Portland/Metro Oregon Fishing Report – It hasn’t been a great week for metro area anglers. From no-show springers to cold water steelhead, anglers didn’t miss much if they took the week off. Thankfully, it’ll get better before it gets worse.
The Sultan of Sellwood has yet to give the wood shampoo to a Willamette River spring Chinook. He’s putting in about 4 hours per day and won’t get too many more days before the Willamette heads north and likely muddies. That’s based on the amount of rainfall the valley actually receives however.
There is unsubstantiated rumor however, of a spring Chinook caught from Dibblee Beach today? for what it’s worth. The picture is as fuzzy as the details, but truth or dare, it gives hope to the area’s ravenous spring Chinook anglers that help is on the way. (See picture above).
There remains little effort for sturgeon, but it may not be long before fresh smelt become available as they appear to have appeared on the lower Columbia River, if you believe what growing numbers of sea lions mean, that is.
Clackamas River Fishing Report – Far from impressive, the Clackamas is yielding steelhead, just not in great numbers. Persistent anglers can find a fish or two, but cold weather put a damper on catch and effort. The upcoming warming trend won’t hurt things, but the rainfall amounts could.
Sandy River Fishing Report – Avid angler Jeff Stoeger reported, “Hello All. This last week we saw the temperatures take a dive and hovering just above freezing during the day and below freezing at night. If you made out to fish, I could guarantee that you had frozen guides for most of the time. There were fish to be had but you had to brave the elements to catch them.
The river is holding around 9.2 ft and should stay that way until we get this next rain event. The water temperature is running around 38 degrees and will stay that way until we either get rain or the weather tends to warm up.
Fishing has been so, so depending on who you talk to. The lower river has been slow with a fish here and there. While the mid river from Oxbow to Dabney have had a couple of days with fair number of fish being caught.
Find the full report and forecast for Members on the Sandy and the Clackamas from this page here.
North Coast Fishing Report – Following a bitterly cold week and low, clear water conditions, there’s not much to report for north coast steelhead. The mainstay two (Wilson and Nestucca Rivers) have been producing poorly under these conditions. There remains a lack of 1-salt fish so the larget 2-salts continue to make up the bulk of the catch. Anglers might hope for quantity of quality most years, this would be one of those years.
Smaller, early season options are done now. It’s a spawned-out steelhead bonanza for the next few weeks as hungry, spent steelhead make their way back towards the estuary, feeding all the way.
It’s really rain that we need now and it looks like it’s on the way. Rain is forecasted to start falling on Friday night, and be on and off throughout the weekend and into next week. There doesn’t appear to be a gully-washer in route, but it should improve a depressed fishery. Run timing is about to rear its head as well, the fish are simply due in better numbers any day.
A few saltwater cowboys got offshore on Tuesday and Wednesday. They described a dreamy ocean, laden with lingcod. There were of course some sea bass caught as well, but few had interest in competing with the copious amount of commercial gear deployed in the ocean. It’s been a productive crab season for the commercials, they’re just getting a terrible price for all their hard work.
The commercial fleet now has crab gear north of Cape Falcon, including the lower Columbia. It’ll likely impact sport success, but there should still be catchable numbers of smaller crab available for those that still wish to go.
Don’t overlook winter opportunities on the coast, the north coast stocking schedule can be found HERE.
See the full North Coast Report and Forecast for Members right here.
Willamette River System Report – No spring Chinook as of yet, from the lower Willamette. Here’s what upper Willamette zone Glenn Zinkus has to report:
Contributor Glenn Zinkus reports:
Southern Willamette Valley Ponds Have Trout – McKenzie River At A Good Fishing Level
Alton Baker Canal: Alton Baker Canal was stocked with 700 legal size trout last December before Christmas, for the end of year. Alton Baker will be stocked again next week – with 1,250 legal size trout.
As always, a great put and take option for anglers and families in the Eugene area.
Detroit Reservoir:
As of right now, Detroit Lake surface elevation is currently at 1450.17 feet. Levels have been increasing. This is right at the level of the level winter time ramp, Mongold which is at 1450 feet.
Check the water levels here: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/or/nwis/uv?site_no=14180500
Kokanee reports dwindled except for an angler catching a limit within 3 hours, about a week ago. Otherwise, I’d say koke fishing will be back in the early spring.
Detroit was stocked up through the end of June with trophy trout each week. The deeper, cooler waters of Detroit make this a good trout fishing option, in depths below 20 feet and at times closer to the surface. Most recently trout were in the deeper zones with some nice catches reported. Anglers have been catching bigger trout, up to 15 inches, near the dam.
Green Peter Reservoir: Water level is rising, and at 923.13 feet right now. Water level can be found here: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=14186100
Early January reports some fish around, and modest koke catches. Many fish at 45 to 60 feet.
Fishing near the mouth of Quartzville Creek for trout can be effective. Trout have been stocked in Quartzville Creek.
