Willamette Valley/Metro – With the Willamette largely a warm water fishery now, effort is light for salmon and sturgeon. It’ll be that way for quite some time.
The Columbia River opened back up for Chinook salmon on August 1st and like the summer steelhead fishery that has been underway for a while now, will continue to produce poorly for the foreseeable future. It’s a short season this year, but we’re still weeks away from a stronger possibility.
Salmon and steelhead counts at Bonneville remain depressing. Managers are hopeful the fall run of Chinook will perform better.
Besides the Willamette, numerous lakes in the district will also produce warm water fish for the dedicated angler. Check out ODF&W’s web site for options locally, or far away.
The Clackamas continues to under-perform. Coho will be next on tap, but that fishery is still several weeks away.
Pro guide Jeff Stoeger (503-704-7920) of O2BFISHN reports, ” This week’s report is on the short side. There is springers still entering the trap on the Bull Run and should continue for a few more weeks. Spinners have been the main item of choice in catching these prized fish. Most of the action continues to be Oxbow Park up to the hatchery. Reports show that good numbers of springers started entering the upper tributaries of the upper Sandy.
See the full version of Jeff’s report by becoming a paid subscriber here.
Photo: Stevie Parsons with a 7/23 Garibaldi Chinook
Northwest Oregon – Coho fishing remains the fishery of choice for anglers throughout the coastal region. Wildly varying water temperatures has fluctuated the bite, but the ocean out of the mouth of the Columbia remains the best bet. Newport has been a good producing port as well, Pacific City and Garibaldi, a bit less so this season.
Freshwater fisheries has been dismal this season, but summer steelhead remain an option on the Wilson, Nestucca and Siletz Rivers. Some summer Chinook are starting to show on the Siletz but we’re still weeks away from more robust catches of fall Chinook, which will also be somewhat depressed coast wide this year.
The Nehalem has been producing only an occasional Chinook. Wheeler will be the better option this weekend as stronger tides push fish up higher into the estuary. The jaws will likely be a poor option.
Bottomfishing remains good, but fluctuating water temperatures has not done this fishery any favors either. Sea bass remain the best target but there’s been some fair lingcod catches lately too.
Tuna have shown up in decent number lately, offshore, due west of Tillamook head about 30 miles. Seas don’t look too friendly for tuna this weekend.
Ocean crabbing remains fair, better than estuary crabbing, especially this weekend with a more extreme tide series.
Central and Eastern Oregon Fishing Reports
From avid angler Tim Moran
Tim is now in Alaska this week, doing “research,” he suggests looking at his last archived report (below) since it has a lot of application this week. Thanks Tim, and we look forward to hearing about your new adventures!
Crane Prairie – Trout fishing is good and fish are still being caught near the channels. Bass fishing continues to be very good with several fish in the 2 to 4 lb range being caught.
Hosmer Lake – It’s a damsel and zebra midge show on Hosmer right now and fishing has been very good.
Wickiup – The reservoir is starting to drop fast now with summer weather returning. Bass fishing has taken most of the attention away from the kokes and browns this week as several reports came in with pictures of some nice bigmouths caught in the reservoir.
Prineville Reservoir: No word on Prineville this week but it’s been holding up well for trout fishing and all warmwater species all year so don’t expect that to change.
East Lake – East Lake fishing is holding up well and continues to produce browns and rainbows. The hatches are coming off in the morning and evenings as well so bring plenty of Calibaetis imitations to match what’s coming off. If the wind comes up drift with an intermediate sink tip and a San Juan worm. It can be deadly and will keep you wind casting frustration to a minimum!!
Paulina Lake – Same as last week – Fishing for browns and rainbows has been very good. It’s a calibeatis show so bring plenty to match the hatch.
Lower Deschutes River – BWO, PMD’s and cadis are all popping on the lower D. With the cooler July fishing has been great!
John Day River – Bass fishing is great and will be until it cools off or there is a major thunder shower event in the canyon. The flow is low (380 CFS) so pontoons are about the only way of getting down river. This is also a great time to locate spots to walk into the river and walk and fish. Just be aware that you don’t trespass when getting out.
Owyhee River – The river hadn’t gotten too much attention on our radar due to a cold spring and high flows that lasted into June but the river is now stabilized and is fishing well. The fish are big here 16 to 25 inches and your flies are small (18 to 22) so 5 and 6x tippet is the norm.
It’s going to be a great weekend with warm dry weather so hopefully, you can get out and enjoy the rivers and lakes that are fishing well!
From ODF&W
Fishing the higher elevation hike-in lakes can offer solitude, good fishing, and a chance to combine a couple of your favorite outdoor activities. Find more information on planning your hike-in fishing trip.
Steelhead anglers are finding fish in the lower 25 miles of the Deschutes River.
Anglers report good trout fishing in Crane Prairie Reservoir with the best fishing in the river channels.
Fishing has been good on Three Creek Lake during the morning and evening hours.
Anglers have been catching fish on Davis Lake – largemouth on the north end and rainbows on the south.
Metolius Pond and Fall River are scheduled to be stocked this week.
Bass fishing on the John Day remains somewhat slow, but the fish being caught tend to be a little larger.
Jubilee Lake is a great destination to beat the summer heat, and it was stocked with trout just last week.
Bass and walleye fishing in the Columbia River are good summertime bets.
McKay Reservoir crappie have been biting just before dark.
Trout fishing in Fourmile Lake has been good.
Trout fishing also has been good in Long Creek and the North Fork Sprague River.
Fish Lake in the Wallowa Mountains has been stocked with more fish than in recent years, so anglers can expect fishing to be very good.
Phillips Reservoir has been stocked with approximately 14,000 legal-size and 4,500 trophy-size rainbow trout this year. ‘Nuf said.
The trail to Blue Lake in the Gearhart Wilderness is open and fishing has been excellent.
Anglers have been picking up some 2- to 3-pound largemouth bass in the Thompson Valley Reservoir.
This is a good time of year to hit the Chewaucan River for redband trout, and to let the kids play in the water and catch crayfish.
Pete is out this week as well.
Southwest – From ODF&W
Ocean salmon fishing for Chinook salmon from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt is open. The ocean opened to fin-clipped coho salmon on June 22. Chinook must be a minimum of 24-inches long and coho must be at least 16 inches. Fishing for salmon has been okay with Winchester being the most productive ports on the coast. Anglers have been averaging one fish per person. As of July 21, ocean salmon anglers have caught 30.3 percent of the fin-clipped coho quota.
The Nearshore Halibut season is open seven days a week in the Central Coast Subarea. As of July 21, there is 76 percent of the Nearshore quota remaining. As of July 20, there is still 48 percent of the Spring All-Depth quota remaining for the Central Coast. The next open All-Depth halibut days will be on Aug. 2-3. The Southern Oregon Subarea is open seven days a week for halibut. There is still 85 percent of the quota remaining for the Southern Oregon Coast halibut season.
Summer steelhead numbers are increasing in the middle and upper Rogue. Now would be a good time to hit the water. Fishing for chinook on the upper Rogue between Dodge Bridge and Cole Rivers Hatchery closes August 1 however.
Bass fishing continues to be good in lakes, ponds and river throughout the Zone, including the Tenmile Lakes, the South Fork and mainstem Umpqua and many other locations.
There should be a Chinook or two lurking in the lower sections of the Smith River.
The Rogue River above Lost Creek Reservoir is scheduled to be stocked this week.
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