Oregon fishing

Willamette Valley/Metro- Willamette water temperatures rose with the tropical storm early this month but cold weather is causing the temps to drop again. Water visibility remains less than one foot. Sturgeon fishing is slow for keepers, good for shakers.

The forecast for Willamette spring chinook in 2008 was released this week and is a disappointing 29,000 hatchery fish. Managers will be discussing season options but with only about 6,000 harvestable fish, a compromise in the Columbia fishery below I-5 or the Willamette itself is likely.

From Portland to Bonneville Dam, sturgeon fishing was poor. With dropping temperatures, sturgeon success will continue to drop. Anglers are hopeful that a winter smelt run will stimulate the bite but another poor return is predicted which will restrict sport dippers in pursuit of the favored sturgeon bait.

The Clackamas turned green over the past weekend and is now quite fishable. A few winter steelhead are trickling in but numbers will be low until mid-January.

The water at the Sandy River has cleared but sand has once again become problematic. When the Sandy River opens on the first of January, 2008, the new deadline will be at Salmon River. There will be no bait or lure restrictions.

Pro guide Brandon Glass (503-260-8285) wrote to say that the Clackamas is probably a better bet than the Sandy this early in the season.

Water at the North Santiam is running too high to fish and will remain that way due to snowmelt and the reduction of the water level at Detroit.

Trout fishing is slow to fair on the McKenzie, but the reward is fat, feisty fish to 20 inches.

Walling Pond and Walter Wirth Lake are scheduled to be planted with catchable-sized and larger rainbows.

Northwest – Following last weeks devastating storm, rivers are now starting to recover but options are limited due to damage inflicted by high winds and saturated river banks.

The bridge to the put-in at the largest Sitka Spruce tree on the Necanicum River is compromised and the road is closed. Portland angler John Weed reported that section of the river “looked like an air raid took place”, referencing the large number of downed trees blocking safe boat passage on this north coast favorite. His crew picked up two fresh steelhead in the downstream stretch from Johnson’s gravel pit to the take out at the Relief Pitcher. They were driftfishing roe.

The North Fork Nehalem is reported as poor for steelhead. Sweeper logs are reported across the upper drift from the hatchery to the county line. A sweeper log took the life of Jim Erickson in this same stretch almost a year ago.

End-of-season chinook hopefuls are still waiting for the Wilson to clear from numerous slides still silting the river. It is on the mend but by the time it clears, the river will likely be too low to fish with any success. With few steelhead present and well scattered, anglers will find it challenging to find fish. The winter broodstock collection is underway but to participate, you have to register with STEP biologist Tracy Crews at (503) 842-2741 in the Tillamook office.

The Kilchis River, another December favorite for chinook, yielded poor results last week as it cleared quickly. Steelhead were reported in the tailouts of the upper drift.

The Trask River still has a remnant winter chinook run but like most area streams, it too was affected by the recent storm. A large log jam prevents passage at the railroad bridge about 1.5 miles above the highway 101 takeout.

Steelhead were reported in Three Rivers and the Nestucca was on the mend and is currently fishable. Catches are expected to be light.

Pro guide Bill Kremers (541-754-6411) fished the Alsea on Monday, catching jack salmon and coho but no steelhead, On Tuesday, he took one 12-pound steelhead on the Siletz.

The ocean allowed recreational boats to cross the bar out of Newport Sunday and Monday this week where anglers scored rockfish and lingcod and enjoyed good crabbing.

The Alsea and Siuslaw Rivers have cleared of debris and should have a few winter steelhead present. These rivers will be low and clear by the weekend.


Southwest – Wind and wave action is forecast to prevent recreational boaters from crossing into the ocean this weekend.

The Umpqua was at good level and color at mid-week. Fishing this weekend should be worthwhile for steelhead and coho.

Coos anglers have hooked chinook and coho over the past week but failed to locate and find fresh winter steelhead.

Anglers on the Elk and Sixes have done well for chinook over the past week but action is slowing as these rivers are getting skinny. The Elk is at the four-foot level this week.

With the Rogue River back in shape, anglers should find fresh winter steelhead around Agness.

The Chetco had fallen below four feet and was running at 2,200 cfs at Brookings on Tuesday. Fresh, bright winter steelhead are available, but fishing has become challenging in the low, clear water.

Eastern – Deschutes anglers should expect to fish higher flows through the remainder of the steelhead season but braving the cold may be worthwhile with B-run fish in the river now.