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Oregon Fishing Reports Salmon Steelhead Sturgeon Halibut Tuna Bottomfish and Trout
Updates coming soon December 30, 2008 ODFW Recreation Report Winter steelhead entering coastal rivers Winter steelhead season is underway in coastal rivers and streams. Recent cold, wet conditions have made fishing conditions challenging but look for fishing to improve as water levels fall and water clarity improves.
Note: The 2009 Sport Fishing Regulations have been printed and are now available at all ODFW offices and retail outlets. Pick up a copy today! Weekend fishing opportunities:
§ Early hatchery winter steelhead fisheries should be peaking over the next two to three weeks. Look for streams such as Big Creek, Necanicum River, North Fork Nehalem River, Kilchis River, Wilson River and Nestucca River to produce fish. Projected warmer weather could lead to rising rivers as snow melts- check river conditions before heading out. § The seasonal coho fisheries on Siltcoos and Tahkenitch lakes offer an unusual opportunity to fish for wild coho salmon. The seasonal coho fisheries on Siltcoos and Tahkenitch lakes offer an unusual opportunity to fish for wild coho salmon. It is currently a slow fishery and not expected to be good over the next couple weeks.
ALSEA RIVER: winter steelhead Winter steelhead fishing has kicked in as weather and river conditions have been favorable recently. Anglers are having fair to good success in the mid to lower river early on. Good numbers typically reach the North Fork by mid January. KILCHIS RIVER: steelhead Winter steelhead angling is slow. River conditions have generally not been conducive to good angling. Look for decent numbers of steelhead to be available after the next high water. The lower river offers the best opportunity at hatchery fish. A log jam spans the lower river, but is passable. Boaters should use extreme caution. NECANICUM RIVER: steelhead A few winter steelhead are being caught. Concentrate on the lower river, where more fish should be holding, until high water raises the stream and spurs fish movement upstream. Boaters should use caution, as there have been reports of impassable log jams along the river. NORTH FORK NEHALEM RIVER: steelhead Increasing numbers of winter steelhead are available. Most fish are holding in the lower river up to the hatchery, but should move when rains raise the stream. Call 503-368-5670 for recorded fishing information. NESTUCCA RIVER AND THREE RIVERS: steelhead Winter steelhead angling is fair. Hatchery fish are spread out through the river up to Blaine, and in Three Rivers. About three dozen fish have been recycled from the Cedar Creek Hatchery this season. SILETZ RIVER: winter steelhead Steelhead fishing has picked up recently as river conditions have improved for angling. Steelhead can be found throughout most of the river with good bank and boat opportunities from Morgan Park up to Moonshine Park. During higher flows, anglers should focus on angling above the town of Siletz. SIUSLAW RIVER: winter steelhead Fair to good winter steelhead angling has been reported in the lower Siuslaw and Lake Creek following recent rain events. This run typically is later than most with peak returns to trapping facilities starting in late January. The best early opportunity will be in the lower rivers. TILLAMOOK BAY: sturgeon Angling for sturgeon has been good recently. Sand shrimp fished on the bottom in the deeper channels will produce the best results. Move frequently to find fish if you are not getting bites. TRASK RIVER: steelhead Winter steelhead angling is fair, with a few stray hatchery fish available. Fish seem to be spread out through the river system, with some fish available in the north and south forks. Best success on fresh fish is in the lower river until the next freshet WILSON RIVER: steelhead Fresh winter steelhead are being caught, primarily in the lower river. Angling has been slow to fair, but should improve after the next good rain. YAQUINA RIVER: winter steelhead Recent rains have moved fish up into the system. Best opportunities are fishing Big Elk Creek where the hatchery release occurs. Public access is best in the upper river around Deer Creek upstream to Grant Creek. PACIFIC OCEAN AND BEACHES: bottomfish Rockfish daily bag limit has returned to six fish and is open to the 40-fathom line. Sport anglers may still retain two lingcod but cabezon may no longer be retained by boat anglers. ROGUE RIVER, LOWER: steelhead The river is high and muddy. Anglers should keep an eye on the flows and try to hit the river when flows drop below 12000 cfs at Agness. Bank anglers fishing spin-n-glos glows really close to the bank will fair the best. As the river clears anglers can start to fish a little farther away from the