fishing

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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Willamette Valley/Metro – Still now “first” spring Chinook of the year, but if it’s going to fall this week, it’ll have to be upstream of the mouth of the Willamette since it’s going to be running quite brown for some time. It could be weeks before we see the first one hit the deck.

With the Willamette cresting from recent rains, boaters are urged to use extra caution as they play the only lower river game in town: sturgeon fishing.

This is a common pattern with Willamette Valley rivers which have risen dramatically due to the January 18th rain storm and will be out of shape over the coming weekend.

The Santiam system is high but dropping. The problem here is that insufficient numbers of fish have entered the upper river to populate all the tributaries. Don’t fish where the fish aren’t.

Clackamas waters swelled with the passing storm on Wednesday this week but are dropping as this is being written. These are good conditions in which to target steelhead.

Our man on the Sandy, pro fishing guide Jeff Stoeger (http://guideoregon.com/) is optimistic about fishing for winter steelhead on the Sandy despite recent meteorological setbacks.

Northwest – Steelheaders on the north coast have been either plagued by very cold temperatures, hazardous driving conditions, and now high water to squash their angling efforts. For the most part, there were prolonged periods of sub-par fishing before the current warming trend, not to mention the lull between early season returns and later returning broodstock fish, but anglers should expect some better results when rivers come off of their expected peak from mid-week.

Smaller streams that traditionally see the early season returns may have a few late season stragglers, and there may even be a few fresh fish coming in. For the most part however, anglers will want to turn their focus to the Wilson and Nestucca systems, where both a fair wild and late-season hatchery return is likely to come through.

With the recent weather change, the ocean fishing and crabbing is now off the table. During the cold snap, when east winds knocked down the westerly swell, bottomfishing for lingcod and crabbing was good.

Softening tides over the weekend show promise for bay crabbers. With the commercial fleet in full fledged however, one can’t expect easy limits.

Southwest – As of January 16th, 2017, with the final area accessible, the entire Oregon coast is now open for crabbing, ocean and bays.

Offshore bottom fishing has continued excellent with the only downside trying to find the opportunity when ocean conditions and winds allow for sage crossing.

Crossing the bar is the most dangerous part of an ocean trip. Learn how to do so properly and safely. That will be one of the seminars at the Saltwater Sportsman’s Show on February 15th and 26th at the Fairground in Salem.

Author, publisher and prolific blogger, Pete Heley (peteheley.com) reminds us that ling cod move into shallow water along rocks and jetties around this time of year which can make for exceptional fishing and larger fish.

Heley also points out interesting scientific evidence that El Niño combined with the climate change and global warming may be responsible (at least in part) for increased problems with domoic acid effecting shellfish.

The latest storm gave the Rogue River a good whacking when it came through, from which it has not and will not recover for several days. The further upstream one travels, the clear the water will be and there are certainly decent numbers of winter steelhead in the Rogue at this time of year. Plunkers will have the first shot at the lower river as soon as it starts to clear.

There has been quite a great deal of pressure by ice fishers at Diamond Lake. Even on weekday there have been scores of fishing sites.

Eastern – We have been encouraging readers to temporarily suspend the thought that the Deschutes River is a place to fish for steelhead, instead, thinking of it only as a trout habitat. Then go, enjoy above-average trout fishing.

Weather has hampered efforts on many a south side stream with a trek through snow nearly inevitable. That said, those who have made it to the Metolius have fish limited water with fair success.

Since Blue-Winged-Olives hatch in inclement weather and can be found popping up during rain showers, when the weather dries (and in some locations, seasonally) they are absent. So it has been on Fall River plus the snow trek but at least fishing is fair for those who make it.

SW Washington – District fishing opportunities are abysmal. Effort and catch are low on the Cowlitz, but that should change later this season.

Like Oregon streams, what few early season returning adults are in the systems, are either spawning or out of reach.

The big news in the district is the stocking of rainbow trout in Klineline Pond and Battleground lake on January 10th. There should be ample numbers remaining and with a warming trend finally here, should be quite willing to bite.

