Portland/Metro Oregon Fishing Report – Willamette River spring Chinook seekers are still hard at it. Many remain frustrated, but if water conditions persist, action should pick up again in the foreseeable future. Catches were fairly good last week, but the Columbia River is roaring, backing up the Willamette and slowing the bite for what is considered peak season.
Over 3,000 spring Chinook have passed Willamette Falls but once the river hits 60°, that number will increase dramatically.
Willamette River sturgeon fishing is very good right now. It helps that there was a good return of smelt this year.
Spring Chinook are pouring over Bonneville Dam, which will improve the Wind River and Drano Lake fisheries. Managers have to see how robust the returns are over the next 10 days to determine how close the sport fleet has come to attaining our impacts. We need to see strong passage numbers for the next 7 days.
Clackamas River Fishing Report – The Cl’ackamas should start to spark for spring Chinook and summer steelhead this week. Warm temperatures however will add to the already high Clackamas, making it a bit more challenging to find biters.
Although it’s likely that both summer steelhead and spring Chinook returns won’t be great, with low pressure, fishing could still be worthwhile.
Sandy River Fishing Report – Avid angler Jeff Stoeger shares, “I hope that you had the chance to get out and try your luck this past week. There has been an increase in springers being caught over the last couple of days.
The lower river had good numbers of drift boats and sleds due to the off color of the Willamette. The Sandy is running 10.14 ft and shows a small bump due to the freezing level taking a bump over the next couple of days, for the weather is forecasted to hit 90 degrees by the weekend.
If the weather stays warm over the next few weeks, you can expect to see more river action because the sun bathers will come out of the woodwork.
If you happen to catch a native fish, please don’t drag them up onto the beach, try to release them in river and try to handle them with care. Wishing you all the best of luck and tight lines.”
Several lakes in the district are slated for stocking. Go HERE to see if your favorite is on the list this week.
Find the full report and forecast for Members on the Sandy and the Clackamas from this page here.
North Coast Fishing Report – Spring Chinook are starting to get caught with more regularity in Tillamook Bay. Softer tides should produce better results in the lower bay this weekend and the offshore weather looks fairly favorable for bottomfish and halibut for those willing to venture into big blue.
North coast rivers are continuing to drop, but spring Chinook will still migrate upstream under the cover of darkness. There have been fish caught at the Hatchery Hole on the Trask already.
Razor clam diggers did well for the most part last week. It’ll be another 7 days before favorable tides return.
Bay crabbing should improve this weekend, it’s still pretty good for sport legals in the ocean when one can get out. The crab are in prime condition.
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.
Upper Willamette River System Report – Contributor Glenn Zinkus reports
Alton Baker Canal: Alton Baker was stocked with 938 legal size rainbows this week, and stocked again next week with 1,250 legal size trout.
Note that Alton Baker Canal was stocked earlier in January with 700 one pounders.
Detroit Reservoir:
Levels have been increasing – currently at 1558.6 feet – up nearly 7feet since last week. Docks are starting to go in. Check the water levels here: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/or/nwis/uv?site_no=14180500
Fishing is picking up, with reports of kokanee and trout action. Kokes around 40 feet – red or pink seem to be the hot colors.
As a caution, there are some reports of thefts from boat ramps including catalytic converters.
Quartzville Creek: Quartzville Creek is open all year, and just stocked this week with 2,200 legal size trout, and will be stocked again next week with the same. Flows have been dropping this week, currently at 1050 CFS – nice fishing flows.
Temperatures are starting to slightly trend upward, from 44 to 48 degrees. With incoming warm weather, I think this will become a prime little river to fish.
Junction City Pond: JC Pond was stocked this week with 1,500 legal size rainbows, and will be stocked again with 1,500 legal size trout next week. Good local option for southern Willamette Valley anglers.
EE Wilson Pond: Scheduled was stocked with 1,500 legal size rainbows this week, and scheduled to be stocked with 1,250 legal size rainbows next week.
South Santiam Steelhead: Small numbers of steelhead are present in the South Santiam now, with 27 at the dam as of today.
South Santiam Trout: No New Updates.
