Trey's Boating & Fishing Blog

The List Of Opportunities Keeps Growing - July 20th, 2008

Trout, salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, smallmouth and kokanee head this week's laundry list of fishing, boating and outdoor prospects.

Now that summer's in full swing (finally) and we're looking ahead to a long bout of sunshine and clear skies, now's the time to jump on some fabulous fishing.

Close-to-home summer steelhead are moving at a clip of more than 6,000 a day over Bonneville Dam. Anchoring below the dam or trolling above the dam will put you square in the path of these hard-fighting fish.

If you anchor below Bonneville Dam find a current seam in 12' to 14' of water. Plugs and spinners both work well. Both baits are easy to fish once you get your anchor set. With a plug simply tie a plug snap directly to your line (10 lb. test is fine), attach the plug, douse it liberally with your favorite scent and run it out at least 50' in back of the boat.

I prefer fishing 8' fiberglass rods. The softer action of the rod allows more freedom of movement for the plug or spinner and results in better hook-ups. Put the rod in a rod holder and try to keep the rod nearly parallel to the water...this seems to improve hook-up ratios too.

Steelhead prefer walking speed water or slightly faster than walking speed water. As the water continues to warm, steelhead will congregate off the cooler mouths of creeks that pour from the Cascades.

Favorite plugs include: Yakima Bait's Fatfish in metallic red or metallic pink. The New 9X Kwikfish that dives to 10' in the Gold Digger, Gold & Green Pirate and Bug Bite patterns and Brad's Wigglers in metallic pink, metallic red, chrome/red and copper.

Spinners requires a little more rigging, starting with a 4' lead line, tied to a slider, a bead and then a small 3 bead chain swivel. Tie a 7' leader to the other end of the bead chain swivel and finally tie on your spinner. Small, size 3 (the blade's about the size of a quarter) blue-tipped rainbow spinners work well as do fluorescent red blades.

"Walk" the spinner out behind the boat at least 30' or 40' using just enough lead to keep you on the bottom.

Whether you're fishing plugs or spinners make sure your hooks are needle sharp. Also, apply liberal doses of scent to your plug or spinner every hour or so.

The closer you get to the dam the more current you'll have to work with. Launch at The Fishery or on the Washington side at North Bonneville right below the Dam.

Very Important: Anchoring in this area of the Columbia River is very dangerous. Do not attempt to anchor in this section of the Columbia unless you have the proper equipment, a sharp knife you can quickly cut your anchor rope with if you get in trouble and some experience.

Above Bonneville Dam fish the cool water plumes for summer steelhead below the Wind River, Herman Creek, Eagle Creek, the White Salmon River, Hood River, Klickitat River and Deschutes River. There's fish in and around all these areas right now.

The waters above Bonneville and The Dalles Dam are troll fisheries and plugs are the primary bait-of-choice. If you're trolling run your plug out about 100' in back of the boat and troll into the wind at no more than walking speed. Again, sharp hooks and lots of scent used regularly can't be overstated.

The Cowlitz River is producing summer steelhead and particularly for you folks in float boats (drift boats and rafts) it provides a wonderful opportunity to cut loose and enjoy some really spectacular water, scenery and fishing. Unless you're an experienced and knowledgeable jet boater you should stay clear as the river's quickly coming into its' summertime lows.

Launch your drift boat or cataraft at Blue Creek and float down to Mission Bar. It's a beautiful stretch of river with lots of textbook water to fish. Free-drifting is far-and-away the most popular method on the Cowlitz. In between spots it's certainly something worth trying but more often than not you'll want to drift fish or drift jigs...both work exceptionally well.

There's a couple shuttles: Trudy at 360-864-2277 or Matt at 360-864-2388. Some prefer the float from the Barrier Dam downstream, others the stretch from Mission Bar downriver to I-5. All should have fish but my favorite is the run from Blue Creek to Mission Bar.

Summer steelhead fishing should hold up well into September on this storied N.W. river.

The Willamette is producing steady and good catches of smallmouth and sturgeon.

For smallmouth throw the box at them. This is the time of year they're aggressive and relatively non-selective. Plastic worms, grubs, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, topwaters and jigs all work right now. You'll cover more water with crankbaits and spinnerbaits.

Focus on long points and areas with rock that drop quickly into deeper water. In the morning the fish can be found in the shallower areas and as the sun gets on the water look to deeper water haunts off these points. There's about 55 miles of river to fish from the mouth of the Yamhill River down to the Columbia River with smallmouth along every river mile.

Important: Like any local water, exercise extreme caution. Along the 55 miles of river from Newberg to Portland lies submerged rock ledges, gravel bars and navigation hazards. You're advised to check out a free copy of the Oregon State Marine Board's, Willamette River Recreation Guide, that is available online at www.boatoregon.com under "publications". This is by no means a navigation chart but is certainly helpful in sizing up the Willamette River.

Sturgeon are also stirring in the Willamette. Squid has been the bait of choice.

Detroit Lake is dishing up some exciting opportunity with "easy limits" of trout taken this past week. Landlocked Chinook and kokanee have also been taken. For the kokanee and Chinook go hunting first with your fish finder before wetting a line. Expect to find both pretty deep. 70' or deeper. For the rainbows start by flatline trolling Size 6 Panther spinners behind the boat about 50'. Fish close to shore, within 20' or 30'. I prefer the gold blade / dark body pattern.

Wedding spinners tipped with a chunk of nightcrawler have also been working. Use a small trolling weight (1/4 ounce ) ahead of it.

There should be some Chinook starting to show in the Nehalem River. This fishery generally starts right now and continues right on through to October. This first blast of fish are called, "summer Chinook" and will be followed by fall Chinook sometime in September. Fish the jaws with herring and target the incoming tide. For info on tides check out www.ifish.net or try www.saltwatertides.com.

Fishing in the ocean is spotty for salmon but they are being caught. Especially in the waters north of Garibaldi to the Columbia. Recent reports have identified good catches of coho and light catches of Chinook. The good news is that fish are being caught when the boats can get out.

More good news! It looks like we're in a very productive ocean cycle right now with nutrient rich water off Oregon's coast feeding out-migrating salmon smolts from across the region. This bodes very nicely for future years fishing.

It seems there's been plenty of upwelling thanks in part to strong winds along the coast that have effectively been churning the ocean into a much-needed biological soup.

Here's an interesting opportunity...

Gold Lake, a small flyfishing only lake near Waldo Lake, east of Eugene, has just opened over the last few weeks and is belting out solid catches of rainbow and brook trout. Non-motorized boats only but you'll find Gold Lake's a good bet if you're looking for something a little different to try.

This week's report only touches on the exceptional fishing diversity and breadth of opportunity that's around us right now. Coming up...Buoy 10!!!

Buoy 10 opens August 1st and is expected to be very good this year! Over 600,000 salmon are expected to show! I'll be detailing all the gear and the areas to target in upcoming blogs.

Good fishing and safe boating!
Trey Carskadon

Close-To-Home Fishing & Boating Getaways - July 5th, 2008

Overlooked and unsung are dozens of close-by retreats perfect for entertaining quiet drifts, relaxing cruises or runaway fishing opportunity. Most are minutes from downtown Portland, some a bit further.

As a kid we often found our way to North Fork Reservoir on summer weekends. Then, we were on the bank pitching bobbers tethered to a hook and worm. We dreamed of being one of the lone boats that putted around the lake trolling for trout.

North Fork Reservoir is an impoundment of the Clackamas River just east of Estacada. It's an overlooked gem that's best enjoyed, like all these recommendations, during the week this time of year. Still, on weekends it's a pretty good option that affords some sense of remoteness and connection to a wilderness environment.

North Fork Reservoir has recently been stocked and should provide some good action for rainbow trout.

The Willamette during the week is another great prospect. Putting in at Meldrum Bar, Cedar Oaks or Willamette Park, down in Portland and exploring up and down the river is a wonderful treat. I prefer to fish upriver of Ross Island all the way to the falls. There's a great sturgeon hole right below the Sellwood Bridge in about 100' of water. A sand shrimp or cured prawn with a salmon-sized rod and reel are perfect for the catch-and-release of under-sized sturgeon in this area. You may get surprised with a bigger fish. There are several other sturgeon haunts upriver.

Important Note: Be sure to always check the regulations before wetting a line in Oregon. You can go online at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife website and check: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/docs/2008_oregon_fish_regulations.pdf and be sure to check for any regulation changes as well.

There's a 100' sturgeon hole right below Hog Island upriver of Lake Oswego and just a few hundred yards above Hog Island is the "narrows" another 100' hole with one more just below the Oregon City Locks... all prime sturgeon lairs.

Sturgeon aren't the only story. Smallmouth bass thrive in this section of river and there's even a few steelhead available right now too. Steelhead counts have slowed over Willamette Falls in the last week so don't expect to see the action we had brewing a month ago.

Whichever direction you choose to go know that each are high quality fisheries. If you put your time in and learn the areas you'll enjoy regular success most of the year.

The Willamette is also a wonderful boating escape. Too few local boaters ever take in the Willamette from the Falls to the mouth. If you choose to navigate this section of river you'd be well-advised to check out the Oregon State Marine Board publication, The Willamette River Recreation Guide, you can view it online here: http://www.boatoregon.com/OSMB/library/docs/WillametteGuide.pdf

Another close-by lake is Hagg Lake. Again, virtually forgotten during the week it receives relatively little boating and fishing pressure yet boasts excellent trout fishing, record-sized smallmouth bass and lots of panfish with thick populations. of perch, brown bullhead and bluegill. Hagg is a great all-ages lake. The area features lots of shoreline to let kids run off some energy, nice picnic facilities, hiking and bike trails, great boat launches and boat facilities and lots of water to spreads things out. Almost half of the lake is designated for fishing-only with a strict no-wake rule.

The other half is enjoyed by skiers, tubers, wake boarders and yes, anglers.

