Photo: Matt from Iowa with his Tillamook Bay caught spring Chinook on May 11th. The fish took a red-label herring trolled behind a Pro Troll flasher along the jetty. With Pro guide Bob Rees
Portland/Metro Fishing Report – Anglers working the lower Willamette are still finding success for spring Chinook with many more to come. Trollers working flashers and spinners in the warming waters are finding some success in the morning, but having to work for success for the rest of the day. There’s always a few fish around high tide as well.
The Oregon City area, as well as the middle river is largely void of anglers and biting salmon. Even the shad run seems to be slow to go in what should be a good time for this invasive species in the upper reach. Passage at Willamette Falls remains fairly good.
No changes on the mainstem Columbia, but managers will likely meet on Monday to discuss future opportunities based on an updated run size. Anglers remain focused on the June 16th summer Chinook opener, but that’s still a month away. Shad are starting to ascend Bonneville Dam.
Trout continue to get stocked with some vigor in all areas of the state. Check out the stocking schedule HERE.
North Coast Fishing Report – North Coast anglers haven’t had much opportunity in recent days. Strong NW winds have kept much of the fleet at bay, including the all-depth halibut opener that took place today. There were some boats that went offshore for halibut out of Garibaldi, but results were poor, really poor actually. Newport likely fared better, but given the wind waves thrashing big blue today, I’m not sure anyone had fun.
Bottomfishing remains productive, but again, strong winds kept much of the fleet in port. Ocean crabbing remains good, and crabbers working Tillamook Bay have been pleased with their results.
Spring Chinook fishing is certainly underway in Tillamook Bay, but no one is expecting terrific results. There’s a few fish being caught each day, either in the upper bay in the morning, or the lower bay in the afternoon. Either way, it’s challenging but we’re entering peak season for the next 4 weeks just now.
District rivers remain too low to have high expectations, the region is in desperate need of precipitation.
Good trout fishing remains on the north coast, the trout stocking trucks will remain busy for the next several weeks.
Central Oregon Fishing Reports – Glenn Zinkus POURS on the detail for trout and steelhead from the region. You’ve NEVER seen content like it (We guarantee it!), check out Glenn’s detailed report and forecast in this week’s paid version for Chinook and Steelhead Members both!
Weather Outlook Across Central and Eastern Oregon: Warm weather continues, along with a weekend warmup that will get the bugs and the fish active. Temperatures are forecasted to drop starting next Tuesday. Temperatures will be in the 80s through much of Central and Eastern Oregon through the weekend, and drop into the 60s and 70s on Tuesday. There may be some rain in Northeast Oregon starting Tuesday.
Lower Deschutes River: Salmon fly action is heating up through the Lower Deschutes system. Note that river flows are lower than normal for this time of year, so runs that we may typically fish during the summer are fishable now. Flows really are ideal now in the upper stretch of the Lower Deschutes, from Warm Springs to Trout Creek.
Deschutes was fishing fantastic during this past week for me. Other anglers in nearby camps thought the same thing. I overheard some guides comparing notes at the Trout Creek boat ramp, thinking that the fishing from Warm Springs to Trout Creek was a little slow.
I saw the first of just a few salmon flies buzz upstream last Thursday morning, and there were several in the grass, but it was still early for that area. I had the oldest Brittany with me, so I limited my fishing to water near the campsite
and did not go between Trout Creek and Mecca like I usually would. Mornings were better than afternoons for me, but I spent more time fishing during the mornings as well.
Other highlights included a rooster pheasant that wandered into our campsite one late afternoon and
excited the 14-year-old Brittany who thought his pheasant days were behind him. I saw the first rattler of the season as well, just on the outskirts of my campsite. I always seem to see more snakes during the early season.
Middle
Deschutes River: The Middle Deschutes is now at a great level for fishing. Jeff Perin at The Fly Fisher’s Place is reporting that there are salmonflies coming off right now. Friends are having good success on dry flies.
Haystack
Reservoir – The reservoir shows as 79% full. If fly fishing, start with Balanced Leeches under an indicator.
