Fishing for 7/27/12

Willamette Valley/Metro- The lower Willamette is mostly a smallmouth bass show but walleye fishing can be fantastic in the Multnomah Channel this time of year according to Pro guide Chris Vertopoulos (503-349-1377).



Summer steelhead fishing is peaking with good catches reported from Bonneville Dam downstream to Westport, Oregon. Small spin-n-glos tipped with coon shrimp remain the best bet with explosive numbers of steelhead likely within the next week. Flows at Bonneville are likely to continue to drop, making this fishery a strong option for the next two weeks.



The Clackamas has a few summer runs in the stretch from Rivermill Dam to Carver and it wouldn't be much of a surprise to hook into a late springer.



There has been little fishing pressure on the Sandy River, but a few summer run steelhead have been reportedly taken between Cedar Creek and the mouth of the Salmon River.



Fly fishers have done best on the McKenzie on overcast days when redsides have been anxious to take flies, emerges and nymphs. Hatches are slower this year due to cold water.



Steelhead numbers are good on the Santiams although catches have been spotty. Try drifting a corky & yarn or small bait to tempt them. River conditions are good and forecast to remain stable.



Northwest – With offshore coho still illusive, anglers are turning their effort elsewhere in pursuit of silver-sided fish. Only 1 week remains in the ocean fishery for coho south of Cape Falcon. Only a paltry 14% of the quota has been retained through July 22nd. Anglers are releasing about 4 times the number of wild coho than they are keeping hatchery coho.



Action is slightly better out of the mouth of the Columbia where some coho are being taken but chinook catches are still good to the north of the river mouth. Undersize chinook are becoming a nuisance but a simple dowel with coffee mug hook affixed to the bottom provides an efficient tool for easy release without doing harm to the fish.



Albacore tuna has become a focus for many offshore anglers recently. Action seems to be ample as we enter peak season now through mid-September.



Offshore crabbing seems to be improving and with improved weather offshore, anglers will be out in force in pursuit of most saltwater species. Bay crabbing should improve as well with a weaker tide series slated for the weekend.



Tidewater trout trolling should be improving with sea-run cutthroat available in most tidally influenced systems on the north coast. Check regulations for catch and keep opportunities.



The Siletz River remains one of the better options for summer steelhead although all north coast streams remain low and clear so stealthy tactics are necessary.



Southwest – Offshore forecasts indicate moderating ocean conditions in the coming weekend for those hoping to chase ocean fishes. Launches out of Central Coast Oregon ports have been yielding good catches of tuna. Coho fishing showed improvement over the past week although rockfish and lingcod catches were spotty. Ocean crabbing has been excellent. Chinook fishing has also been good.



The nearshore halibut fishery closed for the year on July 22nd. The next opportunity for these fish will be with the summer all-depth opener August 3rd.



Southern Oregon beaches remain productive for surf perch with larger fish showing in catches over the past week. Several specimens’ to four pounds or better have been caught.



Chinook fishing out of Reedsport has been fair to good. Steelheading is fair on the North Umpqua. South Umpqua smallmouth catches, while decent, are expected to improve through July.



Boats targeting albacore out of Charleston have been doing very well with many "plugging" the boat which means running out of room for even one more fish.



Ocean conditions were friendly off the south coast over the past week, allowing daily trips for charters out of Gold Beach. Bottom fishing has been excellent with limits by mid-morning and offshore salmon fishing has been good. Trolling in the Rogue estuary is showing some improvement. Warm water temperatures in the lower Rogue will keep chinook kegged in the bay. With spring chinook winding down on the upper river, it's becoming a summer steelhead fishery, and a good one.



Chinook fishing out of Brookings Harbor has been fairly fast and furious lately with most boats scoring fish two to four miles out. Salmon have been caught at 10 to 30 foot depths where they're feeding on shallow schools of baitfish.



Eastern – Trout fishing has been fair to good on the lower Deschutes for experienced drift boaters and most bank fishers. Caddis are hatching well in warm weather with best results early and late in the day. Steelheaders are taking a few.



