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| Jeff Rome |
Portland/Metro Fishing Report
Fishing for most metro area fisheries are done for the season. Mainstem Columbia salmon fisheries are over, but Klickitat River coho fishermen still have a chance at fresh fish for the next few weeks. That is a bit of a drive for metro anglers, however.
The Clackamas and Sandy rivers both still have coho, but the bulk of the returning adults at this time are wild, requiring release. Hatchery fish will be hard to come by and winter steelhead are still weeks away, assuming the run will come in stronger than we've seen in the previous couple of years. Let's hope things change around for winter steelhead.
The trout stocking schedule still offers hope for metro anglers willing to brave more inclement conditions. The department of Fish and Wildlife is prepping for Black Friday, offering up a handful of opportunities for quality trout this time of year. Since nobody goes to shopping malls anymore, it's a great place to spend the day if the weather cooperates.
Catch and release sturgeon fishing in the lower Willamette River is also an option, you're just a little more exposed to the elements in this larger body of water. Wild coho counts passing Willamette falls was exceptional this year. It's a bit late for this fishery, but upper basin anglers may still find a few fresh fish.
Find the full report and forecast for Members on the Sandy and the Clackamas from this page here.
Willamette Valley Fishing
by Glenn Zinkus (A repeat from last week, Glenn will be providing fresh reports every OTHER week through the winter season.)
Alton Baker Canal: Scheduled to be stocked this week, and has been stocked with more than 4000 trout (legal and trophy trout) during the fall months of September and October. This is a good option for bait fishing with the kids.
Detroit Reservoir: Update on Detroit Lake Ramps and Parking: The low water ramp is in use at Detroit Reservoir. Parking is only allowed at the main parking lot. This is to free up space at the only ramps that are usable and allow more boaters access and egress.
Fishing for trout is good. Trout are more active and taking spinners, rapalas and trolled flies.
Special Note For Detroit Reservoir: The Marina is closed for repairs as of July 11.
Now, in addition to the Mongold Day Use Area, 1-1/2 miles west of Detroit Reservoir State Park having a boat launch, a boat ramp is now available for launching boats at Detroit Reservoir at Detroit Lake State Park boat ramp D.
Green Peter Reservoir: Green Peter Reservoir is on the rise.
Catches of legal size trout in the 12 to 13 inch range are reported.
As a caution, there are some reports of thefts from boat ramps including catalytic converters.
South Santiam Steelhead: It’s just not happening in this year of historically low steelhead returns. Last count last week was at 99 steelhead at Foster Dam.
South Santiam Trout: No New Updates. Possibilities below Foster Reservoir, but the upper South Santiam is still a mere trickle above the reservoir except for the popular deep swimming hole sections.
The South Santiam is at 1500 CFS, certainly a fishable level.
North Santiam Trout: The North Santiam received 2,200 legal size trout in August.
Some reports of fly anglers successfully “dapping” for trout came in.
Cohos are beginning to show up at the Bennet dams.
Glenn provides updates bi-weekly. Members can find last week's report and more from this page here.
North Coast Fishing Report
Given the poor performance of North Coast fall Chinook fisheries, and the consistent volatile weather systems that are continuing to head our way, effort continues to drop for what seems to be a remnant run of fall Chinook brutes to the North Coast.
Drift boat anglers have had ideal water conditions to pursue North Coast Chinook and in some cases chum salmon. The chum salmon return is much more robust than Chinook as anglers continue to struggle to find consistent results for the more prized species. The Kilchis River is loaded with chum salmon but anglers will lose the opportunity to target these aggressive fish after November 15th.
Tillamook Bay anglers have lost interest and in most cases, hope. It's definitely been a challenging late season for trollers on the bay, crabbing seems to have held up to at least provide some protein opportunity.
Most rivers to the South are fading quickly as well. Effort on the Siletz, Alsea and Nestucca systems have been yielding poor returns as well lately.
The ocean continues to be angry, limiting bottom fishing effort outside. That is not likely to change anytime soon.
See the full report and forecast for Members right here.
Central Oregon Fishing Reports
Contributor Glenn Zinkus reports: (A repeat from last week, Glenn will be providing fresh reports every OTHER week through the winter season.)
Lower Deschutes River:
November brings a close to fishing on the Warm Springs Reservation.
With recent and upcoming weather, it’s nymphing time with some occasional BWO hatches. BWOs on the overcast and wet days during the first half of the afternoon.
