SW Washington fishing report

Willamette Valley/Metro- Although the Columbia remains open for opportunity, passage numbers have plummeted in the recent week. Catch rates downriver indicate low numbers still to come but jack counts seem very strong in creel census data however. An occasional steelhead is showing up for bank anglers between Portland and Longview.

Beginning Friday, fishery managers will extend the deadline from Beacon Rock to Bonneville Dam in a decision on Wednesday. This section of river hasn’t been open for years, indicating the level of confidence that fishery managers have that catch rates will remain low enough not to jeopardize impact rates or catch sharing agreements. Fishing will remain challenging in the high flows and use extra caution when anchoring in this area.

A few sturgeon, including oversize, are starting to show in the below Marker 82 fishery. Shad, the primary bait for oversize anglers are starting to trickle over Bonneville Dam so bait collection isn’t easy. The oversize fishery should peak in the coming weeks but effort has faded over the years.

Over 14,000 spring chinook have been counted at Willamette Falls along with roughly 5,500 summer steelhead. Water color and temperature are good in the lower river although high spring flows have fish off the bite. Chinook are being taken daily in the Oregon City area but results aren’t consistent day to day. With the high flows we’re experiencing this year and the fact that only a fraction of the adult salmon have migrated over the falls, fishing should remain good in Oregon City, especially when flows begin to subside.

Expect higher-than normal flows on the McKenzie but trout and steelhead are available to those willing to adapt.

South Santiam plunkers have taken a few spring chinook in high water conditions. Action should build as Willamette Falls passage increases.

Springers are in the lower Clackamas but so are the sea lions. Summer steelhead are scattered.

A few summer steelhead have been taken on the Sandy with the color remaining good. Springer fishing is slow.

Northwest – Spring chinook have shown in strong numbers on Tillamook Bay. It’s clearly going to be a good run as Tillamook chinook often mimics the Willamette run. Avid angler Pat Vining of Bay City hooked 18 fish in the last 6 days, landing 13 fish for take-home. Spinners and plugs took the bulk of upper bay fish this week.

Upcoming tides dictate lower bay fishing, using herring along the jetty. The soft tides keep adults from migrating into the upper reaches of Tillamook Bay. Bar crossings would be friendly but ocean forecasts are calling for significant wind chop, likely keeping the offshore fleet inshore.

Halibut fishing would likely be productive but the weather forecast makes it appear as if it wouldn’t be fun. To boot, the grade of fish this season has been on the small side. There will be other opportunity into June.

Bay crabbing remains challenging but an overnight soak if the ocean comes down should produce a few quality crab.

Rivers remain low but are forecast to rise this week with the shower activity predicted. Spring chinook and summer steelhead should make their way into the Trask and Wilson Rivers. The Nestucca and Three Rivers should also see a fair bump of salmon this week.

Southwest – All-depth halibut will be open Thursday through Saturday, May 26 through 28 with the next three-day opener starting on June 2nd.

Rough offshore conditions have prevented effort for ocean crab for much of the spring season. Ocean forecasts for the Memorial Day weekend look discouraging.

Crabbing has been fair in Winchester Bay but will slow with the next freshet. Bay chinook fishing is slow. Flows are high but improving on the mainstem Umpqua although another rise is predicted by the weekend. Shad fishing will be good when the water level drops.

Tidewater Coquille anglers are making fair to good catches of striped bass early and late in the day.

Boats launching out of Gold Beach have experienced fair but steady catches of bottom fish and ling cod.

Ocean chinook fishing has been worthwhile but spotty. Lower Rogue springer fishing has been slow with only a few taken daily. Results are slow to spotty for chinook on the middle river. All the action is on the upper Rogue and is likely to remain so. Flows are predicted to be higher and cooler through summer this year, which will require a change of tactics for anglers on the Rogue.

Ocean salmon fishing has been producing fair catches out of the Port of Brookings where the season opened over the past weekend.

Diamond Lake anglers have been able to get out by launching at the north ramp and slogging through slushy snow. Fish are biting light but catches have been fair to good.

Eastern – Salmonflies are hatching on the lower Deschutes below Mecca where the water is high but the color is good. With Golden Stones and Salmonflies hatching in the middle Deschutes, fly fishing has been good.

Crane Prairie has been producing large trout to fly anglers using leach patterns in the Rock Creek area.

Davis Lake has slowed for bass fishing although trout catches are good.

SW Washington – The Cowlitz remains the bright spot in the district with spring chinook and an occasional steelhead being taken in the upper reaches. Like the mainstem Columbia, jacks counts remain high indicating better years ahead.

The Kalama and Lewis are not drawing a lot of interest from anglers. Hatchery returns have been much lower than expected but with high flows, the run may be late, such is the case on the Columbia. Summer steelhead should begin to make a stronger showing.

Drano Lake and Wind River fisheries are waning, with the adult salmon counts at Bonneville Dam. Fishing in the upper reaches has been good for bank anglers.

Numerous regulation changes happen in this district in early June. Be sure to check regulations before heading out.

SW Washington fishing report

SW Washington – The Cowlitz remains the best bet for spring chinook and action is peaking now through the end of this month. The Kalama and Lewis are also fair bets for chinook but summer steelhead should begin making a stronger showing.

The Wind River and Drano Lake fisheries began to slow as fish continue to make their way upstream on the mainstem Columbia and Little White Salmon Rivers. Jacks made up a notable portion of the catch.

The Klickitat River is improving for spring chinook and could peak this week depending on river flows.

SW Washington fishing report

SW Washington – Cowlitz River anglers were catching some spring chinook and summer steelhead. Chinook fishing should improve in the next few weeks although a banner run is not in the forecast. Jack catches are impressive for this early in the run.

The Kalama and Lewis Rivers have spring chinook and summer steelhead available. Both should be fair options this week with dropping flows.

Drano Lake and Wind River posted predictably good catches this week. This good action should continue as Bonneville Dam counts keep climbing. A sea-lion is working the area so fight your fish quick in order to retain your prize.

SW Washington fishing report

SW Washington – Steelhead remain the top choice for SW Washington anglers. However, the Cowlitz does have a mix of spring chinook and steelhead right now. Summer steelhead are starting to show.

The Kalama has a mix of early summer run steelhead, late broodstock and wild winter fish with only a rare chinook showing.

The Washougal has summer run fish but will peak later into June.

With dam passage at an impressive season high, Drano Lake and the Wind River fisheries are well underway. Fishing should be excellent for the next 2 weeks as fish not familiar with sport gear continue to cross Bonneville.