Expect to pay $5 for your daily use permit.

There's a well-stocked grocery store on your right on the road into the lake if you forget something or just want to stock-up before getting on the water.

A short hop north of Portland and into Camas, Washington will land you at Lacamas Lake, a quaint fishing and boating lake that's plenty popular. Stocked by the state with brown trout, this is a rare chance to find these fish so close to Portland. My college days were spent fishing this lake for bass throughout most of the year and bluegill in the spring and fall.

Lacamas Lake receives some boat traffic with skiers, tubers and boarders... but you'll find some break in the early morning.

If you're looking for lots of room to run your boat and eight strong fisheries it's the Columbia for sure. Right now walleye are available upriver, sturgeon throughout the river, summer steelhead, money-generating northern pike minnows, perch, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and crab down in the lower Columbia estuary below Hammond.

Summer steelhead fishing should remain good-to-very good over the next couple of months... at least. More than 300,000 summers are expected to make their way into the Columbia this year. Previous posts have gone into some detail on how to best catch these chromed cart-wheeling freight trains. Bait is rarely used in the main river... mostly, plugs and spinners.

With unseasonably high flows due to uncommonly deep snow pack throughout the region the Columbia continues to run high. The water is getting more manageable making anchoring in the 12' to 14' of water far more agreeable.

Steelhead prefer water that's running at walking speed or a little faster.

In the reservoirs above the dams look for cool water areas supplied by creek or river mouths that drain into the Columbia. These cool water escapes pull fish into the area. You'll find them laying in the channels below the mouth enjoying the cool water break. Here, most troll deep diving plugs. Brad's Wigglers, Fatfish, Kwikfish or Flatfish are all top producers. Stick to the metallic colors in purple, blue, red or pink. Years ago our favorite pattern was either a K11 Kwikfish or a U20 Flatfish in the fluorescent red. We'd pinch a couple split shot on the line about 20” above the lure and using an electric motor troll so slow that the top of our trolling rods slowly pulsed against the action of the plug. The strikes were violent and frequent.

Downriver from the mouth of the Willamette is a smorgasbord of opportunity. Islands, large bays and sprawling backwaters are home to largemouth bass and a dozen species of panfish. There's also terrific sturgeon fishing all the way to Astoria.

Right now, before the late summer salmon season kicks in, this area affords near solitude and complete escape. Even though the Columbia is the most popular boating destination in the state of Oregon, you'd never know it by the lack of attention it receives during the week.

The look ahead...

There's been some positive news with good ocean catches of salmon reported this week just off the CR Buoy in the ocean near the mouth of the Columbia.

Also, catches of tuna have been reported 40 miles out from Newport this week with charter boats finding lots of fish for their guests.

It appears the Buoy 10 season at the mouth of the Columbia is home to some good news too with the entire month of August open for both coho and Chinook and good runs of both expected this season. For peak fishing, target the last two weeks of the month. There are some great tides to select from.

Based on the previous couple years run sizes and timing we're making bonus reservations in the second week of September for Astoria coho. Last year we did and it was lights-out fishing that we shared with a dozen other boats!

Boat safe and good fishing!

Summer's Here! - June 27, 2008

The warm weather we've been waiting for has finally arrived and boy has it! People are headed in droves out of town and to their favorite getaways around the region. After the long winter and spring we certainly deserve the break!

There's plenty to do too.

If gas isn't an issue Diamond Lake has been very giving the past couple of weeks. Lots of trout (and lots of big trout) have been finding their way to angler's boats this week. With a solid 15" average for most, fish in excess of 20" have been relatively common. A simple slip sinker (egg sinker) above a small bead then small barrel swivel with a 4' leader, size 8 hook and worm or Power Bait has been producing. Trollers are scoring with F3 and F4 Flatfish in the natural scale and frog patterns.

Shad are still available in the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. Look at previous posts for the what and where. This fishery should hold up for another week or two.

Summer steelhead are everywhere. The Clackamas has a few, so does the Sandy, Kalama and Cowlitz but I'm putting my money on the Willamette and the Columbia.

For "summers" fish the Willamette in the area of Clackamette Park to just above Meldrum Bar. (There's fish all the way to Eugene if you're looking to get out of town.) There's plenty of current in this area and there should be fish readily available. Backtrolled plugs in metallic red, metallic purple, chrome/red, green pirate and blue pirate are all good bets. Brad's Wigglers, Wiggle Warts, Fatfish or K11 Kwikfish are all great lure choices. Stop by Fisherman's Marine & Outdoor in Oregon City for other color choices and ideas.

The Columbia continues to run pretty hard with lots of water coming through the dam. The sweet spot has been below Bonneville all the way to the Sandy River. Anchor or backtroll in 8' to 14' of water and try to stay out of the main flow. Water with a flow that's walking speed is best if you can find it. All the same lures you'd use on the Willamette work on the Columbia.

Spinners are effective too. An old favorite is a size 3 blue-tipped rainbow spinner. Keep it small and use a long 40" dropper with a 6' leader.

Whatever you use and wherever you go make sure to keep your hooks sharp.

The summer Chinook season is on for another couple of days and it's been O.K. Definitely not a bust but not gangbusters either. It's definitely worth a Saturday trip. It's closes on the 28th.

Remember if you're anchoring in a river be careful. Especially areas where there are lots of other boats or the water is running fast. Boats are lost every year in the Columbia due to poor anchoring technique or from a boat breaking loose and running into other boats that are anchored in the area.

The Columbia is deceptively fast so exercise extreme caution and always wear your personal floatation device (life vest).

For the first time in my watch (several decades...) sockeye can be harvested on the Columbia --- size 1 red steelhead-style hooks behind a small chrome dodger are the key to success. Sockeye are plankton feeders and not prone to biting lures or bait. These are outstanding fish on the BBQ.

Timothy Lake is open for business and has received additional plantings of trout...it should be excellent right now.

I'll be updating the amended sturgeon season next week. There are some twists and turns but the good news is there's going to be some additional and unanticipated fish to catch and take home!

Detroit Lake should be rip-roarin' with a full pool and lots of fish available. The lake's received multiple plantings of trout, landlocked Chinook fishing has been very good for fish up to 16" and the kokanee fishing is underway and producing. For up-to-the-minute information on Detroit Lake call Detroit Lake Marina at 503-854-3423, ask for Scott and let him know Trey sent you. He'll take good care of you. Scott's got boat slips if you want to moor your boat and boats for rental as well as a fully stocked store and marina.

Odell Lake's been on fire too. Lake trout and kokanee fishing has been outstanding and should continue to hold up over the next several weeks. Deep-trolled Kwikfish in chrome with a blue scale pattern behind downriggers near the bottom have been very effective. Look for fish on your sonar before fishing. The same is true for kokanee. Put some time in looking for the schools before soaking your Sling Blade, leader and Wedding Ring combo tipped with a kernel or two of white corn.

When was the last time you just went boating? Left the rods at home, packed a bunch of goodies along with blankets and the proper clothing and just went and enjoyed running your boat? If you're like most, it's been awhile. Remember, if you're cruising, run your throttle no more than 2/3rds...you'll burn half as much fuel if you do. Today, direct fuel injected outboards and four strokes are super easy on fuel and if you don't run your motor hard (whether it's an inboard or an outboard) you won't go through nearly as much gas.

I made a point last year of putting in at Willamette Park in Portland and running downriver to St. Helens...we had a ball! There's lots to see, it's a great adventure and it will give you an entirely different vantage point to enjoy the Portland area than most ever experience. You can do the same by taking a right out of the Willamette and heading upstream or continuing downstream to burgs like Rainier and Puget Island further down the Columbia. I plan to make a run all the way to Astoria this year in my open boat...it will be an adventure for sure.

If you elect to make one of these trips you're well-advised to purchase a River Cruising Atlas which is available at any one of several sporting goods or marine-related businesses in the area. Also, check out boatoregon.com for publications and information on these areas...you won't be disappointed. And remember to always file a float plan. Let someone know where you're going and when you expect to return.

The benefit of the cruising atlas is that it identifies the channel, channel markers, hazards and nuances of the river that can otherwise create problems for the uninitiated or unknowing. It's an excellent investment and one you'll appreciate as you learn the sand bars and hazards that are found throughout the Willamette and Columbia systems.

Sea Tow is an excellent investment for area boaters and provides peace-of-mind --- I highly recommend a membership. You'll more than pay for it if you ever need their services which include towing, battery jumps and much more. You'll find a link to their site right on this blog page.

It's summer and it's time to go boating and fishing. Enjoy and be safe!

There's Plenty To Do! - June 16th, 2008

Looking for some action? You won't have to look far! Finally, good news is starting to trickle in as the summer steelhead season on the Columbia River officially opens today, 6/16!

From Tongue Point just upriver of Astoria all the way to the Tri-Cities the river is open to steelhead angling. The run's just getting underway with little more than 300 summer steelhead a day going over Bonneville Dam and about 400 a day passing over Willamette Falls.

There are multiple ways to catch these wonderful and energetic fish. The top two methods on both the Willamette and Columbia systems is either backtrolling or plunking. Plunking requires you anchor and wait, backtrolling (my preference) allows you to cover more water as you back the boat downstream slowly against the push of the current.

In the 80's we had tremendous success anchoring and using small size 3 blue-tip rainbow spinners. These blades had a white back and rainbow front. If it wasn't white we painted them. Of course, it's tough to beat any one of a dozen different plugs. There's as many "favorite colors" as there are plug choices but some top producers include simple chrome K11 Kwikfish, red metallic Fatfish, Brad's Wiggler in metallic pink, metallic purple or metallic red. You'll want to concentrate on water that's 8' to 14' deep and keep your plugs about 100' in back of the boat.

I prefer fiberglass rods like Lamiglas' XCF 801 Certified Pro (8' rated 6 – 15 lb. test). The slower action enables better hook-ups.

