Willamette Valley/Metro - There has been no effort on the Columbia although when temperatures warm, anglers will be motivated. When the snow and ice melt, Cowlitz smelt will be on tap on Saturdays from 6 a.m. until noon.
The weather has kept fishermen off the Willamette leaving little to report. Catch and release sturgeon should continue to be good. If the beach is free of ice and snow, Meldrum Bar anglers will resume the vigil for late winter steelhead and the coveted early springer. One boat was spotted at Sellwood on Saturday, but a report came in that the two anglers came up dry.
McKenzie River levels, high at the beginning of February, dropped at the end of the first week but are headed back up with rain and snowmelt. The river is likely to be out of shape for a couple of weeks.
Water is rising on the Santiams to torrent levels and with no respite in sight through months' end.
Trying to launch a boat on the Clackamas or scurry down the bank to a favorite fishing hole is a dangerous prospect considering the snow and ice. The fish have been completely unmolested since Friday. The river is scheduled to rise substantially this week.
Once the Sandy River drops from the melt-off, winter steelhead should be present. Look to the upper river for the best fishable water late this week.
Northwest – This is traditionally the time of year that winter steelheaders look forward to. Bright fish historically enter and are in the rivers in substantial number to make fishing truly worthwhile. This year however, returning adults may not produce the results most are seeking. Anglers will have an idea as to how the late season will produce by the first week in March.
The Trask and Wilson River levels are rising to unfishable levels this week. With the next freshet forecast to hit February 18th, expect these rivers to be out of shape for a while.
Nestucca water levels and flows have increased dramatically this week with snowmelt and precipitation. Expect high, roiled water into the third week of February. Water started rising on the Siletz February 8th and has continued to do so since. Flows are predicted to start moderating around February 20th, but that's a long-term prediction for any Oregon river.
Extensive planting of hatchery trout will begin this week in the Northwest Zone which will include the stocking of larger and trophy trout at many locations. Check the ODFW website for details and locations.
Southwest – Bottom fishing has been good when boats have been able to get out but conditions this week will prevent offshore adventures.
Dates for All-Depth Halibut fishing have been announced with the season opening on May 8-10 and 22-24 then continuing June 5-7 and 19-21. Additional dates will be added if the quota doesn't fill.
Steelheading has been good on the Umpqua mainstem and hatchery fish catches had been improving on the South Umpqua. The system will be blown out by the coming weekend, however, but holds promise as the water drops and clears.
The influx of fresh water has a detrimental effect on crabbing but it has been so slow at Coos Bay that the difference is negligible.
Flows on the Rogue River started reflecting the effect of this week's storm mid-week and will remain out of shape for several days. Middle river steelheaders hoped the freshet would move winters into this stretch, and that probably occurred but it won't be fishable this week. Once the water drops and clears, there are likely to be targetable numbers of fresh steelhead in the upper Rogue.
Lingcod fishing is excellent out of Brookings Harbor whenever ocean conditions allow boats to get out. Rain forecasts last week had Chetco steelheaders rejoicing at the prospect of flows approaching the magic 4,000 cfs mark. The window of opportunity was brief, however, and will be shattered this week as flows are forecast to exceed 20,000 cfs by the weekend to come. There will be fish to catch, but only as the levels drop. Plunkers will score as this occurs followed by drift fishers as the water clears.
Elk and Sixes levels will rise and fall quickly due to their small sizes. Be there when conditions are good to score fresh winter steelhead. Bait fishing will be most effective.
Eastern – Steelheaders were reporting fair fishing on the Wallowa and Umatilla Rivers but with the cold snap, that has all changed. When the weather warms once again, action should pick up through the spring. The majority of fish taken recently have been of wild origin.
Wallowa Lake is largely frozen but the ice is too thin to safely fish. Rainbow trout will be available when it does freeze thoroughly but that may be a while from now.
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