02-26-2005, 05:26 PM
Oregon Fisheries Update
February 25th – March 3rd, 2005
Sturgeon fishing remains poor on the mainstem Columbia with exception to the Bonneville Pool. Keepers are rare below Bonneville and the absence of smelt is not helping matters. Keepers are falling fast however in the area downstream of the Wind River and frozen smelt is a top bait- think of the possibilities if one had fresh smelt!
Salmon action on the mainstem remains poor. The mainstem run is clearly not in yet as most fish present are bound for the Willamette River. The water temperature remains cold.
North coast steelhead are finally beginning to show. We predicted the wild run would materialize much better than the hatchery fish and it looks to becoming reality. Larger systems will continue to produce the best as low water persists.
Most South coast rivers are suffering from another week without rain. Steelhead fishing is slow. Crabbing is good, particularly at Coos and Winchester Bays.
Estuary opportunities exist for sturgeon and crab and if the marine weather forecast holds true, it will be great fun pursuing bottomfish off the North Coast. Tides for sturgeon are both early and late in the day. Softer tides should mean good crabbing opportunities!
A few steelhead have been taken over the last week in the Clackamas and Sandy Rivers. The North Santiam, suffering from low, clear, cold water as are most rivers, has little to offer until the summer steelhead arrive in decent numbers.
Spring chinook fishing on the lower Willamette River improved slightly over the last week, but it's still very early in the season for optimism. The numbers of winter steelies being taken has started to decline. Sturgeon fishing remains slow.
Trout have been stocked this week at Big Creek Reservoirs #1 and #2, Olalla Creek Reservoir, Cottage Grove, Creswell, E. E. Wilson, Junction City, and Walling Ponds and Walter Wirth Lake
Washington guides fishing the mainstem Columbia are reporting 40 degree water and little success for spring Chinook and sturgeon. Their best success is noted closer to the Multnomah Channel entrance.
The Kalama River remains low and clear and steelheading has dropped off from the early season success. Light gear is a must and a rain would certainly improve things.
The Lewis River is producing consistent catches of winter steelhead as more wild fish are present than those of hatchery origin. Colder, clear water calls for modified technique.
Always more at the website: http://www.theguidesforecast.com/
February 25th – March 3rd, 2005
Sturgeon fishing remains poor on the mainstem Columbia with exception to the Bonneville Pool. Keepers are rare below Bonneville and the absence of smelt is not helping matters. Keepers are falling fast however in the area downstream of the Wind River and frozen smelt is a top bait- think of the possibilities if one had fresh smelt!
Salmon action on the mainstem remains poor. The mainstem run is clearly not in yet as most fish present are bound for the Willamette River. The water temperature remains cold.
North coast steelhead are finally beginning to show. We predicted the wild run would materialize much better than the hatchery fish and it looks to becoming reality. Larger systems will continue to produce the best as low water persists.
Most South coast rivers are suffering from another week without rain. Steelhead fishing is slow. Crabbing is good, particularly at Coos and Winchester Bays.
Estuary opportunities exist for sturgeon and crab and if the marine weather forecast holds true, it will be great fun pursuing bottomfish off the North Coast. Tides for sturgeon are both early and late in the day. Softer tides should mean good crabbing opportunities!
A few steelhead have been taken over the last week in the Clackamas and Sandy Rivers. The North Santiam, suffering from low, clear, cold water as are most rivers, has little to offer until the summer steelhead arrive in decent numbers.
Spring chinook fishing on the lower Willamette River improved slightly over the last week, but it's still very early in the season for optimism. The numbers of winter steelies being taken has started to decline. Sturgeon fishing remains slow.
Trout have been stocked this week at Big Creek Reservoirs #1 and #2, Olalla Creek Reservoir, Cottage Grove, Creswell, E. E. Wilson, Junction City, and Walling Ponds and Walter Wirth Lake
Washington guides fishing the mainstem Columbia are reporting 40 degree water and little success for spring Chinook and sturgeon. Their best success is noted closer to the Multnomah Channel entrance.
The Kalama River remains low and clear and steelheading has dropped off from the early season success. Light gear is a must and a rain would certainly improve things.
The Lewis River is producing consistent catches of winter steelhead as more wild fish are present than those of hatchery origin. Colder, clear water calls for modified technique.
Always more at the website: http://www.theguidesforecast.com/