Willamette Valley/Metro With the bulk of the chinook run past Bonneville, action for wobbler anglers in the Portland reach should taper. The Bonneville backtrollers should continue to do well into mid-October however.
Fish counts at Willamette Falls demonstrate the seasonal urge of anadromous fish which are pushing their way upstream. Moderating water temperatures are prime factor. Over 1,000 fall Chinook have been tallied although at the rate coho are crossing, their numbers will eclipse the Chinook counts shortly. Steelhead are ticking along at a rate of roughly 25 a day with over 22,000 upstream as of September 19th.
McKenzie water levels have been impacted by showers this week but only enough to barely move the gauge. It remains to be seen what effect the beginning of fall showers ultimately has on the river.
North Santiam water level and flow increased significantly with rain over the past weekend, It's forecast to remain stable for the coming week, then increase again around the first of October.
Rain started to have an impact on the Clackamas River mid-week and coho responded. While this isn't the long-term solution and it won't be lights-out fishing from here forward, it has finally started and has been seen as a blessing by many who fish the Clack.
While precipitation had less of an effect on the waters of the Sandy River, there was a slight increase on Wednesday, September 24th but probably of equal effect is the calendar; it's just time for these fish to run and coho will enter as much by the time of year as by water conditions. Plus, Sandy River fish seem to bite better.
Originally scheduled for Sept. 27, ODFW biologists decided to postpone the free Family Fishing Event at St Louis Ponds by two weeks due to prolonged warm, dry weather. The new date will be October 11th from 9 Am to 2 PM. The ODFW will release 1,700 rainbow trout, including 400 one-pounders, likely be split between Ponds 1, 3 and 6. ODFW will provide everything people need to go fishing – rods, reels, tackle and bait and instructors will be on hand. People who want to bring their own fishing gear are welcome to do so.
Northwest – Chinook trollers working Tillamook Bay continue to be frustrated by seaweed and eelgrass fouling gear. That would be ok if good numbers of chinook were present but they're not. Wild coho are prevalent throughout the estuary but only remain open for the taking on Friday's and Saturday's. Action for these fish should only improve in the coming weeks.
Nehalem Bay trollers are taking good numbers of wild coho and an occasional chinook. Wheeler to Fisher Point is the best but the stretch in front of the city of Nehalem should also produce good results. The North Fork Nehalem has received a wad of coho but as is typically the case, they are not biting well.
Although the Salmon River is tapering, the Nestucca system should continue to produce well into October. Bobber and bait casters should have a good week in tidewater and trollers working the mouth should fare well on the waning tide series.
Coho remain plentiful in the lower Columbia. Three fish limits are still the rule for persistent anglers and crabbing should pick up too over the weekend. Not many people are participating and fresh bait may be hard to come by, unless you jig your own anchovies.
Southwest- Most central coast charters shut down mid-week with wind and wave making offshore forays an impossibility. Hopes are high for ocean conditions to moderate with fishing to resume over the weekend to come.
There will be no depth restriction for lingcod fishers beginning October 1. On that date, offshore anglers targeting ling may do so in whatever depths they wish. Some large lings are expected to hit the docks.
Crabbing has been fair out of Depoe Bay and Newport, much better in the ocean from Bandon to Winchester Bay.
Once the ocean settles down again, tuna hunters will know if their quarry remain within reach. Fishing was very good last week.
Halibut fishing remains open seven days a week in waters 40 fathoms or shallower off the central Oregon coast with 35% of the quota remaining.
Participation in ocean salmon fishing has dropped off for boats launching out of Reedsport now that the coho season is closed. Chinook are still being taken in fair to good number. Trollers using herring and bank anglers throwing spinners are taking Chinook. Bay crabbing is good. Smallmouth fishing is good on the Umpqua mainstem and South Umpqua while steelheading is fair on the North Umpqua.
Trollers in the Rogue estuary have been doing fairly well. On the lower Rogue near Agness, catches of adult steelhead and half pounders have been ongoing despite skinny water conditions. Chinook catches on the middle Rogue have been fair to good for boats long-lining plugs. With low water deterring the movement of fresh fish into the upper Rogue, steelheading in the flies-only section has been slow.
Boats out of the Port of Brookings were still chasing tuna over the past week. Catches of rockfish and lingcod have been excellent just outside the harbor entrance. Chinook fishing has been slow to spotty inside Brookings Harbor.
Eastern – Fewer daylight hours at this time of year combine with seasonably cooler nights to improve conditions for steelheaders on the Deschutes.
Crooked River fly fishers have been taking fish recently by matching the periodic hatches of Blue-Winged Olives and Pale Morning Duns.
Odell Lake is still producing bright kokanee to downrigger trollers working depths of 50to 80 feet.
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