Willamette Valley/Metro – Metro rivers from the Sandy and Clackamas to the Willamette have been dropping and clearing all week. That puts smaller systems into low and clear water conditions, and the larger Willamette prime for spring Chinook action once again.
The Sandy has been producing fair to good catches this week, although anglers are fall to the mercy of the Columbia River Gorge’s east wind. It makes for a bitterly cold experience, but quality steelhead have been falling to experienced anglers as of late. It’s peak season on the Sandy and action should hold up well for the next 2 weeks.
The Clackamas has also been giving up some quality fish and not as susceptible to the bitter east wind. Anglers floating from Barton to Riverside are finding fair action, with both the mornings and afternoons producing opportunity. As flows drop, fish become more receptive to plugs since they’re more territorial when they get constricted by space.
Some spring Chinook have been caught lately, prior to the weekend bump, with Sellwood and Milwaukie reaches still producing the best results. It’s far from easy fishing however, folks still have to be persistent, and luck certainly plays a role in this early season fishery. Trolled herring or bounced prawns will be your best bet, but don’t overlook sand shrimp this time of year either. Following the weekend rise, the river is forecast to drop all week, putting opportunity back on the table for March arrivals.
Plunkers working Meldrum Bar for steelhead should also stand a fair chance at success this week. Use lots of scent for this strategy; it’s the only technique where fish have to come to you, make the most of your chances.
Pro guide Jeff Stoeger (503-704-7920) reports, “Well I hope that if you have the chance to get out and fish, now is the time. Fishing has picked up and has been good. The river is running on the low side with all this cold weather and snow. I’ve fished Monday and Thursday and did very well. On Monday, I went 3 for 4 and Thursday and I went 3 for 3, all native fish. The fish have been on the large size.
Oxbow to Dabney has also been very productive. The broodstock program is going well and we almost have all the numbers of fish for the program. Bank anglers are doing well and will continue to as spinners also have been good, retrieved slowly. If you do catch a native fish please use the best care possible. Please don’t drag them up on the bank. If possible please release as quick as possible for these fish are, our future.
Mason Waddle, 11, of Longview, Washington with his first and second ever winter steelhead. Waddle fished with guide Jack Glass on the Sandy River, catching these fish on 2/23.
Northwest Oregon – Stable and dropping flows have slowed the steelhead fishing in the Tillamook area, but peak season is upon us, and action should remain consistent for the coming weeks. Flows are dropping and clearing so innovative strategies are important.
The Wilson is low and clear with the trend likely to remain that way. The reach downstream of Sollie Smith Bridge is likely to produce the best biters, shortly after high tide. Plugs may be most effective since fish will likely spot side-drifters and be skittish with approaching watercraft. Cold mornings in the forecast justify a later start when temperatures warm.
The Nestucca is producing fair and consistent results with a fair mix of wild and hatchery broodstock fish falling to anglers this week. Like the Wilson, the lower reaches (downstream of Three Rivers) will likely produce the best results, and anglers will have to deploy innovative techniques to differentiate from the rest of the fleet.
The mainstem Nehalem should be a fair option this week and next. A lack of precipitation puts this system in prime shape during prime season with some large fish showing this time of year. It’s the best option for fly fishermen.
The offshore weather has been favorable for bottom fishers and sport crabbers. The fishing has been better than the crabbing with some dandy lingcod in the mix. There’s been very little effort this wild winter, fish are quite receptive.
Central and Eastern Oregon – From our friend Tim Moran:
With 3 to 6 feet of snow on the ground I didn’t go fishing this week or talk to anyone who did. The guides and flyfishing shops were quiet too. This would be a great weekend if you’re in central or eastern angler to tie some flies or jigs, make a bunch of kokanee rigs, oil and clean your reels and get ready for spring..which believe it or not, is just around the corner! The good news with all this snow is that lakes should be at full pool this spring and will hopefully not be drawn down to disastrous levels this fall.
ODF&W Updates
Best bets in the Central Zone this time of year are the year-round trout fisheries in the Deschutes, Crooked, Fall and Metolius rivers.
Recent heavy snows are limiting access to many locations and making travel treacherous. If you do venture out be sure to check the road conditions before you go and be prepared for winter driving.
Steelhead are available in the mid and upper reaches of the John Day River.
Winter and early spring are best months to target trout on Willow Creek Reservoir.
Recent heavy snows are limiting access to many locations and making travel treacherous. If you do venture out be sure to check the road conditions before you go and be prepared for winter driving.
Recent heavy snows are limiting access to many locations and making travel treacherous. If you do venture out be sure to check the road conditions before you go and be prepared for winter driving.
We’ve been getting reports of good ice fishing for trout and/or yellow perch at several waterbodies including Lake of the Woods, Gerber Reservoir, Phillips Reservoir, Malheur Reservoir, Pilcher Reservoir and Wolf Creek Reservoir.
While ice fishing, anglers with a two-rod endorsement may use up to five rods.
Southwest – From ODF&W
Bottomfish trips out of Newport last week were limited by unfavorable weather conditions, however, anglers reported rockfish catches had improved slightly and that lingcod fishing was still good.
Winter steelhead season is in full swing on the lower Rogue. Anglers have had success from the shore and from boats.
Winter steelhead have been thick on the Chetco, Elk and Sixes rivers.
Due to snow along the Umpqua River, weekend water levels will depend on how quickly the snow melts.
The first “spring” stocking of Coos-Coquille-Tenmile District lakes and ponds, originally scheduled for the week of Feb. 25, has been delayed due to weather and hazardous road conditions. Once conditions allow, many District waterbodies will be stocked periodically throughout the spring until early June.
In places like Tenmile Lakes and Lake Marie, yellow perch can be first warmwater fish to start biting in late winter/early spring.
Diamond Lake recently received several feet of snow. Ice fishing could be good once access is restored.
From Pete Heley at www.PeteHeley.com
Coos County received its first trout plants this week. Altogether 14,000 trout will be planted and all of them will be in the “legal” size classification measuring 8 to 10-inches. The waters being planted are: Bradley Lake (3,000); Johnson Mill Pond (3,000); Powers Pond (3,000); Saunders Lake (3,000) and Mingus Park Pond (2,000).
Next week Loon Lake is slated to receive 2,000 legal rainbows.
Most area streams have plenty of steelhead in them and fishing success depends primarily on stream conditions as well as fishing skill. Tenmile Creek in the Spin Reel Park area has been fishing especially well the last few weeks.
Winter steelhead are in all of our local streams and fishing success depends on stream conditions in most cases. Two streams that never seem to muddy up are Eel Creek and Tenmile Creek. Eel Creek is extremely “snaggy” and difficult to fish, while Tenmile Creek is the exact opposite and fairly snag free in most sections.
Pacific herring showed up in Yaquina Bay and Coos Bay in large numbers last week to spawn and may, in lesser numbers, be spawning in other estuaries as well.
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