bank. Rogue River flowsOGUE RIVER, MIDDLE: trout, steelhead Fishing is slow and pressure is light because of the cold weather. Recent rains have caused the river to swell and become very turbid. The flow at Grants Pass on Dec. 30 was 10,400 cubic feet per second. Bank access for steelhead angling can be found at Chinook Park, Matson Park, Griffin Park and Robertson Bridge. Additional access is available below Hellgate Canyon. Gold Hill to Rogue River and Robertson Bridge to Hog Creek are popular drifts for boat anglers. ROGUE RIVER, UPPER: trout, steelhead Fishing is very slow and few anglers have been out in the last week. Recent rains have increased flows and turbidity. As of Dec. 30, the flow out of William Jess Dam (Lost Creek) was 1838 cfs and the outflow temperature was 43 degrees. At Gold Ray Dam, the Rogue was flowing at over 5,000 cfs. Anglers are reminded that even during high water and turbid conditions along most of the Rogue, conditions are usually good between Big Butte Creek and Cole Rivers Hatchery where reservoir outflows predominate. As of Dec. 23, 5837 summer steelhead and 2424 coho have been counted at Gold Ray Dam. The river is open to the harvest of adipose fin-clipped steelhead year-round. The Rogue is also open for trout fishing with a limit of five adipose fin-clipped trout per day, 8 inch minimum length, but all non-adipose fin-clipped rainbow and all cutthroat trout must be released unharmed. Bank anglers can enjoy good success between the hatchery and the Highway 62 Bridge, and at public access points such as Casey State Park, Rogue Elk Park, and Touvelle State Park. UMPQUA RIVER MAINSTEM: steelhead, spring chinook, smallmouth bass Winter steelhead can be found throughout the Umpqua River. Plunking will be the best bet when the high waters recede. For bank anglers, plunking with eggs or spin-n-glo’s is the preferred method. Remember the main stem Umpqua is closed to wild steelhead harvest, but remains open year-round for adipose fin-clipped steelhead. UMPQUA RIVER, NORTH: steelhead The final count for spring chinook was 7,677 fish. Through November, 4,247 coho and 6,674 summer steelhead (final count) have passed Winchester Dam. Coho numbers will appear lower than normal since the North Umpqua coho hatchery program was discontinued. Some hatchery coho are still available for harvest. Summer steelhead have already surpassed the 4,552 total that crossed the dam last year. Official winter steelhead counts begin December 1 and as of December 15 are count is 18 fish. Remember that only adipose fin-clipped steelhead can be harvested on the North Umpqua. The North is open to catch and release trout fishing from the mouth upstream to Soda Springs Dam. Season opened for adipose fin-clipped coho on Aug. 1. North closed to chinook fishing on July 31 and will not re-open until Jan. 1. UMPQUA RIVER, SOUTH: winter steelhead The South Umpqua opened Dec. 1 for winter steelhead fishing. Only adipose-clipped steelhead can be harvested. With the recent rise in the river level, fishing will be improving when the high waters recede in the Canyonville area and the lower sections of the river. WINCHESTER BAY: sturgeon, coho, chinook Fishing is picking up a little for sturgeon. Crabbing has been good. MOST RECREATIONAL SHELLFISH IS OPEN The entire Oregon coast is open for recreational shellfishing. The exception is the recreational harvest of mussels, which is closed due to elevated levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning or PSP toxins. The closure includes mussels on the beaches, rocks, jetties, and at the entrance to bays. In addition, only the adductor muscle of scallops are safe to eat; consumption of whole scallops from the recreational fishery is not recommended. Always check for health advisories by calling the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Shellfish line at 1-800-448-2474 for updates. Crabbing has been a little slow but picked up recently. Crabbers are encouraged to return soft crabs with little meat back to the water. Crabbing from public docks or boat if available is a great opportunity for families to catch a delicious dinner. Kids often enjoy sorting out the smaller crab that can be abundant. Public crabbing docks can be found in Winchester Bay, Bandon, Charleston, and Empire. CLACKAMAS RIVER: steehead Prior to the cold weather and snowstorm, winter steelhead were found to be spread throughout the lower river. Portland General Electric reports the first early wild winter steelhead were passed above North Fork Dam a few weeks ago. Good numbers of early wild fish can be a good indicator of what is to come later when the peak of the run comes in around mid-March. A few bank anglers have reported picking up a few fish, although fishing is generally slow. It should begin to pick up as