Willamette Valley/Metro - Huge numbers of chinook are crossing Bonneville Dam and things are shaping up for a record return that was likely under-forecast. Catches are good for both boaters and bank bound anglers, but still not what they could be if the water was 3 to 4 degrees cooler. As the nights get shorter and cooler, expect fishing for chinook salmon to improve through October. Little attention is being given to catch and release sturgeon fishing with good numbers of salmon in the river.
Silvers are showing up in the Willamette River at the mouth of the Clackamas, but it's far from productive. The water is still very warm and fishing will likely improve in the coming weeks after the weather starts to cool.
Bass fishermen are scoring catches from Oak Grove downstream to Ross Island, but effort has been very low the last couple weeks. Walleye are still on the menu for the Multnomah Channel but effort is light here as well.
McKenzie River flows have been fairly steady this week. Fly fishing for trout should be worthwhile over the next several days, particularly those with cloud cover.
Santiam River levels are up with recent releases of water from upstream impoundments. Steelheading remains slow.
A few coho are getting caught in riffles below Cross Park on the Clackamas River. It can be a rough crowd and lawlessness is common, so mind your manners if you decide to participate.
Not much to report yet for the Sandy River, but the silvers are due and it's likely that a few forerunners are already up to Cedar Creek.
Northwest – Buoy 10 anglers are still searching for catchable numbers of hatchery coho. It appears as if coho were grossly over-predicted. Coho jack catches were impressive but jacks along with the ample numbers of chinook still in the estuary, must be released downstream of Tongue Point. Tongue Point to Warrior Rock remains open for fin-clipped chinook and coho and managers will review the new run size upgrade on Thursday to determine if additional opportunity is available in the lower river. The current weak tide series will make the Tongue Point fishery explode once again.
Wobbler fishers in the Longview reach witnessed white-hot fishing over the weekend. It has since slowed but ample catches continue to happen.
Offshore, north of Cape Falcon, any 2 salmon may be retained; wild or hatchery coho or chinook. Fishing to the north of the river along the Long Beach Peninsula seems to be the most productive. September can offer some of the finest ocean weather. A very friendly ocean is forecast from today through the weekend. Ample numbers of albacore are available and will readily take live bait.
Nehalem Bay herring trollers have been taking impressive numbers of chinook over the weekend. The jaws and Wheeler are producing quality fish.
Tillamook Bay fall salmon fishing is also producing nicely. Effort will shift to the lower bay on the weaker tide series.
The wild coho fishery continues offshore and starts on most inland systems on September 15th. Check the ODF&W web site for your specific estuary and tidewater systems.
Ocean and estuary crabbing should be good this weekend.
The lower reaches of the Nestucca, Salmon, Siletz and Alsea Rivers should all produce good catches of chinook this weekend.
Southwest- This is a great time of year for ocean crabbing. The quality of meat is approaching that of fall and winter while offshore conditions are launch-friendly with greater frequency than they will be later in the year.
Tuna fishing has been challenging over the past week. Single-digit catches were the rule for boats launching out of Depoe Bay and Newport with many catching only one or two.
A few chinook are being taken on the Yaquina by boats launching at Toledo and heading upriver.
Boats launching for out of Reedsport have been doing well for ocean chinook. Crabbing has improved on Winchester Bay with the Crab Bounty contest continuing through the end of September. Return spinner-tagged Dungeness whole to Sportsman Cannery for a hat and a chance in the $1,000 drawing. Bay trolling is producing chinook as has fishing the lower Umpqua mainstem.
Coos Bay trolling has been productive for chinook over the past week. Offshore fishing has been productive for salmon. Bay crabbing is fair to good for boats, slow off the docks.
Offshore fishing was good out of Gold Beach for bottom fish over the past week until weekend conditions shut down bar crossings. When the lingcod bite has turned on, limits have come quickly. Bay trolling has been slow. Fall chinook and summer steelhead are being taken on the lower Rogue and while it's only fair, it's worth the effort. Chinook catches have been good on the middle Rogue with plug-pullers doing best on wrapped Kwikfish although back-bouncers are also taking fish. Upper Rogue flows increased on Tuesday this week, an annual occurrence in an effort to reduce water temperatures and encourage chinook to migrate upriver. Steelheading is expected to be good, particularly for those swinging streamers with the river flies only above Fisher's Ferry boat ramp.
Ocean chinook fishing closed out of Brookings at the end of day September 8th. The next opportunity will be the Chetco Ocean Terminal Area Fishery from October 1 through 13, which will be take place from Twin Rocks to the Oregon/California border up to 3 miles out. It should be a rewarding fishery. Bottom fishing has been fair to good and should only get better in the coming weeks.
Eastern – Water conditions are improving on the lower Deschutes. The White River is causing only moderate issues with clarity as of Tuesday this week and the river looks good above the White. Steelheading has been fair but should improve with better water conditions. Redsides are hitting caddis imitations.
Trout are being caught at Big Lava Lake and while numbers are decent, larger fish are elusive.
Hosmer Lake is producing decent catches of trout including stocked cutthroat.
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