From The Guide’s Forecast
helping you catch more fish

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Willamette Valley/Metro – Still now “first” spring Chinook of the year, but if it’s going to fall this week, it’ll have to be upstream of the mouth of the Willamette since it’s going to be running quite brown for some time. It could be weeks before we see the first one hit the deck.

With the Willamette cresting from recent rains, boaters are urged to use extra caution as they play the only lower river game in town: sturgeon fishing.

This is a common pattern with Willamette Valley rivers which have risen dramatically due to the January 18th rain storm and will be out of shape over the coming weekend.

The Santiam system is high but dropping. The problem here is that insufficient numbers of fish have entered the upper river to populate all the tributaries. Don’t fish where the fish aren’t.

Clackamas waters swelled with the passing storm on Wednesday this week but are dropping as this is being written. These are good conditions in which to target steelhead.

Our man on the Sandy, pro fishing guide Jeff Stoeger (http://guideoregon.com/) is optimistic about fishing for winter steelhead on the Sandy despite recent meteorological setbacks.

Northwest – Steelheaders on the north coast have been either plagued by very cold temperatures, hazardous driving conditions, and now high water to squash their angling efforts. For the most part, there were prolonged periods of sub-par fishing before the current warming trend, not to mention the lull between early season returns and later returning broodstock fish, but anglers should expect some better results when rivers come off of their expected peak from mid-week.

Smaller streams that traditionally see the early season returns may have a few late season stragglers, and there may even be a few fresh fish coming in. For the most part however, anglers will want to turn their focus to the Wilson and Nestucca systems, where both a fair wild and late-season hatchery return is likely to come through.

With the recent weather change, the ocean fishing and crabbing is now off the table. During the cold snap, when east winds knocked down the westerly swell, bottomfishing for lingcod and crabbing was good.

Softening tides over the weekend show promise for bay crabbers. With the commercial fleet in full fledged however, one can’t expect easy limits.

Southwest – As of January 16th, 2017, with the final area accessible, the entire Oregon coast is now open for crabbing, ocean and bays.

Offshore bottom fishing has continued excellent with the only downside trying to find the opportunity when ocean conditions and winds allow for sage crossing.

Crossing the bar is the most dangerous part of an ocean trip. Learn how to do so properly and safely. That will be one of the seminars at the Saltwater Sportsman’s Show on February 15th and 26th at the Fairground in Salem.

Author, publisher and prolific blogger, Pete Heley (peteheley.com) reminds us that ling cod move into shallow water along rocks and jetties around this time of year which can make for exceptional fishing and larger fish.

Heley also points out interesting scientific evidence that El Niño combined with the climate change and global warming may be responsible (at least in part) for increased problems with domoic acid effecting shellfish.

The latest storm gave the Rogue River a good whacking when it came through, from which it has not and will not recover for several days. The further upstream one travels, the clear the water will be and there are certainly decent numbers of winter steelhead in the Rogue at this time of year. Plunkers will have the first shot at the lower river as soon as it starts to clear.

There has been quite a great deal of pressure by ice fishers at Diamond Lake. Even on weekday there have been scores of fishing sites.

Eastern – We have been encouraging readers to temporarily suspend the thought that the Deschutes River is a place to fish for steelhead, instead, thinking of it only as a trout habitat. Then go, enjoy above-average trout fishing.

Weather has hampered efforts on many a south side stream with a trek through snow nearly inevitable. That said, those who have made it to the Metolius have fish limited water with fair success.

Since Blue-Winged-Olives hatch in inclement weather and can be found popping up during rain showers, when the weather dries (and in some locations, seasonally) they are absent. So it has been on Fall River plus the snow trek but at least fishing is fair for those who make it.

SW Washington – District fishing opportunities are abysmal. Effort and catch are low on the Cowlitz, but that should change later this season.

Like Oregon streams, what few early season returning adults are in the systems, are either spawning or out of reach.

