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Oregon Fishing Report & Winter Steelhead Preview
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| OREGON |
It's time for
the Clackamas. The first winter fish was caught in the trap
1 week ago. With the first monsoon now in the books, the declining
flows are ideal for a push of fish to move in the Clack. Water
temperature on the river is currently 45 degrees, so get out
the tips and get after it. These early winter fish are notoriously
bright and strong. Flows have returned to the mean for this
time of year. Current gauge reading is 2440 CFS.
The Clack fishes well with both single and two-handed rods with
abundant water that caters to both. Indicator fishing will be
productive in many sections, but swung fly presentations will
get plenty of looks as well. Regardless of style, make sure
you have patterns both boisterous and subdued. Fish will still
be actively willing to move for what they want in this water
temperature. As it declines however, you'll have to work
harder to put your offering directly into the zone, also known
as on-the-bottom.
The Clack is traditionally a Turkey-day fishery for winter steelhead
but this has been a strange year and fish runs statewide have
trended earlier. I don't think it would be a bad idea
to start thinking about an "advance" scouting trip.
The Clackamas should fish well all winter long and is certainly
one of the metro area's standby producers. Gauge readings
less than 14 feet should be a good indicator of fishability,
but after high flows it's always possible the river could
be less than crystal clear.
Favored offerings on the Clack for winter steel: Hickman's
Party Boy, Sig Intruder, Pick 'Yer Pocket, MOAL Leech,
Egg-Sucking Leech, Lifter.
Clackamas River guided trips: Contact Jad Donaldson or Jerry
Swanson for more information - 503.639.6400 |
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| The coast is ready
for a pre-Turkey day kickoff. Here's everything you need
to know in one sentence...every piece of water on the North
and Mid Coast will hold winter fish. If there is a will, there's
a way out here. If you're looking for the ultimate in
hot fish and a serious chess match, you're ready to get
out and fish for returning Pacific Steelhead on the coast. There
are a plethora of factors having an impact on anadramous fishing
out here, but the bottom line is you have to be there to get
into the fish! |
Big Creek and
Gnat Creek - not really coastal rivers but close enough.
Located just inside the mouth of the Columbia, east of Astoria
- Big Creek and Gnat Creek are very short, small waters
with good hatchery runs. Big Creek has limited public access
but can fish very well and it clears quickly. At times this
little fishery can resemble "metro" AK rivers during
a silver run, be forewarned. Gnat Creek has much greater public
access and some extremely nice water from the mouth all the
way up to the hatchery. Gnat also clears quickly. This is small
water, short and stout sticks will work best here as the water
is clear, casts are short and you'll need to turn fish
hooked in a hurry to stay out of trouble. Leave the spey rod
at home.
Necanicum - one of the North Coast's legendary early
producers. A relatively short coastal river, the Necanicum clears
quickly and harbors a heavy run of fish from Turkey Day through
March. Most early arrivals will be hatchery fish, eventually
giving way to an increasing ratio of wild fish. The lower section
of the Necanicum is driftable as well. This is short rod country
in a lot of spots and indicator anglers do well here; however
switch rods were designed for this type of water. Long reach
and mends as well as compact spey casts. Perfect.
North Fork Nehalem - another notorious hatchery run which
also gives way to wild fish deeper in winter. Stay off this
one in the boat unless you are an expert rower. No joke. The
North Fork can be stellar and is also a fast clearing river.
Fish can be found above the hatchery as well. This is another
perfect river for a switch rod and Rio's new Skagit Short.
Whooeee!
Nehalem River - the mainstem of this river is one of the
Oregon's largest coastal tributaries. Stretching nearly
115 miles from its origins in Washington County to the Pacific
Ocean, the Nehalem is a major contributor to steelhead habitat
on the north coast. Primarily a late winter fishery when weather
becomes more stable, it harbors the opportunity for some of
the largest wild steelhead of the year. The Nehalem is the slowest
of the slow to clear and for this reason it can be one of the
most difficult rivers to find a window within which to fish.
However, when this river is good - it can be very very
good. This is a prototypical coastal river for Spey Casting
and Skagit style casting has deep roots here. It's also
important to note that steelhead can be found in each of the
Nehalem tributaries, check your regs book for availability.
Kilches and Miami Rivers - These two short rivers harbor
wild runs of winter steelhead in addition to some Tillamook
hatchery strays. Private property access is nearly a must on
the Miami, but the Kilches offers some public access as well
as floatability. All methods of fly fishing are available here.
Wilson River - Long the most pressured fishery on the
coast due to its proximity to State Highway 6, the Wilson continues
to produce throughout the year. Offering anglers miles of public
access, the Wilson has an infinite amount of opportunity for
fly anglers. Upper stretches of the river are productive indicator
fisheries, while the river below Lee's Camp affords fly
anglers swing and drift lies. The Wilson is driftable, but it's
recommended for more advanced boaters, especially in the upper
reaches where you'll find narrows and ledges. Put-ins
above tidally affected water mainly consist of boat slides.
The Wilson receives a strong run of both hatchery and wild winter
fish. This is a large river and though faster to clear than
the Nehalem, it can be moody.
Trask River - a smaller version of the Wilson, the Trask
has far more private property and most anglers will fish using
boats. There is public access but in limited areas, please consult
a map or speak to a landowner for additional access. The Trask
does not have a hatchery program although it does receive a
substantial amount of Tillamook and Wilson strays. There is
a fairly "abundant" wild fishery and the Trask is
typically a later winter fishery. Both spey and single hand
anglers will find opportunities here. Much of the Trask is boatable,
rowers be advised however - there are several major hazards
in the river. The Trask clears a bit faster than the Wilson.
