Oregon fishing reports

Willamette Valley/Metro - Salmon fishing below Bonneville Dam is done. Catch and release sturgeon fishing should provide some action.

Very little is happening on the Willamette River. Catch and release Sturgeon fishing is about the only game in town and few anglers are showing any interest. Expect the first winter steelhead to be caught around Thanksgiving at Meldrum Bar.

The rising waters of the McKenzie through November 8th have turned around and are gradually moderating. While the river is still a little high, nymphs will fool redsides here.

Fishing is slow on the North Santiam but coho have continued to cross the Willamette Falls at a rate of 30 or 40 a day. There should be some available to target. It was a slow season for summer steelhead.

Little is available on the Clackamas other than a handful of late summer steelhead and the odd wild coho salmon. Winter steelhead typically show up here the first week of December.

After a poor return of fall coho, Sandy River anglers await the first winter steelhead. Expect a few to show up in the lower river just after Thanksgiving.

Northwest – The North Coast Rendezvous ended up producing around 40 chinook for about 120 “angler days” indicating that chinook fishing remains challenging for even some of the region's best. Catches were most productive for driftboat anglers working the lower Wilson and Kilchis Rivers with fewer coming from Tillamook Bay itself. Since the rivers have dropped, focus again turns to Tillamook Bay with the Ghost Hole and Bay City again producing an occasional chinook. Interest has certainly dropped off even though fresh chinook can still be caught into mid-December.

Anglers will keep a keen eye on river levels, where driftboaters can access fair numbers of returning chinook, particularly to the Kilchis and Wilson Rivers. Females, often still bright and laden with sea-lice, can often still cut pale in color, making for poor table fare. Bucks however can be a great holiday bonus as long as they are still sliver-skinned. Sporadic precipitation should keep the lower reaches of north coast systems fishable through the weekend.

The upcoming minus tide series may yield some sturgeon in Tillamook Bay. This fishery may be the last-ditch option for anglers seeking consumptive opportunity for sturgeon in Oregon. November typically marks a winter migration into coastal estuaries where sturgeon forage on clams, shrimp and juvenile Dungeness crab. The west and middle channels of Tillamook Bay often produce fair catches well into the New Year. Sand shrimp will make the best bait.

The minus tide series will also bode well for clam diggers on the north coast. Razors should be available along Clatsop Beaches if the surf forecast remains accurate. Bay crabbing will likely be challenging on the extreme tide series.

The offshore forecast may be conducive to offshore bottomfishing. Deep-reef action should persist for large lingcod but sea bass should also be plentiful along nearshore reefs.

Southwest- Certain stretches of the Oregon coast produce particular species of fish on diverse schedules. chinook fishing in starts to shine on the south coast at this time of year. The Elk and Sixes Rivers should provide some of the best late fall opportunities.

Fishing for wild coho has been poor for Tahkenitch and Siltcoos Lake trollers.

While crabbing in bays has been spotty, results should improve as winter approaches. Heavy rains will stall catches but large, deep bays such as Winchester and Coos are most likely to remain productive.

Anglers trolling spinners on the lower Coquille have been landing some large chinook over the past week.

Chinook fishing is slow at Rogue Bay with only the occasional Indian Creek fish hooked. Slow fishing in the lower Rogue should improve with rain. Steelhead catches dropped off to just a few on the middle river. Summers are being taken on the upper river with bait allowed only above Shady Cove boat ramp. A few coho are in the upper Rogue but rarely bite in this stretch.

Anglers stood shoulder-to-shoulder, fishing "guerilla style" following the opening of the Chetco River on November 2nd. Scores of salmon are stacked in holes awaiting the next freshet which would allow upstream progress. Bobbers and bait flung, lines snarled and epithets were spoken. Regardless, fishing has been good.

Elk River anglers fishing the mouth are taking a few chinook.

Trout fishing is expected to improve at Diamond Lake as fish feed heavily in preparation for the winter months ahead. The weather is getting colder and snow has been falling occasionally.

Eastern – As predicted, steelheading on the Deschutes has shown some improvement now that chinook spawning is over. With summers scattered throughout the lower river, there are plenty of opportunities. Redsides have been cooperative during daytime Blue-Winged Olive hatches and again late in the day with Caddis patterns.

Low waters of the Crooked River have continued to produce fish. Trout catches are decent in the stretch below Bowman Dam while the river below is producing whitefish.