The big news in the district is the stocking of rainbow trout in Klineline Pond and Battleground lake on January 10th. There should be ample numbers remaining and with a warming trend finally here, should be quite willing to bite.

From The Guide’s Forecast
helping you catch more fish

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Willamette Valley/Metro – One reader has asked about where the Columbia River fishing report has been for the last few months. If you’re wanting to fish on the Columbia, tell me why and what you’re catching, and we’re happy to report on it. Give it a few more days and you may get to ice fish! But really, spring Chinook won’t even start for another 2 1/2 months and the better catch and release sturgeon fishing is happening in the Willamette River, so really, what are you fishing for on the Columbia River? Am I missing something?

The mighty Willamette is just coming off a significant rise in the water level but this shouldn’t discourage anglers looking for catch-and-release action for sturgeon. Check to be certain most of the debris washed over the Falls from upstream has cleared out before launching to fish from shore.

Fly fishers on the McKenzie may be lured streamside by the siren song of the winter trout. Give in to the urge and you may be rewarded. Lower your expectations to avoid disappointment.

Since only a handful of winter steelhead have been counted at the Falls on the lower Willamette thus far into the season, it stands to reason there are far too few to target on the Santiams – yet.

Waters of the Clackamas will be in decent conditions and flow for steelheading over the next several days. It’s still early in the season here so it won’t be hot fishing but the odds are improving.

Pro fishing guide Jeff Stoeger (http://guideoregon.com/) reports that fishing has been slow over the past week on the Sandy River and that large chunks of ice floating down the river made it difficult to fish. Better fishing is just around the corner!

Northwest – Steelheaders were once again hampered by wicked weather this week. Traveling conditions were downright dangerous, water temperatures bone-chilling (even for cold water fishes) and action was quite pathetic. Do I sound like a Debbie-downer?

We’re also between seasons, as you’ll hear that more often than you want to for the next several weeks. Anglers are reporting low and clear water conditions and fish as cold as the first girlfriend that ever dumped you. The North Fork Nehalem hatchery reports little effort, little catch.

It’ll be the theme until water conditions warm, but more importantly, when the 2nd season fish begin to show in about a month from now. Early season fish are still on the spawn and won’t be responding well for another few weeks. When they do, they won’t be the quality fish you would have caught several weeks ago. The Necanicum, North Fork Nehalem, Big Creek, Gnat Creek, the Klaskanine River and Three Rivers harbors these early season steelhead. You’ll find them much more snappy in early February.

The Wilson, Trask and mainstem Nestucca will offer up the best chances at an early running- late season broodstock fish. You’d have to be pretty lucky however. Anglers won’t really get excited for several more weeks.

The east wind influence has some saltwater anglers pretty excited. Bottomfish catches have been pretty good and ocean crabbing is fair as well although the commercial fleet is out in force.

Bigger tide exchanges this weekend won’t help estuary crabbers all that much. Be cautious if you cross the bar too.

Southwest – Now that the ocean is open to recreational crabbing, we’re getting reports of not only decent numbers but unusually large Dungeness as well.

There have been a number of reports of limits of rockfish and ling cod out of virtually every southern port. The trick is finding the conditions to launch in the wintertime.

Crabbing is open in bays and estuaries but harvesting razor clams is disallowed coast-wide. The harvest of mussels is open and safe along to coast as well.

Author, publisher and prolific blogger, Pete Heley (peteheley.com) reports this week on the link between domoic acid outbreaks and the El Nino occurrence and talks about all of the Sportsmen’s Shows coming to various locations around Oregon soon.

Rogue River steelheaders are a patient group. Good thing too, as water levels were above flood stage as recently as Wednesday this week. Level and flow have started moderating, but it remains to be seen if conditions here will improve sufficiently for the Rogue to fish sometime over the weekend.

The Chetco River was quite high earlier this week but is expected to be dropping and fishable over the coming weekend with fresh winters in the river.

At the latest report, Diamond Lake is open for ice fishing. Call the resort to confirm safety of the lake’s surface. Fishing is slow to fair.

