Oregon fishing report

Oregon Fishing Update

Willamette Valley/Metro - Fishery managers will meet today to decide how leftover keepers from the 2006 fishery will provide opportunity to anglers from the Wauna Powerlines to Bonneville Dam. Recreational fishery advisors favored increasing the retention days per week to four from three.

As the flows continue to moderate, winter steelhead are streaming over Willamette Falls. Counts as of the 21st topped 1,150. The water temperature is gradually increasing with the visibility up to 2.5 feet. Sturgeon fishing has been spotty in the still-cold water of the lower Willamette, but a few keepers have been taken by those willing to move around in order to locate larger fish.
With rumors of earlier arriving spring chinook, a 20 pounder was actually caught by an angler plunking a Spin 'n' Glo off Meldrum Bar the morning of Saturday, January 20th. It was weighed at Fisherman's Marine in Oregon City.

Fishing low and slow in the cold Clackamas River has produced a few steelhead recently with sidedrifted baits producing the best results.

Eagle Creek is extremely low and clear. Expect to encounter plenty of other anglers on weekends.

It's still too early for the Sandy to have sufficient numbers of steelhead to make it worthwhile but a few fish are being taken.

The North Santiam has come down a bit and while still a little high, will fish this weekend. With strong numbers across the falls, the native winter steelhead population will increase proportionately.

Northwest – Excited steelheaders came into a reality check this week as catches slowed on most north coast streams. Although some quality fish are still coming from the larger systems like the Wilson and Nestucca, anglers are playing the tides in the lower reaches instead of river levels. An occasional bright chinook still shows in the catches and these fish must be released. Steelheaders are once again hoping for rain.

Although smaller streams aren't the best option for steelhead, the North Fork Nehalem, Necanicum and Three Rivers are putting out a few steelhead.

Good tides over the weekend will favor Tillamook Bay sturgeon anglers and crabbers can put out pots late in the tide, catching the last trickle of outgoing and the first part of incoming tide. Netarts Bay however has slowed significantly.

A large ocean swell is forecasted over the weekend making bottomfishing on the north coast a poor option.

Clam diggers will have good opportunity in the afternoons this weekend but Clatsop Beaches are not producing results like years past.

Siletz steelheaders experienced fair to good winter steelheading action over the weekend but success significantly slowed early in the week.

Crabbing has slowed on Yaquina Bay with a day's effort yielding keepers in the low single digits.
Alsea steelheaders went fishless late last week with the river low, clear and cold. Steelhead are more challenging to catch in these conditions. The broodstock collection program is getting underway. To participate, call the Alsea hatchery at 541-487-7240.

Southwest – Mild tides over the coming weekend favors crabbing bit it's been slow in most bays and estuaries.

Many South coast streams and rivers are low and clear. Rain would improve prospects.
Pro guide Bill Kremers (541 754 6411) reports the Alsea to be low, clear and dropping but a few steelhead are being taken.

Umpqua steelheaders are enjoying the good numbers of fish present with most getting a number of hookups daily. Expect to release a number of unclipped fish but finding a hatchery fish or two shouldn't be a problem now.
Coos and East Fork Millicoma steelheaders were experiencing fair to good fishing over the weekend.

The Rogue has dropped two feet at Agness over the last week which has slowed incoming steelhead. Fishing in the lower river has been spotty. It's been fair in the Grants Pass stretch.
The Chetco River has delivered some great steelheading this year. While it's not over, the level and flow is far too low this week to be productive. Try this one following the next round of precipitation when it's on the drop.

Eastern – Trollers are taking a few quality bull trout at Lake Billy Chinook with the warming trend.

Pro guide Rick Arnold (541-480-1570) reports Bull trout are being taken at Lake Billy Chinook.
The Grande Ronde and Umatilla Rivers should experience a jump in steelhead success with the warming trend taking place in this region according to Pro Guide Mac Huff (800-940-3688). Summer run fish don't run large in these systems but good numbers provide excellent opportunity this time of year.

http://www.theguidesforecast.com/