News

Willamette Valley/Metro – Still nothing to fish for in the mainstem Columbia. There’s always rumors of spring Chinook here or there, just non substantiated just yet. It’ll be running a bit turbid downstream of Kelly Point Park for a while.

The lower Willamette is high and predicted to continue rising over the weekend. It is hazardous to boat in these conditions and fist-timers or novices shouldn’t try it. It will fish eventually but for now, no spring Chinook have been reported.

Waters of the McKenzie can be beautiful. The typical mountain stream, surprising with every bend. That’s not what it is now and will not be for a while due to high water.

The Santiam system has once again blown out but we wouldn’t bother if conditions were perfect. At least not for a while!

Clackamas water levels have been rising all week and are approaching Alert Level. Fortunately, the river should nearly be nearly at or just past cresting as you read this. Steelheading has improved prior to this mega-freshet. Our Man on the Sandy River, pro fishing guide Jeff Stoeger (http://guideoregon.com/) tells us that water levels are high, rising and unattractive, but there’s hope it’ll fish by mid-week.

Northwest – Trailers have been evacuated at the Wilson River RV Park if that’s any indication as to how our coastal streams are performing right now. They are already on the drop however and may fish as early as early as Saturday, depending on the size of the watershed. The Wilson and Nestucca may take until Sunday to clear.

Look to our full version for a more detailed forecast for each river system for the weekend drop.

Smaller systems will fish sooner, particularly the North Fork Nehalem, Necanicum and Three Rivers, which may have a mix of spent steelhead, along with a few bright wild fish. For the most part however, these systems will not produce abundant numbers of steelhead until next year.

A few boats skated into the ocean earlier this week, they were rewarded with good catches of lingcod, sea bass and crab. The ocean option doesn’t look feasible for the foreseeable future.

Southwest – Author and avid blogger, Pete Heley (peteheley.com) chimes in from Roseburg about crabbing closures along part of the Oregon coast. The reason is the same as for previous closures – elevated levels of domoic acid and expresses concern that such an emergency closure could happen at any time along a certain section of the Oregon coast.

The crabbing closure affects the recreational crabbing from the North Jetty of Coos Bay northward to Heceta Head, about 14 miles north of Florence. Word is that commercial crabbing is also getting shut down in this area.

While surf perch fishing doesn’t pop into mind from Februaries past, it’s certainly darned good now. Up and down the coast, anglers with mostly medium spinning gear are casting from beaches to catch these fish.

Be sure to check the sport fishing regulations pamphlet or look up the regulations online regarding new bottomfishing rules for 2017.

Proposed dates for halibut fishing were announced this week with an improvement in quota for all-depth anglers.

One new rule which can’t be overemphasized is the mandatory requirement to have a descending device onboard the vessel when fishing for Pacific halibut as well as bottomfish, and to use when releasing any rockfish species when fishing outside of 30 fathoms.

The lower Rogue really got walloped by the latest storm, raising levels near Agness to nearly 19 feet and pushing flows to 60,000 cfs. Yeah, it’s a mess tight now but winter steelheaders can anticipate improved action when the water drops and clear. Some long-time Rogue salmon fishers are hoping all this water will equate to a better spring Chinook season.

Fishing for winter steelhead was producing decent numbers and a few jumbos prior to the latest deluge. Waters are approaching 20,000 cfs at this writing, making the conditions unfishable at this time.

Anglers are still ice fishing at Diamond Lake where catches are said to be fair to good.

Eastern – Trout, kokanee and Chinook catches have been slow at Detroit Lake. Water temperatures are cold, however, with fishing expected to improve along with warmer temperatures.

SW Washington – I think the WDF&W district report sums it up best:

Cowlitz River – 8 boat and 51 bank anglers had no catch.

Smelt numbers appear to be down this year. Some folks are speculating that there will be no sport dipping season this spring.

More Oregon Fishing Reports

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Northwest – Steelheaders had a productive but short run after river levels dropped last week. Since then, especially recently, anglers have been having to gut it out with a stiff east wind and challenging action. Ever hear the term wind from the east, fishing the least? At least it’s given the few hardy anglers a chance to have the river to themselves.

With the low flows, the Wilson, Nestucca, Nehalem and to a lesser degree, the Trask, have all been the stronger options lately. That said, none have been overly productive but anglers that have been putting in a full day, at least have been having a chance or two at fish. That could change with the upcoming rain event.