A couple of sage tips. 10 lb. test is ample, always use a plug clip and some kind of shrimp scent slathered on the plug or spinner and up the first 4' or 5' of your line. Make sure your hooks are needle sharp. Finally, keep your rods parallel with the water in the rod holders. This is something you'll see the guides doing and for good reason, it seems to make a difference in strike to hook-up ratios.

Note: Be very careful on both these rivers. The Willamette and Columbia continue to run high and cold and probably will well into July. Always wear your PFD when boating.

This run will continue to build through the summer peaking around the end of August on the Columbia and end of June / beginning of July on the Willamette.

The Clackamas is kicking out a few fish right now but has been hit and miss with the cold water. Springers don't bite well in 40 degree water and Clackamas temps are running in the low 40's most days.

More good news is on the horizon as the Columbia summer Chinook season enjoys a short opener on 6/21 and stays open through 6/28 from Tongue Point to Bonneville Dam. It's a blink or you'll miss-it season but up until just a few short years ago it had been closed for more than 30 years. Backtrolled sardine-wrapped K15 Kwikfish in chrome and chartreuse will likely be the go-to lure so get prepared now. Backtrolling at the deadline below Bonneville Dam will be the most likely area locals will focus their time and energy.

Buoy 10 is looking more-and-more promising too. Still a couple months off, Buoy 10 is expected to open August 1st with a better than average Chinook fishery anticipated and good coho fishing that will extend throughout the month and into September. The Chinook season should be open through the entire month.

On other fronts, the oversize sturgeon season is in full swing on the Columbia. Shad are the bait of choice. Remember, barbless hooks only. Check the regulations before setting out.

Shad continue to find their way back to the Columbia and Willamette systems but haven't arrived in the numbers anticipated. Still, the fishing is very good. More than 30,000 a day are moving over Bonneville Dam with more than 300,000 fish counted so far. The total will range up into the millions of shad. There's some speculation right now that colder-than-usual water temps are slowing the annual migration. It's the draw on the Willamette right now at Oregon City as dozens, and some days, over a 100 boats are anchored between Meldrum Bar and the I-205 bridge. Go armed with a variety of colors of small Dick Nite spoons (size 0) and Hildebrandt flicker spinners. Favorite colors include: nickel/chartreuse; brass/chartreuse; pearl/chartreuse and red and pearl.

Summer steelhead are in the Siletz and Wilson Rivers at the coast. Try the lower sections of these rivers first. For the Wilson from Mills Bridge down to Sollie Smith and the Siletz from the town of Siletz to Morgan Park (there are different float options along this swath of river). Plugs, spinners, jigs and free-drifting shrimp tails are all good bets on these rivers.

Odell Lake proved to be a good choice for Craig Mostul and his family as they made their sojourn to this large natural lake about an hour east of Eugene. Craig found some nice lake trout along with plenty of kokanee that kept them busy for a couple days at this gorgeous and productive lake. Deep trolled red label herring, j-plugs or Rapala floating minnows are all very effective on this lake's mackinaw, which grow to sizes in excess of 30 pounds! Kokanee are taking on all the regular troll methods (sling blade dodger, wedding ring and a piece of white/shoe peg corn). Odell is not known as a great rainbow trout lake but only because it gets very little trouting pressure. Those that target rainbows often enjoy some welcome surprises.

The Alsea River basin is belting out decent catches of cutthroat trout. Again, check your regulations before setting out. You're encouraged (but not required) to practice catch-and-release.

If you're interested in taking a mess of trout home you need look no further than Hagg Lake which continues to receive generous plants of trout throughout the summer. Also, Hebo Lake near the coast, along with several other coastal lakes including, Cape Meares, Coffenbury and Lost Lakes have all received recent plants and are expected to get another shot of fish this next week.

Smallmouth bass fishing at Hagg is stirring. Senkos, a plastic lure that imitates a wounded fish have been very effective in the 3" and 4" lengths. Anything close to a trout pattern should be the ticket. You'll put your time in figuring this lake out for smallies but it's worth the wait. Hagg is home to honest-to-goodness trophies with several state records, now over 8 lbs., caught. A good rule to remember in eliminating unproductive water is, easy access to deep water. Specifically, look for rock humps, points, and areas that provide access to feed but also protection from predators.

Another sleeper right now if you want to expend some effort and stretch your legs is to ply Hood River for summer steelhead. Fish are moving through the system right now and it should be a very good bet through June and July. Contact the Gorge Fly Shop in Hood River for up-to-the-minute reports at 541-386-6977.

That's it for now! Good fishing and safe boating.

Make 2008 Your Fishing & Boating Summer - May 27th, 2008

The unofficial start of summer is upon us. You'll have to look hard for fishing reports --- uncooperative weather dashed the hopes of many who had planned long weekends near their favorite fishing grounds.

One friend set out for Odell Lake with Crescent Lake as their number two option. Inclement weather put the kibosh on their plans as they ended up at Wickiup Reservoir trolling through thick schools of kokanee. I'm told it was the only game in town as hail storms dropped sub-golf-ball sized chunks of ice on vacationers in Central Oregon.

The ice is almost completely off Diamond Lake and trout fishing should be very good there over the next couple of weeks. The road to Paulina Lake was supposed to be clear last weekend but at 6,000 feet Mother Nature may have changed those plans.

At least for the next couple of weeks...call before making the drive.
In fact, if you're headed anywhere in Central Oregon you'd be well-advised to call before setting out.

Local rivers are still running pretty hard and cold. Those conditions will likely change through the week with continued cooling temperatures which should make for better fishing all around the state.

The shad counts have jumped and will continue to increase over the next few weeks. No word on the Willamette yet but the fish should be there.

Looking ahead to the weekend...

Weather's supposed to be nice both Saturday and Sunday, the perfect excuse to get out and try on some local fisheries.

I'll pick Willamette steelhead and sturgeon with shad as a conditional "maybe" going in as a top bet this weekend.

Columbia sturgeon and shad should be going great guns as well. Stay in the Portland area, or better, in the area of the Fishery up in the Gorge. Armed with the right gear, knowledge/expertise, boat and anchoring set-up there's a better than good chance of hooking an honest-to-goodness beast-of-a-fish! The Columbia River's oversized sturgeon fishery is something special and in full swing from now through June and into July. Enthusiasts go out, catch a mess of fresh shad, anchor in the appropriate over-size sturgeon holding water and then drown a 4 pound bait (shad) in 40' to 100' of water in the hope a fish of epic proportions will grab it and give them the fight of their life.

Most of these "oversize" fish run 7' to 9' with fish in excess of 10' seen on a regular basis. This is a highly specialized fishery that requires considerable expertise. Anchoring and pulling anchor can be quite dangerous and when you're tussling with a fish that's in excess of 250 pounds or more it adds an entirely new dimension to boating and fishing.

Stevens Marine does business with dozens of qualified guides who are happy to show you the ropes. Check out the guide-listing under the "Boating & Fishing" icon on the home page menu.

A key to responsibly fishing oversize sturgeon is to go equipped with the right gear. In this case, something capable of straightening the frame of a bus, pulling stumps or moving boulders. Oversize sturgeon ARE big game so large tuna or marlin gear is what's used. Fishing lighter gear can put undo stress on these mammoth fish as the fight can endure for hours.


Note: With any of these fisheries you're well-advised to check the regulations before wetting a line. Check out the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife site for up-to-the-minute regulations. You can connect to the site by logging onto HYPERLINK "http://www.dfw.state.or.us/" http://www.dfw.state.or.us/

The best go-to fishery for salmon right now is down at the coast for spring Chinook. Tillamook Bay has been on-again, off-again but it's your best bet for connecting with a salmon.

Right now, it's wait-and-see. The moment we clear these weather challenges fishing from one corner of the state to the other should be "lights out." In fact, close-to-home make the Willamette your top pick with sturgeon, steelhead, shad and bass all in full swing!

Boaters are advised to exercise extreme caution right now. Several boaters have had "surprises" underestimating the flow and water temperature. Thankfully, there's only been a few serious problems but at least for the next week local rivers should continue to run at peak flows.

The Columbia may be your best bet if you want to go cruising. Make sure you file a float plan with someone at home. Wear your life vests/pfds the entire time you're in the boat and dress warm. Finally, unless you’re absolutely certain, take it easy and keep your speed down so you can react to dead heads and debris that seem to be spread through every system across the region.

Good boating and fishing. More to come later this week or early next week.

Get Out! There's Fish To Be Caught! - 05/13/2008

Get Out! There's Fish To Be Caught!
Well, the local and regional news sources have done a pretty good job of keeping us all apprised of what's gone wrong with N.W. sportfishing but have done NOTHING to share what’s right with N.W. sportfishing...and there's plenty!

Yes, the Willamette below Willamette Falls in Oregon City is closed to the take of Chinook salmon right now. It is not closed to sturgeon fishing or steelhead fishing. Both are still open and the catching has been pretty good.

For the past several months a glut of steelhead have appeared on the Willamette in the areas of Gladstone upriver to Oregon City. Backtrolled plugs have worked exceedingly well with K11 Kwikfish and Brad's Wigglers in pirate patterns, metallic red, chrome/red and metallic pink colors topping the list.

With 70 to 100 steelhead a day moving over Willamette Falls there should be plenty of upriver bound steelhead available as well.

There's also been a decent push of spring Chinook over the falls. Not huge numbers but enough to make it interesting. From 100-to-400 fish a day with better counts anticipated as mid-May generally spells the biggest numbers of the year. No doubt conditions are different with snowmelt, cooling water and high flows which may hinder those counts but they’ll be there soon.

The area right above the falls all the way to Newberg is largely neglected by salmon anglers who largely spend their time below the falls --- the few who do fish "the upper river" concentrate on the area between Salem and St. Paul (San Salvador). Years ago a local guide spent some time in the area of Rock Island trolling plugs through the narrow area of the channel and had pretty dependable success...I'll bet that opportunity is still available.

