Willamette Valley/Metro – Spring Chinook effort and catch stayed relatively similar to last week although statistically speaking, anglers this week caught slightly fewer fish and certainly fewer keepers. Like last year, upper river anglers fishing the Oregon City area only caught wild fish, requiring release. Our theory from last year was that all the keepers got culled from downriver anglers, there’s only so many biters in the system, and with water conditions stable, downstream anglers have the best crack at the first hatchery fish to enter the system. It’s asenine to think that fish entering the Oregon City area haven’t had the opportunity to get caught downriver, they’ve certainly come across trolled gear under these “low water” conditions. Bank anglers have yet to tally a springer in the Oregon City area.
Trollers working the Multnomah Channel remain the most successful anglers, but that’s no surprise given the current water conditions.
The Columbia has yet to take off, but that’s no surprise. Twenty-five springers have passed Bonneville Dam with many more to come if things go our way. There isn’t much effort, but that should change after this week. Catches commonly pick up by spring break.
Clackamas River anglers are also dealing with low, clear water and a less than stellar return of winter fish, but some would say we’re just now coming into peak season however. We had higher hopes for the Clackamas given its fair return of early fish, but the run is not shaping up as most had hoped.
Here’s what pro guide Jeff Stoeger (503-704-7920) of O2BFISHN GUIDE SERVICE had to say about Sandy River fishing, “Hello All. Today I floated the Sandy and it was a beautiful day on the river. The river level is 8.75 ft today (Wednesday) and is on the drop. The river is gin clear and we could use some rain to bring the river up. The picture is of a native that we released after a quick pic. The latest report is that the river has slowed down and that I have heard of a few areas that had produced multiple catches over the last few days. The upper river has fish and spinners and beads have been the ticket. Oxbow to Dabney stretch has produced some fish and those guys who are willing to pull plugs have had some luck. So I hope to see you on the river and share some stories. So wishing you the best of luck and tight lines.”
There are some winter trout opportunities, but with the upcoming weather blast and current wet weather events, maybe they should fend for themselves for just a bit longer. HERE is the March stocking schedule.
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Northwest Oregon – Steelheaders continue to find fish under challenging conditions, but persistence and innovation is the key to finding any degree of success. Anglers on the Wilson, Trask, Nestucca and Siletz all reported some success this week, but as per usual under these conditions, the early bird often got the most worms.
The Wilson is likely the most challenging river to fish under low water conditions, but the fact of the matter is, fish want to enter as we stride into peak season. The lower reaches have produced the best catches, albeit light.
The Nestucca is working for those most innovative. Pink worms drifted under bobbers is working fairly well, and like most systems, anglers are relying on tidal fish or first light biters. The stretch below Three Rivers is holding the most biters.
Loren’s Drift to the Highway 101 take-out is the best option for Trask River anglers. Bobber dogging worms or small beads is best. Jigs aren’t a bad option either.
Siletz River anglers found some biters on Thursday, with little competition to fight for spots. One guide reported 5 opportunities, landing 3, 1 quality hatchery fish, 1 quality wild fish, and 1 spent steelhead to boot.
Other systems are simply too low for consistent success, but the tidewater reaches of these smaller streams are certainly an option, such as the Necanicum and Alsea systems.
Bottomfishing drew some interest this week as well. Although winds further offshore made for some bumpy rides back, if you stuck to the nearshore, you had a good day. Deep-reef anglers did well too, especially for lingcod.
Here’s another #KastKing Crush, using the KastKing 7’6″ Hot Shot Krome rod with shrimp flies and lead jigs. We had our 15 fish limits, along with 3 lings for the three of us by 10:00 a.m.
LOTS of smaller crab in the pots, even for a short soak. We took 9 keepers for 6 pots with a LOT of commercial competition south of the south jetty out of Garibaldi.
Trout are getting stocked in plenty of coastal lakes in the coming weeks.
Central and Eastern Oregon Fishing Reports
From our friend Tim Moran:
Lower Deschutes River – – Trout fishing is good. Fishing nymphs throughout the day will take most fish but look of hatches of BWO, caddis and even some sallies.
John Day River – Steelhead are dispersed throughout the river. There isn’t much pressure and the weather will be good…Good enough to catch some of the larger early spring Smallmouth’s too.
Metolius River – Nymphs are going to work all day but there will be more BWO and caddis hatches in the afternoons March browns are showing up now so fish a 16 Purple Haze to imitate this fly.
Crooked River – Fishing on the Crooked is off the hook! The flows are stable and with this weather the bugs will be out and dry fly fishing has been and should to be great through the weekend.
Fall River – still a bit of snow around and the hatchery has been shut down due to the dreaded COVID19 virus. The rest of the river is good to go.
Ochocco Reservoir – This fishery is hold up. Trout are being taken by worms and powerbait off the shoreline and trollers are getting them about 75ft back with an ounce and a half of weight pulling hoochies and spoons. Fly guys are getting fish stripping leech patterns.
Chickahominy Reservoir – The ice is off and fishing is great when it’s not blowing.
Good luck everyone…Fishing is the ultimate “social distance” sport. Be safe and get out if you can and enjoy a great spring weekend!
From ODF&W
On the Crooked River, fishing for trout and whitefish has been excellent lately.
On Lake Billy Chinook, fishing for bull trout and kokanee has been good to great in the Metolius and Crooked River arms.
