Willamette Valley/Metro - Bonneville fishers continue to take fair numbers of summer chinook and steelhead catches should ramp up soon. Adipose finned chinook still largely outnumber hatchery catches however. Shad however remains the primary focus for most anglers with creel catches quite impressive under the sunny skies.
An average of 250 spring chinook per day have been counted at Willamette Falls despite moderating flows and water temperatures in the mid-60s. The modest total is over 20,000 as of early June. Springer catches in the lower river have been slow although a few are still being caught on trolled herring, backbounced roe or on spinners. Shad fishing at Oregon City is taking the spotlight. Boats are doing best by far but bank fishers are also scoring some shad. Anything shiny is worthy of a hit from these fish. Bass fishing has been good.
McKenzie water levels are subject only to snowmelt from which the waters showed a slight increase on June 5th. Expect to find waters gently dropping and redsides sipping on caddis.
Summer steelhead are being caught in the North Santiam on a variety of lures. It's not hot but is getting to be worthwhile. As numbers build, so are catches of spring chinook near the confluence and into the South Santiam River. Bobber and bait has been most consistent.
Free fishing weekend drew plenty of hopefuls to the Clackamas. Now that the crowds have thinned, summer steelhead will be the target of most anglers. With water flows skinny and clear, try early mornings or late evenings for the best chance of fooling a fish. Bobber and jig fishers have been successful recently.
Summer steelhead have been spooky in the low waters of the Sandy River. The best approach at this time of year and in these conditions will be at first light. Small spinners will often draw a strike. Swinging flies is often effective. Spring chinook have been MIA in the lower river over the past week.
Northwest – Anglers banking on a productive tide series on lower Tillamook Bay this weekend went home largely humbled. Catches were poor despite ideal tides and fishing conditions although the wind hampered some effort up the bay. Saturday's Bounty on the Bay fundraiser netted proceeds for local restoration projects but only 6 fish for 66 anglers. Andy Schneider took “Captain with the most inches” with 2 spring chinook totaling 61¾”. Fishing hasn't improved since.
With persistent NW winds, the small boat fleet didn't expend much effort for last week's halibut opener. Bottomfishing remains good, mostly for sea bass but again, strong winds are keeping most sportanglers at bay.
Spring chinook and a rare summer steelhead are in the Trask, Wilson and Nestucca Rivers but low, clear water is challenging anglers. First light will produce the best results and it's clear that the run is not as large as it was last year.
Lower Columbia salmon and steelhead anglers are finding fair success and improving odds with the upcoming minus tide series. Beach plunkers have nearly ideal conditions by the weekend. Use spin-n-glos and coon shrimp for best success. The sockeye return is expected to be good and anglers are allowed to retain sockeye as part of their daily bag limit beginning June 16th. Check regulations for specifics.
Catch and release sturgeon fishing in the lower Columbia River is productive. Smelt is taking a fair number of quality fish but sand shrimp, when available, will also produce good results.
Razor clam digging along Clatsop area beaches should be productive if the ocean swell remains subdued.
Southwest- Wind has played havoc with offshore boaters recently, making alternate activities in lakes, bays and rivers appealing alternative choices for south coast anglers.
Charters out of Depoe Bay were able to get out on the past Saturday for deep-water halibut despite rough ocean conditions. The reward of large flatties was considered well worth it. The next all-depth halibut opener will be June 19-21.
Rockfish and lingcod catches have been excellent out of central Oregon ports whenever boats have been able to get out.
While crabbing is not worthwhile at Winchester Bay, the pinkfin perch run is ongoing. Success with these fish is sporadic but can be rewarding for those who hit the right place at the right time.
Limits of bottomfish await sport and charter boats once offshore conditions allow launches out of Charleston. Chinook catches have been slow but are expected to show some improvement as salmon move northward. Bay crabbing remains slow.
Fierce offshore winds have kept boats inside the port at Gold Beach over most of the past week. When brief windows of opportunity opened, lingcod and rockfish were taken in good number. High winds have hampered efforts on the lower Rogue over the past week and middle river efforts have been in vain. Above the old Gold Ray Dam site however, spring chinook fishing has been fair to good for those fishing cured egg and sand shrimp combos. Stable flows and good numbers of springers moving upriver are credited with keeping upper Rogue anglers busy. Last week, over 1,200 spring chinook entered Cole Rivers Hatchery, bringing the total to more than 4,200. Summer steelhead are just starting to make an appearance All wild chinook must be released unharmed downstream of the Fishers Ferry boat ramp.
Brookings anglers were plying the waters of the harbor for crab from the docks over the past week with fair success. Area beaches have been producing decent catches of surf perch. Ocean chinook fishing, which has been the best in Oregon, will resume when ocean conditions settle down.
Eastern – An early Salmonfly hatch on the Deschutes was rewarding to many who timed it right. Now about over, it's time to shift to Caddis patterns and keep an eye out for Green Drakes, particularly on drizzly days.
Pale Morning Duns have been making a regular appearance on the Metolius although Green Drakes are showing occasionally upstream toward Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery. Large browns have been taken on imitations.
Fall River has been fishing well with a mix of Mayfly, Caddis and midge patterns effective at times.
Flows are high at the Imnaha and Wallowa River although some trout fishing is taking place with fair result. Both rivers will open to hatchery spring chinook fishing on Saturday, June 21.
Odell trollers are having their way with fair-sized kokanee in decent number on brightly-colored hoochies.
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