For dry fly purists, go to the Deschutes on overcast and wet days. Get there at lunch, and be ready for a blue wing olive hatch during the first half of the afternoon.
Middle Deschutes River: The river level is up. I checked out the river along Lower Bridge Road and find that it is getting high. Despite this, the Middle Deschutes has been fishing well; euronymphing and swinging streamers and leeches are effective. Perdigons are taking fish.
Haystack Reservoir: Fill level is 95 %. No new reports.
Lake Billy Chinook: No new reports. Kokanee are coloring up and running up the Metolius.
Crooked River: This time of year, and through the winter, the Crooked fishes well. Friends have started catching more fish nymphing – Perdigons have been the ticket.
Expect to see BWO hatches from this point on, and these are at time quite prolific. BWOs as emergers and cripples are especially effective. Jeff Perin likes the Knock Down Dun.
Suggested Crooked River Dries: Parachute Purple Haze #14-20 (larger sizes are helpful for hopper/dropper setups), Para Wulff Purple #16-18, Tilt Wing Dun BWO #18-20, BWO Sparkle Dun #18-20, Griffiths Gnat (with a bright post for visibility) #18-22, Klinkhammers #18-20, BWO Film Critic #18-20, Knock Down Dun #16-20, CDC caddis #14-18.
Fall River: Overall Fall River is fishing well. Consistent has been the word.
There’s been some BWO hatches through the afternoons, that can linger for hours. The hatches are not prolific, without blizzards of bugs, but good and the bonus seems to be prolonged hatch periods that keep anglers busy through the afternoons. Most reports are that the BWOs are small, in the size 20 range.
Check out Glenn's detailed report with much more information and forecast in this week's Member's version.
Eastern Oregon Fishing Report
Contributor Glenn Zinkus reports bi-weekly, here is this week's report. (Also a repeat from last week).
It’s November in the high desert and the mountains. Generally, there will be on and off rain. There is a chance of rain Friday and Saturday with highs in the mid 40s, overnight lows in the mid 30s; with cooler temperatures at higher elevations. There are snow chances on Saturday, with snow levels at 4000 feet later Friday, dropping to 3500 feet Friday and Saturday.
The Lower Deschutes Canyon will have clearer weather than elsewhere for the weekend through Sunday with highs in the 50s, lows in the 40s except Sunday night when temperatures will drop to near freezing. Winds pick up during Saturday afternoon.
Lower Deschutes River:
November brings a close to fishing on the Warm Springs Reservation.
With recent and upcoming weather, it’s nymphing time with some occasional BWO hatches. BWOs on the overcast and wet days during the first half of the afternoon.
Heard Panther Martins were working well – have a little blue color on the lure. Best to clip the treble and use a single hook, please. Crooked River: This time of year, and through the winter, the Crooked fishes well. Friends have started catching more fish nymphing – Perdigons have been the ticket.
Lake Billy Chinook: No new reports. Kokanee are coloring up and running up the Metolius.
North and South Twin Lakes: North Twin and South Twin were both stocked with 500 trophy trout during mid-September. Both lakes are accessible now in early November, and not a bad option along the Cascade Lakes Highway.
Josh at Tim’s Fishin Tackle Shop in Lapine reports both lakes are getting low. Prineville Reservoir: Josh Pardee for Tim’s Fishin Tackle Shop in Lapine reports ridiculously good fishing for Crappie in Prineville Reservoir. The reservoir is at 20 % full as of today.
Check out Glenn's detailed report and forecast in this week's paid version for Chinook and Steelhead Members both!
SW Oregon Fishing Report
Contributor Jeff Rome reports
Last weekend's big rain event raised river flows along with angling pressure for the Southern Oregon coastal streams. Catches on the Chetco earlier in the week for those using high water techniques (large plugs and big pieces of roe) saw some nice fish caught.
Chetco flow is dropping into prime condition for the weekend and should provide some best of the season catches (along with lots of bank and boat anglers). The Smith River just over the Ca/ OR boarder saw some excellent fish as well and will also continue to fish well into the weekend. Elk and Sixes also saw improved conditions and the Sixes so far has been better than the Elk (according to Jim at Rogue Outdoor Store).
The Rogue River continues to be fair to good for steelhead and half pounders depending on where you're fishing. Boat anglers running plugs and drifting roe are doing better than the average bank angler. There's also some coho spread throughout and one might get lucky if targeting them. The recent rain never made for unfishable conditions and as of Thursday afternoon, flow was hovering above 1500 cfs, 2 ntu and a cool 48 degrees.
