Oregon fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro- Interest is growing on the lower Columbia for early run spring chinook but mainstem anglers are reporting poor results. Although salmon and sturgeon are clearly present in the river, anglers focused on the lower Willamette are finding greater success.

Willamette River water level and visibility have continued to gradually improve. The river is expected to be jammed with anglers this weekend for the sturgeon retention opener. The Portland Harbor should produce good results.

Avid angler John Shmilenko claimed the first spring chinook taken at Sellwood Bridge this season. Shmilenko caught the fish in 18 feet of water using a green label herring fished near the bottom. Several more springers have been reported on the Willamette since; mostly on green label herring. These early returning spring chinook are often 5-year olds, tipping the scales to 20+ pounds consistently. The smaller 4-year old component typically shows up later in April.

The Bonneville Pool will close beginning Saturday for catch and keep opportunities. Catch and release action should remain good.

The McKenzie River is fishing well for fly-rodders tossing nymphs to wild redsides.

North Santiam steelheaders will find the best water conditions yet this year and a few wild steelhead in the system.

Clackamas levels will be dropping through the coming weekend. Steelheading has been slow with returns low so far this year.

Sandy River water levels rose over the weekend but has since dropped to lower levels. Steelheading is slow to fair.

Be sure to turn in 2011 tags, filled or not, for a chance at winning a drift boat from the ODFW.

  
Northwest – Measureable precipitation kept most north coast steelhead rivers in good shape with mixed reports coming from each system. The Wilson and Nestucca remain fan favorites with broodstock steelhead an option as well as a quality wild run. The lower reaches will continue to fish the best until the next significant rainfall which may come over the weekend.

The North Fork Nehalem continues to report fresh steelhead into the hatchery trap but conditions are low and clear, making for low catch rates. Most smaller streams that support earlier returns are done for the season but a token wild return should offer up some quality catch and release options.

The mainstem Nehalem should become more consistent in the coming weeks. This river gets a good run of wild fish but it’s sheer size allows steelhead to dodge offerings more easily than smaller systems. There is good bank access in the upper reaches but boaters frequently fish from the Beaver Slide to Roy Creek or Mohler Sand and Gravel but access to their take-out only exists on the weekdays during business hours.

The Siletz River has been producing steady catches of steelhead but not like anglers remember as hatchery plants are fewer under state policy. Wild fish can certainly supplement a quality day on the river.

Another round of good sturgeon tides will fall upon Tillamook Bay this weekend, but will make crabbing a poor option in most estuaries. High winds and a big swell will keep ocean enthusiasts off the seas and could compromise a good razor clam opportunity along Clatsop Beaches.

Southwest – Boats will remain inshore with ocean swells forecast to increase over the coming weekend.

Streams and rivers are in fair shape for steelheaders with mild weather and periodic showers in the forecast which should keep options viable through the weekend. This is prime time for winter steelhead at many locations with conditions predicted to improve somewhat in the week to come.

Sturgeon fishers are doing well on Winchester Bay around the Highway 101 Bridge for mostly oversized fish. Crabbing is fair to good. Winter steelhead catches have been fair to good with best results reported from the mainstem Umpqua around Elkton.

Coos Bay crabbing is worthwhile with salinity returning to normal levels. Steelheading has slowed in low water conditions.

Rogue steelheaders may expect to find low water dropping even further through the coming weekend. Despite challenging conditions, a few fresh fish are being taken on the lower river. Middle Rogue anglers are taking the occasional winter by drifting small baits or lures. Upper river fishing is spotty in skinny flows.

The Chetco River which is low and clear this week is forecast to be falling through the weekend. It should rise sufficiently to provide some fair fishing in the week to come. Anything over 1,000 cfs will produce winter steelhead to stealthy anglers using light leaders.

Smaller streams such as the Elk and Sixes were too low to fish well mid-week. Rain will provide short-lived windows of opportunity for steelheaders.

Eastern – Nymphs are taking a few trout on the Deschutes but check the regulations for closed stretches.

Lake Billy Chinook has produced some large bull trout to trollers recently.

Steelhead trollers in The Dalles Pool continue to score fish with a fish per rod average still being checked.

Eastern Oregon rivers such as the Grande Ronde and Wallowa are still offering good steelhead opportunities for boaters and bank anglers. As long as rivers don’t receive a lot of precipitation, they could produce good results for the next several weeks.

SW Washington – For tributaries upstream of the Cowlitz, hatchery returns remain lower than last year. The Washougal produced about a fish per rod over the weekend with almost half of those fish wild.

The North Fork of the Lewis should start to see some large natives showing and the Kalama might be a fair late season option.

Smelt seem to be making a strong showing in the Cowlitz with interested observers claiming returns not seen in recent history. It’s quite a spectacle with eagles, sea gulls and seals all taking part in the bounty. Harvest remains closed to recreational and commercial fishers.