Oregon fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro- Although Portland area spring chinook success ended poorly on the Columbia, anglers downstream reported some early limits working plugs on the outgoing tide. Although passage numbers at Bonneville are still likely 2 weeks away from peaking, numbers look good. A re-opener is unlikely until the peak passage date has been realized.

Bank anglers are scoring the lion's share of sturgeon near Rooster Rock, where hordes of people are in pursuit. Action will likely slow as river flows increase and keepers continue to get culled from the concentrated population.

With Willamette flows moderating and water temperature hitting the magic mid-50s, springers are on the move. Monday's fishing at Oregon City was nothing short of white hot with numerous boats taking limits of springers. By Tuesday, action had slowed but should remain consistent into early May or later.

Steelhead and redsides are being caught upriver near Eugene.

Fish the opener on the McKenzie River between Greenwood Drive boat ramp and Hendricks Wayside for best results.

A few summer steelhead are in the mix on the Clackamas but broodstock steelhead has made for very good action over recent weeks. A couple of springers have been caught at the mouth but fish should begin to distribute by late April.

There appear to be greater numbers of summers than springers in the Sandy River as this system is not forecast to receive a large adult return this season. This will likely focus effort in the Willamette and Clackamas Rivers.

Fishing events for youngsters will be held at Hebo Lake and Trojan Pond on Saturday, April 24th.

Northwest - What would have likely been a productive fishery, all select area fisheries (Young's Bay, Blind Slough and Deep River) near Astoria will close after tomorrow due to the high interception of upriver bound spring chinook.

Good sturgeon fishing in the estuary is still over a month away.

With much the focus on Portland area springers, effort on the north coast has dwindled for steelhead. A few fresh fish remain available but the bulk of the catch will likely be dark winter run fish. Summer steelhead will be available in small numbers on the Wilson, Nestucca and Three Rivers.

Although it's not too early for spring chinook in Tillamook County, the peak has occurred after mid-May in recent years. The predicted rise in river levels this week doesn't appear to be materializing which is likely to keep chinook concentrated in the estuary. The lower reaches of the Wilson and Nestucca may fish fair for steelhead this weekend.

Offshore forecasts for the north coast will likely keep anxious bottomfishing vessels from targeting bass and lingcod. When the boats can get out, fishing should be excellent.

Crabbing remains slow in most north coast estuaries.

Southwest - Early incoming tides won't be of much help to boaters as offshore conditions are forecast to be rough this coming weekend.

South coast beaches are yielding good catches of surf perch when the ocean lies down.

Mainstem Umpqua anglers continue to enjoy decent spring chinook results while the river remains too cool to trigger a smallmouth bite.

When boats have been able to launch out of Charleston, fishing for rockfish and lingcod has been predictably excellent. Ocean crabbing is fair.

While action has slowed on the lower Rogue, daily spring chinook catches remain good. Anchovies, with or without a spinners, remain the bait of choice. Steelheading is fair to good on the upper Rogue with decent numbers over the dam.

Ocean Chinook fishing will begin May 29th and run through Sept 6th (Memorial Day through Labor Day) with a two 24 inch or better fish per day bag limit.

Eastern - Oregon's high lakes open Saturday, April 24th, with many anglers springing for the two-rod permit for an extra $17, hoping for additional hookups. Many lakes remain ice-bound, but may fish by the weekend.

John Day bass anglers should begin to realize catches of some of the larger fish of the season. Numbers come later when temperatures warm.

Fly fishing is fair on the middle Deschutes with redsides rising to take offerings on the surface.

Oregon fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro - Spring chinook fishing on the lower Columbia will be entering peak season in the next 2 weeks. Catches are expected to be good and one of the most consistent bites of the year took place on Tuesday from the I-5 Bridge to Davis Bar, across from the mouth of the Willamette. A brown Willamette kept most of the boat effort above Portland but improving water conditions may better distribute effort in the coming week. Catches will likely be good.

