Oregon fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro- The re-opening of the catch-and-keep sturgeon season on the lower Willamette brought about a frenzy of angler activity with successful counts of keepers coming from Oregon City to the Portland Harbor on Friday. Although the bite had dropped of significantly by Saturday, anglers consumed a measureable number of the keeper quota jeopardizing the February 24^th/25^th season finale. ODF&W announced Tuesday that the additional 2-day season for catch and keep will be rescinded. Willamette River retention season is over for the year.

Spring chinook fishing seemingly slowed on the Willamette River although many were focused on sturgeon. Effort for salmon on the mainstem Columbia remained fair through the weekend and persistent anglers are experiencing a rare keeper salmon at Davis Bar and Caterpillar Island. Herring and flashers will remain a top choice.

Trout fishing has been fair to good on the McKenzie with caddis hatching at times but rising water will stall results until the river recovers.

It is unlikely the rising Santiam system will be fishable by the coming weekend.

While steelheading has been slow on the Clackamas for most, it may improve as levels drop in the coming weekend. Some steelheaders have taken fair numbers recently however.

Steelheading has been spotty on the Sandy but the river is muddy and rising at this time. Larger numbers of broodstock steelhead are likely later this month.

Northwest – With most northwest anglers focused on sturgeon over the weekend, effort was light for north coast steelheaders. Wintery weather in mountain passes also quelled effort. Tillamook district rivers rose to optimum levels over the weekend with fair catches reported on Saturday and lasting through Monday. Side-drifters did well for most of the weekend but a K-11 chrome/red stripe Kwikfish took a nice 12-pound hatchery hen for Rennie Ferris of Newport on Monday.

The Trask, Nestucca and mainstem Nehalem all produced fair results over the weekend with hatchery fish most likely to come from the Wilson and Nestucca. The North Fork Nehalem is still producing a few hatchery fish but this system, along with the Necanicum will shift to a predominately wild steelhead prospect through the end of March.

This Kilchis River may be one of the better options by the weekend if river levels continue to rise. It is primarily a wild fish system, requiring release of most of the fish that are caught by anglers.

Sturgeon effort was light over the weekend but there have been rumors of good fishing recently. Some anglers theorize that the large smelt run on the Columbia may have drawn out a larger population that typically sticks around during winter months to feed on abundant shrimp, clam and crab populations.

Big seas remain in the forecast, nullifying offshore opportunities for crabbers and bottomfishers. A bounty of rockfish species, including lingcod awaits anxious anglers when offshore waters calm. A soft incoming tide this weekend may produce fair catches of Dungeness in Tillamook and Netarts Bays.

Southwest – Ocean conditions will keep recreational and charter boats inshore through the weekend. When boats have been able to get out, lingcod and rock fishing has been excellent.

Sturgeon catches have remained good in Winchester Bay for those fishing below the Highway 101 Bridge. While crabbing has been worthwhile, rain this week may push Dungeness out of the bay. Steelheading has been fair on the mainstem Umpqua, has slowed on the North and has been best on the South Umpqua. Levels are on the rise region-wide this week.

Crabbing in Coos Bay has been good although rain this week is expected to reduce results.

Steelheading on the lower Rogue has slowed in low water although fly anglers have taken some around Agness. Plug pullers are taking steelhead on the middle river while upper river boaters are finding steady action with fresh winters with upstream movement taking place daily.

Chetco steelheading, which had been productive, slowed due to low, clear water over the past weekend. The river was on the rise on Tuesday this week but if forecasts are accurate, will be dropping in the weekend to come. Fresh, bright winter steelhead will continue to enter as long as bar conditions aren't too rough.

Results for winter steelhead have been slow on the Elk and Sixes in low water conditions but should be revitalized with rainfall this week.

Eastern – Fly anglers on the Crooked River have continued to do well for whitefish and trout over the past week. Small, dark nymphs have been effective.

Warmer weather may contribute to increased catches for eastern Oregon steelheaders. The Grande Ronde, Wallowa and Imnaha remain top options but if temperatures get too warm, river flows may be too intense.