My best bet for the weekend is to head over to the coast for some seasonally good Chinook fishing on the Chetco, Elk, Sixes and Smith. It will be crowded so please be patient and considerate for your fellow anglers. If the ocean is your thing, then it should also be a good weekend to get out and get some bottom fish and/or do some crabbing out of Crescent City, Ca.
Check out Jeff's detailed report, multiple lake updates, and forecast in this week's version for Members!
SW Washington Fishing Report by Terry Otto
Columbia fisheries are finishing up for the fall, although a few hotspots remain active. Tributary fishing has remained steady is some rivers, while slowing in others. However, heavy rains may blow all the systems out before this weekend.
Vancouver Metro Area
Tributary fishing has held up well in spots and slowed a bit in others. The Lewis and Kalama continue to provide opportunities, but the rains late this week may ruin the rivers for some time, especially this weekend. The Columbia has dropped off, but a few Coho are available in the Camas Slough. However, high, dirty water may ruin that fishery.
The next year class of kokanee are showing in the lakes, and trout angling is picking up. The Black Friday trout fishery stockings will start soon, and the lakes will not close prior to stocking.
Lewis and Washougal Rivers Fishing Report—High water in the Lewis has slowed the fishing, although there are still some late run coho available. The latest creel survey had Nine bank rods keeping one coho, whiles three boats/four rods kept two Chinook jacks and four coho. Reports put a good bite at the golf course over the last week, which means there are still coho in the river that have not yet staged up at the hatchery. Good bites this week have come on bobber and eggs, or by twitching jigs. Pink, black, and chartreuse have been good jig colors.
Bank anglers have not done as well lately, which is probably a result of the high water, with the river running at the 13.2-foot stage as of midday Thursday and climbing. In the high flows the salmon are being pushed into back eddies, or being forced in towards the bank. Some bank anglers are drifting in addition to fishing eggs or twitching jigs.
The Washougal is also on the rise, and while the fishing had been fair to good for late run coho, the high flows have gotten the coho on the move upriver, where there is little or no public access. The fish still holding in the lower river pools have been taking jigs, salmon eggs, and drifted gear lately. The high water also has the fish taking spinners and plugs.
Merwin and yale Lakes Fishing Report—The WDFW reports fishing in both lakes as fair to good, with the next year class showing well in catches. They are smaller than the spawning age fish, but those older fish that are still in the lakes are very much dark and poor eating. Trolling hootchies or wedding rings tipped with corn behind kokanee dodgers has been effective, and some anglers are doing well by jigging. Look for the schools to be in depths from 20 to 40 feet, but they care sometimes moving shallower on cloudy, wet days.
Longview Area
Cowlitz and Kalama Rivers Fishing Report—Late run coho continue to bite in the upper Cowlitz, although the bite has slowed somewhat recently. Last week, Tacoma Power employees recovered 6,568 coho adults, 877 coho jacks, 74 fall Chinook adults, two fall Chinook jacks, 17 summer-run steelhead adults, and 131 cutthroat trout during seven days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator. The fish, and fishermen, are concentrated the closer you get to the Barrier Dam. The mark rate has been decent, and there are plenty of fresh coho available. Most of the fish are falling for anglers fishing salmon eggs or twitching jigs, and a few are being taken by bank anglers drifting corkies or bait. Sea-run cutts have at times been taking the corkies.
The river has been coming up, and that has pushed the fish toward slow water and enar the banks, although the upper river has not been as flashy as the lower sections. Below the Toutle the river is in poor condition, and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Above the Toutle anglers are finding a few fish, but most of the coho are now in the upper river.
The Kalama River continues to fish well for late run coho, with the latest creel survey finding 79 bank anglers keeping 21 coho, one steelhead and releasing two Chinook and four coho. 16 boats/38 rods kept 18 coho, one steelhead and released one Chinook jack, two coho and one coho jack. The fish are spread through the system from the canyon to the mouth, and anglers are taking them on a wide variety of offerings, including salmon eggs, jigs, spinners, and plugs.
Columbia River Gorge
Klickitat River Fishing Report-- The Klickitat River below the canyon has been producing late run coho and has fished very well the last two weeks. With the river expected to rise this weekend, fresh coho may enter the river, but it the heavy rains may lift the river too much, and blow it out.
Check out Terry's detailed report (he crushes it every week!) and forecast in this week's SW Washington Member's version!
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