Willamette Valley/Metro – Reports of an occasional springer is coming from the mainstem Columbia although high effort is yielding mediocre results, as is to be expected. Plunkers and boaters are coming out in fair numbers but despite good water conditions for catching (or at least “good” relative to previous years for this time of year), catches are not that impressive. Steelhead remain an option for lower Columbia beaches too.
Lower Willamette spring Chinook trollers are taking fish occasionally at various locations. Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is good.
While the McKenzie has been stable for several days, it is expected to rise with rain this week. Trout fishing is spotty.
A few wild winter steelhead are providing some catch-and-release action on the North Santiam but catches will improve in months to come.
Northwest – Despite low water conditions, action for steelhead on the north coast remains fair to good. Effort drops off in the less than ideal conditions when flows drop but fish still move into the river systems and will fall to savvy anglers. The Wilson and Nestucca remain primary targets but wild fish are present in every north coast stream.
Smaller streams will remain too low for boating through the upcoming weekend. Despite the recent, albeit light precipitation, river levels won’t be on the rise anytime soon. This will continue to favor bank anglers as it’s much easier to traverse the smaller reaches in low flows.
Saltwater anglers had some great opportunity on calm seas over the weekend and early this week. Black sea bass and some lingcod fell quite easily for those fishing over productive reefs. Crabbing remains challenging in the bays and the ocean.
Central & South Coast Reports – There has been frost on the docks some mornings this week at Depoe Bay, but mostly clear weather has provided comfortable offshore experiences for boats launching this week. The ocean has been producing ling cod limits.
Central & Eastern – Trout anglers on the lower Deschutes can sometimes do alright with redsides over the winter months.
According to Steve Fleming of Mah-Haw Outfitters (971-533-5733), one client caught several smallmouth bass to 19 inches as well as three steelhead this week on the John Day River.
Area beaches along the south coast have been producing pinkfin surf perch this week.
For those looking to book a charter or accommodations, the 2015 spring all-depth halibut dates will be May 14-16, May 28-30, June 11-13 and June 25-27. The nearshore halibut fishery starts July 1st, seven days a week inside the 40-fathom line through the earlier of the quota filling or Oct. 31st.
According to Robert Campbell at Fisherman’s Marine in Oregon City (503-557-5600), Tenmile Lake is heating up for largemouth bass with warmer weather this week.
Winchester Bay crabbers have enjoyed an improvement in results with the bay clearing and the salinity level returning to normal. Umpqua mainstem steelhead had it good last week, not so good recently as the water dropped and cleared.
With the Rogue flowing low and clear on the lower, middle and upper sections, catches of winter steelhead have slowed.
While Diamond Lake is clear of ice, the water remains cold. This has made for a light bite.