Willamette Valley/Metro - On the Columbia, few reports from even fewer fishers give the impression your effort isn't worth the reward. Anglers will have several months to look forward to the first returns of spring chinook. If waters warm, a pilot run of smelt may make a winter showing.
On the Willamette, despite the frigid weather, some steelhead were taken from Meldrum Bar last week. Plunkers are casting their lines, fixing their rods into a rod holder and retreating to their warm vehicles in anticipation of a bite. Expect an improvement with the warming temperatures. Sturgeon fishers also had catch and release success in the Portland Harbor using smelt, squid, sand shrimp and anchovies will all entice hungry sturgeon.
McKenzie River water levels have been steadily dropping for over a week. Without a winter steelhead run, trout are the species to target for hearty fly fishers.
The North Santiam holds little of interest to anglers this time of year with few target species to pursue.
Bitter cold has kept anglers indoors and off the water on the Clackamas River. The water level remains very fishable but the extremely cold water temperature makes for tough fishing.
Like the Clackamas, the Sandy is a frozen ghost town for fishermen. Although there may a few steelhead in the system, getting them to bite is a challenge in the cold water. Wait for the coming rain to warm the river a few degrees and add a bit of color, then give it a try.
Northwest – Hazardous roads and plummeting temperatures have kept many anglers from trying their hand at coastal steelheading. Early indications from the North Fork Nehalem are less than impressive; only 46 steelhead were in the trap for a 2 week collection period, not giving anglers much hope for early season success. The upcoming weather front and associated warmer weather will give anglers a good idea how the rest of the season will unfold. Only a moderate bump in river levels is forecast so water temperatures will play the biggest role for weekend anglers.
The Highway 30 systems, the Necanicum, North Fork Nehalem, Kilchis, Wilson, Nestucca and Three Rivers are all options once precipitation changes the current low and clear water conditions. A rare late-season chinook may come from the Wilson or Trask Rivers.
Ocean crabbing and fishing was great on a calm ocean last week but those conditions may not return for quite some time. Commercial crabbers are likely to set pots on the 13th, effectively out-competing the recreational fleet.
The upcoming minus tide series may offer the last chance for coastal sturgeon on Tillamook or Nehalem Bays. Although action largely depends on a winter food source for lower Columbia sturgeon, some fish are certainly present.
Southwest- Offshore bottom fishing has been good out of Newport and Depoe Bay. One cabezon may continue to contribute to a seven-rockfish bag limit through December 31. Travel carefully as coast range roads may remain icy for a while.
Recreational ocean crabbing has been worthwhile but wintry when boats have been able to get out. Commercial efforts, originally scheduled for Dec.1, will commence on Dec. 16 if crabbers agree on market prices.
Coos Bay crabbing has been worthwhile with salinity levels high. Tidewater in the lower Coquille is producing Dungeness as well. Winter steelheading has yet to be worthwhile here.
Winchester Bay crabbing has shown a marked improvement. While the Umpqua is currently low and clear, the next round of precipitation will bring with it a bounty of bright winter steelhead. Rain this week is forecast to push the mainstem at Elkton over 2,500 cfs and that will put fish in the river.
Trolling for chinook on Rogue Bay is done for the year. Anglers on the lower Rogue are reporting an improvement in catches of winter steelhead. Side-drifting bait or swinging flies has been most effective. Flies, spinners and plugs have been producing slow to fair catches on the middle river although most fish are wild and must be released. Few anglers are trying the upper Rogue but results have been good for summer steelhead in winter temperatures. Most lures are effective as is bait above Shady Cove boat ramp where it's legal.
Limits were the rule for crabbers out of the Port of Brookings following the opening for ocean crabbing on Dec. 1. Dungeness are stuffing pots dropped in 100-foot depths and nearly every one is over legal size. Fishing for rockfish and lingcod has also been excellent. It has been optimistically stated that winter steelheading seems to be running about two weeks ahead of schedule on the Chetco. Catches of wild, hatchery and half-pounder steelhead would make that an accurate statement, however. Some of the adults have weighed 12 to 14 pounds and as many as a dozen half-pounders have been taken by a single group of anglers in a day.
A little rain in the forecast this week may improve low, clear conditions at the Elk and Sixes rivers. Fishing in the ocean off the river mouths is closed.
Eastern – It's cold on the lower Deschutes with water temperatures in the mid-40s. Those who have been able to keep their guides free from ice have reported slow to fair fishing for steelhead.
Steelhead are being taken by fly anglers on the frigid Grande Ronde River on nymphs and streamers; fish mid-day for best results.
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