Tillamook Bay has a good run of spring Chinook too. The run's in full swing from now through the end of the month. Trolled herring from the jetty to the Ghost Hole and all the regular tactics from there up to Memaloose will work. These are hard-fighting, great eating fish that average into the mid-teens with occasional fish into the twenties and bigger.

Shad are just beginning to show and will build through the end-of-the-month. That means fresh sturgeon will be entering the system from the ocean, following the feed and filling the Willamette and Columbia Rivers with new opportunity. Now's the time for oversized sturgeon…a rare, world-class treat that has to be experienced to be believed.

Important Note: Read your regulations carefully! You can get up-to-the-minute information by checking out http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/fishing/index.asp
You're well-advised to do so given the changing regulatory landscape.

If you're looking for numbers of sturgeon you'll want to move downriver towards the mouth of the Willamette. Just upriver near the Port of Portland and downriver to Longview is an outstanding stretch of water capable of ringing up impressive numbers of sub-legal sturgeon. These fish are a blast to catch-and-release on salmon gear and it's not unthinkable that you can land 50 fish or more in a good day!

As mentioned briefly, the Willamette's also been particularly giving this year. I watched a guide just upriver from Hog Island in the area of West Linn land several sturgeon in the span of a couple hours. His customer's attention was completely focused on the half dozen rod tips sticking out from the back of the boat. It looked like the action was constant as the net was drawn several times during our brief stay in the area.

You'll still find a few winter steelhead and an errant summer or two bumping around several coastal rivers. The Wilson and Siletz are the top picks right now but this fishery will be petering out soon --- I'd give it another week or two --- tops.

Last on the salmon front is the Sandy River. Mid-May through the first week or two of June is prime time on this sparkling stream. There are several guides to choose from if you just want to kick back and enjoy the day. Most notably, Jack and Brandon Glass as well as Trevor Storlie are sure bets when booking on the Sandy. You'll find their numbers under the "guide" portion of this site. All the regular techniques work with diver/bait combinations and sardine-wrapped K15 Kwikfish topping the list.

So the point here is don't throw in the towel on salmon fishing --- there's still plenty of salmon fishing available you'll just need to dig a little to find it.

What else is going on?

Lots!

Now that the ice is coming off the lakes there's plenty of trout fishing that's opening up with each passing week. Still, close-to-home is the best bet.

For kokanee try Green Peter Reservoir about an hour east of Albany. 25 grain Nordic Jigs in pink pearl are a blast to fish if you haven't already. I've mentioned this in previous posts but just to refresh...

First and foremost, troll around the lake until you find a school of fish. Kokanee move-in tight, well-defined schools and should be in the first 30' of water early in the year. As it warms they'll move into increasingly deeper water.

Once you find the school move upwind from the school and continue to pay attention to your fish finder.

Here's the equipment...

7' fiberglass rod, 8 pound test, small bead chain swivel (the smallest available) and your jig...that's it! Make a 20" leader, attach your small bead chain swivel and tie it to your main line.

Here's the technique...

As you drift across the school of kokanee, stand-up, keep the rod tip close to the surface of the water and raise it sharply, maybe 12" to 18" inches. This will pop the jig up and allow it to flutter down. As it flutters down feel for a slight "tick". Your line may sag, move in an unusual direction or jump, so watching your line is critical. If any of this happens set the hook. Every so often you'll hook a fish that just slams your jig but that's not the norm.

On the good days you'll get into a rhythm where you'll anticipate the bite and sure enough...there it is!

There's also kokanee at Detroit Lake along with scads of hungry rainbows.

Closer to home Hagg Lake's always an eas' target for trout, especially if you’re interested in a quick half day hiatus.

And if it's adventure you seek you may want to hook up your boat and head east up the Columbia to the John Day for big smallmouth bass. Now's the time especially if you like fishing small jigs tipped with an Uncle Josh 101 Pork Frog or 4" plastic worms fished along the bottom.

The point is there's plenty to do right now and in another two or three weeks Central Oregon should be opening up with lots of robust fishing opportunity available for us weekend warriors.

Remember to always wear floatation when you're underway and keep all your safety gear in good working order.

Good fishing and safe boating!

The Willamette, Insider News and More! - April 24, 2008

The news of the Columbia River closing for spring Chinook has been a bit deflating but there's a silver lining! All is not lost.

There may be a couple days more fishing available before the run update in May. The "run update" is just that. Washington and Oregon's fish and wildlife agencies get together with data they've received from several sources and develop updated assumptions of the river's total run size. This happens when the counts over Bonneville Dam begin to drop. They have to peak first.

Having lived around these processes for decades I'll venture an educated guess that the run update will be in excess of 300,000 spring Chinook salmon and there will likely be a re-opening of the season sometime in May. If there is I'll let you know and, if there is...you'll definitely want to get out there and take full advantage of it because catching will be hot.

Between now and then don't despair. Most of us won't have to drive as far or wait in line with spring Chinook fishing in full swing on the Willamette. The traffic's been surprisingly light (we'll see this weekend) and in spite of inclement weather, a rising river that's a little off-color today and may go completely chocolate by the weekend, fishing's been very good. Several fish were caught in the area of Meldrum Bar yesterday and my guess is there's probably pretty good opportunities from the Portland Harbor to Downtown Portland, upriver to Sellwood Bridge, Milwaukie, the Milwaukie Trestle, Lake Oswego, Hog Island and Cedar Oaks. In other words, fishing should be good up and down the Willamette River.

It's still a bait bite. Prawns, any color just so long as they're red or pink, fished behind a diver or lead have been the top-producer.

Steelhead are STILL being caught at the coast. Look to the Wilson, Nestucca and Siletz as best bets.

If you're looking for a change of scenery may I recommend some trout options?

The Deschutes from the Mouth to Warm Springs is open. The float from Warm Springs to Trout Creek is pretty tame. From Trout Creek downstream is a different story and should be navigated only by experienced boaters familiar with the river. I'd go armed with small prince nymphs and gold-ribbed hare's ear nymphs. The Deschutes is one of the nation's blue-ribbon native trout fisheries and is home to some truly impressive trophy-sized wild rainbows.

Closer to home, most area and valley lakes and reservoirs have received generous trout plantings and it's a good time to get out after hefty holdovers. Detroit Reservoir will receive multiple plants of 10,000 or more trout at a time. Henry Hagg Lake, south of Forest Grove is also heavily stocked. Green Peter Reservoir, east of Albany is producing good catches of Kokanee salmon. The Kokanee are shallow right now which makes for excellent jigging conditions. It's easy...find schools of kokanee on your fishfinder, drop a 25 grain Nordic jig in pink pearl into the school, drop your rod-tip close to the water and pop it up sharply allowing the jig to jump 5' or so and flutter back down into the school. You'll feel a "tap" on the fall of the jig, set the hook when you do. It's a wonderful way to catch Kokanee which are not only fun to catch but excellent eating.

Just west of Green Peter Reservoir is Foster Reservoir which is heavily stocked with rainbow trout. Further south, Dexter and Fall Creek Reservoirs are also brimming with trout opportunity.

Got kids? If so, there's a kids fishing event out at the Trojan Ponds in the Rainier area. The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife is hosting the event with lots of stocked trout up to 7 pounds available. It's free. There's also scheduled time when the agency will be there helping which runs from 9 AM to 2 PM on Saturday April 26th.

Last, if you're in the mood for a little adventure you may want to review your copy of "Fishing In Oregon" and head-out to Hood River for steelhead. Both winter and summer fish are available on this gorgeous little river.

Good fishing and safe boating.

Wow!!! Let The Fun Begin! - April 12, 2008

It's time to break out the boat and go fishing! There's a ton of fishing opportunity on tap and plenty of water to go boating across the N.W. Early-on this year's shaping up to be a barn-burner for both.

First the boating, then what's up with local fishing...in detail!

If you didn't get out this weekend you were no doubt reminded by the weather that summer's not far off. This next week's a perfect time to get your boat ready for some of the hottest fishing and boating action of the year.

How old is your battery? If it's five years old or older...replace it. It's not worth the chance you'll be taking by waiting until it dies. Murphy's law will soon confirm that it will let you down at absolutely the most inopportune time.

Replace your fuel/water separator, until you did it when you winterized your boat.

With longer days to go boating you may want to leave the rods at home and take your boat out for a quick shakedown run. What-the-heck, take the rods...you'll want to make sure your trolling motor's running perfectly.

Make sure you check your trailer lights too. Also, make sure your trailer's connected to the rig you'll be towing with. That way there's no surprises when you leave your driveway.

With all the fishing concentrated above Hayden Island on the Columbia and in the Willamette from Oregon City to the mouth of the Willamette and throughout Multnomah Channel, the lower Columbia below the Willamette is virtually void of boats. On those welcome windless days the lower Columbia River a perfect retreat for adventurous boaters looking to spread their wings a little and do some cruising. Take a Columbia River Cruising Atlas (map book of the Columbia) and know how to use it, that is, know what the channel and navigation markers mean so you know where you are at all times. There's lots of islands and shallow water areas to avoid so having, understanding and using a map are essential.

I plan on doing at least one long distance overnight trip in my 20' Alumaweld Super Vee this year on the Columbia. It will be an adventure for sure.

Now for the fishing...

I had the pleasure of spending my Friday fishing NSIA's Hawgs N' Dogs Derby with Carmen Macdonald, Alex Brauer and John Fusek. We took a chance...actually, I'd like to think of it as a calculated gamble...to fish the Willamette. We put in at Cedar Oaks launch in West Linn and thanks to Carmen's capable skill as our captain he had us on our first "springer" in 30 minutes. We were in at 6:30 AM with a fish to the boat just after 7:00 AM. Better yet, it was John Fusek who hooked and landed the fish...his first salmon ever! We guessed the weight around 12 pounds. The second fish came an hour later at 8:00 AM and it was my rod this time. Another 12 pound salmon...perfect for the BBQ! Both of course were clipped fish. The third came around 11:00 AM and it was bigger, high teens for sure.

