Oregon fishing reports

Willamette Valley/Metro- Anglers are reminded that a new 2013 license and tag are required after January 1^st. Licenses are available both online and in most sporting goods stores.

 

Rain has kept the local rivers up, yet fishable. The Clackamas and Sandy have both put out decent numbers of steelhead this past week although pressure has been light. The upper sections of both rivers have produced best. Expect effort to increase after the New Year and the catch rates will likely coincide as we approach peak timing. 

 

Eagle creek also kicked out a few fish, although anglers shouldn't expect anything "banner" from this little stream as plants are a small fraction of what they used to be.

 

The Willamette River remains on the high side and turbidity is limiting, but steelhead can still be caught in the less than ideal conditions at Meldrum Bar and the Black-Top at the mouth of the Clackamas. The season’s first spring chinook could be caught here or at Sellwood in the next four weeks. Effort has dropped recently, but sturgeon are still being caught and released in the Portland Harbor and Milwaukie area. Few to no anglers are fishing the Columbia River.

 

McKenzie River levels have been dropping steadily for over a week but remains too high to fish well.

The Santiam system is forecast to drop and clear although numbers of steelhead in the river are fairly low.

 

Northwest – Inclement weather and a sub-par early season bite didn’t stimulate hoards of anglers over the weekend and early this week but interest is still visible on most north coast streams that harbor early returning hatchery fish. The North Fork Nehalem, often the harbinger of north coast streams, is producing fair results with lots of activity on Christmas morning.

 

Other good options over Christmas break include Three Rivers, the Necanicum, Wilson, Kilchis and Trask Rivers in that order. Anglers may start to see some spawned out steelhead as high flows have enabled fish to reach smaller tributaries for spawning.

 

Remaining North Coast rivers and estuaries will close to the taking of chinook salmon beginning January 1^st. Cutthroat trout are also abundant in many streams this time of year and are often intercepted while steelhead fishing. They too must be released until late May.

 

Tides are favorable for sturgeon anglers on Tillamook Bay. The season so far has been fair but remains in question for 2013 as managers decide consumptive opportunity for the future. The middle and west channels should produce some action if the weather permits.

 

A predicted east wind may calm ocean conditions by the weekend but commercial crabbing gear may be deployed as early as December 29^th so the lower Columbia and offshore opportunity will wane quickly. Bottomfishing should be excellent if weather permits.

 

A taming swell may produce good razor clam digging for Clatsop area diggers but the most productive part of the tide will be after sunset.

 

Southwest- Stormy offshore conditions have prevented charter and recreational craft from enjoying the excellent bottom fishing available this time of year. The long-range forecast shows a rough ocean all week.

This week is the best for whale-watching along the Oregon coast, This can be an impressive sight and an enjoyable fishing-alternative activity for the family.

Umpqua water levels are high and rising. The mainstem is unlikely to recover sufficiently to fish this week.

The Coos and Coquille Rivers were blown on Tuesday this week but will be dropping into the coming weekend.

As the Rogue drops back into shape late this week, the upper river will fish first and should fish well. The hatchery recycled over 2,000 steelhead in this stretch on Christmas Eve. As the lower river becomes fishable, fresh winters will be available. Fresh winters have entered the Applegate River which opens for steelheading January1.

Steelhead numbers have been decent on the Chetco with catch results mirroring water conditions. Unfortunately, the river is rising early this week but it should be fishable by the coming weekend if NOAA forecasts remain accurate. Plunkers using Spin-N-Glos will be the first to hook up as the water drops.

Rain in southwest Oregon has the Elk River too high to fish earlier this week while the Sixes was running muddy. Cured roe has been taking winters on the Elk recently.

Diamond Lake opens to year-around fishing on January 1, 2013. It will be an ice-fishing scene if the ice is safe to access.

 

Eastern – Dedicated trollers have continued to fish Green Peter for kokanee but the water level this week is too low to launch.

Lake Billy Chinook has been fishing well for bull trout. Be prepared for chilly weather and probable snow.

 

SW Washington- With early returns on most systems clearly depressed, the Cowlitz will remain the best option until later returning wild and broodstock fish return later in January through March. The Cowlitz has remained high for much of the winter season so large baits and scented lures will produce the best results.

 

Several regulation changes occur on January 1^st so check local listings before heading out.

 

District razor clam diggers have options this week:

 

·         Dec. 28, Friday, 6:42 p.m., -0.3 ft., Twin Harbors

·         Dec. 29, Saturday, 7:15 p.m., -0.3 ft., Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Mocrocks

·         Dec. 30, Sunday, 7:47 p.m., -0.2 ft., Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Mocrocks, Copalis,

·         Dec. 31, Monday, 8:20 p.m., 0.0 ft., Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Mocrocks, Copalis