Small stream anglers are realizing it’s over. Their early season quarry have moved on, and are more likely to be spawned out, than fresh run. These smaller streams will harbor a few wild winter fish in the coming weeks but the hatchery option has come and gone.

Desperate saltwater anglers spent a little bit of time in pursuit of bottomfish and crab recently. They were of course rewarded. East winds knocked down the offshore swell, but you had to stay close to shore.

Bay crabbing is fair at best, with the big tide exchanges we’re just now coming off of.

Southwest – In a News Release dated February 1, 2017, the ODA and ODFW announced that Recreational ocean and bay crabbing is closed from the Coos Bay North Jetty to Heceta Head due to elevated levels of domoic acid.

A winter alternative that’s seldom mentioned is the surf perch fishery at many locations up and down the Oregon coast. Catching a day when the surf lays down is a challenge but they’re biting!

We use the phrase “when boats can get out” in reference to recreational as well as charter boats and do so regarding various ports. What we haven’t mentioned in a while is how rare that day is. Catching bottomfish in the wintertime is actually a rare treat!

Bottom fishing has been great with the latest report indicating a slight dip in ling cod action *which means it took a little longer to fill limits).

Once again this week, author, publisher and prolific blogger, Pete Heley (peteheley.com) reports to us from Reedsport regarding a variety of subjects, including the proposed additional fees for non-motorized watercraft and expresses his dissenting opinion.

In his typical down-home, eclectic style, Heley also shares delight that the 2017 Trout Stocking Schedule has been undated and is nearly complete for the year.

The Rogue River is expected to get a real wallop from the storm front due to impact the entire length of the river starting February 3rd. This will put the Rogue out of shape for the week.

We expect the Chetco River to start rising on Friday this week, making steelheading all but impossible. And no, that’s not a challenge.

Anglers are ice fishing (and catching some fish) at Diamond Lake.

Eastern – According the latest issue of the Columbia Basin Bulletin, a significant number of Sockeye
Salmon have returned to the Deschutes and may result in a significant run in the future. We are looking forward to hearing sockeye fishing techniques and tactics from our readers in anticipation of this event. In the meantime, fish trout in the lower Deschutes ‘cause the steelheading remains poor.

The Metolius River is often considered the ‘Deschutes alternative’ when fly fishers are in that area and for good reason.

While access to Fall River is limited by snowfall to the stretch at the hatchery, this is another winter trout fishery worth considering. Perhaps keep this one a little lower on the list until it starts raining again.

SW Washington – Still not much going on in this district. Anglers are anxious for spring Chinook and steelhead opportunities coming in the near future. It won’t be soon enough however.

Trout plants and some steelhead have been taking place in local lakes. Go here for the details.

I guess the big news is the upcoming razor clam dig. You can find those details here.

Oregon Fishing Reports

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Willamette Valley/Metro – Still no sign of an early spring Chinook, but with weather conditions improving, anglers will be motivated, despite the fact we’re still 2 months away for any real chance at success. Fame is the second greatest motivating factor for the season’s first. The first motivating factor is that early season spring Chinook fetch close to $50.00/lb. in the market. A sum some sport anglers would consider paying, given how good these early fish taste.

Willamette levels have been dropping at Oregon City for a week and are expected to continue. Accompanying the drop in levels is a marked improvement in visibility as it was solid mud at this time last week. Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing still tops all in the lower river.

Fly anglers will find good water conditions on the McKenzie River for the next several days. While dry weather won’t encourage Blue-Winged-Olive hatches, that shouldn’t hinder anglers who are on their game.

It matters not but the entire Santiam system will be in good conditions and, if it matters, dropping for the next several days. Problem is, there haven’t been enough steelhead entering to make it worthwhile.

Clackamas winter steelheaders are expected to be out in force over the coming weekend as water conditions are good and improving and winters are entering now.

Our man on the Sandy, pro fishing guide Jeff Stoeger (http://guideoregon.com/), was pretty excited when he made contact with us today as there are winter steelhead scattered throughout the river and water conditions are good.