All of the fish were caught on straight prawns. Carmen prefers a Luhr Jensen Jumbo Jet Diver rigged on a slider and about a 6' leader.

Like most, I was unaware of how intense the sun was. Having been under the cloak of clouds for the past 6 months I forgot to lather my face and hands in sunscreen. By 1:30 it was apparent I should have --- just call me Mr. Tomato Head today. Ouch!

Carmen looks for shelves and humps to focus his time. He prefers the edges of shelves and finds humps and depressions in mid-river areas, right where salmon migrate and hold. It's very clear fishing with Carmen that he's spent his time learning the areas he fishes. He's very aware of where he is and how he's presenting his bait. He's cognizant of tides (our fish came on the turn of the tide going from low slack to an incoming tide)...yes there's a tidal influence in the Willamette, water temperature, water velocity, depth and clarity.

We saw a couple other fish caught around us but it was definitely our day on Friday. Upriver to the Garbage Hole (Clackamette Park is just across the river) there's been quite a few steelhead taken the past couple of weeks. In fact, there's been a lot of steelhead showing in catches up and down the Willamette but the hottest Willamette steelheading seems to be from Meldrum Bar up the old Oregon City Bridge .

Of course, these warming temperatures brought out the best in sleek, sparkling, high-powered and state-of-the-art equipped bass boats. We counted about 10 boats just in the Oregon City area that were perched on every point available. My guess is Saturday was a better day for bass fishermen but the water temperatures headed up and that will get smallmouth moving and biting.

There's been a bunch of trout stocking going on...now's a good time to go to the coast and sample a variety of water on the north coast. There's Coffenbury, Cullaby, Neocoxie (Sunset) and some others in the area that provide trout and warmwater fishing opportunities. I like Coffenbury for trout, sometimes there's bonus big fish available that are occasionally planted by the state and Sunset Lake in Gearheart that's a double threat with largemouth bass and trout available.

Fact is there's no shortage of opportunity right now.

Finally, with the news of salmon closures this week it's vitally important to note that first, the closures are for commercial fishing; second, the ocean is closed but places like Buoy 10, Nehalem Bay, Tillamook Bay and others will be open; and last, there's going to be some terrific summer steelhead fishing starting in June and running all summer long and into the fall.

Expect to see some additional constraints on salmon this fall but there may be good news coming as well that may provide more and better seasons to salmon anglers around the region.

So if your freezer's in need of a salmon or two, now's the time! Don't wait, it's good right now and there's more to come.

Good fishing and safe boating!

It Just Keeps Getting Better - April 5th, 2008

Columbia River springer fishing is in full swing. Even with the closure downstream of the Hayden Island power lines (approx. 3 miles downriver of the I-5 Bridge) fishing's expected to be very good over the coming weeks.

There seems to be plenty of fresh fish moving into the Columbia system right now. Spring Chinook catches have been pretty dependable for some with several anglers I've talked to putting fish in the boat.

As reported previously, trolled herring has been a pretty reliable approach. From I-5 upriver to Camas, slow trolling with the current using a short dropper or "lead line", in several cases as short as 8", and long 6' to 8' leaders have been the ticket.

Some anglers are using a size 3 spinner blade ahead of their bait, others a Spin N' Glo, many are using straight herring and all are working.

With chilly, low-40 degree water temps, expect herring to be the bait of choice right now and until the temperatures climb into the upper 40's.

The Willamette has been belting out some Chinook as well. Wednesday yielded reports of several fish caught in the area of the Milwaukie trestle, just upriver of Elk Rock, and fish taken near the Cedar Oaks launch in West Linn. A pleasant surprise considering the Willamette's forecast to deliver a low return this year.

Try trolled spinner/prawn combinations and cover water. I like 6 ounces of lead, a short lead line, and if the water's 30' and shallower drop to the bottom and reel up a crank and troll the area. In water deeper than 30' go to pulls. That is, pull off line from your reel to the first guide on your rod. With 6 ounces of lead, 14 pulls should do the trick.

There should be another 3 weeks of dependable fishing ahead in the Columbia, the goal is for the season to last through the end of the month after which it becomes a Willamette show exclusively.

On another note...

Have you started your annual outdoor recreation calendar for 2008? Laying plans now will enable you to get a jump on everyone else, particularly if you need to reserve camp spots, hotel rooms, flights, etc.

I'm using 2008 to rediscover the N.W. My plans are going to keep me in Oregon and Washington reacquainting myself with fisheries I've neglected for too many years and exploring new opportunities.

I'm really looking forward to summer steelhead fishing on the Columbia. It's close, productive and easy. That should get going in mid-summer.

Before that I'm committed to more trout trips...this time in search of honest-to-goodness trophy class fish I'll photograph and release.

I want to make a trip to Davis Lake and go flyfishing for bass. I've heard nothing but good about the bass fishery...other than the bass were illegally introduced --- not good at all as it's had a devastating impact on the trout population.

We have plans to float the John Day from Kimberly to Spray and sample some late spring smallmouth action. Can't wait for that trip.

I'm definitely headed to the upper Willamette trout fishing. I really like the floats in the Eugene area and from Harrisburg downriver to Peoria. The drift to Peoria is a two-day affair...so plan to camp, otherwise you'll take out at McCartney Park which makes for a great ½ day float unless you fish hard the entire trip. This section of the Willamette is radically different than the Willamette you'll see in Portland. It's clear, alive with vegetation and feed and supports a good population of resident cutthroat trout.

Places like Fall Creek, Dexter and Dorena Reservoirs on the south end of the valley deserve some attention too. I've drifted too far from bass fishing and these lakes are ripe with opportunity. Dorena holds trophy-class largemouth and I was surprised on one trip to Fall Creek Reservoir that landed me a load of healthy largemouth I never expected to catch. Subsequent trips to Fall Creek haven't been as giving but that one trip fired my ambition to keep trying.

I'm definitely spending time at Detroit Lake this year. An hour and a half from my home in Tualatin, it's been too long since I wet a line at this sprawling highland reservoir. Trout fishing's always good as it's planted relentlessly through the year. There's also some pretty good kokanee fishing available...and as most know all, these fish are delicacies and completely worth the effort. The sleeper, and one fishery I really want to explore is the landlocked Chinook fishery that's quietly blossomed on this lake.

For up-to-date information on Detroit Lake contact Detroit Lake Marina...they'll provide you with solid, timely updates. You find them at www.detroitlakemarina.com.

I think the coast is going to be another outstanding bet this year. With news of depressed salmon runs off the coast expected, the news will likely dampen some angler's enthusiasm and scare others away. The truth is the opportunities up and down the Oregon Coast will be exceptional with some closures anticipated but still lots of great salmon, trout, bass, halibut, tuna, rockfish and panfish opportunities everywhere.

In response to the pending news I'll bet there will be lots of great lodging and package deals available. I'll tow my boat, fish lakes, bays and outside in the ocean but also make a point of sight-seeing, whale watching, going to the aquariums, parks and area attractions. Even as a native Oregonian I can't get enough of the Coast...it's one of the most beautiful, diverse and active places I have the pleasure of visiting.

North into Washington I hope to make a few trips. One of those trips will be to Lake Washington for sure in search of big smallmouth bass. I just have to do it this year. I'll plan a second trip somewhere into eastern Washington on business I have planned on the east side of the state through the summer. There's dozens of world class choices...decisions, decisions.

This barely touches on the breadth and depth of fishing and outdoor opportunities available--- that's why now is a perfect time to get started planning your trips.

As many business gurus have shared, you're infinitely more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down than if you don't.

A tool I always use before setting out is my dog-eared copy of Grant's Getaways. Written by Grant McOmie the outdoor reporter for Portland's KATU television, McOmie's "Getaways" are those special, mostly forgotten opportunities that fill the N.W. He's written two volumes so far...hopefully more are on the way.

His books take you to places you'd generally overlook. For example, while we mine for crab in Tillamook Bay just a few yards from our traps is some of the best clamming you'll find anywhere---didn't know that until I familiarized myself with Grant's work.

Little known byways, waterfalls, trails, towns and stops add a memorable flavor to any trip and Grant's found them by the book load.

Last, a great little tip if you're out boating or bank angling right now. It's been chilly most days and rain is forecast off-and-on the entire week so dress warm and pack a "Hottie" when you head out. "Hotties" are those little hardwarmer packs you activate by rubbing. Trust me, it will make for a more comfortable trip if you start to get cold.

Good fishing and safe boating!

Some Good, Some Bad, Always Interesting - March 23rd, 2008

There's no better news among the N.W. fishing faithful than the promise of spring Chinook.

Sure, there's some good trout fishing available right now. Panfish should be stirring to the change in temperature, but it's still early. Sturgeon have been biting well and steelhead prospects are holding strong on the coast.

The burning question among local anglers is what's the best bet?

That's an easy one for a range of reasons.

If you live in the Portland tri-metropolitan area it's an easy run to the 42nd street ramp on the Columbia River. With rain forecast every day of this week, the Columbia will be the go-to spot for sure. It's nearly impervious to the effects of torrential rains. "Nearly", is the operative word here. It takes a bona fide gully-washer to blow it out and we're not expecting any of those.

That said, fish were caught over the weekend. Some nice Chinook found their way into the freezers of a few patient and not-so-patient anglers. At least one angler reported his fish came in just a couple of minutes of wetting his line.

Most of the action continues in the area of the I-5 Bridge, however this week and next the lower river, from Buoy upstream to Hayden Island power lines, opens through April 4th. Fishing should be outstanding and the pressure will be spread out which will shorten launch lines considerably.

