Portland, Oregon Metro Fishing Report – Springers are now on the minds of many. Hopefully you saw our Sultan of Sellwood update from Tuesday. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you can get these updates in REAL TIME!
Willamette anglers have been sidelined for over a week now, turbid waters have boats at bay and springers hunkering down. Another rain freshet will put the system out for another several days but those interested in good fun, check out the sturgeon fishery as pro guide Stephen “Spicy” Gettel (503-999-0904) reports, “Willamette sturgeon fishing seems to be picking up. Despite the large numbers of smelt in the Columbia system, there are still plenty of good-sized fish in the Willamette. Did a trip a couple of days ago and our best success was down near the Kelly Point Terminal. So the fish seem to be responding to herring. My theory is that they’re sick of smelt. We tried squid and earthworms and neither had any luck. And anchovy late in the day did get us into 28-in fish.”
The mainstem Columbia has not been all the productive for spring Chinook just yet, but there is effort around I-5 happening. There have been spring Chinook caught locally in this area, but the Columbia is forecasted to rise as well, which could put the fish down for a while as well. Almost a dozen spring Chinook have bypassed Bonneville Dam already, not a bad start for this early in the season. The water temperatures have been running warmer than normal for this time of year.
Metro anglers should look up trout stocking lakes and ponds in the Willamette Valley. It’s “All in” for trout plants in many still waters, in preparation of spring break. Check out the stocking schedule HERE.
Hopefully, you got our email a few days ago, the 1-day smelt season on the Sandy River went really well today. It was tough to stay within your limit for some dippers, hopefully the law caught up with them.
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This comment came after this week’s webinar with pro guide Brandon Glass (503-260-8285). It was a good one, with former chief of fisheries Jim Martin commenting, “Fabulous webinar, I think the best I have ever heard!”
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Clackamas River Fishing Report – Nothing new on the Clackamas, especially since it’s high and a bit out of shape right now.
Steelhead anglers are still targeting hatchery fish at Dog Creek, the lone good spot on the Clackamas right now. With the highest concentration of hatchery fish available there, the focus won’t change much in the coming weeks.
Mike Roberson from Fisherman’s Marine reports that this is where the bulk of the effort remains, especially with the river high and out of shape for most river reaches. The fact of the matter remains, hatchery fish are holding in this location, until they enter Dog Creek for processing. He reports the fishing is still good here, better when water conditions are cooperative.
Sandy River fishing, avid angler Jeff Stoeger reports – Good afternoon All. The current river conditions are the river is running at 11.9 ft and has a slight green tint to it. Ideal water. We are sitting on anchor as the river is too high to float from place to place. There were a couple of guys floating from Oxbow to Dabney with most bank access being limited because of river height.
The river is forecasted to rise with the next rain event and could cloud up.
The first smelting event occurred and it’s from below Stark St bridge to the mouth. One day dipping. As of Wednesday we hadn’t seen a smelt in the river yet. You can buy smelt nets at most sporting goods stores.
North & Central Coast Fishing Report – North Coast steelhead fishing is starting to slow down. Even Buzz Ramsey went down for a couple of days of Dam Hole bank fishing on the Trask River and was top rod for his two-day stint, hooking just one steelhead. It’s been tough as of late and overall, not a great season.
Buzz echoed what many others observed however, there’s been a lot of 1-salt steelhead (Jacks in essence) so hopefully we’ll see a dramatic improvement in next year’s return.
Another rain event may bump the district’s rivers out of reach for Friday and Saturday fishing, but it should come back in by Sunday, if you’re willing to fish in high water conditions.
The Nestucca and Wilson will remain the best options, but you’ll have to work for your fish. With a depressed return this season, the April fishing likely won’t be all that good.
Hatchery workers at the NF Nehalem only had a single broodstock fish in the trap at mid-week.
Some north and central coast systems close starting April 1st. Be sure to check your regulations before venturing out.
Seas look too rough for anglers to make an ocean excursion. They’ll calm down sometime soon, however.
Chinook Members also have access to…
- Last week, Buzz Ramsey went into great detail catching big steelhead in northern Washington. Paid subscribers can see his post HERE.
- This week, Bill Monroe writes about Ocean and Columbia Fishing. You can read more about it HERE.
You can find all the articles from these two professionals on this page.
- The Salmon Trout Steelheader article of the week: Bicycle to Blue Ribbon Trout. You can view it HERE.
All the STS articles are located here.
Upper Willamette River System Report – Some rivers were blown out, others fishable, but high. Rains are expected to continue, so check river flows before fishing this weekend
North Santiam River
North Santiam fishing guide Mike Ferris of Fishermen Mike’s Guide Service reports that the North Santiam is high and muddy. He said there have been fires in the river’s watershed, and once the ground gets saturated, the mud starts flowing in.