Crooked River fly fishers are doing very well for trout. Caddis are hatching all day with PMDs appearing in the afternoon. Nymphs have been effective anytime.



East Lake is producing limits of kokanee and the fish are running a little larger than last season at this time.



SW Washington – The Cowlitz remains one of the best bets for steelhead with both bank and boat anglers doing well near the hatchery. This fishery should hold up for a few more weeks.



The bulk of the steelhead effort remains off of lower Columbia River beaches were numerous steelhead were taken last week by plunkers.



The Drano Lake fishery remains best outside of the lake itself. Mainstem anglers in the Bonneville Pool reported good steelhead results last week. The majority of the steelhead must be released however as they are of wild origin.

Oregon fishing reports for July 19, 2012

Willamette Valley/Metro- Excellent steelhead reports are coming from the lower Columbia River. From Jim Crow Island, Puget Island and St. Helens on up to Bonneville dam, hatchery summer steelhead are being caught in viable numbers by beach and boat anglers alike. Along with the steelhead, the occasional chinook is hooked, but anglers must now release adult hatchery and wild chinook as well as any sockeye, until the river opens to retention August 1st below Tongue Pt.




The Columbia River Gorge is traditionally peaking for steelhead right now but flows are keeping hot action at bay. That should change as passage numbers ramp up but unlike the lower river, this fishery performs better in lower flows.



Salmon effort is near non-existent on the lower Willamette this late in the season. Bass fishing has been fair to excellent depending on the day. Steelhead counts at the falls have exceeded last season creating good prospects on the upper Willamette. Counts are dwindling with the level dropping and the water temperature rising.



With the water low and stable, the McKenzie is an excellent prospect for trout and summer steelhead this week.



The North Santiam has been dropping over the past week and the entire Santiam system is forecast to remain stable. There are plenty of steelhead available.



Fewer summer steelhead are being caught on the Clackamas as the weather has warmed, but early morning and late afternoon trips to the river still offer the opportunity for a hook-up or two.



A few summer steelhead are still available on the Sandy River, but pressure has dropped off dramatically.



Northwest – Coho fishing remains slow out of most northern ports, despite history indicating some peak activity should be taking place at this time. The best prospect remains out of the mouth of the Columbia where catches remain sporadic with both coho and chinook showing SW of the river mouth. Trade winds are curbing effort with little change in sight.



Nearshore halibut remains one of the better prospects with some quality fish coming out of Newport and Garibaldi recently. Ocean crabbing is picking up as well but many of the crab remain in a soft shelled state.



Catch and release sturgeon fishing in the lower Columbia River is great. With little effort and ample numbers of fish responding to fresh anchovies, action is likely to remain good until water temperatures warm to the upper 60’s. Rich Riley of Rockaway Beach landed several fish in the keeper range just out of the East End Basin on Sunday.



Although recent rains have not done anything for river levels on the north coast, the cooler, unsettled weather may spur inland summer steelhead action on the Wilson and Nestucca Rivers. Fish will remain spooky however so small baits and stealthy tactics remain the key.



North Coast estuaries and tidewater sections of most river systems should start producing consistent catches of sea-run cutthroat trout. Trolled spinners and worms or plugs should take aggressive fish. Check local regulations before taking fish home.



Southwest – Charters out of central Oregon ports are planning albacore trips this week. Ocean crabbing has been excellent. Boats were kept at bay earlier in the week due to rough ocean conditions.



Recreational boats launching out of Newport are finding albacore between 25 and 30 miles out and picking up limits of Dungeness on the return to port.



Offshore conditions are forecast to be marginal this week. Check the most recent conditions before making the trip.



South coast beaches continue to be productive for pinkfin surf perch, often producing 15-fish limits.



Boats crossing the bar out of Reedsport are taking fair to good catches of chinook. Lower Umpqua fishing is tough with algae thick. The disappointing shad season is winding down. Smallmouth bass fishing is decent and improving on the South Umpqua.



ODFW fish counters ranked Coos Bay third on the south coast for ocean chinook catches. Crabbing in the bay is fair to good.