Sturgeon catch and effort is on the rise in the gorge. There should be some decent fishing here if water temperatures continue to rise in the coming weeks. This section of river will only be open for retention for a bit longer but will reopen in October, considered the peak month.

The lower Willamette is clearing which will improve spring chinook prospects this coming weekend. Springer counts stalled at the Falls the first week of April while steelhead numbers are picking up again. Sturgeon may not be kept in the lower Willamette until the re-opener in October.

McKenzie water levels have returned to seasonal normal and the river is in good shape.

The Clackamas level is coming down and the river had decent green color mid-week. Steelheading has been worthwhile and springers will be taken here soon.

Sandy water levels have dropped over four feet in the first few days of April. It will be worth a try this weekend with most of the winter steelhead in the higher reaches.

Canby Pond, Henry Hagg Lake, Sheridan Pond, St. Louis Ponds, Roaring River Park Pond, Timber Linn Lake, Walling Pond and Waverly Lake are scheduled for trout planting.

Anglers 17 and younger are invited to take part in two youth events on Saturday, April 10th. Volunteers will be on hand to assist at St. Louis Ponds from 9 AM to 2 PM and at Cottage Grove Pond from 9:30 AM until 1 PM. Both events are free.

Northwest - Steelheaders remained challenged on north coast streams as river levels have been too high to produce good results on some of the larger streams like the Wilson or lower Nestucca. Improving conditions should have steelheading back to normal by the weekend.

Some smaller systems like the Kilchis remained open and productive in these higher flows but many streams closed to fishing for steelhead unless there is some form of hatchery fish available to anglers.

Spring Chinook fishing opened in Tillamook County on April 1st but even early fish aren't likely to be caught until at least the following week. Coastal spring Chinook average larger in size than their Columbia and Willamette cousins but adult returns are a fraction of what we see for the Willamette and Columbia drainages.

Good numbers of left-over trout still reside in area lakes and bass should begin to stir in the warming waters of coastal lakes and ponds.

Long range ocean forecasts indicate the possibility of an offshore opportunity late in the weekend and bottomfishing should be great. Crabbing however is likely to remain mediocre for a while.

Scheduled for trout stocking are Cape Mears Lake, Carter Lake, Cleawox Lake, Hebo Lake, Lorens Pond, Lytle Lake, Nedonna Pond, Smith Lake, South Lake, Tahoe Lake and Town Lake.

Southwest - Boaters will be greeted with a mild incoming tide but long-range swell and wind forecasts are marginal.

Ocean crabbing has been slow, even for commercial efforts and market prices are reflecting that in stores

Bottom fishing may take place only within the 40 fathom line as of April 1st. That's 240 feet for novice mariners. The decision regarding ocean salmon fishing openings and bag limits is scheduled to take place this week.

Jetty fishers are making good catches of rockfish and perch at Winchester Bay when wind and wave action has allowed. Anglers on the mainstem Umpqua have been doing well for spring chinook over the past week. Rains warmed the water and improved catch-and-release fishing for the mostly wild steelhead in the river now.

Long rodders throwing baits from area beaches are making decent catches of surf perch when the ocean cooperates.

Spring chinook fishing was fair to good on the lower Rogue until storm fronts dropped rain on the area and blew out the river. Water levels will be dropping through the coming weekend and springer prospects are good.

The Chetco closed for fishing at the end of March but will re-open when trout season begins on May 22nd.

Cooper Cr. Reservoir, Galesville Reservoir Loon Lake are scheduled to be planted with hatchery trout.

There will be an estimated 200,000 trout available to anglers when Diamond Lake opens April 24th and some of those are sure to be big ones.

Eastern - Fly anglers did well for redsides on the Deschutes over Easter weekend. Fishing pressure has been light. The Warm Springs stretch opener is April 24th.

For those who have cracked the tricky Metolius code, this river has fished well on nymphs.