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.
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.
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.
• Winter steelhead fishing on the Chetco should be excellent once water
levels fall.
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.
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.
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.
COLUMBIA FISHING
Weekend Fishing Opportunities
• Effective Thursday Jan. 1, 2009 sturgeon retention is allowed three days
a week (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) from Bonneville Dam downstream to
Wauna power lines with a 38-inch minimum and 54-inch maximum fork length
restriction in effect.
• Some winter steelhead should be available from beaches on the lower
Columbia for anglers willing to brave the elements.
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.
Book your trip now call (503) 930-7422
Bob Gale - The Sportsmans Guide
E-mail
bob@galesguideservice
