Oregon fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro - Water level of the lower Willamette we will see little change due to rain this week. Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing has been good.

Winter fly fishing is expected to be fair on the McKenzie.

Fishing on the Santiams is slow and expected to remain that way for a while.

Clackamas and Sandy level and flow will remain little changed in the coming week. Coho fishing is slow. Targeting late summers is best at this time. Winter steelhead are on the way.

Metro - The Bonneville fishery is over with only dark Chinook remaining in the catch. Coho numbers at Bonneville are also finally in the downturn. It's about time to put the salmon gear away and hope for a productive spring Chinook run.

North Coast - Frigid weather kept most anglers off of Tillamook Bay recently but Chinook remain available for those fishing Bay City and the Ghost Hole. Herring remains the top bait but the bite has been best at first light and then it becomes a struggle for the rest of the day.

District rivers remain in excellent shape for drift-boaters and bank anglers. The Wilson will be the best bet but the Kilchis and Trask are also options. The tidewater stretch or below Sollie Smith should continue to output the best catches.

North Fork Nehalem hatchery workers have reported their first winter steelhead returns. The recording stated 2 winter steelhead were in the trap on Wednesday, somewhat confirming theory that the run may be large this year, especially given the magnitude of the coho return. It's still a bit early to get too excited, especially when a cold east wind is blowing.

Crabbing should be good in most coastal bays this weekend and if the east wind doesn't blow up too bad, the lower Columbia should be an excellent option.

Central & South Coast Reports - The ocean is open to all-depth fishing for rockfish and ling cod through the end of the year.

Ocean crabbing remains closed until December 1st but bay crabbing is making up for it with boats taking limits or near-limits from many coastal estuaries.

Halibut fishing is closed coast-wide now. The next opportunity will come in spring of 2015.

Wild coho are now in and available at Siltcoos, Tahkenitch and Tenmile Lakes.

Coho are still entering the Alsea System with fish scattered up to the deadline at Rivers Edge boat ramp.

Catches of Chinook have really tapered off for trollers at Coos Bay although rock-fishing is good from the jetties. Crabbing, as usual, is some of the best on the coast.

There's not much happening for salmon fishers at Rogue Bay now. Steelheading on the middle Rogue has been worthwhile. Steelheading on the upper Rogue has been quite good.

The Elk and Sixes may see enough precipitation to once again be fishable.

Central & Eastern – The Deschutes holds promise for larger steelhead now although few are fishing it.

Reports from Crooked River indicate that trout are being caught there.