Oregon fishing reports

Willamette Valley/Metro- The Columbia's water temperature has cooled a few degrees since last week and one would expect the bite to improve, although most anglers reported "just average" fishing over the weekend. Although not at its peak yet, Bonneville Dam has been kicking out decent numbers of chinook although most recently Bonneville anglers have been complaining about a slow bite. The mouth of the Cowlitz has been fishing well and with a fraction of the usual crowd since regulations are now more complicated. Check the local area you wish to fish before venturing out. Just downstream from the mouth of the Sandy, anglers are also doing well for kings with wobblers and Kwikfish.

No reports from the lower Willamette and little to no angling pressure. Expect smallmouth bass fishing to improve when we have a spell of cooler weather.

Hatches are abundant on the McKenzie and the river is fishing very well. Caddis patterns and attractors are effective now.

Despite good numbers of summer steelhead and stable river conditions in the North Santiam, the bite has been off so fishing is slow.

No reports of silvers on the Clackamas yet but stay posted. Look for something to happen with the first freshet of rain.

“There are rumors of jumping silvers up at Cedar Creek, but expect the best opportunity casting Blue Fox spinners at the mouth of the Sandy.”

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will host a Family Fishing event Saturday, Sept. 22 at St. Louis Ponds from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Northwest – Although the lower Columbia is still producing some hatchery and plenty of wild coho, pressure is dropping off and soon, catches will too. Crabbing will only improve through November.
Tillamook is heating up with anglers able to take advantage of good ocean conditions, taking fair numbers of chinook but little sign of coho showing. Trolled herring is working well in the ocean and for most of the popular bay spots but upper bay trollers are using spinners with some success. There is a rare chinook or coho being taken in the west channel.

Tidewater of the Trask and Tillamook Rivers do have chinook available to bobber tossers but as always, are particular as to the time of the tide they will bite.  The lower reach of the Wilson River likely won’t harbor catchable numbers until early October.

The Nehalem is producing fair numbers of chinook and an occasional coho. This fishery should improve for both species but coho numbers should increase dramatically in the next few weeks. Like most systems, hatchery numbers are likely to be down this year but a limited wild coho fishery is underway here.

Southwest- A trip of greater than 50 miles out of central Oregon ports has been required to find tuna over the past week. The reward was good numbers of albacore 25 to 35 pounds each.
The wild coho season opened September 15th on the Siletz, Yaquina, Alsea, Siuslaw, Umpqua, Coos and Coquille systems. These fisheries are scheduled to continue through November 30th or fulfillment of quotas which vary from one system to the next as does the bag limit. Check the regulations.

Anglers on the Umpqua will be targeting coho. The South Umpqua closed to all fishing on September 15th.

Starting October 1, Tenmile, Siltcoos and Tahkenitch lakes open for wild coho. This is primarily a troll fishery with spinners and plugs effective. Coho grow rapidly and will be pushing the 20-pound mark at that time of year.

Chinook fishing has been good at Coos Bay for trollers using plug-cut herring with the area around McCullough Bridge particularly productive. Crabbing has also been good in the bay.

With the Rogue River dropping and water temperature up, fall chinook fishing is expected to improve. Coho are also in the mix here but must be fin-clipped to keep. Half-pounder fishing is good around Agness. The middle Rogue is fishing quite well for chinook with wrapped Kwikfish effective. Fly-rodders swinging streamers on the upper Rogue are enjoying a good summer steelhead fishery.

In addition to fine numbers of rockfish and large lingcod, Pacific halibut are being caught out of Brookings. Local angler Geoff Ashby took one estimated at 90 pounds over the past week. The Chetco Bubble chinook fishery opens October 1-14 and is expected to produce plenty of big fish. Completion of roadwork 13 miles up the north bank of the Chetco River has been delayed. Travelers will be subject to a detour for two additional weeks.

Chinook fishing on the Elk and Sixes will get underway when fall rains arrive.

Two tagged trout worth $100 apiece remain available at Diamond Lake but only if caught before the 1st of October. Air temps have dipped below freezing at night but afternoons have been warm. Fishing is fair.

Eastern – Results for steelhead on the Deschutes has been variable but with fish spread through Maupin, there's plenty of productive water. Counts at Sherars Falls have been decent most days with about 75% of the steelhead of hatchery origin.

The Crooked River is fishing well for anglers using nymphs or dries, depending on hatches.
The challenging Metolius has been fishing particularly well lately with lots of bugs hatching. Green Drake and Golden stone patterns have been particularly effective at times.

SW Washington- Fall chinook success is improving with the Cowlitz, Lewis and Kalama all options. The Lewis is likely to offer the best opportunity for the next several weeks with a large forecast likely to come to fruition into November. Summer steelhead and soon coho are also options on these systems. Sea-run cutthroat trout numbers will be improving for another few weeks.

The Wind and Drano Lake fisheries are ramping up but most anglers are focusing their efforts just outside of these tributaries.

The White Salmon is beginning to produce fair numbers of chinook and the Klickitat River has seen some chinook per rod counts over the last week.