Willamette Valley/Metro - After two additional fishing extensions, the lower Columbia River is now closed to spring chinook. Fishery managers decided on the hard closure last week as numbers continue to just trickle over Bonneville Dam. More opportunity may come in May but dam passage must jump significantly to begin the conversation. Success rates remained fair at best prior to the closure but bank anglers fared well under the high water conditions. The Columbia above Bonneville remains open through Sunday, April 24th.
Willamette flow was up on Tuesday this week with visibility reduced to 1.5 feet and water temperature down to 48 degrees. Plunking may be the best bet until it clears. Passage of spring chinook and steelhead remains fair. Good action was witnessed near St. Johns prior to the rise in river levels. Now is the traditional peak for spring chinook on the Willamette but with the late run timing, the best action may still be a few weeks away.
McKenzie water levels, high at mid-week, will be falling until the next round of rainfall. Prospects will be good when anglers catch a break with March Browns on the hatch.
Fishing has been fair on the Clackamas River with spinners and jigs taking steelhead. Sandy fishing has been slow. It's too early to target spring chinook in these rivers but that will change in May and action should continue into June with the high spring flow.
There are decent numbers of steelhead in the Santiam system. Try the South Santiam for the best chance of a hookup with an early hatchery summer fish.
Northwest – Steelheaders saw another good shot of fish come into the Wilson and Nestucca Rivers this week. Monday produced good results for small crowds of people on the Wilson downstream of Siskeyville. Sidedrifters continue to produce the best results in the higher flows but plug pulling may become a good option when flows drop.
Steelhead season is winding down but the Nestucca and Wilson should remain the best options. Anglers are likely to find fair numbers of spawning or spawned-out fish, these should be released unharmed. Summer steelhead should begin to show in the catches however but number far fewer than the winter run.
Although the districts first spring chinook has yet to be reported, adults should be available in the Tillamook system. The Trask, Wilson and Nestucca are the best options when flows are high but good tides exist for bay trollers as well. The run will start in stronger by mid-May.
The 8th annual Bounty on the Bay will move a few weeks closer to peak season. Anglers will have an opportunity to catch the north coasts’ most premier species, spring chinook. The event is June 3rd and 4th with a seminar on the evening of the 3rd detailing proper preparation and presentation of herring for trolling by local professional John Kirby. Register at www.tbnep.org.
Sturgeon were taken in Tillamook Bay last week with tides conducive to good action through the weekend.
Calm seas have finally allowed offshore anglers to take advantage of willing bottomfish species. Lingcod and seabass made up the bulk of the catch and action should remain good as long as seas remain calm. Offshore crabbing is reported as poor.
Southwest – The Pacific Fishery Management Council has determined offshore chinook fishing will remain open off the central and southern Oregon coast to Humbug Mountain near Port Orford through September 30th. Rough offshore conditions have prevented effort for ocean salmon most days this season.
Ocean conditions have been cooperative this week, allowing charter and recreational offshore boats to take limits of rockfish and lingcod out of central Oregon ports. Ocean conditions should remain good into the coming weekend.
Trout season opens in the Southwest Zone on Saturday, April 23rd with Diamond Lake a prime destination. ODFW biologists estimate over 400,000 holdover trout are in the waters of Diamond Lake with over half of those 16 inches or better. A five-fish limit will be in effect until May 1st when anglers may keep eight per day, only one of which may be over 20 inches. Conditions for the opener are still up in the air with ice on the lake. Phone 541-793-3333 for the latest conditions.
Although the lower Rogue was running high early in the week, it is forecast to be dropping through the weekend to come. Spring chinook fishing was steady over the past week and is expected to be productive through April and into May. Herring or anchovy, fished straight or using a Rogue River spinner rig have been effective in landing springers. About a third of the salmon landed have been wild, requiring release. With springers just starting to nose into the upper Rogue, steelhead remain the target of choice.
Boaters launching out of the Port of Brookings did well for rockfish on a variety of lures with many reporting seven-fish limits. A few lingcod were taken as well but have been more difficult to locate. Offshore forecasts early this week predict good conditions through Saturday.
Eastern – While the water level remains a little high on the lower Deschutes, redside results are decent with March Browns and Blue-Winged-Olives hatching and drawing attention from rising trout. Nymphs are effective early and late in the day.
Early season kokanee fishing has been slow at Green Peter Reservoir with the water level low. It will improve as it fills and the water warms.
Deep water jigging has been producing limits of kokanee this week at Wallowa Lake with some big fish in the mix.
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