“If I can’t see under the water 3 feet, it’s too muddy to fish,” He said.
He also reports that the South Santiam River is in the same shape, with mud and high flows.
You can check the river gauge at Mehama here.
Earlier in the season anglers were finding some nice wild winter steelhead. There are no hatchery plants in the river, so any hatchery fish caught are strays from another system.
River levels best for fishing are at or below 3,000 cfs, and the river is currently running at about 4200 cfs at the gage in Mehama.
Anglers are reminded that the use of bait is not allowed between Nov. 1 and April 21.
There are several large, downed trees in the river creating some dangerous hazards for boaters in the lower reaches. For more information check out the Oregon State Marine Board website
South Santiam River
Fishing is generally best when flows are below 3,000 cfs, but at present, they are at over 6,000 cfs. You can check the gauge at Waterloo here.
McKenzie River
The freestone section and the tailwater are well above a normal level. Below Leaburg Dam the discharge is at 6,200 cfs. Give it some time to drop and clear. Good hatches continue to take place when conditions allow. The Trout will also take spinners. Steelhead and salmon are in the river below Leaburg Dam.
You can check the river flows below Leaburg Dam Here.
Upper Willamette River
The middle and upper sections of the Willamette are good places for craft such as kayaks, and drift boats. Bank anglers will find plenty of good access. Consult the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department for specific locations.
The river’s trout prefer the colder water above Corvallis. The upstream section between Albany and Harrisburg is open year-round for trout fishing, which can be very good when flows are cooperating.
The river at Corvalis is running at about 3600 cfs. You can check the river flows at Corvalis here.
Scheduled to be stocked the week of March 10:
Cottage Grove Reservoir, Blue Lake, Hills Creek Reservoir, Blue Lake Reservoir, Row River Nature Park Pond, Dexter Reservoir, Huddleston Pond, EE Wilson Pond, Dorman Lake, Timber Linn Lake
Stocked the week of March 3:
Walter Wirth Lake, Dorena Reservoir, Row River Nature Paek Pond, Timber Linn Lake, Alton Baker Canoe Canal, Junction City Pond.
Dexter Pond road closure
Beginning Friday, April 1, the public will not be able to drive into the Dexter Ponds Hatchery due to bridge inspection by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Please call the USACE Park Ranger Office at 541-942-5631 with questions.
Cottage Grove Reservoir
Perhaps the best largemouth lake in western Oregon, Cottage Grone Reservoir is best fished for the big bass in the spring, but currently, the stocked trout are getting the attention. Fishing has been good for the stocked rainbows, and a few larger fish have recently been caught, with some up to 5 pounds.
The Oregon Health Authority has issued an advisory for this reservoir, neighboring Dorena Reservoir and the Coast Fork drainage due to naturally occurring mercury that builds up in resident fish, especially long-lived fish such as trophy bass.Both from a fishery standpoint and for your health, the best plan is to release bass.
The planted trout should not be expected to build up high levels of mercury.
Green Peter Reservoir
The water level in the reservoir is slowly increasing as they prepare to fill it before the summer recreation season. The boat ramp at Thistle Creek is available to launch boats. The lake will soon be stocked with rainbow trout.
Fishing for and harvesting Chinook in the lake and the rivers above is prohibited. Any Chinook caught in Green Peter reservoir must be released unharmed.
For the latest information on water levels at Green Peter Reservoir check with the Army Corps of Engineers’ website for more information.
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome reports:
The recent break in between major storms got anglers a slight, but pleasant round of a few beautiful days of fishing. Oceangoers saw limits of bottom fish and ling cod, and river anglers saw some nice catches of springers on the lower Rogue and Umpqua Rivers’ earlier this week.
Winter steelhead were also caught on the mid and upper sections of the Rogue River. The lakes and ponds also saw their share of action with lots of stocked trout on the bite. Well, I hate to be a “Debbie Downer”, I really do, but this weekend and possibly late into next week isn’t looking great.
Especially for any kind of coast fishing, the weather forecast is 2-3+ inches of rain making for end-of-season steelheading, they’re pretty much a wrap. As for inland, the weather will be very unpredictable depending on where you go.
Possibilities might be the upper Rogue River above Casey Park. Increased winter steelhead numbers show them there now and river conditions are probably the best possible. The Applegate up towards Cantrall Buckley Park where it will be high, but fishable would be an option.
Also, to take advantage of the end of Spring Break, many of the lakes have been stocked and would be a good choice for some fun family time. You don’t necessarily need a boat to catch fish from the bank at Lost Creek, Selmac, Galesville, Emigrant, Agate, and Reinhart.
Read this week’s SW Washington fishing report.