While you’re waiting for the Columbia River spring Chinook to show up, don’t hesitate to email the Oregon Fish and Wildlife commission, thanking commissioners Finley, Weber and Bittle for honoring the bi-state agreement. Even more important, chastise commissioners Wolley, Buckmaster, Anderson and Akenson for failing to cooperate with Washington and follow through on their promises to implement the Columbia River Reform Policy that prioritizes sportfishing on the mainstem Columbia. They don’t seem to be fiscally responsible for the agency’s budget. We’ll be sure to show them just how responsible they are!

Northwest – Steelheaders finally got the conditions they’ve been waiting for this week, as flows subsided after the big snow melt, and air and water temperatures increased to tolerable levels, anglers found success on most north coast streams.

Early season systems saw another batch, albeit small, of fresh steelhead, where persistent anglers were able to bang out a few. Broodstock fish, mostly on the Wilson and Nestucca Rivers, made a mediocre showing this week, inspiring anglers to keep after ’em, following a slow early season showing. It was a good sign that there may indeed be a late season showing for this region’s prized game fish.

It’ll be this way from here on out; the early season streams will continue to peter, with the exception of spawned out, downrunning steelhead on systems like the Necanicum, Highway 30 rivers, Klaskanine, North Fork Nehalem and Three Rivers, while the larger systems such as the Wilson and Nestucca will produce some of the better catches of both wild and hatchery broodstock fish and all other systems will have some semblance of wild fish available.

There are few other options in the district this week. The west swell is expected to remain large until early next week at the earliest and extreme tides won’t make for overly productive crabbing in the estuaries this week.

Southwest – While we could find no windows in offshore predictions for the coming week, it’s worth checking regularly for a break when waves moderate and the wind mellows. When boats have been able to get out, it’s been a seafood fiesta!

This week’s fishing discussions have been colored by the Columbia Compact Kerfuffle and this writer (Michael) chooses not to get involved. Author, publisher and prolific blogger, Pete Heley (peteheley.com) does comment in his weekly Outdoors submission and, as always, he is thoughtful and incisive. While acknowledging that the job of managing fish and wildlife is difficult, at the same time quotes Steve Godin, President, Oregon Coast Anglers, “the ODFW collected money under false pretenses.” Comments and feedback are welcome at The Guides Forecast website.

Mr. Heley also has a kid of cool want list of his own, however, which includes re-opening Mill Creek to fishing and to start stocking Ford’s Pond and to include special plantings such as Broodstock in the trout stocking schedule. Good ideas all!

Winter steelheading was decent on the Chetco River prior to the mega-freshet of the week past. Water level and flow have recovered well so we predict steelheading prospects this week.

With the Rogue River completely recovered from last week’s storm which pushed it over flood stage, we show indications why there are steelhead throughout the river, where the best stretch to fish is located and why. Go get ‘em, it looks like a good time to fish the Rogue for winter steelhead.

The long-awaited freeze has occurred at Diamond Lake and with it, snow nearly every day according to the report on January 26th from the lodge. Ice fishing is on!

Eastern – Eastside rivers and streams are recovering from the recent deep-freeze storm and are, by proximity, slower to recover.

Speaking of slow, that would be a good description of the flow of reader reports in winter. If you go, let us know! Don’t share hotspots but the name of the waterbody would be a nice addition. Thanks in advance.

We do have it on pretty good authority that a trip earlier this week to Green Peter Reservoir proved only that A) The angler reporting did not locate any fish or B) Fish were there but all of the various lures and techniques he tried were ineffective at fooling them the correct answer is that it matters not. Fishing at Green Peter would raise the needle on our Official TGF Angler-ometer to only a ‘2’ – Poor. Please play again in a few weeks when kokanee fishing is expected to improve.

SW Washington – District streams remain barren of fish, steelhead at least. Trap operators on the Cowlitz are processing far more coho than they are steelhead. Hey coho, it’s January, hey steelhead, it’s January…?

No sign of smelt yet either but the compact will meet on January 31st to discuss seasons for smelt, SAFE area fisheries and zone 6 sturgeon. Oregon must be walking in so proud of their recent commission antics. Way to show a spirit of cooperation Oregon. Thank your Washington Fish and Wildlife Commissioners by emailing them. Ask them to stay strong and NOT negotiate away the gains they have made for the Columbia River sport angler. It’ll certainly be more productive than the steelheading in your region this week!

All those trout stocked in Klineline Pond and Battle Ground Lake should be hungry this week. They too have been waiting for warmer temperatures.

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