Oregon fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro- Fishery managers met on Tuesday for a Columbia River run size update. Unsure as to whether peak passage has happened or not, number crunchers are leaning towards a smaller than predicted run size. Select area fisheries such as Young's Bay near Astoria will reopen to commercial netters only and are likely laden with spring chinook.

Sturgeon anglers in the gorge are beginning to pick up a few legal sized sturgeon. The Marker 82 to Bonneville sanctuary went into effect on May 1st.

The Willamette is dropping and clearing and water temperatures are reaching ideal levels. With only a temporary slow-down in fishing success, anglers in the Oregon City area are faring best using eggs, shrimp and prawns for bait. Fish passage reflects the higher water temperature as about 13,000 springers had crossed the Falls as of April 26th. Trollers working the Portland Harbor and Multnomah Channel are still taking fish, even in the colored water. General observations point to a larger than predicted return.

The water level is high on the McKenzie but has started to drop. Water temperatures are in the upper 40's, trout fishing is fair to good and the occasional steelhead is being hooked.

Summer steelhead numbers are decent in the Clackamas and results have been good at times. A few winters remain as well. Spring chinook are present although only a handful have been caught.

Steelheading in the Sandy is slow to fair. Few spring chinook have been hooked.

Fishing on the North Santiam is slow. South Santiam steelheaders are taking a few summers.

Scheduled for trout planting are Henry Hagg Lake, Huddleston Pond, Sheridan Pond, St Louis Ponds, Dexter Reservoir, E. E. Wilson Pond and Junction City Pond.

A free youth fishing event will be held at Commonwealth Pond on Saturday, May 8th from 9:30 AM to 2 PM. Tackle and volunteer assistance will be available.


Northwest - River levels remained high for hopeful steelheaders on the north coast. Forecast models indicate ideal levels may be achievable by the weekend. A few summer steelhead should be available on the Wilson and Nestucca Rivers. Dark winter run fish may also account for some of the action.

Early spring chinook are also a possibility on the Trask, Wilson and Nestucca Rivers but most anglers will focus their efforts in Tillamook Bay where tides this weekend will be conducive to lower bay herring trollers.

The first all-depth halibut season opens one week from today. Ocean weather has not been friendly to boaters but that may change in the coming days. Bottomfishing, crabbing and halibut fishing should be productive when conditions allow.

Estuary crabbing on the north coast is fair at best.

Carter Lake, Cleawox Lake, Munsel Lake and Sutton Lake are scheduled to be planted with trout.

Southwest - Mild incoming tides and comparable ocean conditions will greet boaters launching for an ocean foray this weekend according to mid-week forecasts.

Crabbing is slow to fair in the ocean out of Winchester Bay when boats can get out. It is poor inside the bay, however.

While the Umpqua has suffered from high water recently, it is dropping and should fish by late this weekend or early next week. Smallmouth bass fishing should be starting here around Elkton if the water is warm enough. Summer steelhead are in the system but are slow to bite. Springers are being hooked around Scottsburg.

Boats of sufficient size launched out of Charleston over the past weekend to enjoy fair to good fishing for ling cod and rockfish.

High water, which shut sown fishing on the Rogue last week, has passed and with the level dropping, results are expected to be good over the coming weekend. The freshet will have good numbers of springers in the middle Rogue and improved catches on the upper river.

Icy patches remain on the surface of the water at Diamond Lake and it is unlikely to be ice-free until mid month. Trout fishing has been slow to fair.

Expo Pond, Reinhart Pond, Emigrant Reservoir, Medco Pond, Spaulding Pond, Burma Pond, Dutch Herman Pond, Bluebill Lake, Bradley Lake, Eel Lake, Middle and Lower Empire Lake, Millicoma Pond, Powers Pond, Saunders Lake, Sru Lake, North and South Tenmile Lake are scheduled for trout stocking.

Eastern - A few caddis and March Browns are hatching on the lower Deschutes but nymph fishing remains the ticket for redsides. The water is a little high but quite fishable.

Anglers are learning how to catch spring chinook in the John Day Pool. Bank anglers are faring well with boat anglers a close second.

The Umatilla River may provide some good salmon fishing this spring. It's a new fishery and has yet to reach its potential.

Many district lakes will remain cold and snowed in until warmer temperatures break roads and lakes free of ice. It may be late May before they reach a comfortable temperature.