Oregon fishing

Willamette Valley/Metro- Dropping water temperatures and a relentless east wind sank catch rates and effort for the gorge fishery last week. The fish seem to be present but reluctant to bite. Sportanglers caught up on their unused quota late in the season and managers are considering a year-round, 4-day per week season in 2008.

Water temperature is down to a chilly 46 degrees at Willamette Falls. This doesn't bode well for sturgeon fishing in the lower Willamette, which relies on water warmer than the Columbia to attract sturgeon and provide good winter fishing. Sturgeon catches have been poor recently.

Summer steelhead fishing is holding up well on the Clackamas with hardware drawing strikes recently. There are still some bright fish available. It's too early to seriously consider winter fish here.

A few winter steelhead are being caught at the Sandy River but these early fish are natives and must be released. Look for hatchery steelhead to start entering around Christmas.

Rains in mid-November, snowmelt and the need to lower the water level of Detroit Reservoir have combined to push the North Santiam high and swift. In addition, trees have fallen into the river recently. Only experienced boaters with familiarity with the river should try it.

Snow is causing closures of several roads including Old McKenzie Pass and Cascade Lakes Highway. Be certain to check with ODOT before heading out this winter season.

Northwest – Trollers were out in force over the Thanksgiving holiday last weekend but results varied. Most of the effort took place in the Ghost Hole and some fair catches were reported on some days. The west channel was still producing some fish but effort is likely to drop significantly with incoming weather changes and the tapering of the run.

River levels are forecasted to remain stable making for good water conditions for late run chinook on the Wilson River but mountain passes will become treacherous so be cautious when traveling. Other area streams like the Nestucca, Kilchis and Nehalem Rivers witnessed poor returns so anglers will be looking to these systems for early arriving winter steelhead.

The Necanicum, North Fork Nehalem, Wilson, Kilchis and Nestucca Rivers all get returns of winter steelhead this time of year and catches should begin to build. The period from Christmas to New Years is the peak week however.

Pro guide Jesse Zalonis (503-392-5808) reports slow fishing on a low return of Chinook this year on the Nestucca but is optimistic about the winter steelhead run to come.

Crabbers continue to do poor in Tillamook Bay but the lower Columbia is still producing great results. Commercial crabbers have begun to place their pots in the lower Columbia so keepers may become increasingly hard to find although sport-crabbers have a larger retention slot to work from.

Crabbing has been slow to fair out of Newport and Waldport. Ling cod fishing has been good offshore out of Yaquina Bay.


Southwest – Commercial crabbing will commence on schedule in the ocean on December 1st. The crabs are of high quality but rough seas will keep most sport crabbers inside of estuaries.

The next good deluge should bring winter steelhead into southern Oregon coastal streams.

Tides are moderating this week and will be soft for the weekend, which should make for decent Dungeness catches.

Another rough offshore forecast for the coming weekend will probably prevent recreational boaters from venturing out into the ocean.

It's been a disappointing chinook run this season, with most data indicating low numbers. While most rivers experience declining numbers at this time of year, the Elk and Sixes will provide good chinook fishing for another three to four weeks. Providing, that is, that sufficient precipitation keeps the water at fishable levels. It will take a decent amount of rain to fire up the action on the Elk and Sixes as they are low and clear at this time although numbers of chinook have been caught as recently as Monday this week.

The Rogue has been running cold, but steelheading on the upper river has been fair to good.

The Chetco flow was 1,470 cfs as of Tuesday this week and is forecast to increase slightly in the coming days. It's low but fishable, yielding fair results. Best water conditions are between 2,000 and 4,000 cfs. Extreme high tides late last week brought in fresh chinook which will be in deeper holes now. Try pulling plugs or backbouncing cured salmon eggs. Into December, the major shift from chinook to winter steelhead will take place. A few have already been taken.

Eastern – Anglers who bundled up and traveled to Crescent Lake to chase lake trout and browns did fairly well over the long holiday weekend. It will fish well until snow prevents access.

Steelheading has been fair on the Grande Ronde for a mix of hatchery and wild fish.