Willamette Valley/Metro – A few steelhead are being taken by bank anglers on the lower Willamette. The better bet would be catch-and-release sturgeon fishing.
Waters of the McKenzie are dropping and clearing although fishing here is slow.
Winter steelhead are yet to show in sufficient number to create a fishery on the Santiams.
While the Clackamas rose rapidly following rainfall over the past weekend, it has since dropped and is in good conditions for winter steelheading.
Similarly, the Sandy is on good shape and has been producing some steelhead although the peak of the run has yet to occur.
Northwest – Steelheaders did have one last great crack at fresh winter steelhead on most north coast systems and larger systems came online mid-week. Traffic should be heavy over the weekend with action only likely mediocre. The Wilson and Nestucca will become primary targets as quality hatchery broodstock fish begin to make their way in. We’re still several weeks away from peak season however.
The North Fork Nehalem River is recycling more steelhead into district lakes, giving bank anglers a fair shot at less-than-ideal steelhead but still a great option. Fresh early run fish will become increasingly hard to find here and on the Necanicum River, despite a great return this year.
The Nestucca should start to produce better results from the lower reaches as flows drop. High tides this weekend could keep fresh fish running in.
Crabbing will likely be poor as the commercial season catches reflect a downturn in production. Heavy tides this weekend won’t help matters.
Southwest- Charter boats launching out of central Oregon ports for rockfish are doing well for ling cod in deep water.
Reports for winter steelhead catches have been good from the mainstem and South Umpqua with steelhead running large.
Crabbing has been improving at Coos Bay this week with Dungeness hard and full of meat. Winter steelhead are being caught on the Coos River system.
Winter steelheading is worthwhile on the lower Rogue and may be slightly better on the middle river. While it’s still early in the season, a good run is indicated this year. A few winters have been landed on the upper Rogue although this fishery will improve in February and March.
Boats launching out of the Port of Brookings have been doing well for bottom fish. The Chetco River has recovered from recent storms and has been producing steelhead although it may soon be too low and clear to fish well.
The ice at Diamond Lake is not yet thick enough to allow ice fishing.
Eastern – Trout fishing on the lower Deschutes has been fair to god unlike summer steelheading.