Lake Billy Chinook fishing is fantastic for bull trout. The Metolius Arm is open (tribal pass required) and anglers are catching bull trout in this area.
Crooked
River: Crooked River is fishing great, especially with nymphs. Jeff Perin at The Flyfishers Place in Sisters reports that there are caddis on the river – use pupa, nymphs, emergers and adults in sizes #14-16, gray-olive colors.
Fall
River: Fall River is producing good fishing opportunities, and a popular angling location with last week’s warm weather. ODFW released 1000 trophy size hatchery rainbows into Fall River last month. Reports are that there are fishing from the
Hatchery up to the headwaters is good.
Metolius
River: The Metolius is only getting better with the warm days of May. I stopped by and checked a few favorite locations, talking with anglers along the way. Fishing has been good – nymphing is taking a majority of the trout still.
If you are fortunate
enough to catch a bull trout, please keep-em-wet, releasing these precious predators unharmed and as quickly as possible. Thanks much.
South
Twin Lake: South Twin is fishing well with stripped leeches and balanced leeches under an indicator. As we go into May, start thinking of damsel nymphs along the edges. Fishing with bait is starting to take a good number of fish now.
Crescent
Lake: Crescent Lake will remain very low. The lake is accessible from the boat ramp at the resort, for a $10 fee paid to the resort. We are entering the prime time to catch Mackinaws.
Odell
Lake:
Angling buddies are reporting catches of Mackinaw in Odell – while trolling at about 30 to 40 feet – much shallower than expected. It must be that the Macks are shallow right now.
MUCH More detail, inlcuding what patterns to use, in the full version of The Guide’s Forecast. Subscribe HERE.
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome reports:
Trout and bass action in the lakes catches angler’s attention
Mid-Rogue Fishing Report
The Rogue River is open all year and retention of wild steelhead is now closed!
The Rogue river has increased flow to over 2000cfs from Lost Creek Dam to keep the water cool and good flow to perpetuate upriver Spring Chinook salmon migration. Still very few Springers have made the long dry trek up to the dam as only 16 have been counted so far. No “real” reports of any springers caught yet, but with flows increased by over 25% the last week, hopes are high that catches, and counts will pick up any time.
Tight lines! Romer
From the Guides Mouth:
Grants Pass guide Troy Whitaker of Troy’s Guide Service (541-761-0015) – Looks to be more of a lake time fishing for trout and bass right now until some significant Springer action takes place. “Few are fishing the lower Rogue as winter steelhead is over and Springer catches have been far and few” Troy said after spending a few days in Gold Beach last week.
Local Grants Pass guide Riley Wallace of Wallace Guide Service 541-761-2386
Riley is on sabbatical this week
Fly fishing forecast:
Josh from Rogue Fly Shop in Grants Pass 541-476-0552
Josh reports that fly fishing for steelhead has been mediocre up in the “Holy water” (which is the short section between the Dam and the hatchery) is the best bet for late winter steelhead until trout season opens May 22nd. Reports of a big mayfly hatch going on will induce bites using mayfly patterns casted upon pocket water. Also suggested was to try some of the small lakes and ponds for stocked trout and bass with black leech and streamer patterns.
Andy Martin- Brookings Fishing Charters 541-813-1082
Andy reports that wind kept his fleet off the ocean this week and looks like the same for the weekend so not much to report on as far as ocean fishing. Monday might be the first chance in which bottom fish and halibut will be the target. Andy said that surf perch up towards Charleston has been great along with trout and bass fishing in the local lakes.
Surf Perch – Red-tail surf perch fishing has curtailed anglers due to the high winds and surf conditions. When the winds die down, it should puck right up again soon. Andy said that areas along Harris Beach, Lone Ranch and the boarder visitor center beach areas are all great access to fish. Raw shrimp, and Gulp 2” camo sand worms are baits of choice for surf perch.
Just for the Halibut– all depth halibut season opened May 1st.
See Pacific halibut sport regulations for more information.
