04-02-2005, 03:47 PM
Oregon Fisheries Update
April 1st – April 7th, 2005
Salmon fishing on the mainstem Columbia came to a screeching halt with a plummet in the water conditions. Anglers fishing above the mouth of the Willamette still have some decent conditions to work with. The visibility is over 4 foot. Not the case downstream of the Willamette and even worse when you get downstream of the Cowlitz. A small flurry of activity happened at Bonneville early in the week.
Gillnets will fish for one more 9 hour period on the 31st starting at 9pm and running until 6 am on the 1st. They may get another fishery depending on how the dam passage goes in the near future. To date, they have caught over 3,300 Chinook.
Sturgeon action is picking up but only for shakers. The best keeper action took place in the John Day Pool last week and walleye fishing wasn't so bad either.
North Coast streams went out last weekend but should be in shape for late winter steelhead this weekend. It may be one of the better weekends to target winter fish for the entire season.
Crabbing will certainly turn south with the recent fresh water but a minus tide series may bode well for sturgeon anglers on Tillamook Bay.
The surf is a bit rough for successful clamming on Clatsop beaches. An afternoon minus tide may offer some opportunity however depending on how big the surf is.
The Umpqua has recovered from blowout with some steelhead available and the spring chinook run starting up. Rogue steelheaders should try upriver but the best fishing will be for springers in the middle and the lower river.
While the Willamette will remain high and muddy, the Clackamas and Sandy are becoming fishable with steelhead and springers present. Catching them is another matter as anglers have reported mixed results in the last couple of days.
Smallies will be out in force when the upper Willamette becomes fishable.
Trout have been planted this week at Devil's Lake, Canby Pond, Huddleston Pond, Blue River, Dexter and Dorena Reservoirs, Freeway Lake East, Timber Linn Lake and the venerable Walling Pond.
Full length subscribers will note a significant section on Washington fishing this week. The Guide's Forecast- Washington edition is coming to fruition as requested by our numerous readers and pro guide Kevin Newell (360-430-2521) is doing a bang-up job of making it happen. Enjoy the fruits of his labor and for our free version subscribers, here is a re-cap of the Washington report:
Washington guides working the Columbia River for spring Chinook have witnessed mixed results. The recent rains have affected all anglers fishing downstream of the Willamette and Cowlitz Rivers. Guides trolling herring seem to be doing better than anchored anglers. Anglers that remain seated while fighting fish seem to be more successful in landing without sea-lion interaction.
Lewis River steelheaders are winding down and the springers haven't shown in force yet. Meanwhile, on the Kalama, a few springers are showing and steelhead fishing should be good when clarity increases.
Downrigger fishermen continue to take a few kokanee in Merwin Reservoir.
Cowlitz River anglers are taking steelhead and a few surprised spring Chinook. Most fish are falling to sidedrifters so be prepared to encounter both.
Puget Sound blackmouth fishing has slowed so be prepared to fish effectively when the small window of opportunity exists.
Olympic Peninsula streams are still booting out some decent steelhead numbers- particularly the Sol Duc and Calawah Rivers. Even though some spring Chinook have been caught, those systems are weeks away from consistent numbers.
Snake River smallies are getting active with the smolt outmigration. Target eddies in the warming temperatures for best results.
Yakima River trout fishing is picking up with the recent insect hatches. Cooler weather may hamper such hatches but the fish seem to be primed for the next wave of insects.
Always more at the website: http://www.theguidesforecast.com/
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April 1st – April 7th, 2005
Salmon fishing on the mainstem Columbia came to a screeching halt with a plummet in the water conditions. Anglers fishing above the mouth of the Willamette still have some decent conditions to work with. The visibility is over 4 foot. Not the case downstream of the Willamette and even worse when you get downstream of the Cowlitz. A small flurry of activity happened at Bonneville early in the week.
Gillnets will fish for one more 9 hour period on the 31st starting at 9pm and running until 6 am on the 1st. They may get another fishery depending on how the dam passage goes in the near future. To date, they have caught over 3,300 Chinook.
Sturgeon action is picking up but only for shakers. The best keeper action took place in the John Day Pool last week and walleye fishing wasn't so bad either.
North Coast streams went out last weekend but should be in shape for late winter steelhead this weekend. It may be one of the better weekends to target winter fish for the entire season.
Crabbing will certainly turn south with the recent fresh water but a minus tide series may bode well for sturgeon anglers on Tillamook Bay.
The surf is a bit rough for successful clamming on Clatsop beaches. An afternoon minus tide may offer some opportunity however depending on how big the surf is.
The Umpqua has recovered from blowout with some steelhead available and the spring chinook run starting up. Rogue steelheaders should try upriver but the best fishing will be for springers in the middle and the lower river.
While the Willamette will remain high and muddy, the Clackamas and Sandy are becoming fishable with steelhead and springers present. Catching them is another matter as anglers have reported mixed results in the last couple of days.
Smallies will be out in force when the upper Willamette becomes fishable.
Trout have been planted this week at Devil's Lake, Canby Pond, Huddleston Pond, Blue River, Dexter and Dorena Reservoirs, Freeway Lake East, Timber Linn Lake and the venerable Walling Pond.
Full length subscribers will note a significant section on Washington fishing this week. The Guide's Forecast- Washington edition is coming to fruition as requested by our numerous readers and pro guide Kevin Newell (360-430-2521) is doing a bang-up job of making it happen. Enjoy the fruits of his labor and for our free version subscribers, here is a re-cap of the Washington report:
Washington guides working the Columbia River for spring Chinook have witnessed mixed results. The recent rains have affected all anglers fishing downstream of the Willamette and Cowlitz Rivers. Guides trolling herring seem to be doing better than anchored anglers. Anglers that remain seated while fighting fish seem to be more successful in landing without sea-lion interaction.
Lewis River steelheaders are winding down and the springers haven't shown in force yet. Meanwhile, on the Kalama, a few springers are showing and steelhead fishing should be good when clarity increases.
Downrigger fishermen continue to take a few kokanee in Merwin Reservoir.
Cowlitz River anglers are taking steelhead and a few surprised spring Chinook. Most fish are falling to sidedrifters so be prepared to encounter both.
Puget Sound blackmouth fishing has slowed so be prepared to fish effectively when the small window of opportunity exists.
Olympic Peninsula streams are still booting out some decent steelhead numbers- particularly the Sol Duc and Calawah Rivers. Even though some spring Chinook have been caught, those systems are weeks away from consistent numbers.
Snake River smallies are getting active with the smolt outmigration. Target eddies in the warming temperatures for best results.
Yakima River trout fishing is picking up with the recent insect hatches. Cooler weather may hamper such hatches but the fish seem to be primed for the next wave of insects.
Always more at the website: http://www.theguidesforecast.com/
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