Saturday, November 06, 2021

Updated Oregon Fishing Summary for November 6

 Portland/Metro Fishing Report – With salmon largely gone from the mainstem Columbia and Willamette Rivers, anglers will be turning to the Sandy and Clackamas Rivers for the remnants of the hatchery coho run, on the last legs of the season.

Winter steelhead and spring Chinook are many months away, but the 2022 predictions are due out next month, for spring Chinook anyway.

Metro trout remains an option through the fall months and catch and release sturgeon keeps anglers busy, at least the ones willing to brave the inclement weather in the Portland Harbor.

Find the full report and forecast for Members on the Sandy and the Clackamas from this page here.

Alex Padilla, 7 of New Mexico and Nate McDougal, 12 of Portland with a pair of hatchery coho off of the mouth of the Columbia River from July 15th.
Alex Padilla, 7 of New Mexico and Nate McDougal, 12 of Portland with a pair of hatchery coho off the mouth of the Columbia River from July 15th.

Willamette Valley Fishing by Glenn Zinkus

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 – Despite good water conditions, November Chinook are not returning in abundant numbers. None-the-less, the Wilson, Kilchis and Nestucca Rivers are late-season options and chum salmon are starting to make a showing as well.

The Trask has a few darker Chinook but the run is slowing here.

The Siletz and Alsea Rivers should also see a few more bright fall Chinook hit the mainstem, especially if district rivers see another rise over the weekend.

Bay crabbing remains good in most estuaries, despite fall rains that are inundating bays with fresh water.

Razor clam digging is a poor option with high surf and consistent rain. There will be other fall and winter options.

See the full report and forecast for Members right here.

Central Oregon Fishing Reports – Contributor Glenn Zinkus reports: 

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. 

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 awere 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

All coastal rivers including the predominate fishing rivers- Rogue, Chetco, Elk, Sixes, Floras, Pistol and Smith River (CA) got significant rain that improved catches and fishing conditions drastically this past week until Thursday when all, but the Rogue got blown out. The Smith and Chetco especially saw some nice big Chinook caught as the river flows were dropping. Big rains along with big tides should have the bulk of Chinook (and hopefully coho) moving up and into these systems bringing with it “best of season” catches! Continued rain is forecast throughout the weekend, but some of the smaller rivers like the Elk, Sixes and Pistol may be fishable latter weekend. The Chetco and Smith might be a better opportunity early next week.

Rogue River steelhead and half pounder catches have been fair and should have picked up after last week’s rain but apparently the fish didn’t get the memo! Maybe the pressure variant between storms got the fish off the bite. River level flow as I write is increasing from recent mid 1200 cfs and forecasted to go up over 1700 cfs before coming back down. This will be good to help flush out the remaining leaves and improve conditions. Hopefully, current rain will increase flow and spur the bite with new fish that have moved upriver from Agnes area. Several recent attempts at my favorite hole has only led to a few squawfish and not 1 half pounder! I’m optimistic that the forthcoming days will be much better.

Ocean conditions are pretty much off the agenda for at least several days due to high wind and rough seas from the current round of storms. Crabbing out of California ports such as Crescent City and Eureka will be officially open this Saturday. Ocean conditions for these areas look dismal for a few days as well.

Chetco and Smith (NorCal) Rivers – There was lots of jack and adults as well as hatchery and wild fish in the catch mix that is a “good indicator”. The Chetco restrictions- “bobber rule” was lifted November 4th! Heavy rains and wind started on Wednesday increasing the Chetco flow to over 9000 cfs and hope to be in high water fishing shape possibly Saturday or Sunday and into next week. Andy also pointed out he expects the next week or two will be the “best of the season” in all coastal rivers due to the extensive rain that will move fish throughout the river and to flush out the remaining leaves. Also, big tides will help push fish in the rivers.

COOS RIVER BASIN: Chinook fishing is a wrap and was slow at best. Anglers are now anxious and gearing up for steelhead season the latter part of November.TENMILE LAKES/TENMILE CREEK: Most largemouth bass are in deeper water along hard bottom points , however some bass can still be found in shallower water and around boat houses and other structure.