What's working? Right now in the chilly 43 degree water of the Columbia herring continues to be the bait-of-choice. Troll with the current, cover water, stay in 25' to 35' of water using a 36" lead line and 8' leader. Drop your offering to the bottom, reel up a crank or two and cover water. Some trollers are using a Fish Flash or dodger but most are going with a straight cut-plug herring. I prefer to use a small spinner blade ahead of my herring for added flash.

Important Boating Note: Exercise extreme caution. The water's cold (in the 40's), the current's deceptively strong and this time of year there can be issues with debris, boat wakes and boat traffic that result in additional hazards.

Please wear your PFD (personal floatation device) always. Also, make sure you have a throwable floatation cushion close by and never anchor in the main channel.

There's safety equipment that's often overlooked yet useful like: 50' tow rope, a good paddle, loud air horn (a whistle is all that's required on most trailerable boats), extra fire extinguisher (yes, an extra) and extra drain plugs (plural).

Last, and certainly not-to-be overstated, know your limitations. If you have a small boat with limited freeboard (sidewall height) the Columbia's not a good choice for you. Go to the Willamette instead and fish the lower portion of the river by Cathedral Park or upstream in the Sellwood area. Exercise caution here too being mindful to not overload your boat. Overloading any boat, but in particular a small boat, will make it very unstable and susceptible to capsizing.

Steelhead are on the prowl at the coast. There's another couple weeks or more of excellent fishing available if the weather can hold off and not blow the coastal rivers out of shape.

My pick would be the Wilson from the Guide Shop to Sollie Smith. Good water to float, fishy and you don't have to be an expert to boat it...but you should be an experienced float-boater.

This time of year there's a mix of brood stock and wild steelhead in the river. The brood stock fish are marked with a clipped adipose and clipped maxillary and can be kept. Wild fish should be released immediately. Diver/bait combinations are discouraged this time of year in an effort to take every measure to protect wild steelhead. Jigs, spinners, spoons and traditional drift gear are all popular. Drift fished shrimp tail or free-drifting shrimp tails can also be highly effective. This presentation, 99% of the time, results in a "safe" hook-up where the hook is in the jaw and not taken deep where the fish could be irreparably harmed.

One thing's for sure --- with each passing day it's becoming increasingly apparent that winter's behind us, spring's on the way and the fish are on the march!

Good fishing. Safe boating.

It's On! - March 17th, 2008

The Columbia River opener for Spring Chinook is on! Reports have been trickling in from the Sunday opener and even though test netting indicated salmon were scarce you wouldn't know it from the reports.

More than one 30 pound plus keeper salmon was netted. Several unmarked Chinook were also hooked but quickly released.

If you'd like complete details on this years springer season regulations look at my earlier blogs in February. Complete details are available.

As predicted, the area between I-205 and I-5 didn't disappoint. Trolled herring and prawns, both with small spinner blades ahead of the bait have been working. Try a sliding sinker system using a 36" - 40" lead line and 6' to 8' leader. Look for 25' to 30' of water, drop your lead to the bottom, reel up a full crank (one full rotation of the handle) and troll. As the bottom goes up and down keep your lead close to the bottom without making contact. You'll have to pay attention and continually adjust the depth of your presentation. It pays off as several anglers found on Sunday.

Spring Chinook catches continue to be logged in both the Columbia and Willamette Rivers.

With so many fish (269,000) expected to show, fishing should be good from here on out. Of course the closer we get to the third week of April the better. That week is often considered the peak of the Columbia River run with numbers building from now until then.

The Willamette, though expected to be down severely this year is producing some fish as well.

A few steelhead are still being caught in the Clackamas River and the Sandy should hold up well for another few weeks. Me, I'm headed to the Coast and the Wilson River where there should be a flood of fresh brood stock steelhead showing over the next couple of weeks.

Though jigs under a float have taken most steelhead streams by storm, backtrolled plugs are still a good bet especially in metallic gold, metallic red, metallic pink and any of the pirate patterns.

Good fishing and see you out there!

Central Oregon Or Bust! - February 24th, 2008

It's looking like a perfect weekend to head east and avoid the crowds around the Portland area and coast this coming weekend. Locally, rivers like the Clackamas, Sandy, Mollala, Wilson, Nestucca, Siletz, Trask and Nehalem will all be in perfect shape. Expect lots of people and pressure. Also, expect lots of fish. Area rivers have been particularly giving the past month or so with some really good catches of winter steelhead already logged.

Better, there are even more on the way. The recently created "brood stock" programs on a number of area rivers has really jumped started steelhead fishing across the region. With early hatchery fish starting in late November (very sparse) and building into early January, followed by brood stock fish and then wild steelhead that show well into April most coastal rivers and a growing number of interior rivers have extended steelheading opportunities

Over the last decade catching winter steelhead has become a far more dependable proposition. With this revival has come renewed confidence as new and lapsed steelheaders have been added to the ranks of the enthusiasts who waited for a couple decades for the reward. It appears steelheading opportunities have exploded and are being rediscovered.

It's bittersweet. While these fish deserve more attention than they've been getting it's certainly added significant pressure to most Oregon rivers making weekends a pretty busy affair. That's not all bad, with good and reliable returns becoming the norm there are plenty of fish caught. The rub is if you're looking for a solitary experience don't expect to find it on the weekends.

Again, water conditions should be near-perfect, if not a little clear which adds a challenging wrinkle to the equation. Though a number of methods will work well you'll likely find 8 out of 10 rods rigged with jig and bobber combinations. Use any color as long as it's pink. Remember, the trick in fishing a jig is to select the proper bobber size for the weight of your jig. Ideally, it should take very little pressure to pull the bobber down. This not only makes it an effective strike indicator but is less likely to alert the fish to the fake food.

Second, make sure the jig's in the strike zone. "Textbook" water is 4' to 8' deep and running at about walking speed. Of course tailouts hold fish as do deep pockets but for the highest percentage water look for the "textbook" runs first. You'll want your jig to at least split-the-difference. That is, if you're fishing in 4' of water your jig should be 2' under your bobber. If you're fishing a 10' pocket, run your jig down to five feet. The key here is to keep the jig positioned above the fish where they can see it. Steelhead don't look down, and, in fact, their field of vision is about 30 starting at their eyes and going up towards the surface. They have a keen sense of sight and the color pink in clear or green water is visible and particularly enticing.

Frankly, jig fishing has made catching steelhead relatively easy. It's far less frustrating and specialized than drift fishing which to the uninitiated is difficult at best. There are some details you'll want to address like rod length and the kind of line, bobbers and jigs you select but any full service tackle shop will happily show you the proper gear if you ask.

That said, you won't find me anywhere near a steelhead-bearing river this weekend. I'm headed east to the Crooked River, arguably one of the best winter trout streams in the region. I'll plan to leave Portland around 8 AM, head over Mt. Hood on to Madras, then Prineville and finally some stretch of water below Bowman Dam. It's expected to be nice weather so I probably won't be alone but who cares? I'll be casting a size 14 gold-ribbed hare's ear nymph to thousands of wild trout per river mile.

Because of bitterly cold temperatures trout have been slow to cooperate. I'll get to the river around midday...it's a solid 4 hour drive...hoping the morning sun will have done its' work in waking otherwise quiet fish.

I'm not much of a flyfisherman. I've been doing it all my life so you'd think I'd be more accomplished than I am but I have a pretty limited skill set and knowledge base when it comes to this school of fishing. Thankfully, I have enough ability to manage the Crooked River but that’s not saying much. I've long felt from my first introduction to the Crooked River, and every trip I’ve made since, that it was put on this earth expressly for people like me. That is, those of limited flyfishing acumen who need a lift every once and a while.

I'll fish until dark and make a decision then on whether I stay in Prineville or forge on to Redmond and the Central Oregon Sportsmen Show. I'm definitely going to the show just not sure if it's going to be Friday, Saturday and Sunday or just Saturday and Sunday. Out of all the shows I get to attend my favorites are, without a doubt the sportsmen's show in Puyallup and in Portland, and this show in Central Oregon. There's lots to see and they're all a little different.

Wherever you end up this weekend, hopefully it's on-the-water. It’d be a shame to let such a nice weekend go without giving it the proper attention it deserves.

Good fishing.

It's On! Spring Chinook! - February 19th, 2008

The season is set and fish are on the way! Anglers around the N.W. have some really promising opportunity ahead of them. With 269,000 spring Chinook bound for the Columbia and salmon already being caught in the Willamette it's shaping up to be a whale of spring salmon season.

Regrettably, the forecast for the Willamette River appears to be low but miracles do happen and fish are being caught daily on the river.

The Columbia's the big story with the river opening at peak times and a salmon fishing season assured through the end of April. This will be the longest season sport anglers have had since the river was reopened in 2000 after having been closed for 25 years.

There are some twists and turns to this season for sure. To land so much opportunity was the result of several careful regulations. For example, the river will be closed to ALL fishing from the Hayden Island powerlines in the Portland area upstream to Bonneville Dam on Tuesdays starting March 25th and running through the end of April.

On the flip side the mainstem Columbia River will be open 7 days a week from January 1st through March 15th from the I-5 Bridge to Bonneville Dam, however the river from
I-5 to the mouth of the Columbia closes on February 25th and will reopen for 10 days starting March 24th.

It's a little confusing but if you read the regulations carefully you won't have any problems. The regulations, copied directly from the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife's website are below.
COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, Buoy 10 Line upstream to I-5 Bridge

From January 1 through February 24, 2008, this section of the Columbia River is open to angling for adipose fin-clipped Chinook, adipose fin-clipped steelhead, and adipose fin-clipped coho with a daily bag limit of two adult salmon or steelhead (Chinook greater than 24 inches and coho greater than 16 inches or steelhead greater than 20 inches) and five jacks.

Effective 12:01 AM Monday February 25 this section of the Columbia River will be closed to angling for salmon and steelhead (adults and jacks), but will remain open for other species.

