prospects improving along with river conditions. The East Fork Coquille opened to steelheading on December 1st. Siltcoos and Tahkenitch Lakes have slowed for coho as temperatures have dropped below 45 degrees. These fisheries close on December 15th.

Winter steelheading is improving on the lower Rogue as the river recovers from heavy rains. The Grants Pass stretch is slow. Upper Rogue steelheaders continue to make fair to good catches of summer steelhead.

As Chinook fishing winds down on the South coast, only the Elk and Sixes continue to produce reliably. Levels and clarity were good over last weekend and nearly half the anglers trying scored chrome.

Winter steelhead have started entering the Chetco and several have been caught as Chinook fishing winds down here.

Eastern - The mid-40-degree water of the lower Deschutes is clearing with steelheading picking up a little this week. Pressure is very low, much like the air temperature on the East side.
The Grande Ronde River is producing decent steelhead catches although the Washington section has higher catch rates. With a warming trend, action should continue to pick up in the coming weeks.

Oregon fishing information

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