Portland/Metro Oregon Fishing Report – With the Columbia still closed, all eyes are on the Willamette and it’s finally dropping into shape with anglers starting to post some catches on the forever muddy metro mainstay. Catches picked up from Oregon City to the head of the Multnomah Channel at mid-week, the channel itself typically needs another day or two to clear.
It’s going to be a good week for Willamette River anglers and plunkers working Meldrum Bar will finally see some meaningful opportunity as well.
Test net catches on the lower Columbia bumped this week, look for Bonneville counts to start ramping up, but a re-opener isn’t likely for several more weeks, if at all. Most remain optimistic that the run will show with anticipation growing for the Wind and Drano Lake fisheries when numbers at Bonneville do bump.
Clackamas River Fishing Report – There have recently been a few spring Chinook, with an emphasis on few, taken from the lower Clackamas River. Most anglers fishing the Clackamas are still targeting late-run winter steelhead at McIver Park. The fishing has been fairly good.
Summer steelhead are entering, but it’ll be many more weeks before angler’s chances increase.
Sandy River Fishing Report – Avid angler Jeff Stoeger reported, “This week we saw the river slowly drop into ideal river conditions. The river is running at 10.4 ft and the water temperature is 43 degrees. The forecast shows the river taking a small bump due to warmer weather melting the low land snow below 4000 ft.
Here are the numbers of fish that have returned as of the 17th of the month. Hatchery winter steelhead 1343 winters for brood stock forty-six fish with a mix of brood stock returned fish, and 2 summer steelhead so far. The outlook has started slowing for springers and should pick up in the next month with most of the fishing taking place at the end of May and the months of June and July.
Find the full report and forecast for Members on the Sandy and the Clackamas from this page here.
Several lakes in the district are slated for stocking. Go HERE to see if your favorite is on the list this week.
North Coast Fishing Report – Steelheaders took advantage of perfect conditions earlier this week, posting some good late season catches of bright winter steelhead on the Wilson and Nestucca systems. It’s largely over now although a few, mostly wild fish, will continue to enter for just a short while longer. Most late-run winter fish are nearing the spawning phase of their life-cycle.
Offshore weather was less than friendly all week. Anglers are anxious to spend some time on the reefs in search of large lings and sea bass. More promising opportunities are forthcoming.
Ocean crab are nearing “The Clutch,” more interested in mating than eating. That will further diminish sport catches but the commercial fleet continues to produce robust catches in deeper water.
Spring Chinook are still weeks away, but it’s the next best thing that coastal chrome seekers have to look forward to in the foreseeable future.
Have you seen our FREE webinar on ocean and bar safety? Check it out HERE!
Don’t overlook spring opportunities on the coast, the north coast stocking schedule can be found HERE and it looks as if there will be robust plants in the Newport and Tillamook districts in the coming two weeks.
See the full North Coast Report and Forecast for Members right here.
Two of our writers were out this week. You can see last week’s report for SW, Central, and the upper Willamette here.
Read this week’s SW Washington fishing report.