During Monday March 24 through Friday April 4, 2008 the area between Buoy 10 and the Hayden Island powerlines west towers (approximately 3 miles west of the I-5 Bridge) will re-open to angling for adipose fin-clipped salmon and adipose fin-clipped steelhead with a daily bag limit of two adult salmon or steelhead (Chinook ≥ 24" and steelhead ≥ 20"), only one of which may be a Chinook. Catch limits for jacks remain in effect as per permanent regulations. All non-adipose fin-clipped Chinook salmon and non-adipose fin-clipped steelhead must be released immediately unharmed.

COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, I-5 Bridge to Bonneville Dam

From January 1 through March 15, 2008, this section of the Columbia River is open to angling for adipose fin-clipped steelhead with a daily bag limit of two fish. Angling for Chinook is prohibited.
From March 16 through April 30 the lower boundary for this river section will be moved approximately 3 miles downstream to the Hayden Island powerlines (west towers) and will open to adipose fin-clipped Chinook and adipose fin-clipped steelhead except all angling for any species (both catch-and-release and retention) is prohibited on the following Tuesdays: March 25, April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22, and April 29. On days open to salmon and steelhead angling, the daily bag limit will be two adult salmon or steelhead (Chinook ≥ 24" and steelhead ≥ 20"), only one of which may be a Chinook. Catch limits for jacks remain in effect as per permanent regulations. All non-adipose fin-clipped Chinook salmon and non-adipose fin-clipped steelhead must be released immediately unharmed.
Hayden Island Powerlines (West Towers) Deadline
COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, Bonneville Dam to the Oregon/Washington Border

This section of the Columbia River is open under permanent regulations from January 1 through March 31, 2008 to angling for adipose fin-clipped steelhead with a daily bag limit of two fish. Angling for Chinook is closed.

From March 16 through May 10, 2008 angling for adipose fin-clipped Chinook and adipose fin-clipped steelhead will be open from the Tower Island powerlines (located approximately 6 miles downstream of The Dalles Dam) upstream to McNary Dam plus the Oregon and Washington banks between Bonneville Dam and Tower Island. Boat angling between Bonneville Dam and Tower Island powerlines is prohibited. The daily bag limit is two adult salmon or steelhead. Catch limits for jacks remain in effect as per permanent regulations. All non-adipose fin-clipped Chinook salmon and non-adipose fin-clipped steelhead must be released immediately unharmed.
Select Area Recreational Fisheries
The Compact adopted the following modification to Select Area recreational fisheries at the February 15, 2008 meeting:
•During March 24 through April 4, 2008, the daily bag limit in Oregon and Washington Select Areas will be the same as the daily salmonid bag limit for the mainstem Columbia River downstream of the Hayden Island powerlines (west towers). This bag limit is two adult adipose fin-clipped salmon and steelhead, only one of which may be a Chinook. All other permanent regulations apply.
Sturgeon
The retention of green sturgeon is prohibited. Anglers are limited to the use of only one single-point barbless hook while angling for white sturgeon. It is unlawful to use lamprey for bait.

Buoy 10 upstream to Wauna Powerlines
In the mainstem Columbia River from the Wauna powerlines (River Mile 40) downstream to the mouth at Buoy 10, including Youngs Bay; and all adjacent Washington tributaries:
•Retention of white sturgeon is allowed seven days per week from Tuesday January 1, 2008 through Wednesday April 30, 2008 with a 42-inch minimum size limit in effect.
•Retention of white sturgeon is allowed seven days per week from Saturday May 10, 2008 through Tuesday June 24, 2008 (or until the catch guideline is reached) with a 45-inch minimum size limit in effect.
•Retention of white sturgeon is prohibited seven days per week from Thursday May 1, 2008 through Friday May 9, 2008 and Wednesday June 25, 2008 through Wednesday December 31, 2008. Catch and release of sturgeon may continue during retention closures.
•Retention of green sturgeon is prohibited as per permanent regulations.
•Catch limits and other restrictions listed in the current 2008 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations pamphlet remain in effect the entire year.
WAUNA POWERLINES UPSTREAM TO BONNEVILLE DAM (including all adjacent Washington tributaries and the Willamette River downstream of Willamette Falls including the Multnomah Channel)
The Compact adopted the following rules at the December 13, 2007 Joint State Hearing for the sturgeon sport fishery above Wauna power lines (RM 40) upstream to Bonneville Dam, including all adjacent Washington tributaries, and the lower Willamette River (including the Multnomah Channel) upstream to Willamette Falls for 2008:
•Allow the retention of white sturgeon four days per week on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during January 1, 2008 through July 31, 2008 and October 1 through December 31, 2008.
•Prohibit the retention of sturgeon three days per week on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday during January 1-July 31, 2008 and October 1 through December 31, 2008 and seven days per week during August 1 through September 30, 2008.
•Retention of green sturgeon is prohibited as per permanent regulations.
•Daily and annual catch limits listed in the 2008 Oregon Sport Regulations pamphlet remain in effect.
The Compact adopted the following modification to the recreational sturgeon fishery for the Wauna Powerlines-to-Bonneville Dam area at the February 15, 2008 meeting:
•Effective March 25, 2008: Fishing for all species (both catch-and-release and retention) in the area from Hayden Island powerlines (west towers) to Bonneville Dam will be closed on the following Tuesdays: March 25, April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22, and April 29. Catch-and-release fishing for sturgeon will not be allowed on these dates in the area from Hayden Island powerlines (west towers) to Bonneville Dam.
February 22nd, 2008
Mark Your Calendars...Where Will You Be Fishing?
Believe or not, we're nearing the predictable end of winter as months of rain have dampened our collective enthusiasm to go out and wet a line or run a boat. Warming temperatures, deep snow pack, steelhead, followed by salmon, sturgeon, trout, bass, walleye, shad and a dozen other species of fish are clear signals that change is in the air.

It's a great time of year to layout your annual fishing plan. Right now of course steelhead can be found at the coast, in a number of S.W. Washington Rivers, the Clackamas, Sandy and a few area creeks. Whether you walk, wade, paddle or power boat steelhead are available for you to catch right now.

On their heels will be an annual prize, spring Chinook. Huge numbers will be coming up the Columbia. Where will you be? A healthy season's planned with the full month of April in the "Big C."

Just as spring salmon run begins to dwindle into the record books, sturgeon, shad, bass, panfish and trout should all start kicking in strong. Where will you be?

We may get a good season for summer Chinook. We’ll know pretty soon. If so, the Columbia will be ripe and ready for a good season that extends from the middle of June as far as the state allows us to fish. It could be a very good year for these gorgeous fish.

Summer steelhead will start in June too. Area rivers will be the first recipients. The Columbia run will build through July to a frenzy in August and September as thousands a dam make their way past the dams. It's expected to be a very good year for summer steelhead...one you won't want to miss. Where will you be? The Clackamas, Cowlitz and Kalama Rivers are all close-by summer steelhead strongholds --- maybe they need your attention this year.

Have you ever made an opening day trip to Paulina Lake for big brown trout, rainbows and kokanee salmon? How about Odell Lake in April for lake trout? A summer trip to Lake Billy Chinook for kokanee is another must-do...if you’re lucky you might just latch into a big bull trout. How about a drift down the Deschutes upriver of Sun River? That's a wonderful easy drift that’s a dream to fish in the fall.

How about all the places to fish closer to home? Green Peter and Foster Reservoirs east of Albany are two distinctly different bodies of water yet side-by-side. There's Detroit Reservoir, home to the hundreds of thousands of trout, kokanee and landlocked Chinook salmon. Further down the valley are a series of reservoirs like Lookout Point, Dexter and Fall Creek all beaconing for some honest attention. A float down just about any stretch of the Willamette from Eugene to St. Paul is worthwhile. How about Hagg Lake? When was the last time you visited this urban getaway?

Looking for something a little more adventurous? A trip to Neah Bay on the northern most tip of the Olympic Peninsula would certainly satisfy that goal. Remote, beautiful and productive you can have your way with bottomfish and silvers.

You can lose yourself on the upper Columbia out of Lake Roosevelt. Rent a houseboat and go exploring for a week. While you’re there catch trout, bass and walleye.

If you’re still not sure...then frankly you're just hard to please because the N.W. has most everything you're looking for in quantities and quality that rival most places on the planet. Make this the year you look ahead, set your calendar, scratch the surface of opportunity and answer the question where you'll be this year fishing in the N.W.

The Big Three...Steelhead, Sturgeon & Salmon! - November 23, 2007

It's that time of year when a near-perfect N.W. fishing nexus occurs. Late November/early December there's interesting opportunity to keep you occupied for a few hours or a few days.

If you're looking to check out for just a few short hours you may want to take a turn on the Willamette for sturgeon. It's open, they're biting and the action should hold up for a few more weeks. If the temperature plummets into the low 30's forget it but if it stays in the 40's and 50's during the day it can be pretty good. Smelt is the bait of choice.

A nice pocket worth checking out that's close-to-home for many in the Portland-area is the hole right below the Sellwood Bridge. Put in at Willamette Park, motor upriver a couple hundred yards and bingo, you're there. The hole is about 100' deep. You'll find similar depth and opportunity right below Hog Island in the West Linn area, the "narrows" just below the Cedar Oaks launch and below the falls by Willamette Locks.

For most of us that means :45 minutes from home to launching, two to three hours on the water and another hour getting everything wrapped up, on the trailer, headed home and put away. In other words you can leave at 7:00 AM put in some time catching sturgeon and have no problem making the early afternoon football game.

Here's another possibility...there's a little known fishery that should be getting underway right now. A closely held secret by a few avid steelheaders is the Willamette winter steelhead fishery. Yes, Willamette.

Ever notice sleds backtrolling or anchored around the Garbage Hole (just upriver from the mouth of the Clackamas), at Yucca Island (directly across the river from the mouth of the Clackamas) or just below the mouth of the Clackamas along the east bank in late November and through December?

