Oregon fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro- The Columbia River below Bonneville Dam closed after Monday. The season ended with most anglers disappointed and the lack of effort showed that sentiment for most of the season. Kim Reller of Portland was one of the lucky anglers on Sunday, boating a 15-pound spring chinook just below the I-5 Bridge on a sardine wrapped plug in 17 feet of water. High water plagued the sport fleet for most of the season, leaving nearly half of the sport quota unutilized.

Fishery managers decided Wednesday to extend the sportfishery on the mainstem Columbia, adding an additional 7 days for sportanglers between Buoy 10 and Rooster Rock. If water conditions remain challenging as expected, more time may be allotted but that won't be decided until another meeting occurs on April 13th.

Sturgeon fishing continues slow in most areas of the Columbia but keeper action did improve in the Portland to Longview stretch slightly. Effort and catch will likely remain subdued until flows subside and temperatures warm.

Water levels are expected to rise once again on the Willamette where muddy water has already hampered success rates in what should be approaching peak season. Flows did not stop fish passage as over 800 summer steelhead have been counted in addition to the nearly 5,900 winters.

The water level and flow on the McKenzie was on the increase earlier this week. Snowmelt will likely continue to keep the level up and water temperatures down. This will make fishing challenging for anglers.

The Clackamas has settled into normal level and flow for this time of year. It should provide fishing for a mix of wild and broodstock steelhead. Sidedrifting bait often produces the best in these higher flows as fish are likely to utilize shallower, slower flows, especially in colored water.

Sandy River water levels rose again earlier this week and it looks like a long shot for the coming weekend. Broodstock steelhead await anglers when conditions improve.

Northwest - Steelheaders remains justifiably frustrated as high water limited the river systems most have been able to access recently. Traffic however was busy over the weekend with the Wilson and Nestucca Rivers bearing the brunt of the effort.

River levels are expected to come into good shape again by the weekend but with such a prolonged period of high water, fishing is likely to be only fair. Both wild and hatchery broodstock fish should be available however with a rare summer steelhead available on the Wilson and Nestucca Rivers.

This Kilchis remains a viable option in higher flows and should continue to produce almost exclusively wild fish at least through mid-April. Most other small streams closed to fishing on March 31st.

Sturgeon fishers continue to catch some keepers in Tillamook Bay. Fair tides will allow some opportunity through the weekend but keepers typically begin exiting the estuary about this time of year.

Wind wave and swell height will likely keep offshore anglers from accessing hungry lingcod and seabass schools. When ocean weather does settle, the fishing should be excellent.

Crabbing remains the best in the lower Columbia where crabbers with fresh bait are still taking limits of crab. Tides will remain favorable in the afternoon but the freshwater influx on the lower Columbia should slow catches.

Southwest - With rainfall moderating, lingcod catches will improve inside the 40-fathom line. As of April 1st, offshore bottom fishers may keep only one cabezon per day. Poor ocean conditions have hampered efforts.

Historically, boats launching out of Coos Bay and Winchester Bay have caught the most ocean salmon but weather conditions have prevented launches since the opener. Long-range forecasts indicate a glimmer of hope for the coming weekend.

Crabbing has been slow to fair due to fresh water influx from coastal river runoff. Surf perch fishing has been good on area beaches when wave action has moderated.

Steelheaders have done well on the North and South Umpqua when water levels have been dropping. The ODFW predicts a good hatchery return on the South.

Fishing on the Elk River was good right up to the end of March. The Elk and Sixes are closed as of April 1st.

On the Rogue spring chinook catches have been on one day, off the next, but even slow days have produced several bright fish. Overall, anglers are pleased with results for this early in the run. Lower Rogue level and flow is forecast to be good and dropping over the coming weekend. Fishing for winter steelhead has been slow on the middle river due to high water but good on the upper river.

The last day for steelheaders on the Chetco River was March 31st. It will re-open on May 28th when sea-run cutthroat will be the species of interest with salmon and steelhead runs over at that time.

Eastern - It's the time of year when spring runoff will hamper effort on the lower Deschutes. High water may potentially continue for weeks although fishing will be good when the water drops.

The John Day crested at flood level on April 3rd but has been dropping since. It is forecast to drop through the coming weekend but will remain high for fishing.

Sturgeon retention season will close in the John Day Pool beginning April 10th. The 500 fish quota is expected to have been met by then.

Walleye anglers are catching fair numbers of fish despite high water flows. The action should remain good for another few weeks.

SW Washington - High water has hampered steelhead success on the Cowlitz, Lewis and Kalama Rivers. Steelhead remain available and the Cowlitz is one of the better options when flows drop.

Spring chinook should begin to show in fair numbers on the Cowlitz and Lewis Rivers. Forecasts aren't great however but peak season is fast approaching.

Bonneville Dam passage of spring chinook isn't favorable enough to excite Drano Lake and Wind River salmon anglers. Late April is the better time and biologists expect significantly better passage to happen in the next few weeks.