Willamette Valley/Metro - With all the wild weather last week, catch and effort for Columbia River spring chinook was low. Now that a high pressure system is building over the region, anglers will be anxious to get after salmon as we near peak season. With the large return predicted this year, if they are going to show, action should start to get more consistent. Willamette fish will be hard to access with this river still running colored; likely to last another week. Mainstem Columbia fish should start to show despite a later run timing. Columbia springers most often exhibit a dark chin versus the Willamette “snow bellies” that have a bright white chin and belly. Willamette springers also tend to cut more pale in color than mainstem Columbia springers. Target fish upstream of the mouth of the Willamette at Kelly Point Park where the river will run more clear. Small, green label herring with a flasher will be an anglers best bet, at least until the water warms and continues to clear.
The Willamette will remain a challenge although Meldrum Bar plunkers may take an occasional salmon or steelhead until flows subside.
McKenzie River levels were high but dropping on Tuesday this week. It will need to improve dramatically to fish by the weekend although dry weather is in the angler's favor.
The Santiams are high this week but will be dropping rapidly over the coming weekend. Fishing will be slow although summer steelhead and the first spring chinook are due at the end of April and into May.
Clackamas and Sandy River steelheaders have been sidelined for much of the week but these rivers could come in by the weekend. The first strong batch of broodstock steelhead should be present for anglers working the softer water as the flow drops. Small clusters of eggs or sand shrimp should produce the best results until the water clears by the middle of next week barring another major rain event.
A free spey fishing class will take place at the Oxbow Boat Ramp on March 22 from 1 PM to 3 PM. Extra rods will be available to fly fishers without spey gear.
Northwest – Steelheaders have been met with a mix of conditions but twice in the last week, the larger systems reached near-flood stage. Smaller streams such as the Kilchis fished well on Saturday and Monday, producing quality sized fish on baits and beads. Russ Hughes of Tierra Del Mar near Pacific City landed three fish topping 10-pounds on Monday, drifting small beads under a bobber. Even though the river was still running high, the river was producing good catches for wild steelhead for most boats floating the small system.
The Necanicum fished well on Saturday as well although this system seemed more laden with spawned-out hatchery fish than fresh wild ones. These small streams went back out by Saturday afternoon but will fish well for just the next few days.
Larger systems such as the Wilson, Nestucca and Trask should fish very well by the weekend. Late-run broodstock steelhead should be readily available on the Wilson and Nestucca and the Trask should produce good results for wild fish. Baits will be best on these systems until flows drop and by late in the weekend, bobbers and plastic worms or jigs and plugs should start to produce.
The Nehalem will likely remain out of reach through the weekend but if the drying trend continues, it should fish well by the middle of next week. It should be peak season on this system if the weather cooperates.
Offshore opportunity still looks to be limited with the upcoming ocean forecast. Ample numbers of lingcod and sea bass await in calmer seas. Crabbing will likely be poor in both the ocean and estuaries.
Southwest- Dry weather this week will make for pleasant outings on the coast. If offshore conditions defy the forecast and mellow out sufficiently for boats to launch, bottom fishing will be excellent and ocean crabbing is picking up according to recent reports.
March 22 to March 29 is Spring Whale Watch Week on the Oregon Coast.
Winchester Bay has been poor for crabbing. Steelheaders on the Umpqua will be rewarded with improving water conditions this week. The mainstem will provide catch-and-release action for natives while South Umpqua anglers will find good flows and color as well as hatchery keepers.
Crabbing remains slow in Coos Bay which has yet to recover from the last passing storm. When the salinity level returns to normal, Dungeness will follow.
Flows on the lower Rogue are moderating as fishing improves. Winter steelhead have been taking plunked Spin 'n' Glos but drift gear will be effective by the coming weekend. Springers are being caught, about half of which are hatchery keepers. Chinook results will improve in coming weeks. Steelheading on the middle Rogue has been slow to fair but is expected to improve as numbers build and water conditions improve. Catches of winter steelhead picked up early this week on the upper Rogue. Bait has been most effective.
Applegate steelheaders are taking fish this week with hardware most effective. No boat angling is allowed here.
Fishing for lingcod and rockfish has been excellent on jigs when boats have been able to slip just outside the entrance to Brookings Harbor. Chetco levels are rapidly dropping with dry weather and the river will produce winter steelhead this week.
Elk River steelheaders have scored when water conditions have been good although this system goes from just right to too low rapidly. Jigs and drift rigs are taking fish.
The surface of Diamond Lake remains slushy and is unsafe for fishing. It remains to be seen if ice fishing will be possible again before the spring thaw.
Eastern – The lower Deschutes is dropping and clearing but fishing is slow. Trout are rising to a hatch of small black stoneflies on the middle Deschutes.
Waters of the Grande Ronde River were still running muddy early this week. It will take some time to clear.
Crooked River levels are coming up slightly with trout rising to midge and caddis patterns in crowded conditions.
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