the temperature moderates. The heavy rains that followed the recent snowfall have lead to considerable run-off and very high flows. It could be the weekend before the river is in any shape to be fishable. Monday readings for the Clackamas showed flows at 7,980 cfs (15.18’) with a water temperature near 39°. NORTH AND SOUTH SANTIAM: steelhead Steelhead recycling in the North Santiam at the Minto trap has been discontinued for the season. Prospects should still be fair, however, in the Packsaddle and Minto areas. Summer steelhead recycling in the South Santiam from the Foster Dam trap has also been discontinued for the season. Anglers can receive recorded updates on Foster trap counts and recycling activities by calling 541-367-3437. Large rainbow trout brood stock weighing from 8 to 15 pounds apiece were released this week, and more are scheduled to be released the weeks of Jan. 5, Jan. 12. and Jan. 26. Release times and dates are subject to staffing, weather and other factors. Salish Pond is on E. Glisan between 201st and 207th. From I-84, take 207th Avenue exit and head south to Glisan and turn right. SANDY RIVER: steelhead The Sandy winter steelhead are now a later returning stock than anglers were used to a few years ago. This is a result of the wild brood stock program initiated under the current Sandy River fish management plan. In the days prior to the cold winter weather that hit the area there were reports of a few winters in the system. The high flows and poor water conditions will likely slow any effort on the river until the weekend, at the earliest. Once the water drops and some good color returns anglers should expect improved catch rates moving into January. Sandy River water levels after Monday’s readings showed flows up dramatically to 10,600 cfs (13.20’) with the water temperature holding near 38°. WILLAMETTE RIVER: sturgeon, steelhead, warmwater species Through Dec. 26, 7,019 coho (4,048 adults and 2,971 jacks) have passed over Willamette Falls. The large number of jacks bodes well for coho returns next fall. A few early winter steelhead continue to move over the falls, but the numbers are typically low (216 to date) and we would not expect decent numbers of fish to begin moving over the falls until early January, water conditions permitting. You may want to start planning your trip to take advantage of excellent catch and release opportunities for wild winter steelhead in the Molalla and Santiam rivers this winter. Early hatchery winter steelhead returning to Eagle Creek Hatchery on the Clackamas as well as early wild winter steelhead can provide good opportunity in the Willamette between the mouth of the Clackamas and Meldrum Bar. Fish will tend to hold in this area as they wait for cues to move into tributaries or above Willamette Falls. Low river flows or cold snaps will tend to slow fish down and the big water of the Willamette can provide some intriguing opportunities early in the year. The ongoing snowmelt and runoff have greatly affected water conditions on the lower Willamette. Dec. 29 readings showed Willamette flows powering up to 63,700 cfs with a temperature of 41° and visibility diminished to less than 1.0 ft. There is also a considerable amount of debris in the river that demands angler caution. Despite poor water conditions sturgeon angling seemed to be improving over the weekend in the lower Willamette. From Multnomah Channel to the lower Portland Harbor near St. Johns, and on up through the Milwaukie/Oregon City area sublegal sturgeon catch was common. There were also a fairly good number of keepers reported. Rain and melting snow should improve sturgeon fishing prospects, especially if water temperatures warm. Sturgeon anglers are reminded that effective Jan. 1, 2009, a new method of measuring sturgeon for retention will take effect statewide. Under the new rules, sturgeon will be measured from the tip of the nose to the fork in the tail (rather than the tip of the tail). The resulting allowed retention measurements are slightly shorter than the old method. As a result, the 2009 slot measurement for sturgeon caught in the Willamette River will be 38 to 54 inches. Remember, this is a simple conversion of the old method. It does not mean you can keep smaller fish, only that the method of measuring “keepers” has changed. From Jan. 1 on, make sure that your sturgeon is of legal length under this NEW measurement technique. For a detailed explanation of how to measure sturgeon under the new rule, please visit our Web site at: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/fishing/docs/sturgeon_angler_notice_flyer.pdf Sturgeon anglers are also reminded that under regulations adopted Dec. 18 by the states of Oregon and Washington, retention will be reduced to three days a week – Thursday, Friday, and