Quartzville Creek: Quartzville Creek flows spiked earlier in the week, and receding at a good pace, currently at 244CFS. Nice fishing levels and get out there right now.
Quartzville Creek is open all year. Quartzville was stocked last summer, and will be again next spring.
Spinners, spoons, nymph fishing and attractor dries will all work on Quartzville Creek.
Junction City Pond: JC Pond was stocked with 1250 legal size trout earlier in January. Will be stocked again next week with 1,500 legal size trout.
JC Pond was stocked in December with 1,300 legal trout and 60 steelhead – and anglers have been catching those steelhead. Good local option for southern Willamette Valley anglers and a good option.
Timber Linn Park Pond: Was stocked with 1000 legal size rainbows in mid December. Timber Linn will be stocked again next week with 800 legal size trout and 40 trophy trout next week. This is a good option winter option right now.
EE Wilson Pond: EE Wilson Pond was stocked with 1,250 legal size rainbows this week, and is scheduled to be stocked again next week with 1,250 legal size trout. Now a good option!
Waverly Lake: Waverly Lake received 1,000 legal size trout during mid December. Waverly Lake will be stocked again next week with 900 legal size trout.
Find the latest full report and forecast as well as past reports for Members on the Willamette Valley/Metro start on this page here.
Central Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Glenn Zinkus reports:
Lower Deschutes River:
The Lower Deschutes dropped on Tuesday, with current flows of around 3830 CFS at Madras and 4470 CFS at Moody.
Trout fishing is now closed in the Warm Springs to Trout Creek area until April 22, but there is activity around Maupin. The slight warming trend that’s coming in right now will help both the fishing and access to the fishing.
Be careful not to wade in visible spawning areas.
Middle Deschutes River: The Middle Deschutes is running high now, and best bet is to fish streamers and jigs. Try areas below Benham Falls.
Upper Deschutes River: Closed as of Oct 1 for the season.
Haystack Reservoir: Drained for maintenance – staying steady at 11 %.
Lake Billy Chinook: Some more reports are coming in. Bulls up to 26 inches have been grabbing plugs. Kokes, with some in the 12-14 inch range are starting to be caught. Fish seem to be holding deep -at up to 125 feet of water – and starting at about 100 feet.
Crooked River: Steady flows, that are nice, at 129 CFS.
Some fair reports, and Jeff Perin says in his most recent report that you’ll likely catch trout in the 6 to 10 inch range. He’s thinking most of the bigger fish went deep during the low flows and will come back when higher irrigation flows come back.
Although there are not many reports, anglers are catching fish nymphing – Perdigons have been the ticket. Nymphing is consistent and anglers are catching redsides and whitefish.
Fall River: There are continued reports that fishing is good from the hatchery up to the Camp Ground and headwaters.
The BWO hatches will happen through the afternoon, afternoon, sometimes short, sometimes up to an hour long Lunchtime hatches maybe up until 2 PM will happen. Most reports are that the BWOs are small, in the size 20 range. Midges are also coming off now.
Stocked earlier November with trophy trout.
Metolius River: Upper river is kind of popular, especially on the warmer days. I checked it and fished it today, and there was a bit of a BWO hatch for 30 minutes of so. Also, there were fewer people on the upper river than last week. The road into Camp Sherman is cleared out, and today it was mostly sunny and about 44 degrees in the afternoon.
Bull trout are present throughout the river and grabbing caught fish, flies, and some lures.
Members can always see the latest complete report as well as the forecast for this section by starting right here.
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome reports:
Coming rain will bring in more fish!
Winter steelhead action has been challenging this past week due to cold and clear river conditions. February which many have dubbed “prime time” for these prized fish will start with some rain forecasted this weekend and should provide the necessary freshet for optimal river conditions and more fish early next week.
The mid Rogue river has been slightly declining in flow, but has remained fishable and anglers have been scoring some nice winter steelhead that moved up from the last freshet. Best success has been by drift boaters from Chinook Park to Griffin Park pulling plugs and side drifting soft beads. Reports from last weekend also saw some nice catches from Hog creek down to Galice. Rain should spike the river early next week and bring some more fish in by latter week.
The upper Rogue is fishable but clear and cold. A couple more winter steelhead have been counted up at the hatchery. Best to try from Dodge park on up through Shady cove and Casey Park.
The Chetco is low and clear making it challenging for boaters. There are fish present, but after the first couple boats go by, they’re spooked and tight lipped. Anglers able to get out first part of next week should have much better success.
The ocean was good enough to get out and go for some winter crabbing and ling cod/ bottom fish, but unfortunately doesn’t look promising for this weekend. Cold winds and rain is expected so maybe some bay crabbing might be possible of which has been good to excellent from Brookings on up to Winchester bay.
The Elk and Sixes rivers which have been a no go lately should provide a good opportunity early next week after the weekend rain.
Be safe, be nice and enjoy!
Jeff’s expanded report, multiple lake updates, and forecast in this week’s version for Members!
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