Oregon fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro- There have been confirmed reports of sport caught spring chinook on the mainstem Columbia near Caterpillar Island. With the Willamette clearing and weather moderating, there will likely be several more caught before another winter storm turns the river brown again. Early spring chinook often respond best to herring but anglers should still pursue fish in slower flows as returning adults will seek the path of least resistance.

Bonneville Pool sturgeon catches have slowed but the east wind hasn’t been helping matters. The staff proposal of a February 15^th shutdown for this fishery will likely get adopted but a sufficient number of fish will likely remain to conduct a summer catch-and-keep fishery.

Water flow is moderating with the visibility gradually improving on the lower Willamette. Winter steelhead counts at the Falls are picking up. It’s highly likely spring chinook will be caught any day at Sellwood Bridge but be aware of the in-water work being conducted in the area; boat with care.

McKenzie water level and clarity are good for winter trout fishing this coming weekend.

The Santiams are forecast to drop rapidly through the weekend. There should be a few steelhead available.

Steelheading is slow and spotty on the Clackamas with boat anglers doing better than those fishing from the bank.

The Sandy has been providing a fair number of hookups but about half of the fish landed recently have been natives. A stronger showing of broodstock fish is likely in another few weeks.

  
Northwest – District rivers were in ideal shape through the weekend but produced varied results. The Wilson was predictably crowded but produced better in the high water versus the ideal green water conditions over the weekend. Some sizeable fish have been taken recently. Plugs may become more effective in the dropping and clearing flows but anglers should remain vigilant in targeting any water that has a broken surface.

The Nestucca was crowded too with fair fishing for this early in the broodstock season. Fishing for late season natives and hatchery broodstock fish will steadily improve into the month of March. Given the robust returns we’ve already seen however, good action should be expected this month, traditionally a slower, transitional period before the bulk of the late season fish return.

Rivers that produce early returning steelhead like the North Fork Nehalem, Necanicum and Three Rivers are really starting to wane, with spent adults making up the bulk of the catch. They are easy prey however, providing good sport for newcomers.

The mainstem Nehalem should become a good option but anglers have to realize it’s a significantly bigger body of water and results aren’t as predictable. With the continued dry trend predicted, it could be a highlight over the weekend. The extreme tide series could motivate fish to return.

Despite good tides over the weekend, sturgeon fishing wasn’t great on Tillamook Bay over the weekend. Pressure was light with no reports of success. Weekend tides look favorable but will be in the early morning.

Crabbing was surprisingly good on Tillamook Bay over the weekend with little effort by other boats. The offshore forecast should have crabbers inland again this weekend although extreme tides may limit success.

Southwest – Offshore boats have been unable to get out due to rough ocean conditions. Ocean crabbing has not been possible in the high wind and waves. When boats have gotten out, rockfish and lingcod catches have been excellent.

Crabbing is picking up in bays and estuaries as the salinity levels return to normal.

We have a really nice window of weather and numerous dropping and clearing rivers around the state. Locally, Lake Creek and the Siuslaw are coming around, the South Coast is in fine shape and the Alsea system has been fishing well for several days.

Winchester Bay crabbing is fair to good and improving. Hatchery steelhead catches have been good on the South Umpqua. While good catches are being made on the mainstem and North Umpqua, almost all are unclipped which require release as wild fish cannot be kept anywhere on the Umpqua system.

Winter steelhead are scattered on the Rogue with fish being caught from every location; low, middle and upper. Side drifters and plug pullers are hooking up regularly. Two steelhead per day are allowed, one which may be wild. The water is forecast to be dropping and clearing through the week to come.

Boaters have been unable to access the ocean out of Brookings for the most part but those who have done so made good catches of lingcod. Chetco water levels are too low to fish well but precipitation is predicted to improve flows somewhat mid-month.

Elk and Sixes water levels are low and clear which has slowed winter steelheading. These volatile systems change rapidly with dry or wet weather.

Eastern – Fly anglers are taking browns, rainbows whitefish and the occasional bull trout on the challenging Metolius.

It's too early for kokanee at Green Peter but trollers are taking some rainbows. The water is fairly low at this time of year.

The Dalles Pool continues to kick out steelhead although the fish are not of the highest grade.

SW Washington – The Cowlitz has slowed for steelhead but may provide some late season opportunity later this month.

Other district streams are recovering but only offering limited success for anglers willing to work for their quarry. The Kalama did put out a few fish over the weekend and the East Fork of the Lewis should start to produce some larger fish in the next few weeks.

Smelt have showed up in force in the Cowlitz River but no sport or commercial harvest is allowed. This return often sparks good sturgeon fishing in the lower reaches but since anglers may not use fresh smelt, success will be limited. Several years of strong returns are necessary for federal restrictions to be lifted.

Soapbox Update: The Association of NW Steelheaders is doing wonderful work here in Oregon and Washington. Take advantage of the offer below and contribute to the organization that’s working hard on behalf of the NW angler. Then, go to the Association of NW Steelheaders home page and see what else you can do to become a better sportsman or sportswoman. Go to: http://www.nwsteelheaders.org/

Be sure and bring your knife to the Sportsman Show Feb 8-12 at the Portland Expo Center. Kershaw is doing a knife sharpening and is donating the proceeds to the Steelheaders. Cost is $3 per knife and 100% of the proceeds are donated to the Steelheaders. The knife sharpening is happening at the Fred Meyer booth. Stay sharp and give back to the resource!