We’re so sorry for any inconvenience, writer Bob Rees is needing a “sick day” pass this week, we will be back again next week. Until then, please use the short version of the newsletter although there are some updates for readers interested in info from SW Oregon, the Clackamas and Sandy Rivers thanks to pro…
Willamette Valley/Metro – As promising water conditions persisted on the Willamette, so does the excitement and subsequent effort. Anglers are taking home a few spring Chinook, mostly from the Hawthorne Bridge to Milwaukie stretch, but salmon are also being reported from the Multnomah Channel and mainstem Columbia. With most of these early returning fish destined…
Willamette Valley/Metro – There remains no activity on the lower Columbia River. The Willamette River is still harboring sturgeon, and in good numbers. Few still pursue them however, despite the good action and quality size. We’ve become a keeper society. We hope to have more information on 2018 catch and keep seasons by next week.…
Willamette Valley/Metro – Still no word of a spring Chinook from the region, despite good water conditions. The window may be closing, with the upcoming precipitation event. While the waters of the lower Willamette have been on a steady drop for a while, enticing a troller or two to seek spring Chinook in vain (thus…
Willamette Valley/Metro – Still now “first” spring Chinook of the year, but if it’s going to fall this week, it’ll have to be upstream of the mouth of the Willamette since it’s going to be running quite brown for some time. It could be weeks before we see the first one hit the deck. With…
Willamette Valley/Metro – Fish passage is nil at Willamette Falls, in part due to the high, muddy water in the lower Willamette. It’s due in at least one other part to the calendar which indicates it’s still early for seasonal, migratory fishes. There have been a few bell-ringers at Meldrum Bar, but just a few.…
Willamette Valley/Metro – For all intents and purposes, the Columbia River sport fishery is done. As of Saturday, October 22nd, it’s officially done. With the run size DOWNGRADE again, it’s been discovered that we have overharvested what we should have. It might even be moral to cease fishing immediately. It might be time for catch…
Willamette Valley/Metro – Hey! Have you heard? There’s a storm coming! In the coming week, waters of the lower Willamette will rise, become muddy and fill with Debris. This will be an unsafe time to be out there in a boat so wait until conditions improve. While the McKenzie can be a fun and productive…
Starting with the Columbia river, anglers have witnessed large numbers of sturgeon rolling in the estuary. Although if you are pursuing them, action should be improving as water temperatures do. Bait however is a problem. Saline levels in the lower Columbia remain too low for penned up anchovies to survive. Anglers will be responsible for…
Willamette Valley – Lower Willamette spring Chinook fishing has been slow built sturgeon fishing has remained a solid bet. The shad season, which is just starting, will produce thousands of fish once it gets rolling. Waters of the McKenzie River will increase in level and flow with the rain that’s currently falling but this will…
Charter boats out of Depoe Bay report that sloppy conditions on Tuesday this week transitioned to smooth enough for a pleasant experience for all on Wednesday. More importantly, they caught ling cod and rockfish both days. No report had come in at deadline for today but with the upcoming forecast, all saltwater anglers have smiles…
Over the past two weeks, the speed of Willamette River water flow has halved while the volume has dropped from 90,000 cfs to less than 40,000 cfs. Of equal importance to anglers, water temperatures topped the 50-degree mark for the first time over that period just today, March 31st as turbidity further dropped, leaving the…
Willamette Valley – While the Willamette is on a trend of dropping and clearing, rainfall starting Friday night will effect this and most valley rivers. It’s too early to expect much in the way of results from spring Chinook. Better bets include sturgeon or warmwater fish, particularly bass according to Robert Campbell at Fisherman’s Marine…
Willamette Valley – From last week: ” Robert Campbell at Fisherman’s Marine in Oregon City (503-557-3313) predicts “The first Willamette Springer will be caught any day now. It may just come from Meldrum Bar this year, I dunno, it’s just a feeling. But I know that first springer is going to happen soon. I feel…
Willamette Valley – Conditions on the lower Willamette have changed little in that it is still high and muddy. This means sturgeon fishing is expected to be good but with the extra water comes debris washing downstream. Use caution if boating. Waters of the McKenzie are on the rise and with the exception of a few…
