Oregon fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro - Anglers are still eyeing counts at Bonneville but with consistent daily counts between 5,000 and 7,000 fish, biologists are still unsure if the peak passage date has come and gone. Additional sport openers are unlikely but select area fisheries near Astoria have reopened although success is low with a record commercial catch in these areas.

Shad are just starting to pass Bonneville Dam and are not present in fishable numbers although that should change in the coming week. Shad are great sport on light gear and make great crab and oversize sturgeon bait.

The water temperature at Willamette Falls in the mid-50s as of May 11th. Spring Chinook fishing remains good with the river jammed with boats from the Falls through Oregon City. Warmer water has trash fish hitting baits with some anglers beginning to find success using hardware. The Multnomah Channel and Portland Harbor are beginning to slow as fish begin to stage for Willamette Falls passage.

The shad run has started but few are trying with springers available.

Look for the eponymous Green Caddis to be hatching on the McKenzie River. Fishing should be quite good.

The Clackamas is running cold and while summer steelhead are available, they're slow to bite. Late winter run fish made a strong showing in April but are entering their spawning phase, making poor tablefare.

Steelheading is fair on the Sandy River with water conditions improving. It's peak spring chinook time on the Sandy but a poor return will likely cause anglers to focus their efforts on the steelhead return.

Blue River above the Reservoir, Blue River Reservoir, Detroit Reservoir, E. E. Wilson Pond, Foster Reservoir, Green Peter Reservoir, Hills Creek, Junction City Pond, Leaburg Lake, McKenzie River below Leaburg Lake, Roaring River Park Pond, Salt Creek, Sunnyside Park Pond, Timber Linn Lake, Trail Bridge Reservoir, Walling Pond, Walter Wirth Lake, Henry Hagg Lake, Huddleston Pond and West Salish Pond are scheduled for trout planting.

Northwest - Spring chinook are making a strong showing for this early in the season. Good catches have been reported along the jetty on the weak tide exchanges and in the upper bay on the stronger tides. Herring has been the bait of choice and some fish are tipping the scales in the high 20's. The peak is still a few weeks away but catches are likely to improve even more.

Spent steelhead made up the bulk of the catch for anglers fishing downstream of Mills Bridge late last week. No springers were reported. Spring chinook action has been fair for bank anglers working the hatchery hole on the Trask but low, clear water has slowed action.

The Nestucca and Three Rivers has very little traffic but should have both summer steelhead and a few early spring chinook available.

Catches have also slowed along the Highway 30 tributaries as commercial effort slowed the passage of spring chinook into Gnat and Big Creeks as well as the Klaskanine River. Low flows will also damper catches.

Another morning minus tide series started yesterday and with a calm swell forecasted, razor clam digging should be very productive right now. Harmful algae counts are on the rise but remain under threatening levels. Shellfish harvesters may want to check the ODA hotline before heading out however. Call (1-800-448-2474).

The first all-depth halibut opener began today and seas look friendly for anglers needing to make the 20+ mile trek west to productive fishing grounds. The fishing north of Cape Falcon has flatfish seekers disappointed with high incidental catches of dogfish sharks plaguing baits. Anglers fishing north of the Columbia River are finding better catch rates.

Bottomfishing should also be productive but anglers are not allowed to have both bottomfish and halibut on board on the same trip. This rule is strictly enforced.

Ocean crabbing appears to also be challenging but typically improves later into the month.

Scheduled for trout stocking are Cape Mears Lake, Eckman Lake, South Lake, Thissel Pond and Town Lake.

Southwest - Offshore conditions look favorable for boaters this coming weekend but morning minus tides will hamper launches while creating clamming opportunities.

The first all-depth halibut opportunity will take place this week on May 13th through 15th. Additional openings occur May 20th through 22nd and June 3, 4 and 5. Additional days will be available until the quota is caught.

Umpqua springer fishing turned on over the past weekend and, unlike the steelhead fishery here, most of the chinook are of hatchery origin. The Umpqua traditionally produces the largest springers on the south coast. Reports indicate the shad run has started here.

A few sturgeon have been caught on sand shrimp in the lower Coos River.

It's only $5 to enter the Bandon Surf Perch Derby being held through May 31st in the Bandon area. First place is a cash prize with tackle packages going to second and third. Call 541-347-2875 for information.

Spring chinook fishing has been worthwhile on the lower Rogue with the river returning to decent shape. Any day the water temperature is between 52 and 55 degrees and the clarity is decent, fishing has been very good. About 75% of the salmon landed here have been hatchery keepers.

Diamond Lake is nearly clear of ice and should fish well by the coming weekend.

Hyatt Lake, Fish Lake, Clearwater Forebay #2 Lemolo Reservoir and Red Top Lake are scheduled to be planted with trout.

Eastern - Redsides are responding to caddis hatches on the Deschutes from Warm Springs to Trout Creek. Spring chinook anglers are starting to record fair catches with action likely to pick up in the coming 2 weeks. Drifted roe will produce the best results.

Water conditions at the Crooked River are improving with mid-day mayfly hatches. The better trout action has occurred in the after noon and if trout are not looking up, they'll respond to nymphs.