North Santiam Trout: The North Santiam received 2,200 legal size trout in August. The North Santiam is scheduled begin stocking during the week of May 22.
The river has been running high, but did recede from the highs of last weekend.
Willamette River – Middle Fork:
The Middle Fork flow is currently 4040 CFS – kind of high but has been dropping quite a bit this week just like last week.
Nymphing will take the fish – use searching patterns including pheasant tails, BH thorax, prince nymph variations and twists. Also streamers towards the bank.
Some steelhead are starting to show in the Middle Fork.
Willamette River – From Harrisburg, to Corvallis, to Albany:
High water in the Willamette. The Willamette River spiked on May 1 and continues dropping this week – but still very high earlier at 10,600 CFS at Harrisburg. It’s been blown out, and still running a little too high for optimal fishing.
There are steelhead starting to show up in the Willamette and the tributaries in the South Willamette Valley, with just a few angler catches.
Dexter Reservoir: Dexter received 3,000 trophy trout early in the month. Stocking is complete for the spring.
Glenn reports bi-weekly this time of year. Catch last week’s report right here.
Members – 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
Weather Outlook Across Central and Eastern Oregon:
A real warming trend is coming! This one is not followed by any immediate cold front like some of the others. Temperatures will peak out in the mid to upper 70s in many parts of the high desert through the weekend, and into the 80s next week. The same forecast holds true for the high lakes, such as Crane Prairie.
The Deschutes Canyon will be a bit warmer, with temperatures into the 80s by the weekend and trending in the high 80s or 90s later next week.
ODFW News – Angling Restrictions
The entire ODFW Steelhead Management Framework presentation is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPjaWczzOD8
The same metrics as last year are being applied. However, ODFW does forecast a lower steelhead return, which unlike last year, could close down steelhead for later in the season. But, that is only a return forecast which are not always accurate. Steelhead fishing on the Deschutes will be open to start. We will watch the fish counts.
Beginning Jan. 1, Fall River below the Fall River Falls is closed from Oct. 1 to May 22.
Lower Deschutes River:
Well, the Deschutes has been on the rise again this week, after rising and then falling last week, currently at 6710 CFS at Madras which is high. As a note, it was around 5700 to 5800 when I fished the Deschutes last week, and it was high then. After a few tributaries pour in, it’s high in Maupin and crazy below White River.
Members can always see the latest complete report as well as the forecast for central Oregon by starting right here.
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome reports:
Well, the noise is still about the spring Chinook in the upper and lower stretches of the Rogue River. Fair to good catches have continued on the lower section from Elephant rock to Lobster creek while those working 4.0 Mag lips on the upper section have been scoring lately as well. Steelhead are still present from the mid to upper Rogue, but increased flows from the dam have stymied the bite this week. Ocean conditions have been good, and the bottom/ rock fish and ling cod bite has been excellent. Another good opportunity for the weekend to bring home fresh ocean fish for Mother’s Day! Lakes all over are filling up and stocked with trout. Warmer weather has warm water bass and bluegill on the bite as well. It’s supposed to get hot this weekend in the Rogue Valley so get out and take Mom fishing🎣 Happy Mother’s Day!
Ocean conditions look good for another opportunity to get out for some excellent bottom fish and ling cod. Halibut season just opened and has been fair to excellent depending on which port you go out of. Right now, it’s still Charleston and Winchester bay’s out to 300’+ depth to find em. Crabbing is still temporarily out but razor clamming is open.
Lakes and ponds are stocked well with trout and the warmer weather has the bass and bluegill biting good. Lake Selmac has been producing some nice sized bass in the 2-4 pound range. Lost Creek, Galesville, Cooper, and Applegate lakes have also been good to excellent for trout.
Increased dam flows this week on the Rogue River saw a slump in the bite for spring Chinook, but it got better as the week progressed and the fish got used to it. Decent action for both springers and winter steelhead on the upper stretches has most of the non-coastal anglers’ attention. The lower is starting to see a slowdown from the past couple of weeks’ peak.
Be safe, be nice and enjoy!
Tight Lines 🎣 – Romer
Jeff’s expanded report, multiple lake updates, and forecast in this week’s version for Members!
Read this week’s SW Washington fishing report.