Oregon fishing

Willamette Valley/Metro- Spring salmon anglers on the mainstem Columbia are witnessing better results for their efforts this week. Although far from peak season success, catches should begin to ramp up in the coming two weeks depending on water conditions. Anglers are laying blame on cold water, not likely to improve much in the coming week.

Similar to a few years ago, it appears a good population of sturgeon are plying the shallow waters in the gorge. Anglers are theorizing they are avoiding sea lion predation around Bonneville, still happening at an alarming rate. Enforcement will be monitoring the area for poaching.

As of March 5th, the Willamette River flow was moderating with the temperature in mid-40s and rising. Spring chinook fishing will improve when the water temp tops 50 degrees. Recent turbidity has stalled the bite at Sellwood but it could pick back up again by the weekend. Summer and winter steelhead are crossing the falls daily but only one springer has made the trip upstream so far this season.

Level and flow at the McKenzie spiked on Monday this week but has been moderating since. It has been muddy.

A few fresh steelhead have been landed on the South Santiam this week.

Steelhead are scattered but some are being caught on the Clackamas. Sidedrifters working downstream and upstream of Barton Park are starting to see some broodstock fish enter, with a nice grade of fish being reported. Bait will continue to produce the best results until flows drop; that’s when plugs become a viable option. Eagle Creek has been virtually devoid of fish recently.

Fishing has been fair on the sandy but it's the best bet in the valley to land a steelhead. Sidedrifting here has also produced the best results. Wild and some hatchery fish should be well distributed to the Marmot area, especially with the recent rise in river levels.

  
Northwest – Steelheaders are greeting another high water event on the north coast. Numbers continue to impress anglers and biologists but the rivers are definitely fishing better under high water conditions. The current high water event should provide the best opportunity prior to the weekend. The Wilson and Nestucca are seeing fantastic returns of hatchery steelhead right now but anglers should focus efforts in the lowest reaches, including downstream of Sollie Smith Bridge on the Wilson for the best chance at producing.

The Trask is beginning to receive a good influx of wild fish with the upper reaches producing best in higher water conditions. Drifted bait attracts the aggressive native fish but plugs will become more effective as flows drop.

Savvy steelheaders are taking advantage of low water conditions on smaller streams such as the Kilchis River. These wild steelhead rivers don’t draw the attention that the hatchery options do but anglers can find productive results in solitude if they approach their quarry in a stealthy manner.

Crabbing has slowed in Tillamook Bay but Netarts remains a fair option. A few rockfish are being taken off the jetty. The offshore forecast for tomorrow looks favorable for bottomfishers and ocean crabbers. Weather is subject to change at a moment’s notice however so proceed with extreme caution.

Southwest – Charters did well for lingcod over the past weekend with most anglers taking two-fish limits. Catches of rockfish have been slow, however.

Sturgeon fishing is slow at Winchester Bay but crabbing has been fair to good. Steelheading has been fair to good on the North Umpqua and reliably productive on the South Umpqua.

Crabbing has been good from boats in Coos Bay and from Charleston docks with Dungeness in excellent condition.

A few spring chinook are being caught by anglers anchored on the lower Rogue but it's slow this early in the run. On most years, the first springer isn’t caught until mid-March. Water is forecast to be dropping over the coming weekend. Low water has resulted in slow fishing on the middle Rogue for a mix of spawned-out summers and fresh winters. The upper Rogue has been spotty at best.

Winter steelheading has been very good on the Chetco and at the rate fresh fish are entering the system the run has yet to show sign of waning. The water level will be dropping this week but is forecast to start rising with precipitation over the weekend to come.

Dry weather this week will result in the Elk and Sixes Rivers being too low to fish well.

Eastern – Trout fishing is fair to good on the lower Deschutes with Caddis, BWOs and midges hatching mid-day. Summer steelhead are on the spawning beds and shouldn't be targeted.

Despite low, clear water conditions, fly fishing remains excellent on the Crooked River. It's best when the weather is warm.

The challenging Metolius is giving up a few bull trout to fly anglers throwing nymphs and streamers.

Soapbox Update: Are you interested in learning the upper reaches of Tillamook Bay when targeting fall chinook this year? Are you also an advocate for a good forest management plan on the Tillamook State Forest to grow more wild fish for you to catch? Pro guide Bob Rees is offering a FREE 3 to 4 hour on-the-water seminar in early September for the first 6 to 12 anglers that sign up to testify in support of sound forest policy for a July 26^th Board of Forestry meeting in Tillamook this summer. Just email Bob at brees@pacifier.com or call (503) 812-9036 to sign up today. You can learn more about the work we’re doing on behalf of the Association of NW Steelheaders and the Wild Salmon Center here: http://www.thetillamook.net/. You’ll learn the guide secrets of the upper bay while advocating for good forest management that will grow more fish for all of us. Sign up NOW!

SW Washington – Serious anglers are beginning to focus their efforts on mainstem spring chinook but steelhead remain a good option on the Kalama, Cowlitz and Lewis Rivers. Some quality sized wild fish begin to show on the Lewis this time of year.

This will be the last full open week for some steelhead streams in the district. Check local listing for closures that start on March 15^th.