Saturday – effective Jan. 1. The Willamette provides an excellent warm water fishery in the summer and early fall months. You can expect to find an abundance of bass, crappie, and bluegill available. Target the rocky outcroppings, structures, or old pilings. Casting a variety of plugs or jigs near the shoreline can be successful. A simple bobber and night crawler might prove to be the right choice also. The local tackle shops can set you up with the right gear and direct you to the best spots. Lately, warm water anglers have reported catching primarily smallmouth bass at depths of 30 to 40 feet. DESCHUTES RIVER: steelhead, rainbow trout Mouth to Warm Springs: steelhead, trout, fall chinook Steelhead angling closes on December 31, 2008, on the upper portion of the lower Deschutes River from the northern boundary of the Warm Springs Reservation upstream to Pelton Dam. Winter angling for trout, whitefish and steelhead on the lower Deschutes can be a fun way to enjoy a quiet winter day. Angling is open for these species year round in the Deschutes from the Columbia River upstream to the Northern Boundary of the Warm Springs Reservation. The highest concentration of trout and whitefish are from around Maupin upstream to the reservation boundary. Steelhead can occasionally be caught in these areas as well. Trout anglers should focus on the slower water due to the colder water temperatures, back eddies are typically the most productive in winter. Fly anglers can be successful using an indicator with a large stonefly and a small dropper. HOOD RIVER: summer steelhead, winter steelhead Anglers are reporting catch of a few summer steelhead still holding in the lower Hood River. Few winter steelhead have arrived yet at the Powerdale Dam Trap, but early fish should begin to arrive as temperatures warm. Frigid temperatures will hamper angling success on the Hood River. Anglers should be aware that ice and snow accumulation may cause access problems. The deep snow that has hampered access to the Hood River is melting and access should improve by the weekend. Angler success will improve as the river and flows drop. Find out how many fish are being captured at the Powerdale Dam trap. METOLIUS RIVER: redband trout, bull trout Redband trout fishing has been fair. December and January on the Metolius provides a nice midday opportunity for anglers. Please note that the reach of river from Allingham Bridge upstream to the Metolius headspring is currently closed to angling to protect spawning redband. COLUMBIA RIVER FISHING Weekend Fishing Opportunities
Columbia River Fish Counts: https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/fishdata/home.asp Regulations: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/fishing/reg_changes/columbia.asp
MARINE FISHING Cold temperatures and large waves between 12- and 18-feet high kept coastal sport fishing inside bays and estuaries recently. Fishing for rockfish, lingcod and other groundfish species is good when weather and ocean conditions permit. Lingcod fishing should steadily improve over the next few months as they move inshore to lay eggs. Boat anglers may retain cabezon after Jan. 1. A list of fish included in the six-fish marine bag limit 2009 Oregon Sport Ocean Regulations for Salmon, Halibut and Other Marine Fish Species and online at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/mrp Remember: yelloweye rockfish and canary rockfish may not be retained. The Stonewall Bank Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area approximately 15 miles west of Newport is closed to the harvest of rockfish, lingcod, flatfish and others. All salmon and Pacific halibut fishing in the ocean is closed. CRABS The crab harvest continues to be good to very good in most Oregon bays, however prolonged heavy rains may force crab out of some bays. Boat crabbers were successful with some getting limits in most of the bays surveyed. Recreational Bay Crab Survey data on catch statistics are updated about every two weeks on the ODFW Web site at the recently-launched “Crabbing Reports” page (http://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/shellfish/crab/reports.asp) This provides prospective crabbers some information on the recent success of other crabbers in the five bays that are sampled: Tillamook Bay, Netarts Bay, Yaquina Bay, Alsea Bay and Coos Bay. Sport crabbing in the ocean opened Dec. 1. Some sport crabbers have difficulty correctly measuring the minimum size for Dungeness crab, which is 5 3⁄4 inches measured in a straight line across the back immediately in front of, but not including, the points. For a photograph and diagram see page 96 of the 2009 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations booklet. A & B Pro Guides
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