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.
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