SW Washington
Vancouver Metro Area
Kalama and Klickitat Rivers still offer springers, and Drano Lake reopened today. The bite is improving. Sturgeon are biting in the Columbia, and the first summer steelhead are trickling into local rivers. Some local lakes have slowed for trout amid spring turnovers.
Two rivers and Drano Lake remain open for spring Chinook in SW Washington. Expect plenty of company if you go to the Kalama or Drano. Low water is also negatively affecting the bite in most rivers. Sturgeon retention is open on the big river, and the bite should get better as the month progresses.
Spring lake turnovers have hurt the trout fishing in some local lakes, although warm water fisheries, especially for panfish and walleye, are still doing well. Anglers are eagerly awaiting the snow melting enough to get into the high-country lakes for trout.
Lewis and Washougal Rivers Fishing Report—The Lewis River is giving up a few summer steelhead, according to John Thompson of Sportsman’s Warehouse in Vancouver, (360) 604-8000). However, there are not a lot of them yet. A few springers are falling for bait, but spring Chinook retention has closed for the year. Once the hatchery gets its brood fish the season may reopen, but that is by no means a sure thing.
The Washougal is terribly low and clear, and there have been no reports yet of summer steelhead. There should be fish showing in better numbers next month, but some rain is needed.
Merwin and Yale Lakes Fishing Report—according to Stacie Kelsey with the WDFW Inland Fisheries, the two lakes must have turned over recently, and that has slowed the bite. With the water mixing from top to bottom, the schools have been bouncing around in different depths.
Anglers are having to work to find the best depth, which has run anywhere from 20 to 60 feet.
Local Lakes Fishing Report—Both Battle Ground Lake and Klineline Pond were some of the best lakes for trout over the last week, with some other waters slowing.
Longview Area
Cowlitz and Kalama Rivers Fishing Report—The Cowlitz has really slowed for steelhead the past two weeks, as the winter fish are done, and few summer fish have arrived. Last week, Tacoma Power employees recovered 169 winter-run steelhead adults, 60 spring Chinook adults, 18 spring Chinook jacks, and only 11 summer-run steelhead adults during five days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator. The fishing pressure has really dropped off, too. Above the I-5 Bridge 23 bank rods had no catch. Three boats/seven rods had no catch. Below the I-5 Bridge, 41 bank rods had no catch. 1 boat/2 rods had no catch.
The Kalama River is fishing fair for spring Chinook, but competition is fierce with most other local waters closed to springers. In the most recent WDFW creel survey, 61 bank rods had no catch. 28 boats/61 rods kept four Chinook, one jack and released one Chinook and one steelhead. Thompson did report that anglers are now finding some springers in the middle sections as well as the lower river miles. Bait such as salmon eggs or sand shrimp has been the best offering, either fished with divers or below bobbers.
Local Lakes Fishing Report—Trout fishing has slowed some in Kress, Horseshoe, and other lowland lakes, although anglers are still getting some fish. Crappie and yellow perch are biting at Silver Lake.
Columbia River Gorge
Drano Lake Fishing Report—The lake has reopened for spring Chinook, starting today. Managers reported that the hatchery has the fish it needs for egg take, so the decision to reopen the lake was made yesterday.
Anglers were doing pretty well right up until the closure. The last creel survey had 15 bank rods with no catch. 116 boats/336 rods kept 86 Chinook and released two Chinook. According to guide Shane Magnuson of Upper Columbia Guide Service, (509) 630-5433, the best bite before the closure was on prawn spinners, and the main lake had not been producing very well.
Klickitat River Fishing Report—Anglers are getting a few spring Chinook, but fishing is still poor overall. According to the latest WDFW creel survey, 28 bank rods kept three Chinook and released four jacks. The river is expecting about 1,000 springers this year. Carl Coolidge, who runs a shuttle service on the Klickitat, offers a daily fishing report on the Klickitat Canyon market website, and he strongly suggests anglers call the Klickitat Canyon Market (509-369-4400) before heading out to fish to see if the river is in good condition.
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