Oregon fishing report

Oregon Fisheries Update:

Willamette Valley/Metro - Although sturgeon fishing in the mainstem Columbia remains slow, there is some effort for sturgeon taking place below the mouth of the Willamette River. Fishery managers will suggest that a small slough section of the river near Rooster Rock remain closed to all fishing for much of the year. This highly productive section was responsible for a large portion of the harvested quota in 2010, crimping other options for consumptive users from Wauna to Bonneville Dam.

The lower Willamette is high and murky. In a decision this week, ODFW officials decided to delay sturgeon retention on the lower Willamette. Originally scheduled to open January 1st, a determination as to when sturgeon may be kept will be made in the first week of February.

Fly fishers have been scoring on the McKenzie whenever the water level is fishable.

Clackamas levels were on a steady drop through Tuesday this week. Pressure has been high with results poor on Eagle Creek.

Winter steelhead are being taken in the Sandy whenever water conditions allow. Expect fish to be scattered. Steelhead will make a much stronger showing by late February.

Huddleston Pond and Junction City Pond are scheduled to be planted with hatchery trout.

Northwest – North coast streams have been without significant rainfall lately, enabling driftboaters to work their favorite waterways such as the Wilson and Nestucca River. Despite the river being in ideal condition success rates were less than ideal for those working the water early in the week. The Wilson did produce a handful of early returning Alsea stock fish but not what most had anticipated, given the good returns on many smaller systems in the same district.

Those smaller streams did produce well in the higher flows. The Necanicum was good on Sunday with some boats reporting double digit opportunities, landing a mix of both semi-colored fish as well as fresh chrome ones. Drifters reported numerous wild coho digging nests in the tailouts of this system.

Despite limited bank access, the North Fork Nehalem produced good catches for anglers fishing near the hatchery over the weekend. With dropping and clearing conditions, success rates will once again fall until the next rain freshet.

Like the North Fork Nehalem, Three Rivers, a Nestucca River tributary will also produce fair to good results near the hatchery at Cedar Creek. As these smaller systems drop, the most productive time of the day will be at daybreak. Smaller baits will be necessary in the lower flows.

The Nestucca itself will be hit or miss as small pods of hatchery fish make their way upstream. The better fishing on the mainstem Nestucca will happen later into February and March, when wild and broodstock fish make their appearance.

High winds have kept anxious sturgeon anglers from testing the waters of Tillamook Bay. Keepers are likely present but the weather forecast will likely continue to discourage effort. Crabbing will remain challenging given the weather forecast as the ocean won’t be an option for recreation through the weekend.

Southwest – Rough seas have curtailed recreational crabbing effort although results have been good when conditions have allowed ocean access. Ocean forecasts for the coming week favor larger, commercial vessels.

Winchester Bay crabbing results have yet to decline due to freshets. The Umpqua system was very high and rising early this week.

Crabbing remains good in Coos Bay despite recent rainstorms. Coos River steelheaders have been doing well recently although, as usual with winters, there have been a far greater number of hookups than landings.
Coquille steelheaders have been experiencing fair to good results when the water level is dropping.

Elk River anglers have caught chinook and fresh winter steelhead recently with precipitation less than expected. The Sixes blew out early this week but will fish a couple of days after the Elk clears.

Rising river levels from weekend rainfall have kept anglers off the Rogue. Although levels were falling early this week, any precipitation will rapidly shut down fishing opportunities.

The Chetco came into shape for plunking late last week and delivered for steelheaders. Spin 'N' Glos were the lure of choice for fresh fish, half or better were of hatchery origin. Storms over this past weekend pushed the Chetco over 10,000 cfs this week but it will fish again for plunkers whenever it's 8,000 cfs and dropping. Look for the 4,000 cfs range to drift it.

Eastern – Summer steelheading is nearly done on the Deschutes with winters on their way.

Cold water angling enthusiasts should enjoy some good results on the Fall River at this time of year. Try fishing nymphs in deep slots.

Most eastern Oregon streams saw a surge in flow and turbidity last week. Prior to the muddy water, fishing was good on the John Day, Wallowa, Umatilla and Imnaha. Fishing should once again improve when snow levels drop and flows subside.