Eastern – According to water level reports from NOAA and elsewhere, waters of the Deschutes are too high to fish.

Records of kokanee catches in Oregon for 2016 put Timothy Lake as one of the top destinations for anglers .

ODFW put out a list of lakes with sufficient ice cover to augur and fish. This includes Mann and Kinney lakes along with a few others.

SW Washington – District anglers have been less than motivated due to weather conditions and success rates. Cowlitz River anglers are reporting poor success.

The Kalama and Lewis systems are producing equally poor results, but better fishing should happen in another month from now.

Despite razor clam digging being closed in Oregon, it’s open in Washington. You can find the open beaches and their respective seasons here.

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Willamette Valley/Metro – On the Willamette River, there has been very little fish passage at the Falls, only a handful of winter steelhead have been counted. A few winters have been taken by plunkers.

On the McKenzie River, water levels have been dropping all week. While this isn’t a hot winter trout fishery, fly anglers should find a few.

On one hand, the water levels of the entire Santiam system will be dropping over the coming weekend. On the other hand, see ’handful,” above, about winter steelhead passage at the Falls. They’re coming.

Clackamas winter steelheaders have told TGF about the terrific water conditions and the NOAA tells us it will be dropping over the weekend. On the other hand, cold water temperatures have slowed the bite.

A few fish have been caught on the Sandy River but our man on the Sandy, pro fishing guide Jeff Stoeger (http://guideoregon.com/) reports that it is slow here, due to cold water as well. Fish the warm-up!

Northwest – District anglers have also been suffering from cold weather conditions here. Cold air and water temperatures have slowed the bite, not that it was a fantastic bite in the first place.

Small stream systems such as the North Fork Nehalem, Big Creek, Necanicum and Three Rivers were victims of the cold weather front and the adult steelhead that have been returning to those systems are nearing the spawning phase. They’ll be a bit too busy to take any offerings. None-the-less, there will still be a few fresh fish coming in when temperatures warm and rivers rise.

Larger systems have been sparsely fished and are producing meager results. That won’t change much even when the weather improves.

A few offshore anglers got out this week, it helps when the east wind knocks down the westerly swell. Bottomfishing and crabbing were good.

Bay crabbing was cold, but it too, has been fairly productive.

Southwest – Carefully pick a weather window to make it out of any port to try bottom fishing in the winter. It’s excellent.

It sounds crazy (but then winter fishing probably sounds nuts to those who don’t fish), but surf fishing for perch has been worth the trip.

With most commercial crabbers on strike in support of California commercial interests, there’s less competition for Dungeness and more for recreational pots.

Author, publisher and prolific blogger, Pete Heley (peteheley.com) reported to us this week that it seemed like more crabbers than anglers took advantage of last weekend’s “Free Fishing Weekend”. Crabbing success was poor to fair at Winchester Bay, somewhat better at Charleston. A few crabbers complained that they had to work harder than usual to get their limits.

Plunk no more on the lower Rogue ‘cause there’s not enough water. Steelheading has been most productive on the Grants Pass stretch but there’s another storm front due, which will raise the water dramatically. Fishing on the upper Rogue is slow.

The banks of Diamond Lake received another foot of snow on January 4th, putting the total accumulation at 47 inches. Call the resort about ice fishing.

With winter steelhead taking off slowly on the Chetco, anglers hope the next freshet will turn things around here.

Eastern – Water in the lower Deschutes has dropped from previous high levels. We remind anglers that the stretch along Warm Springs Reservation is completely closed despite ‘simplified; regulations opening this section last season.

When it has been accessible, the Fall River has provided fly anglers with winter sport.

For those who relish cold-weather fishing, enjoy every moment of knocking ice from rod guides and own stock in a winter clothing or a glove company, Grande Ronde and Imnaha rivers have steelhead available.

At last report, the John Day River had frozen over at one upstream point.

Though Wickiup Reservoir doesn’t open until the east-side trout season, cold-weather trollers are already daydreaming about it.

SW Washington – It’s still early for winter steelhead on most district streams. The Cowlitz is producing an occasional adult.

