Oregon fishing reports

Willamette Valley/Metro- Sturgeon remains the only viable option for gorge anglers but the Bonneville Pool often produces good catches this time of year as well. It remains catch and release fishing in this reservoir. Anglers working the Portland to Longview stretch, particularly around Trojan, are still catching some keepers and a fair number of shakers. Water temperatures at Willamette Falls have dropped to 50 degrees. While fish passage is at a near-standstill, a few steelhead are being taken upriver on the Town Run. Sturgeon fishing remains good in the Portland Harbor but catch and release regulations are still in effect. Catch and keep seasons for 2012 have yet to be set. While the McKenzie had been dropping into shape this week, rain will cause the river to rise. A dry weekend may allow some fishing opportunities. North Santiam fishing has been best around Packsaddle but the river is on the rise this week. Anglers may keep up to two coho per day. Fishing on the Clackamas and Sandy has been slow. It remains to be seen what results from rain this week. Anglers may have a long wait for winter steelhead in these systems. Northwest – Chinook are still available in the Tillamook area with driftboaters still anxiously awaiting the first good rain freshet of the season. Meanwhile, herring trollers working the Ghost Hole and Bay City continue to take fresh chinook but action is sporadic at best. Tidewater of the Wilson, Kilchis and Trask Rivers has been putting out good numbers of chinook and a slight increase in river levels over the weekend boosted catches in the lower reaches of these rivers. Another, more significant rain event is forecast before the weekend which could put rivers in ideal shape by the weekend. Fresh chinook will be most available on the Wilson and Kilchis Rivers but all north coast streams should produce good catches. Targeted chum salmon fishing is now closed but a large return is coming in on the Kilchis, Miami and Wilson Rivers. Fish are spawning in the lower reaches. Wading anglers should be cognizant of eggs incubating in fresh redds. Sturgeon typically make a stronger showing in Tillamook and Nehalem Bays this month. Tides will improve later in the month but fish should be available. The Nehalem system continues to slow but hatchery workers on the North Fork were surprised not to find the season’s first winter run steelhead in their trap after the last rain. Early returning steelhead are often an indication for how the season will shape up. No winter-run steelhead have been reported on the north coast yet. The Nestucca should also be a fair fall chinook option after the next rain but anglers need to be mindful of the salmon closure upstream of First Bridge near Beaver. Weak tides should make for productive crabbing in most estuaries, barring a large amount of rain inundating the watershed. The lower Columbia should provide the best opportunity if winds remain subdued. Netarts Bay should also be a strong option. Southwest – Neither commercial nor recreational crabbing will be allowed to crab in the ocean as scheduled because Dungeness have not sufficiently recovered from the summer molt according to a November 10th announcement from the ODFW. Commercial efforts will not be allowed in bays and estuaries as of December 1st although recreational crabbers may continue to reap the bounty. Ocean crabbing will be delayed until December 15th or possibly later. Offshore all-depth bottom fishing is excellent at this time of year although days which allow crossing the bar are few and this week is predicted to be rough. Halibut is closed for the year. Chinook and coho catches are on the wane at Winchester Bay although crabbing has been very good. Crabbing has been excellent for numbers in Coos Bay but the situation that delayed ocean crabbing this year is evident in catches - Dungeness are not yet filled out with meat. Chinook fishing is slow. Chinook catches are slow on the lower Rogue with a few being taken near Indian Creek. Half-pounder catches are spotty at Agness. Steelheading is fair to good on the middle river although the majority are wild, requiring release. The upper Rogue has been fishing fairly well for steelhead with no one technique producing better than another. Bait is allowed above Shady Cove, artificials elsewhere. As rain fell and the Chetco rose, then dropped following the opening above tidewater on November 2nd, anglers experienced excellent fishing at times. Bobber and bait was most successful followed by spoons and spinners. The Chetco is forecast to rise again over the coming week and is expected to fish very well. Most effort on the Elk and Sixes Rivers has been near the mouths. Despite crowded conditions, it has been slow to fair at best. Rain will improve results. Eastern – With the Crooked River at excellent level and flow and plenty of trout available, fishing has been good although fish are running on the smallish side. The John Day Pool and John Day River itself is now peaking for late-season steelhead. Trollers take a good number of fish this time of year, fishing just upstream of the John Day Dam but bobber and jig anglers can witness good action in the lower 8 or 10 miles of the John Day River too. The Grande Ronde, Umatilla and Imnaha Rivers should begin to provide more opportunity until winter temperatures begin to freeze the river banks. Fish are not large but can provide some of the best opportunity for the year. SW Washington – Although chinook and coho are present in good numbers on many district streams, most fish are dark, making for poor table fare. Anglers are anxious for the upcoming winter steelhead season. Winter steelhead will be most prevalent on the Cowlitz River, where Thanksgiving is a predictable indicator on how the season will progress. Good numbers of larger-than-average fish should be available to both bank and boat anglers. Klickitat River anglers are still finding some coho but like other areas, fish are beginning to turn dark. Some late run summer steelhead should also be available.