Only fair numbers of chinook are falling to trollers in the Rogue estuary. Despite a slow bite, a 44-pounder was landed over the past week. With water temperatures over 70 degrees in the lower Rogue, chinook will keg in the bay which will improve trolling prospects. Small pods of steelhead are moving through the lower river. Middle Rogue fishing is slow. Upper river fishing is worthwhile although most springers are wild, requiring release. Steelheading is good.



With well over 1,500 chinook landed, Brookings is the top port by far according to the ODFW. Launch early and stay on the troll for best results. Coho are also being landed but have been running 20 to one wild fish over hatchery keepers. A few chinook have been landed in the harbor. Offshore bottom fishing has been excellent.



Eastern – The lower Deschutes is in good summer condition thanks to a wet spring and is fishing well for redsides despite often-scorching weather with caddis on the hatch.



Showers over the past weekend raised & roiled the Wallowa River. It is predicted to be fishable late this week. Chinook season closed July 15th.



Caddis are hatching periodically on the Crooked River. When the hatch is in progress, trout fishing is good.





SW Washington – Boat anglers on the Cowlitz are averaging better than a steelhead for every other boat. Bank anglers are catching a mix of chinook and steelhead although steelhead outnumber chinook about 2 to 1.



The Kalama, Washougal and Lewis are also fair summer steelhead prospects with most fisheries performing similar to last year.



District effort remains largely focused on the mainstem where good numbers of summer steelhead were taken last week for anglers using spin-n-glos tipped with coon shrimp. It’s clearly peak season for this fishery right now.



The Wind River and Drano Lake fisheries should take off for steelhead as Bonneville passage ramps up.

Oregon fishing reports

Willamette Valley/Metro- Mainstem Columbia anglers can only focus on summer steelhead now. Although flows are still fluctuating, adults passing Bonneville Dam are beginning to rise and peak passage is not far away. Temperatures remain favorable for sportanglers and action is likely to get really good as early as next week. Beach fishing on Sauvie’s Island is a great way to introduce this fishery to young anglers.



There are still spring salmon in the Willamette River. Over the weekend there were a handful of fish taken at Scappoose, Rocky Point and the head of Multnomah channel



McKenzie water levels have been fluctuating this week although trout fishing remains good. Steelheading and springer fishing has been spotty but numbers in the river are promising.



North Santiam River conditions are excellent. Try early or late in the day around Packsaddle or Minto Park. Both spring chinook and summer steelhead should be available.



The Clackamas continues to produce some summer steelhead for local fishermen in the know, but the fishing isn't what it was a week or two ago. Spring chinook fishing is winding down although most would say it never got going.



Glacial coloring is going to be the norm on the Sandy River with the warmer weather. This makes for tougher fishing in most cases, but does open other opportunities up river between the mouth of the Salmon River and Revenue Bridge. Fish are most often found in the pocket water so plan on losing a lot of gear in pursuit of these fish.



Northwest – Coho fishing out of the Columbia has been spotty recently but more consistent action is likely in the coming weeks. A good mix of chinook remain in the catch although the nearshore bite off of Long Beach has withered.



Tides are ripe for south jetty bottomfishing near the Columbia bar but NW winds and a high swell will slow interest and success. Catch and release sturgeon fishing remains a good option with anchovies becoming the bait of choice.



Coho fishing out of Garibaldi is slow but should pick up later in the month as Columbia River coho make their way from the south coast to their natal rivers in the Columbia basin. Nearshore halibut should begin to improve.



Tillamook district rivers remain low and clear but summer steelhead are being taken in the upper reaches of the Wilson and Nestucca systems. Cool mornings and evenings seem to produce the best results. Use small baits when pursuing these fish.



Southwest – Boats launching out of central Oregon ports have experienced spotty results for coho and chinook, good lingcod catches and fair fishing for rockfish. Ocean crabbing is excellent for numbers, fair for quality.



Albacore are being taken but it's still a spotty fishery that will improve in weeks to come. Trips of 30 miles have been required at times recently.