Anglers have been catching some nice trout in Ochoco and Prineville reservoirs.
Anglers have been catching some nice trout in Ochoco and Prineville reservoirs.
Several waterbodies are scheduled to be stocked with trout this week, including Bikini Pond, Shevlin Pond, Taylor Lake, Rock Creek Reservoir, Prineville Youth Fishing Pond and Pine Hollow Reservoir.
Rock Creek, Pine Hollow, Taylor, and Bikini also will get some extra-large brood trout.
Steelhead returns to the Umatilla are below average, a total of 1,030 steelhead have returned to date. River conditions are perfect, though boaters should be cautious of new obstacles, log jams and trees in the river channel.
With dry weather in the forecast, water conditions should be good for steelhead fishing on the John Day River.
This is a good time of year to target kokanee on Wallowa Lake.
Steelhead fishing has been good in the Wallowa River. Flows should remain fishing-friendly over the next week or so.
Marr Pond has been stocked with surplus steelhead. This is a good opportunity for young children to catch a big fish.
Big Rock Reservoir is open and anglers have been catching some nice trout.
The lower reaches of the Chewaucan upstream of Paisley are now reachable and fish have been rising in the evenings.
The best bet for the Klamath area is native redband trout in the Klamath River from Keno Dam to below the JC Boyle Powerhouse.
Fishing in lakes, reservoirs, and ponds can be fabulous immediately after ice-off. Holdover trout are hungry and willing to bite. With the onset of warmer spring temperatures, many waterbodies already are ice-free – see Warm Springs, Pole Creek, Krumbo, Holbrook, Priday, Spaulding and Big Rock reservoirs and Mud Lake — and fishing should be good.
Several waterbodies are scheduled to be stocked this week, including Ana Reservoir, Priday Reservoir, Becker Pond and Krumbo Reservoir.
Southwest – From ODF&W
Spring time fishing! Beautiful weather allowed for a nice and calm ocean this past week. Many anglers were able to get out on the water and try for some deep-water lingcod and rockfish, with high success. A flat ocean allowed kayakers to get out on the water as well and catch some nice size lingcod. There appears to be plenty of bait in the water, as many of the rockfish were reported to be full of squid. Near limits of both lingcod and rockfish catches were reported.
The bottomfish fishery is open at all depths. The General Marine Species bag limit is 5 fish.
Retention of yelloweye rockfish is prohibited by all anglers.
All salmon except coho season from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. opened on March 15 with a limit of 2 salmon per day (closed to coho): Chinook minimum size of 28 inches total length and steelhead 20 inches total length. This season is expected to continue through Oct. 31, but will not be finalized until early May when the Pacific Fishery Management Council finalizes seasons for 2020, and then is approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Secretary of Commerce.
Details for the 2020 ocean salmon season, full catch and quota updates will be available here.
Steelhead anglers continue to catch bright steelhead in the deeper pools of the South Fork Coquille River.
Whoop, whoop! Arizona Pond got an unscheduled stocking of trophy and legal-size trout this week.
There are a lot of fish in Garrison Lake, and fishing is good.
Bank anglers willing to do a little walking on the Elk River have been very successful catching steelhead.
The best steelhead fishing in the Umpqua will be in the main, where anglers are still catching a few fish in spite of low water levels.
Surfperch fishing usually sees an uptick in spring and early summer.
It will be a good weekend for trout anglers, as several area waterbodies are scheduled to be stocked this week, including Cooper Creek Reservoir, Marie Lake, Garrison Lake, Reinhart Park Pond, Willow Lake, Galesville Reservoir, Ben Irving Reservoir, Powers Pond, Selmac Lake, Lost Creek Reservoir, Look Lake and Emigrant Reservoir.
SW Washington – From the WDF&W web site, March 3rd.
For regulation updates, go HERE.
Mainstem Lower Columbia River
Sec 1 (Bonneville) – 9 bank anglers had no catch.
Sec 2 (Camas/Washougal) – 2 boats/3 rods kept one steelhead.
Sec 3 (I-5 area) – 3 boats/4 rods had no catch.
Sec 4 (Vancouver) – 31 bank anglers released one steelhead. 41 boats/76 rods kept two Chinook.
Salmon/Steelhead:
Columbia River Tributaries
Elochoman River – 5 bank anglers kept one steelhead. 2 boats/5 rods released 3 steelhead.
Cowlitz River – I-5 Br downstream – 170 bank rods kept 18 steelhead and released 10 steelhead. 2 boats/4 rods kept one steelhead.
Cowlitz River above the I-5 Br – 59 bank rods kept nine steelhead and released one steelhead. 135 boats/437 rods kept 161 steelhead and released 17 steelhead.
Tacoma Power employees recovered 279 winter-run steelhead adults and one spring Chinook adult during five days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.
During the past week, Tacoma Power released 10 winter-run steelhead adults into the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton and they released 23 winter-run steelhead adults into Lake Scanewa in Randle.
River flows at Mayfield Dam are approximately 6,430 cubic feet per second on Monday, March 16, 2020.
Water visibility is 6 feet and the water temperature is 43.2 F.
Kalama River – 2 bank anglers had no catch. 3 boats/7 rods kept five steelhead.
Lewis River – 5 bank anglers had no catch.
Tributaries not listed: Creel checks not conducted
There are always more Oregon fishing reports right here.
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