Oregon Fishing

Forecasting for the fishing week of October 24th – October 30th, 2008

Oregon Fisheries Update:

Willamette Valley/Metro- Although chinook season remains open below Bonneville Dam, effort has dropped off significantly as anglers begin to focus more effort at coastal stocks and Columbia River sturgeon. Hatchery coho are still being caught however as Troutdale boats reported 14 hatchery coho retained for 23 boats.

Coho adults and jacks are now making up the bulk of the count at Bonneville Dam. 2008 jack counts mirror those of 2000 which lead to a record return of coho adults to Bonneville Dam in 2001. Steelhead numbers have reduced to a trickle but the fishery above the John Day Dam should be getting underway soon. Trollers using plugs near the surface often intercept quality steelhead well into November.

Sturgeon anglers are still finding success in the Columbia River Gorge. Although shakers make up the bulk of the catch, 1 keeper for every 3.5 boats was tallied over the weekend while bank anglers took a keeper for every 10 rods. Anglers fishing the Willamette and Multnomah Channel are finding shakers but cooling temperatures should improve chances for keeper fish later in the fall.

Sandy River anglers are concentrated at Cedar Creek. Good numbers of coho are present but a weather change will bring fresh fish and stimulate the bite.

Anglers working the Clackamas are finding water clarity a challenge. The coho are very timid and may be more receptive to flies or jigs fished with fluorocarbon leaders in low light conditions. Adults are turning dark and the season will close on the Sandy and Clackamas on October 31st.

Northwest – Although Tillamook Bay remains a bright spot on the North Oregon coast, fishing remains poor for most. Spinners were taking a few fish in the upper bay but herring trollers working the ideal low exchange tides near the mouth fared poorly over the weekend. An absence of 4 and 5-year old fish are a clear indication of poor ocean production when these juveniles went to sea.

Despite the poor results, some large fish are being taken. Lee Garboden landed a 36-pounder in Tillamook Bay on October 20th on a plug cut herring. Several fish over 40 pounds have graced the scales.

The Nehalem is still choked with wild coho with only a rare chinook being taken. The Nestucca and Salmon Rivers remain poor and effort is dropping.

Only a few ocean fishers ventured offshore to take advantage of deep water reefs in recent weeks. They were rewarded with large lingcod however but weekend weather predictions will keep most boats inshore.

Crabbing on most coastal estuaries typically picks up this time of year. Netarts and Tillamook are producing fair catches although a large number of softshell crab seem to be in the mix. The lower Columbia River was producing limits prior to the weekend. A large Humboldt Squid die-off at the mouth of the river may have drawn interest away from sport crabbers baits.

Several razor clam diggers did well over the weekend along Clatsop Beaches. The next minus tide series will occur early next week.

Southwest – The Siuslaw had a nice showing of chinook on the recent tide series. Fair numbers of fish were taken from Tiernan to Mapleton by trollers and bobber fishermen. Coho are also making a nice show and like many other areas along the coast, anglers are mistaking large wild coho for chinook. Anglers are required to release wild coho on all coastal river systems.

Wild coho can be kept however on Siltcoos and Tahkenitch Lakes. The action is beginning to pick and should stay consistent into mid-November. Plugs and spinners take most of the fish and with good returns on other systems, this fishery may be a real draw for anglers this year.

Anglers are anxiously awaiting precipitation to get the Elk and Sixes River fisheries underway. Given the current state of adult returns to Oregon coastal systems, anglers should keep expectations in check knowing that better years are ahead.

Bottomfishers will be challenged by ocean weather for the remainder of the season. When boats can get out, fishing is good for seabass. Lingcod have been harder to entice.

The Rogue River fishery is quickly winding down but south coast anglers have been motivated to fish the Smith River south of the boarder for large chinook. Spoon casters working near the mouth have taken many fish in the 40-pound class.

Eastern – Eastern Oregon steelheaders are gearing up for a productive season. Numbers should be bountiful on the Grande Ronde, Wallowa and Imnaha Rivers with only a short window to fish before ice hampers success.

Bass fishermen working the John Day River are still producing great catches in the 12 to 14-inch range. Fishing for bass should remain good in the deeper holes but this river will transition into steelhead fishing over the next few weeks. Steelhead are present at Rock Creek but action at Clarno should begin to pick up by mid-November.