Oregon fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro - Although catch rates are beginning to dip, the Bonneville Pool remains the best option on the mainstem Columbia for keeper sturgeon fishing. The season is set to close tomorrow however as the quota of 2,000 keepers is likely to be achieved.

Sturgeon anglers are likely to re-focus their efforts on the lower Willamette, particularly in the Portland Harbor where the catch and keep fishery opened today. Action should be excellent, as this stretch of river has been closed for some time, enabling keepers to congregate without being targeted. One sturgeon per day may be kept every Thursday through Saturday until a 2,550 fish quota is attained.

Steelhead passage has been moderate at Willamette Falls although an increase in flow could slow migration rates further. Spring chinook fishing has slowed with the muddied water but great early season success rates indicate the predicted return should come to fruition. Late March through April will bring peak catches.

Wild trout were responding well for fly anglers using large nymphs on the McKenzie early this week.

It remains to be seen to what degree rain effects the river flow which started spiking late Monday this week.

The Santiam system took a hit from rainfall mid-week but is forecast to be dropping into the coming weekend. There is a fair number of wild steelhead in the river now.

The Clackamas, where steelheading has been slow, is forecast to rise through mid week, then drop below current levels. Accuracy aside, fresh water should boost hookups. Broodstock fish are likely to begin showing in greater numbers.

Sandy steelheading has been sow with one or two fish per day reported river-wide although there was some improvement Monday this week. Rain will provide a welcome change, but only after flows subside once again.

Northwest – Weekend steelheaders produced great catches of wild and broodstock fish with the Wilson and Nestucca predictably the best. A slight rise in river levels stimulated migration but more recent rainfall has put the river out of shape, slowing catches. The first rain after a prolonged period of dry weather typically produces excellent catches. These larger north coast streams should fish good again by the weekend, barring any oversight in the weather forecast.

Smaller streams may fish best just prior to the weekend with the Necanicum, North Fork Nehalem, Kilchis and upper Trask producing good catches of wild steelhead and a few spawned out hatchery fish as well. Larger baits should produce the best results until flows drop and clear. Use artificials, including plugs when fish begin to slow their migration rates.

The Siletz and Alsea Rivers shouldn’t be overlooked when flows drop. The Alsea will become primarily a wild fish show but quality broodstock fish should remain a good option on the Siletz. Broodstock smolt releases have decreased in recent years however so don’t expect the great action we saw just a few years ago but experienced anglers will produce fair to good results.

Sturgeon fishing should remain fair in Tillamook Bay but the best of this season has likely passed. The West and middle channels should remain top prospects for anglers fishing fresh sand shrimp.

Crabbing has slowed in most estuaries but remains a viable option in the lower Columbia.

Southwest – Rain was pounding the south coast earlier this week, causing river levels and flow to increase dramatically. If forecasts are accurate, anglers should see some dropping and clearing conditions during the week which is good news as winter steelhead remain widely available.

Crabbing has remained good for boaters in Winchester Bay but fresh water from the Umpqua may push Dungeness back to the ocean. While mainstem Umpqua steelheaders have been taking fish through the recent stretch of dry weather, the recent freshet will make the South Umpqua the destination of choice. Hopefully, the strong return of hatchery steelhead predicted by ODFW biologists will come to pass.

The productive South Fork Coquille, which has suffered from low and clear water conditions, should be rejuvenated this week as flows improve.

When the ocean has aid down, charter boats out of Gold Beach have been doing very well for lingcod and rockfish while offshore crabbing has been slow to fair. Even in summer-level low and clear water, the lower Rogue produced winter steelhead with side-drifting most effective. Fresh winter steelhead will be entering daily this week with precipitation. Steelheaders on the middle Rogue have experienced the most consistent results but action should shift downstream with rainfall.

Bottom fishing has been excellent out of the Port of Brookings when offshore conditions have allowed. Ocean crabbing has been fair. Rain this week is expected to have a positive effect for steelheading on the Chetco River. It should fish well whenever the level is falling although the winter steelhead season will be winding down here.

Eastern – Deschutes fly anglers scored decent numbers of redsides on the lower river over the past weekend. With few hatches evident, nymphs were effective.

Afternoon hatches are occurring on the Metolius but nymphs have been more effective in hooking trout.

Good spring steelheading should be the rule on the Wallowa, Imnaha and Grande Ronde Rivers as long as snow levels remain low and flows stable. Some days, steelheaders are likely to average around a fish for every 4 hours of effort.