No sign of smelt just yet, but they may enter when water temperatures warm.

Several of the district’s lakes were stocked with large broodstock rainbow trout and left over adult steelhead. Catches have been light in the sub-freezing temperatures, but should pick up when the temperatures do.

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Willamette Valley/Metro – Water levels of the Willamette River have been dropping, albeit slowly, but that’s the nature of the beast. Sturgeon fishing remains the best option for action.

While the McKenzie may not be the premium destination for trout fishing, fly anglers will find the water dropping and in good condition.

Despite the entire Santiam system coming into decent shape for fishing this weekend, winter steelhead only start entering in January so fishing is expected to be slow.

Clackamas levels topped out about a week ago and have been dropping with water conditions improving since then. Winter steelhead are being caught, but it’s still not the peak of the season.

Our man on the Sandy, pro fishing guide Jeff Stoeger (http://guideoregon.com/) reports the river will be dropping into shape over the weekend and tells us where winter steelhead are concentrated.

Northwest – Early season anglers remain a bit perplexed as intensive effort isn’t yielding incredible results. Smaller streams have exhibited good water conditions for a large part of the season, but anglers fishing the larger systems, such as the Wilson and Nestucca got back to it by mid-week. Results have been tempered.

What most expect to be peak week, anglers have been struggling for more than a chance or two at steelhead. Anglers working the North Fork Nehalem by boat and bank worked hard for little results when success rates should be great. Hatchery workers reported only 154 returning adults in their traps this week, far from what a typical year shows by the last week of December.

The Trask River produced a few fish this week, mostly in the upper reaches, where precipitation doesn’t have the same impact on flows and color that the lower reaches do. Most fish are wild, requiring release.

Steelhead are likely already spawning in smaller tributaries, but fresh fish will still be coming in for the next few weeks. Anglers will also come across spawned out one too however.

Three Rivers is following suit with most north coast systems, where anglers are having to work hard for their quarry. Action should be peaking this week, and it likely is, large numbers of fish are simply not present.

Dungeness crabbing is now wide open, in the ocean and estuaries, but weather hasn’t been all that cooperative since the fishery re-opened. Weekend tides look favorable, the weather does not.

Southwest – Despite the lack of depth restriction for anglers seeking ling cod and rockfish, most boats are fishing just outside port as catches are that good.

ODFW announced the opening of the entire coast to crabbing and further states that while bay clams and mussels may be harvested, razor clams are off limits for all Oregon beaches.

Author, publisher and prolific blogger, Pete Heley (peteheley.com) reports to us with details about bottomfishing regulations in 2017 and that the depth restriction will return in April. He also tells stories and highlights where and how with regard to south coast steelhead.

Lower Rogue steelheaders are facing water that’s still high, making the middle river a better bet. Winter steelhead are not yet into the upper Rogue.

Winter steelheading was getting underway on the Chetco just as the storm front hit about a week ago. It should fish well as it recovers.

The surface of Diamond Lake is slushy, putting the hope of ice fishing in the future.

Eastern – Expect to experience a whole new level of cold on the lower Deschutes as sub-zero temperatures are in store in the coming week. Fishing is slow.

Trout fishing has been fair to good on the Metolius which has a reputation to maintain as an off-season trout fishery although not all the stories are true.

For those looking to troll for trout at Detroit Lake, be aware that the Thistle Boat Ramp, accessible earlier this week, is now too muddy to launch. We’ll be keeping an eye on the situation.

SW Washington – District rivers remain ho-hum, with the Kalama and Washougal top prospects for area anglers. Keep in mind “top prospects” are relative this year. The district is suffering the same fate as many Oregon streams- sub-par steelheading for a fair effort.

Trout plants are still strong for winter trout anglers. If air and water temperatures warm, action should too.

No sign of smelt just yet. In recent years, fair numbers of smelt start showing in fair numbers around mid-January. A large run is not expected.

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from Oregon Fishing http://ift.tt/2hSUjBD

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