Oregon fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro - The Willamette River is singing the same song it did a week ago. Rather disappointing fishing for spring chinook and ridiculously good catch and release sturgeon fishing. The shad haven't shown themselves as of yet but that could change at any time. For those intent on putting their time in for salmon, there are fish getting caught but most anglers have seen better seasons. What little action there witnessed, is coming from the Multnomah Channel and the head of the channel. Oregon City is producing a few fish, but many are finished off by a California sea lions before making it to the boat. The water temperature is running in the high fifties so salmon anglers would be well advised to try shiny hardware like a spinner.

The deeper holes in the Portland Harbor are giving up constant action for the few participating sturgeon anglers. Smelt, herring, sand shrimp and anchovies are all getting bit by indiscriminate sturgeon ranging from undersize to oversize.

Water flows at the McKenzie River have continued to inch up with snowmelt in warm weather over the past week. Flows are still decent for fly anglers targeting redsides. Continue to throw nymphs in the absence of hatches, but watch for Caddis and March Browns popping in the afternoon.

Steelheading has been fair in the North Santiam and over 500 summer steelhead have been counted at Foster Dam on the South Santiam. With spring chinook counts nearing 10,000 at Willamette Falls, a fishery will develop here as springers move upriver.

Fishermen are faring well on the Clackamas River, catching summer steelhead early in the morning and later in the afternoon and evenings. Some are getting even luckier and hooking into a few spring chinook, although the peak of the salmon run is likely three weeks from now. Steelhead are spread river-wide while the springers will be loitering in the lower river below Barton. Expect more salmon to enter the system in the coming weeks.

The Sandy River continues to cough up a few late winter steelhead, but most have already spawned and are on their way back to the salt. Anglers are encouraged to handle spawner steelhead with care and release them as quickly and as easily as possible. More and more fresh, shiny summer steelhead are entering the river and anglers are finding them throughout the river as well. A couple spring chinook have been confirmed this last week and like the Clackamas, expect those numbers to grow through the month and into June.

Northwest – More spring chinook are being reported from Tillamook Bay and the season is about to enter its peak period. Another minus tide series will focus anglers into the upper estuary but if the weather forecast comes to fruition, a saltwater nearshore or offshore opportunity is certainly in order. This should be the first productive week of spring chinook effort.

For anglers venturing offshore for the California stock chinook, target them over 300 foot of water, fishing between the depths of 150 to 250 foot. They are plentiful but don't expect many large fish.

Not many people have targeted nearshore halibut yet but that will likely change in the coming weeks. The all-depth opportunity opens up Thursday for its first 3-day opportunity and fishing is likely to be good.

District rivers are low and clear but early morning chinook are an option on the Wilson, Trask and Nestucca systems. Don't expect results all that often however.

Razor clam digging should be good this weekend on Clatsop area beaches, especially with the low swell predicted.

Southwest- Boats out of Depoe Bay and Newport have been doing well for rockfish but lingcod catches have been spotty. A few halibut were taken during the first nearshore opener May 2nd through 4th.

All-depth halibut will open for the spring season Friday through Sunday, May 9-11. This fishery will re-open May 16-18, May 30-nine 1 and June 6-8 or a quota of 120,947 pounds.

Offshore conditions are forecast to be decent on Friday but could turn marginal over the coming weekend. Be sure to check at the last minute.

Crabbing picked up in Winchester Bay but has been only fair. Redtail surfperch have started entering the bay to spawn but it will be a week or two until this fishery is worthwhile. The Umpqua has been too low to fish well.

Coos Bay consistently provides the most reliable results for crabbing with Half Moon Bay productive recently.

Ocean conditions played nice over the past weekend, allowing boats to get out of Gold Beach for limits of rockfish and lingcod. The lower Rogue was a bust in low water, however, yielding few springers. Rain is forecast over the next few days but it remains to be seen if it will be sufficient to rejuvenate chinook catches. Fishing on the middle river has been poor. As the upper Rogue transitions from steelhead to springers, upriver anglers are disgruntled with skinny water conditions.

Bottom fishing has been excellent out of Brookings. Lingcod catches were particularly good. Anglers who released smaller fish in anticipation of larger specimens were not disappointed.

Diamond Lake produced large trout over the past weekend, with bait fishers on the south end most successful although results for trollers are improving.

Eastern – Big Lava Lake has been fishing well with some anglers taking limits but has been challenging when the wind comes up.

Brownlee Reservoir has been producing scores of yellow perch with crappie a little more challenging.