Oregon Fishing Report

Willamette Valley/Metro- Summer chinook numbers are beginning to fade at Bonneville with most anglers unimpressed with the results this season. High flows contributed to low catch rates and action is likely to continue to taper in the coming weeks. Fish over 40 pounds have been taken recently however. Warmer water usually means salmon will respond better to spinners and wobblers. Flows have moderated in recent days and are expected to stay that way throughout the week.

Steelhead anglers near Bonneville should begin to see improvements in catches. Downstream, beach anglers struggled with the low tide exchange last week but that should change this week as minus tides will get flows running again. This will likely be one of the peak weeks for steelhead fishing from beaches downstream of Portland.

Sockeye fishing is still open for recreational anglers although few intercepted them despite a record run passing Bonneville. Large returns may grace the Columbia again in the near future so anglers may want to learn to how produce results in this fishery. Trollers successfully take fish on Lake Washington near Seattle trolling metallic red hooks behind dodgers.

Water temperatures as of July 5th dropped three degrees to 63. Fish counts have not been updated but were strong through the third week of June but the water was nearly 10 degrees cooler. The shad run is winding down at Oregon City.

A few chinook are being taken at Leaburg Dam on the Mackenzie as well as the occasional steelhead to jig fishers.

A few chinook are being hooked at Waterloo on the South Santiam.

Steelheaders on the Clackamas are taking a few but this will be a first-light fishery this week. Spring chinook are concentrated in deeper pools upstream with few anglers finding success targeting them.

Steelhead are visible on the Sandy but have been reluctant to take bait or lure.

Northwest - Coho catches out of Garibaldi were fair last week and the action should continue through most of July. Anglers targeting fish in water over 200 foot deep found the best action. Garibaldi produced the best catches of any port on the Oregon coast in the south of Falcon ocean fishery. Ocean crabbing has only improved slightly with many crabs in a softshell state.

A few hatchery spring chinook are still trickling into Tillamook bay but effort is waning. The tidewater stretches and a few deep holes on the Wilson, Trask and Nestucca Rivers will continue to hold fish, but most will be reluctant to bite in the warmer, low flows that are characteristic for this time of year.

Adult chinook remain a rare catch on the north coast but fishery managers lifted the 1 chinook restriction, allowing anglers to retain any 2 salmon from the Canadian border to Cape Falcon near Manzanita. Coho still need to exhibit a healed over adipose fin clip to be lawfully taken. Size restrictions also remain in effect.

Coho fishing out of the mouth of the Columbia has also been productive for anglers willing to travel SW of the Columbia River Buoy. Captains are reporting a nice grade of fish for this time of year; a sign of good feeding conditions offshore this spring.

Sturgeon fishing in the lower Columbia still remains a slog. Most would agree fish seem to be present but unwilling to bite. Fishery managers are likely to meet again this week to discuss the possibility for another season extension.

Southwest - Offshore salmon fishing has been a disappointment for most boats whether trying for hatchery coho or chinook.

Boats launching out of Bandon have been finding warm water and decent albacore hookups between 40 and 50 miles from the beach. Charleston boats have also returned with tuna.

Chinook fishing is slow in the lower Rogue, slow to fair on the middle river with fish charging through without holding. The upper Rogue, however, is producing catches of both spring chinook and summer steelhead.

Offshore bottom fishing has been outstanding out of Brookings Harbor. Limits of rockfish and ling cod are being brought to dock any day the wind has allowed boats to fish. Forecasts for the coming weekend are marginal which combined with morning minus tides may make crossing into the ocean problematic. Albacore are being taken within 50 miles of port.

Surf perch fishing has been good whenever ocean conditions have allowed, providing limits of pinkfin to many long-rodders.

Diamond Lake is fishing well, producing a few trout every day that measure in pounds rather than inches.

Eastern - With the stonefly hatch a memory for 2010, think caddis patterns for redsides on the lower Deschutes.

Fishing is fair for fly anglers at Davis Lake for largemouth bass.

Green Peter has been fair for trollers looking for kokanee hookups.

Trout and kokanee fishing is good at Wallowa Lake and who knows, there may be another world record kokanee swimming around in there.

The Imnaha has dropped and cleared to great condition and is putting out fair numbers of spring chinook now that flows have finally subsided.