All-depth halibut fishing is closed until August although they may be taken inside 40 fathoms. Ocean swells are forecast to build into the coming weekend.



Bay crabbing has been good for numbers but the quality is poor with virtually all crabs coming in soft. These contain only a small amount of watery meat.



South coast beaches are producing good catches of surf perch and some 15-fish limits.



Chinook fishing is slow on the Umpqua mainstem, summer steelheading is fair. Good catches of springers have been taken in the North Umpqua recently. Bass fishing is good in the South Umpqua.



Trollers using baits of anchovy or herring in Coos Bay have seen an improvement in chinook catches over the past week.



Charters out of Gold Beach have been taking decent numbers of rockfish and lingcod. Offshore coho and chinook fishing has been worthwhile. The bay troll fishery for summer/fall chinook has started. Lower river boats are taking a few springers daily. Fishing on the middle Rogue has slowed with the water warming. Upper Rogue springer fishing remains good while summer steelhead fishing is improving. Evenings have been best.



Ocean chinook fishing has been good out of Brookings which bodes well for the upcoming fall season on the Chetco. Boats are also taking mostly limits of rockfish and large lingcod.



Eastern – Wading the lower Deschutes is a good way to beat the heat. Caddis are hatching well and redsides are looking up.



The Wallowa River is the place to go for trout fishing on dries as great hatches of Golden Stones are in progress. It was too high to wade on Tuesday this week but will be dropping.



Bass fishing is good at Davis Lake with best results at first and last light. The Odell Creek arm is productive for trout.



SW Washington – Summer steelhead remain the focus for most district anglers. The Cowlitz continues to be the best producer but the Kalama and Lewis can also produce fair results this time of year.



Most anglers continue to bank on the mainstem Columbia, plunking spin-n-glos tipped with coon shrimp. The stronger the flows, the better the fishing with another minus tide series starting the middle of next week.



Columbia River Gorge anglers start to get excited this time of year as steelhead nose into the Wind River and Drano Lake. Trollers and plunkers can both score results but check regulations before venturing out.



Soapbox Update: Now is the time to act in support of conservation areas on state forest lands. The North Coast State Forest Coalition is organizing NW Oregon stakeholders in engaging the Board of Forestry on July 26th at the monthly meeting. We’re asking the board to adopt the concept of long-term protections of fish and wildlife habitat on state forest lands. Go here to sign the petition and we’ll take your voice to the meeting although we’d much rather have you present in person to convey how our favorite forest product, wild fish, is an important source of social and economic benefit as well. Our petition can be found here: www.forestlegacy.org. If you can join us at the Board of Forestry meeting, contact Bob Rees at brees@pacifier.com.

Oregon fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro- The Columbia River remains high for this time of year, helpful to juvenile fish migrating downstream but tough on sport anglers in pursuit of the adult variety. Catch rates for summer chinook and steelhead were slow last week. Summer chinook season is now closed but steelhead catches should ramp up in the coming weeks with spinners and spin-n-glos tipped with shrimp producing the best results along rocky outcroppings in the Columbia River Gorge.

The Willamette River continues to kick out spring chinook.  On Sunday there was a decent bite at the head of the Multnomah Channel. The usual springer haunts like Sellwood and Willamette Park are barren of salmon fishermen so little is discernible other than speculation.

There is little pressure on the Clackamas other than above Barton where summer steelhead are present in good numbers. The springer show is nearly nonexistent but the deeper holes should provide a few stragglers.

As the water level drops on the Sandy, the deeper slots upstream of Oxbow Park have been the only game in town here. Both steelhead and late springers should provide some action through the middle of the month.

With the water level dropping over the past week, McKenzie fly fishers have been hooking impressive numbers of wild redsides and the occasional bull trout on large dry flies and small nymphs. Steelheading has been fair.

Steelheading has been worthwhile on the upper North Santiam. About 2,500 spring chinook and nearly 4,000 summer steelhead have been counted at Forster Dam on the South Santiam. Fishing is good.

