Free Oregon and SW Washington fishing reports and articles at The Guide’s Forecast.
Portland/Metro Oregon Fishing Report – It hasn’t been an easy week for spring Chinook anglers working the Willamette River. Despite good water conditions and improving run timing, the bite has been a bit off this week, which isn’t unusual for spring Chinook. Hopes and dreams are easily dashed in this fishery. The lower Multnomah Channel was…
By Ian Carter (Photo above, Westport Jetty Fishing | 3/25/23 | Image Rick McLachlan) The Columbia is a kill zone for Chinook and Steelhead and it’s not the fisherman doing the killing in Washington fishing this week. There is a gauntlet of predators following the latest smelt run from Astoria to the Sandy River near…
Portland/Metro Oregon Fishing Report – Following a week of poor visibility on the Willamette, anglers are back out in pursuit of the region’s most promising salmon return in several years. Action is picking up with Oregon City producing good catches recently, and downstream reaches more likely to produce better by the weekend. Still weeks away from…
Washington fishing report by Ian Carter Kalama Report Things have been warming up on the Kalama. When I visited last Sunday, the river was busy. I chit chatted with several groups of fishermen. There was some success between them with a total of three Steelhead retained. During my visit to the Kalama on Sunday around…
DECEMBER 29, 2019 Fish Don’t Lie – but don’t write it off just yet. As anglers, we’re all superstitious to an extent. Maybe superstition isn’t the right word for it, maybe it’s a constant ‘tinkering’ desire to dial in the perfect fish-catching scenario. Maybe it’s a deep fear of ruining our chances due to one…
By Ian Carter In SW Washington fishing, the Cowlitz River continues to be the ray of sunshine in our neighborhood. More Chinook are being intercepted on the Columbia as the run begins the migration. The Washougal has closed shop and Merwin is a good bet. REMINDER, please verify the regulations before fishing any body of…
Portland/Metro Oregon Fishing Report – With the Willamette blown for much of the week, anglers had the week off but will soon return to improved catches. Excitement is growing for the robust return expected this season, catches were already on the climb prior to the Willamette blowing out. Mainstem Columbia fishing is off to a predictable…
Portland/Metro Oregon Fishing Report – More spring Chinook are being reported from the Willamette River, an indication that indeed, a robust return is on the horizon for metro anglers. Catches seem most robust from Sellwood to Milwaukie with anglers using herring for bait. Precipitation now falling is forecast to have an impact on Willamette River water…
by Ian Carter The Cowlitz has leveled off, not taking off. Anglers are beginning to pay a little more attention to the lower Columbia despite the lack of Chinook traversing the dam. Those intercepting fish on the Columbia are doing so fishing downstream from the Multnomah channel by St Helens. REMINDER, please verify the regulations before…
Merwin remains the single most reported bright spot in SW Washington fishing. WDFW angler checks this week didn’t convey any effort or success for our tributaries except for the Cowlitz. Most area rivers should be approaching the new normal for peak winter Steelhead this month. I’m most looking forward to the Cowlitz run size coming…
Portland/Metro Oregon Fishing Report – Reports of more robust catches of spring Chinook are coming from Willamette River anglers. We’re still many weeks away from peak season, but there are catchable numbers of fish available, but river conditions may deteriorate by the weekend. Herring trollers will take the majority of fish in these colder waters and…
Portland/Metro Fishing Report – Not much has changed for Willamette or Columbia River anglers. Managers set the season for the mainstem Columbia and as expected, the season is forecasted to go through April 7th. Of course, the reality of that time frame is based on how the fishery performs, which is based on how river conditions…