Nestucca River - a long winding river with a plethora of opportunity
for fly anglers. The Nestucca has hatchery, broodstock and wild
fish returning to its waters. Much of this river is floatable
from slides along the river from Blaine downstream. Some sections
are more difficult than others however and prospective boaters
should do their research to be aware of hazards. Water upriver
from Blaine is small and intimate, while larger water and more
classic runs will be found downstream. Again, all styles of
fly fishing will be welcome here with opportunities for both
drifting and swinging.
Siletz and Alsea Rivers - these two mid-coast rivers are
consistent producers for coastal steelhead and additionally
begin fishing relatively early in the season and maintain consistency
throughout the winter. Both rivers can easily flood, though
the Alsea typically clears more quickly. The Alsea hatchery
run is a somewhat legendary early run for both good and bad
reasons. The Siletz offers plentiful boating opportunities and
both rivers feature moderate to good public access for walk
and wade anglers. Like their northerly cousins, these rivers
have opportunities for all style of fly angling.
Best Turkey Day Bets: Necanicum, Alsea, Wilson
Remember...all coastal waters will have fish through the
winter. Spread out, cover ground, drive a loop and fish 3 rivers
a day...staying flexible and learning how to read tides,
flows, and adapt to best water will go a long way to improving
your chances for a meeting with OR coastal steel. |
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 Trout
fishing is now closed on the Deschutes river from Pelton Dam
downstream to the northern boundary of the Warm Springs Reservation.
Winter rules are in effect till April.
Trout fishing is still good where open. Plentiful blue wing
olives on the surface, accompanied by small caddis and midge
activity will be your top-water staples. Concentrate your efforts
along the banks, in foam and of course backeddies. Subsurface
patterns will rule the days however as trout bone up for a long
winter. You should still see action on October Caddis pupa and
certainly stonefly larva. Also keep a stable of Pheasant Tails,
midge larva, green rock worms and additionally a smaller yellow
egg amongst the go-to patterns. A
San Juan worm can additionally be a good pattern this time of
year in any silty flows.
 Steelhead are still plentifully available although fishing for
them can be moody. At this point in the year, you may still
get action on a floating line, but anglers using sink-tips will
on the whole find more fish encountering their fly. The river
temperature is on the drop. You may still steelhead angle all
the way up to Pelton through the end of December. Reservation
access is now done for Warm Springs Permit holders however.
Concentrate efforts upriver from Sherars. The fish are spread
out in solid numbers over the whole river now. For swinging,
use larger leech patterns and traditional leeches. If nymphing,
though to beat a stone, green rock worm or a PT. |
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The Sandy is traditionally
a Turkey Day starter as well. Chrome fish should be in the river
now, but reports have been scanty thus far. With colder temperatures
the river will be much more stable going forward. Keep tuned
to the web page reports, I should have more information for
this fishery very soon. The river above the mouth of the Salmon
river is closed for the year. It looks very promising.
Sandy River guided trips: Contact Jad Donaldson or Jerry Swanson
for more information - 503.639.6400
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| Trout fishing
slows dramatically here in the winter, though good days are
still possible. Steelhead are on their way into the river and
fishing for them will start to improve downstream from Leaburg
Dam. Hard rains will put this river off color.
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| The river is closed
above Allingham Bridge but you'll find some interesting
possibilities below it. Kokannee are spawning and trout love
their eggs. Bull trout should remain aggressive to a large streamer
pattern as well. Rainbows will be up looking for small caddis,
midges, blue wing olives and the occasional October Caddis. |
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Southwest Washington
is about to turn on...the E. Fork of the Lewis (fast clearer),
the Kalama, the Cowlitz and the Washougal all are ripe for a
flush of fish. Keep an eye peeled to the gauges and give a call
if you're wondering if it's in or out.
Hood River... Fishing here has been promising when the river
has been in.
John Day...always a good bet when weather has the west side
of the state affected.
Grande Ronde...still good fishing to be had out here for
awhile, just stay warm.
N. Umpqua...it's a tip scene now, but there are fish
all over the river.
Crooked River...blue wing olives, scuds...river is on
the rebound and it's always a good winter option. |
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WASHINGTON
Still looking set to hang-in with mid-day Baetis (BWO's)
emergences, more dense and prolongued on cloudy/humid/moist
days. This should continue towards the middle of the month,
however once the cooling shuts the mayflies down, the question
becomes: What's a trout facing the onset of winter to
do? Answer: eat immature stages of various invertebrates (stoneflies
work, midge larva too), grab any unsuspecting baitfish (sculpin,
smolt) and swallow to the belly, and perhaps keep an eye open
for any midge hatches which may (and do) materialize mid-day.
As long as we're not seeing ice-flows, the river is worth
an off-season visit. Just be sure and have along a few extra
layers, and perhaps some coffee near at hand. And if she is
sleeping, well, by then the Skwalas will be merely a couple
months away. |
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Chums are beginning to move
into this system, as well as others (Stilly!). Fortunately,
it's still a little early, because between here and the
rest of our "Chum-Window" there's the matter
of a Flood Warning for Western Washington (something about 5"
to 10" of rainfall on west-facing slopes in the next 36
hours) to be contended with. The silver-lining is that plenty
of Chums should now be heading to the estuaries, so until this
episode subsides, the beaches should be there to tide us over.
Once the rivers begin dropping and clearing, we should be in
the heart o' the window.
See our "Puget Sound Beaches" report for the simple
Chum-by-salt recipe. Those same patterns get fished in the rivers
(during low/clear stages) and produce fish. Otherwise, be sure
and have some larger Flash-Flies, Dredgers, Marabous and Rabbit-Leeches
(aka Starlights, Moals) in Purples, Chartreuse and Pinks.
Take good care of those 8-weights! |
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