Oregon fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro- Mainstem Columbia sturgeon fishing remains poor with water temperatures continuing to drop. This fishery, including the Willamette River and Multnomah Channel, will go to a 4-day per week fishery (Thursday – Sunday) beginning January 1st.

Water temperatures have continued to rise at Willamette Falls along with the water level and the winter steelhead count. Sturgeon fishing has been fair for keeper-sized fish with shaker action all day long. The lower Willamette River is producing the best results with squid and sand shrimp the top baits.

Rain has pushed the Santiam system too high to fish.

Heavy rain over the weekend has the waters of the Clackamas too high to fish as of Monday this week. Plunkers picked up a few winters before the rain hit but Eagle Creek will be the only possibility for a while and is giving up a few fish.

The upper Sandy is reasonably clear but the lower river is off color. Steelheading has been fair but it's early for this river to be posting big numbers. Pontoon drifters experienced some good action from Dodge Park to Oxbow just over a week ago but warned that rock hazards make this stretch treacherous. The bulk of the fish being caught were wild. Low snow levels may keep the Sandy in fishable shape.

Northwest – Most steelheaders are still waiting for good conditions to search for coastal winters. The smaller streams offered up the best opportunities with the Necanicum and North Fork of the Nehalem producing best when in shape. Drifted bait has been working best in the higher water conditions.

Boaters must still be aware of downed trees. The smaller streams are the more technical to drift- especially as the rivers recede.

More precipitation is in the forecast which will keep the larger river systems like the Nestucca and Trask out of shape. Mudslides have kept the Wilson River from running clear since mid-November.

Three Rivers does have fish present with the hatchery hole producing a few fish.

Gnat and Big Creeks will also be strong options this week as returns peak and river levels remain high.

Lacey DeWeert of Woodland, WA and her 5 crabbers had no trouble taking their 72 keeper limit on Sunday out of Hammond. The group used frozen shad between buoys 20 and 22 in about 35 feet of water. The strong incoming tide countered the large run-off and despite the large numbers of commercial pots present, there were plenty of sport-legal crabs available.

Rough surf has kept Clatsop area beaches from being productive for clam diggers this week. Large swells will continue to hit coastal beaches through the weekend so fishing is not an option.

The Alsea produced fair numbers if steelhead over the weekend but was under very heavy pressure.

The Siletz has been off to a good start with large natives and some quality broodstock fish available as well. It will likely be in good shape again after the weekend.

Southwest – Mild tides this weekend would encourage crabbing in bays and estuaries but fresh water has pushed Dungeness out to the ocean. While ocean crabbing is open, wind and wave action will prevent crossing the bars.

South coast rivers which were dropping through December 23rd, though not necessarily to fishable levels, are again on the rise.

The North Umpqua is high but fishable above Elkton. Fair numbers of steelhead were reported by side-drifters this week. The water is muddy below that point.

The Elk River was dropping and clearing over the weekend, but will probably rise again with rain this week. It is getting close to the end of the salmon run here.

The Rogue is too high to fish well this week and is forecast to remain that way for a while.

Plunkers on the Chetco River are the first to score winter steelhead and there have been some big ones in the mix this year. Over the past week, a 20 pound hatchery fish was landed. Rain is in the forecast daily for the coming week, however, which may keep the Chetco above acceptable 6,000 to 8,000 cfs levels, even for plunkers. Drift boaters require a friendlier 4,000 cfs or less.


Eastern – The Deschutes has continued to fish well for a mix of hatchery and native steelhead. The area bordered by the Indian reservation closes on December 31st but the Deschutes will remain open from above Maupin to the mouth.

Trout fishing has been rewarding for anglers at Green Peter.

Cold temperatures have Grande Ronde anglers wary of icy conditions. If temperatures moderate, summer steelhead will be available. The John Day River remains an option as well.