Fishing Reports for 11/9/12

Willamette Valley/Metro- The Columbia River below Bonneville dam has been a ghost town, but a small core of anglers has been trying their hand at catch and release sturgeon fishing. The bite should only improve as more fish show up, always arriving when the salmon begin spawning below the dam and in the local creeks.

 

It’s been reported that the better fishing for catch and release sturgeon is in the lower Willamette River Portland harbor. Good catches of predominantly undersize sturgeon are the norm and double digit days are common. Occasionally, keeper size and over-size sturgeon are hooked and since they all have to be released, your gear should be able to handle the larger fish so as not to over-stress them in an extended fight with lighter gear. Anglers are already lining up along Meldrum bar in anticipation of the first winter steelhead. No reports of any caught.

 

As the smaller local rivers recede, there remains a chance for a few silvers in the upper Sandy and Clackamas Rivers. This late in the season, expect most fish to be wild so catch and release will be in order. Rumors of a few early arriving winter steelhead have already surfaced on the Sandy River; not surprising after the recent high water.

 

McKenzie levels have been dropping since the freshet last week. Fishing for redsides and native cutthroats has been decent on nymphs.

 

The Santiam system is high and unfishable at this time. While water level and flow moderated somewhat since the last rain storm, it's forecast to be out of shape for the remainder of the week.

Northwest – Following the most significant rain on the north coast to date, salmon anglers were sorely disappointed that action wasn’t nearly as good as the anticipation was. Smaller river systems were fishing effectively by Sunday but results on the Kilchis were poor despite high effort and ideal conditions. Early in the week, most north coast rivers were in prime shape but only producing an occasional fresh chinook. Anglers are in a quandary.

 

The Trask and Nestucca systems are producing an occasional fish as well but not what most anglers were hoping for. The Nehalem remains colored and most upriver areas remain closed to the taking of chinook as they begin to turn color in the upper reaches, making for poor table fare.

Tillamook Bay itself produced better prior to the weekend but overall, trollers remain perplexed that more chinook are not available despite good fishing conditions. Historically, early November has produced excellent catches. Reports of sturgeon in the estuary are likely credible.

 

Fishing on the north coast may still improve in the next several weeks but angler interest is waning due to slowing catch rates and the upcoming hunting seasons. Tillamook Bay and the Wilson and Kilchis Rivers will remain top bets. Wild coho remain largely absent and that should concern winter steelhead enthusiasts as survival rates are often similar on the north coast.

 

Crabbing remains excellent on the lower Columbia but only fair on most other systems after last week’s rain. Commercial pots will inundate the lower Columbia the last few days of November so the recreational fleet still has a few weeks of productive opportunity.

 

Southwest- With salmon upriver on many south coast rivers now, anglers will focus on fresh fish still coming in on the tides in the lower reaches of most watersheds. River levels are expected to remain low through the weekend.

 

According to the latest data available online as of Tuesday, November 6th, the Alsea is the only wild coho fishery which has closed with the quota filled. Check the ODF&W web site for the most updated information.

 

Catches of chinook and coho have slowed on the Umpqua mainstem and smallmouth bass fishing is winding down around Elkton as water temperatures drop. Summer steelheading remains fair on the North Umpqua.

 

Chinook catches have slowed on the Coos and Coquille although the wild coho fisheries remain open.

 

While rainfall pulled most of the salmon out of the Rogue estuary, sending them upstream, trollers have continued to make fair, steady catches of chinook and coho in the bay. Catches of adult and half-pounder steelhead have been good around Agness with a few chinook and coho also falling to anglers. Steelheading is good on the middle Rogue, particularly for side-drifters using bait. Waters of the upper Rogue continued to produce decent catches of summer steelhead. While most have been natives, there have been large, hard-fighting hatchery fish in the mix.

 

The Chetco opened the last day of October as skies opened and dumped rainfall on the area bringing impressive numbers of fresh chinook upriver. This scenario will repeat with upcoming weather fronts. Fishing was good upriver on the opener, slowed over the weekend and has been slow this week. It may be mid-November before the next freshet rejuvenates chinook fishing.

 

Elk and Sixes anglers experienced some action following precipitation over the past week but conditions change rapidly on the small, volatile ocean tributaries. Currently low and clear, fishing will be worthwhile with successive weather fronts.

 

Eastern – Following runoff over the past week that roiled the Deschutes, the river has dropped and cleared. Steelheading has been good around Maupin and Sherars Falls. As conditions improve, brightly-colored lures and flies will be most effective.

 

Lake Billy Chinook provides a decent bull trout fishery over the winter months. One fish at least 24 inches or better in length may be kept although most choose to catch-and-release these fish.

 

The Grande Ronde, Umatilla and Imnaha systems should start to produce good catches of steelhead. Following last week’s rain, flows have improved, drawing fish upriver from the Snake.

 

The John Day River is also producing fair catches of steelhead although most are wild and must be released.

 

SW Washington- Following the high flows of last week, boaters did see a slight spike in success for both chinook and coho. Overall however, coho numbers remain fair at best.

 

Chinook will remain the best option on the Lewis River with a dwindling opportunity on the Cowlitz.

 

The Klickitat River adjacent to the Columbia will remain a fair option for late-run coho for another few weeks but given this year’s lower return, anglers are often going away empty handed.