Northwest – Catch and keep sturgeon fishing closes below Wauna beginning on July 5^th. Catch rates have varied lately but models indicate anglers will have achieved their quota by then. Catch and release opportunities should still provide a quality experience.

Offshore salmon action remains good out of Astoria with chinook still a primary target in the nearshore waters just north of the Columbia River entrance. Anglers fishing in 28 to 30 foot of water with anchovies are posting consistent results. Coho numbers, although still inconsistent are improving with a fair grade of fish showing for this early in the season.

There are only two more 3-day halibut openers for the north of Falcon all-depth halibut fishery. Forty-one percent of the quota remains with a likely balance to be transferred to the summer quota unless anglers ramp up their effort.

Warm water has inundated much of the north coast and it’s seemingly affecting the ocean coho bite. Catches are poor out of Garibaldi and several north coast ports but that should improve odds for albacore in the near-term. Ocean crabbing is fair with Tillamook Bay crabbers yielding 6 to 8 keepers per boat despite the strong tide series.

Southwest – Chinook catches have been fair to good out of southwest ports. With ocean coho open as of July 1st, limits should come a little easier. Coho must be fin-clipped and at least 16 inches to keep and may be retained through July 31st or a quota of 8,000 fish.

Albacore have been coming to the docks out of central Oregon ports almost daily. Catches will only improve through July. The limit is a generous 25 tuna per angler.

While the spring all-depth halibut season wrapped up on June 29th and 30th, the nearshore fishery continues inside the 40 fathom curve with 26% of the 32,000-pound quota remaining as of June 24th.

Bay crabbing has been good for numbers, poor for keepers. Ocean crabbing is producing limits or near-limits although many are a little soft this time of year.

Pinkfin perch continue to be taken in Winchester Bay with best results coming early mornings. Mainstem Umpqua fishing has slowed with algae thick. Springers are being taken on the North Umpqua. Smallmouth bass fishing is improving on the South Umpqua.

Late-run springers are being taken in modest number on the lower Rogue. Fall fish are already on the way. Best results are from Agness down to Quosatana Creek. The middle river has been slow to fair. Upper Rogue fishers are taking good numbers of spring chinook and summer steelhead catches are improving.

Chinook fishing has been good just a couple of miles out of the Port of Brookings. Offshore rockfishing is excellent and lingcod are being taken to 20 pounds or better.

Weather fronts shut down the trout bite at Diamond Lake over the past weekend but good weather this week will have them back on the prowl for food. Bait fishers will do best here.

Eastern – Elk Lake is putting out good-sized brook trout for anglers throwing plugs.

With caddis and Pale Morning Duns hatching, the Metolius has been fishing well.

Kokanee fishing was slow to fair at Green Peter early this week with the weather unsettled.

Wickiup has been slow for kokanee although a few large fish have been taken.

SW Washington – The Cowlitz River remains the best option for summer steelhead with spring chinook winding down. The Lewis and Kalama are also good options for steelhead.

Most anglers continue to pursue summer steelhead on the banks of the Columbia with plunkers taking fair numbers of steelhead using hot-colored spin-n-glos tipped with coon shrimp.

As fish passage at Bonneville Dam ramps up, the Drano Lake fishery will improve for summer steelhead. Anglers have their best luck fishing at night but early morning can also produce fair results.

The Klickitat River should also begin to produce fair catches of steelhead throughout the month of July.

Soapbox Update: Do you value state forest lands for growing the wild salmon and steelhead you like to catch? The North Coast State Forest Coalition needs your support for developing permanent conservation areas on state forest lands. Go here: http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50686/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=7998

to sign a petition, asking the Oregon Department of Forestry to develop these high value fish and wildlife habitats into areas of permanent conservation. Waters currently open to harvest will remain that way as well as hunting grounds. Read the petition and call or email Bob Rees with any questions or concerns.

Bob Rees: brees@pacifier.com or (503) 812-9036

We’re also looking for business or organizational endorsements for this initiative. We’d be happy to present this information to your interested group of people.