Middle Rogue– Steelhead fishing has been fair, but the current rain event will “sweeten” up the water as well as flow and temp to spur on some good action. Fish that had been waiting around Agnes will be making their way… hopefully some coho! 

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

Terry Otto Trib Coho Fishing Report
Terry Otto Trib Coho Fishing

Vancouver Metro Area

Coho catches in the Columbia remain good for late run coho, while the chinook run is all but over. Rising waters are forecast for this weekend, and should bring fresh coho into all the tributaries. Weekend prospects looking pretty good in most rivers.  

Trolled spinners are still catching coho in the Columbia and the Camas Slough, and the tributaries are entering their final month of good fall salmon fishing. Hotspots such as the Lewis River have been producing good, bright coho, and should fish well this weekend. High flows should make twitching jigs the way to go.

Most local trout and warm water lakes have slowed, and will probably stay that way until trout stockings planned ahead of Black Friday.

Lewis and Washougal Rivers Fishing Report–Fishing has been pretty good in the Lewis River this last week, although the river was dropped on Wednesday, and will be every week to allow biologists to conduct carcass surveys. The fish do not like that quick change in flows, so the middle of the week will be tough fishing going forward. The late run fish are running much nicer than the early run coho, with fish topping 15 pounds at times. Recent creel surveys show bank anglers doing well at the hatchery by fishing jigs, bobber and eggs, and drift gear.

There are fish schooled from Colvin Creek down to Johnsons Creek, but anglers are also finding fish as low as Woodland. Boat anglers are doing well from the Golf Course up to Colvin Creek, while most bank anglers are targeting the hatchery or the fast water in Woodland.

The Washougal is fishing well at times for late run coho, with the best action taking place in the lower three miles of the river, where the access is best. The river conditions are good, and the fish are biting better because of it. The fish are taking jigs, salmon eggs, spinners, and drifted gears. Some very nice sized coho are in the mix, with reports of fish up to 18 pounds.

Merwin and Yale Lakes Fishing Report—fishing pressure is still lower than usual at both lakes as the schools of kokanee are beginning to spawn in the creeks. However, the next year class of fish are starting to show up for anglers trolling, and Jigging has been effective for these fish, too. The WDFW rating the fishing as fair, but the quality is dropping for the largest fish. The tiger muskies in Merwin, and the trout, are also slowing.

Longview Area

Cowlitz and Kalama Rivers Fishing Report—Last week, Tacoma Power employees recovered 7,411 coho adults, 975 coho jacks, 126 fall Chinook adults, one fall Chinook jack, 68 summer-run steelhead adults, and 133 cutthroat trout during seven days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator. Anglers continue to catch coho in the upper river, although many of them are un-marked coho that can’t be kept. The numbers of clipped coho have increased over the past couple weeks, as the hatchery fish have joined the progeny of the many salmon released into the upper river over the last five or six years.

Many of the fish taken have fallen to bobber and eggs, jigs, or plugs. While the upper river has been good, the lower sections of the Cowlitz have been blown out below the Toutle River.

The fishing pressure in the upper river has been moderate to heavy at times, with both boat and bank anglers targeting the reach from Blue Creek up to the Barrier Dam. River conditions have been good, and on some days the bite has been very good. The fish are running larger than the early run fish, with many coho topping 15 pounds.

Anglers have been doing well on the Kalama River by hitting the river when the fish have gone on the move. Coho are now spreading through the full length of the river, but timing is important. When the fish are on the move they have been taken in the lower and middle sections on a variety of baits, including jigs, salmon eggs, spinners, and plugs. When the river rises the fish have gone on the move, and have holed up when the river starts to drop. Drift boaters are Looking to the middle sections for the coho, while some bank anglers have found success up in the Canyon.

Columbia River Gorge

Klickitat River Fishing Report and Forecast—The coho run is peaking in the lower Klickitat River, and the forecast rains are expected to bring the river up, albeit by just a bit. However, when the Klickitat rises anglers can search for the fish in areas below the canyon and expect to find schools of moving coho. Once the river drops the action is best in the canyon.

Local Lakes Fishing Report—Goose Lake has been fair for cutthroat trout. All other lakes are slow right now. 

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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