Willamette Valley/Metro – Even though Columbia River salmon fishing remained very slow, we were on the verge of coming into peak season but anglers will be denied access to Columbia River springers until further notice. The press release says salmon and steelhead fishing will remain closed until at least April 8th, but I don’t think…
Willamette Valley/Metro – Spring Chinook effort and catch stayed relatively similar to last week although statistically speaking, anglers this week caught slightly fewer fish and certainly fewer keepers. Like last year, upper river anglers fishing the Oregon City area only caught wild fish, requiring release. Our theory from last year was that all the keepers…
Willamette Valley/Metro – Despite great water conditions, it’s still early for any large numbers of spring Chinook to be present in the Portland/Metro area. Late March is more feasible and from the reports we’re getting, that seems to be more factual than most would care to believe. It’s just hard to pass up such beautiful…
Willamette Valley/Metro – The Willamette has remained in oddly good shape for salmon and steelhead fishing. Both fisheries aren’t performing all that well but that’s because few pursue the mostly wild return of steelhead and the spring Chinook return isn’t overly robust this year either. The steelhead return, however, is surprisingly great for what we’ve…
Willamette Valley/Metro – After a flurry of spring Chinook activity on the Willamette River, the tide has turned and anglers are having to work hard for success. Interest seems to keep growing, as more boats are starting to ply the waters of the Willamette near Oregon City as of late. A consistent creel program won’t…
Willamette Valley/Metro – Willamette River spring Chinook anglers have the fever, and effort is concentrated from Sellwood Bridge to Milwaukie, in an attempt to catch one of the finless unicorns most call spring Chinook. There’s been a handful caught and most are saying it’s a nice grade of fish so far this year. Trolled herring…
Whenever I lose faith in government, I default to episodes of the early 2000’s TV hit, The West Wing. I know it’s not reality, but the show has offered me some level of solace when things are going sideways at the national level, and they’re going sideways. From the President’s barbed State of the Union…
Willamette Valley/Metro – Well, it’s official. The first spring Chinook of the Willamette River was caught on Wednesday, a 15 pounder caught on a herring and flasher in the Sellwood Bridge area. Although not surprising that a February springer would be caught, it is a bit surprising that under these still somewhat colored up conditions…
Willamette Valley/Metro – With the Columbia running brown downstream of the Willamette, anglers on the mainstem have given it a reprieve lately. Once it begins to drop however, interest will escalate once again as February springers, destined for the Willamette River, once again become a possibility. Oh yea, winter steelhead too. And speaking of the…
Willamette Valley/Metro – With the Willamette high and roily, nobody spent any time in pursuit of any species this week on the Willamette. That looks like it won’t change for the foreseeable future as we continue to get doused with wet weather. When will it stop? There was a rumor, however, of at least one…
A recent recording with Host John Kruse from the America Outdoors Radio show. Hear an update of the current overall fishing runs. We hope you enjoy it!
Willamette Valley/Metro – With rivers remaining high now, and for the foreseeable future, steelheaders will once again be challenged by high water conditions. Prior to the current high water event, there were some quality steelhead taken on the Sandy. The Clackamas hasn’t been quite as productive, which is predictable. Here’s what pro guide Jeff Stoeger…
Willamette Valley/Metro – There hasn’t been much opportunity in the Portland/Metro area this week. High water kept most from effectively fishing and those that did get out, weren’t very impressed with the results. Here’s what pro guide Jeff Stoeger (503-704-7920) had to say about Sandy River fishing, “Hello All. Fishing is improving everyday with more…
Mine is actually 20/30 according to my last eye exam, a necessity every 5 years to renew my US Coast Guard 6-pack license for my professional fish guiding business, or at least what’s left of it. It’s been a hard couple of years in the fish guiding business. Last year, we had a decent return…
Willamette Valley/Metro – The Willamette River itself has been on the move, as in an upward fashion. That’s kept both steelhead and sturgeon fishermen off the river, avoiding floating debris on its way westward. Steelhead passage is going well at Willamette Falls now that there is some water in the river and no sea lions…
