Oregon fishing reports

Oregon Fisheries Update:

Willamette Valley/Metro – The Buoy 10 season is fully underway although anglers can't expect excellent results every day of the week. Sunday produced poorly but chinook action since has been good with a few more coho beginning to show in the catch. Chinook are taking both bait and spinners with anchovies producing the best bites lately. Anglers have the opportunity to jig their own bait as the estuary is inundated with huge schools of the preferred bait, oftentimes vibrating the lines of deployed gear. Bob Sturmer of Tigard landed a 22-pound upriver bright on an anchovy on the Washington side, just above the Astoria/Megler Bridge on Tuesday. The Oregon side in front of Hammond has been producing fair catches beginning about 2 hours after low slack but the Washington side above the bridge has also been fairly consistent close to high slack. Action should continue to improve this week with larger chinook and more numerous coho likely to show.

Coho catches out of the mouth of the Columbia remains relatively poor. Most anglers remain focused on the Columbia River where ample numbers are available.

Crabbing has also been good near Buoy 21 but stronger tides this weekend may slow success.

With all the Salmon and steelhead excitement going on elsewhere, bass fishermen have the Willamette river to themselves this time of year.

Rafters and tubers own the Clackamas river. It will be the same on the Sandy until coho start to show in September.

Trout fishing has been good on the McKenzie with even the hatchery trout good-sized and aggressive.

Minto Park and te drifts below Mill City hold summer steelhead on the North Santiam. Drifted baits of sand shrimp have been effective in deeper holes.

Northwest - Chinook catches continue to improve in the Nehalem system and action should continue into September. Anglers should find another productive week around Wheeler using trolled herring for bait, coho may also begin to show later in the month.

Crabbing in the ocean remains excellent but crab remain largely soft shelled. Bay crabbing should be fair in Netarts, Tillamook and Nehalem Bays.

Offshore, anglers have had a hard time pursuing tuna offshore with the inclement weather. When weather improves catches should be excellent as peak season is upon us.

Southwest - Boats had a tough time getting out of central Oregon ports recently due to rough ocean conditions. When launches have been possible, bottom fishing has been good and crabbing excellent.

All-depth halibut will re-open on Friday and Saturday, August 17th and 18th. Ocean swells are forecast to be moderating into the coming weekend.

A few Chinook are being taken daily in Winchester Bay on herring trolled behind flashers. South Umpqua smallmouth fishing has been good for both fly and gear anglers. Use caution at the rapid above Osprey; it's getting tricky and will get worse.

Albacore catches have been good 17 to 25 miles out of Coos Bay and Bandon and recreational boats have returned to port with all they could carry when the ocean has cooperated. Bay crabbing has been good.

Charters out of Gold Beach have been taking limits of rockfish and ling cod when ocean conditions allow launches. Ocean Chinook fishing has also been good. While trolling in the Rogue estuary is producing Chinook, it is hot one day, cold the next. Lower Rogue steelheaders are picking up half-pounders around Agness. Middle river results are fair as fall Chinook start to show in catches while fishing for summer steelhead remains good on the upper Rogue.

When the ocean has laid down, Chinook fishing out of the Port of Brookings has been very good with many taking early limits. Tuna were taken last week although they boat doing so traveled over 40 miles west to hook up.

Eastern - A stealthy approach will put fly anglers in close proximity to redsides on the lower Deschutes. They are receptive to small caddis, Mayfly and diminutive, bushy dries on light leaders. Steelhead continue to entering with improving results from Mack's Canyon to the mouth.

Kokanee fishing has been fair to good for jig fishers evenings at Paulina.

Soapbox Update: The Buoy 10 Challenge is just a few days away and big prizes are at stake. Be sure to go to NSIA’s web site at www.nsiafishing.org to see what all the hub bub is about!

Southwest Washington - Steelhead catches along lower Columbia beaches are beginning to wane. District anglers are anxiously awaiting good chinook returns, which should begin to show in catchable numbers in 2 weeks. Until then, the Cowlitz will remain a top bet for summer steelhead. The Kalama and Lewis are fair at best for summer steelhead.

As passage at Bonneville jumps, so should catches at Drano Lake and the Klickitat River mouth. Chinook, steelhead and some coho will be available throughout September with the peak beginning the first week of September.

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