In some years these anglers intercept winter steelhead bound for the Clackamas and other upriver Willamette tributaries. Diver/bait combinations; metallic red, blue, purple or pink Brad's Wigglers or Yakima Bait Fatfish; or size 2 and 3 blue-tipped rainbow spinners are all good choices.

Ideal water is 8' to 10' deep and keep your offering well in back of the boat, say, 75' to 100'.

I've always thought (but haven't tried yet) that free-drifting would be an effective way of getting at these fish.

Steelhead have started to show on some North Coast rivers. The Wilson is a good go-to spot for early fish, so is the Kilchis. The state has forecast strong runs around the region this year. 2008 very well may be "the year of the steelhead". Check websites like Ifish.net to stay current but we're hearing some encouraging reports that make us believe the biologists may be spot-on in their forecast for strong steelheading this year.

Last year, we dropped our crab traps at the opening of Crab Harbor and put a couple traps close to the big rocks just east of the North Jetty in Tillamook Bay. While we let them soak we trolled the Ghost Hole with herring for about an hour and hooked a gorgeous winter Chinook. There's still some very nice fall Chinook milling around tidewater and up into the rivers but a fresh batch of winter Chinook should be rumbling over the bar and into the bay.

By the way, in one, one-hour soak, after a hard few days of rain that blew everything out of shape we still managed 17 nice keeper crab for 5 traps.

Even this late in the year, there's no shortage of fishing opportunity. Better yet, you don't need to commit a full day to being on the water...this is the perfect time of year to go out early, spend a little time in the outdoors and be home by noon in plenty of time to relax and enjoy your day-off.

Important Boating Note: Hypothermia is always a concern in the N.W. Even in the summer it can be a serious issue but now you should be fully aware of the potential threat. Some tips before you set out. Overdress - it's better to have too much than too little. Make sure you wear gloves (fingerless are O.K., mittens that can be folded back to expose your fingers are better), a hat that covers your ears, heavy socks and insulated boots. If you start shivering get back to the launch. Shivering is a strong sign that your core temperature is beginning to drop. Heed the signals, no fish is worth it. Always, always file a trip plan. I've recommended this for some time and even taken my own advice the last five years or so. Let someone know where you're launching, where you intend to fish, who you'll be with and when you intend to leave. Make sure they write it down. If a rescue is ever needed this could be the most valuable piece of information you can provide. Also notify the person you left the information with if there are any changes to your itinerary. Make sure you check-in when you're safely on the road and headed home. Pack a dry/spare set of clothes in your rig. If you do get drenched to the skin you'll appreciate having clothes ready and waiting on your return.

It's Not Over Yet! - November 12th, 2008

Believe it or not...there's still plenty of fishing and outdoor action to be found around the state. In some years November can be a terrific fishing month and pretty decent boating month too.

I just took some time to boat the Willamette this week...if you haven't done a Fall run down the river do. The launches are wide open, there's lots to see, no traffic on the river and the colors are great! We were the only trailer at Clackamette Park which meant we didn't have to wait and had the river to ourselves.

We tend to hang up the life vest a little too early but it's easy to sneak out for just a couple of hours for a run up and down the river. Most of the lakes are open too. Hagg Lake's closing on the 18th making it an excellent late season bet to wet a line for a few hours and take a break between ball games or chores.

West to the coast crabbing's been good to very good...as usual. Rain will moderate this a bit but shouldn't have too great an impact unless it really unloads and takes all the salinity out of the bays and the Columbia. Even still, places like Netarts still produce great crabbing because so little freshwater enters that bay. November and December are both top months for crabbing with easy limits and full crab. The beauty of this fishery (yes, crabbing's considered a "fishery"), is that it doesn't take all day. Time your trip to the tides --- an hour before high tide, the hour of the flood (high slack tide) and an hour after. Be careful when the tide turns and starts running out. If there's a big exchange from high to low you may lose your traps.

There's still fresh Chinook moving over the Tillamook Bar and into the Bay. Fishing should hold up through the month of November. I'd still favor the Coast Guard Tower (if it isn't too lumpy) at the jaws with trolled herring. Focus on the exchange from high slack to low tide. Generally that first hour into the outgoing tide can be pretty good. Long leaders (8'), good bait and inch along (slow troll) about 30' to 50' off the north jetty. Be careful, keep a watchful eye in all directions, wear your PFD and stay WELL CLEAR of the breakers. No fish is worth your life.

Sturgeon season on the Willamette is open for business! Since October 1st it's legal to harvest sturgeon. The season stays open to the retention of legal sturgeon (42" to 60") through December 31st.

There's still some buzz on the Lewis River for coho. It should be slowing down but surprisingly there's been some decent production below Cedar Creek. It might be worth a try for drift boaters and skilled jet boaters that know the river.

Good fishing and safe boating!

The Time Is Now!!! - October 23, 2007

What a weekend! 5 bites and 5 beautiful fall Chinook from Tillamook Bay all on herring. I took my own advice, ventured out to the Tillamook Bar on Friday and Saturday, fished herring and hit pay dirt!

Friday we expected a big storm that materialized only for a few minutes but pretty well left us alone throughout the day. A squall here and there was all that was served up and we weathered those just fine. Saturday 29 foot seas were in full force with some breakers coming into the bay and breaking at the Coast Guard Tower. That pushed most of us in further, back towards the bay but fresh fish came across and cooperated nicely about an hour after the tide from high flood to when it turns and starts running out.

We caught all of our fish with our bow pointed into the tide, running about 30' to 50' off the north jetty and keeping our lines in 35' to 55' of water. Grant McOmie of KATU television in Portland did an outstanding story on this fishery over the weekend. You can view Grant's story at this link: http://www.katu.com/news/outdoors/10722436.html

We tried trolling with the tide but even though the exchange from high to low was just a couple feet it still ran out pretty hard at the jaws making the trip with the tide pretty quick. When we pointed our bow into the tide and trolled against it we just inched along, using 12 ounce and 16 ounce sinkers to keep our lines close to the boat but still scoping with about a 50 or 60 degree angle from our rod tips.

The tricks? Long leaders, 8' to 10', change bait frequently, about every 20 minutes, buy premium bait, I really like the bait we get at Bud's Campground and Grocery in Gearheart from Canada, and brine your bait up the night before the trip. Two of us fished the first day and went through 4 packages of herring. The second day a friend joined us and we went through 6 packages. Make sure you get plenty of bait because it's definitely a herring bite right now and with warming weather and clear skies expected it should be a wonderful fishing experience through the next couple weeks in Tillamook.

Watch out for seagulls. That's right...these sea birds have been on a terror this year and snatching bait the second it hits the water. Your best bet is to keep your rod tip close to the bow of the boat, which keeps your lead and bait next to the boat and then drop it quickly before these hungry gulls descend on your offering.

Very important, and Grant's story does this justice, BE CAREFUL! This is a very dangerous area to boat. Don't venture too far out on the jetties even if others are out a ways. Get dialed in and comfortable first and then once you are comfortable and controlling your boat along this stretch of jetty be very cautious as you move out further along the jetty. The "Coast Guard Tower" is a very popular area and you'll often see several guides working this section of the north jetty. This past weekend there were waves breaking in this area so please please please be careful, wear your life jacket/vest and don't take unnecessary risks. No fish is worth your life.

Good fishing!

Go West! - 10-18-07

It's that time of year when lumbering coastal Chinook find their way into Tillamook Bay. So far the fishing for most coastal anglers has been sketchy but for those that have been in the right place at the right time fishing's been very good.

A group of four seasoned bobber fishermen put on a clinic on the lower Trask in full view of a dozen other anglers as they pulled fish-after-fish out of the piling hole. And while Oregonian outdoor writer Bill Monroe hopped a ride with pro guide Bob Toman and "jinxed" the bite, a small cadre of fishermen posted limits in the West Channel of Tillamook Bay. In Tillamook Bay it's all about being at the right spot at the right time. The guides have an uncanny sense of this while us weekend warriors hunt and peck for action hoping our decision was a good one.

The buzz has been coastal fishing's uncharacteristically slow this season but anyone that's spent time around these fisheries knows that on one good tide a wash of fish across the bar can fire some biblical bites.

If you're looking for an edge there's a couple things you can do to optimize your time in the bay. If you're fishing herring, some of the top herring fishermen prefer long leaders. How long? 8 to 10 feet with a couple bead chain swivels to minimize line twist. As is the case in every salmon and steelhead fishery good bait is a must. If you open your herring and they smell fishy that's probably not a good sign. The fresher your bait the better your results. Ask around and make sure to only use blue or purple label herring. The color on the labeling denotes size. These bigger baits seem to be more effective on these north coast Chinook. Once you've found good bait (Bud's in Gearheart has some of the best available) try a simple overnight brine of rock salt, distilled water and a couple drops of pure anise (found in pharmacies). Start with warmish water so the salt and anise dissolves and mix it up well before putting your herring in. Once the solution is fully mixed add more water (cold) and then your herring. I prefer a small bait cooler about half full of water and at least a couple good handfuls (three handfuls won't hurt a thing) of non-iodized rock salt. I put this in the freezer overnight taking it out right when I get up and putting it in my boat while I get ready to trailer my boat to the launch. The water won't freeze but your herring will look fantastic, be very firm and ready-to-fish.

When fishing herring use just enough lead to get you to the bottom with about a 45 degree angle/scope to your line. Get your lead to the bottom reel up a couple cranks, troll with the tide and cover water.

Make sure you check your bait frequently, about every 10 minutes or so, to make sure you don't have a pile of weeds on your bait or line. Weeds will make your presentation fish-proof and you don't want that. Excessive weeds will cause line twist and you'll have to re-rig because it will compromise your line, so frequent checks are in order in the bay.

Something the guides do...change bait about every 20 minutes. The guys that did so well bobber fishing went through 15 quarts of eggs in a single morning!!! Sounds ridiculous to most but the proof's in the results. I've had the good fortune of fishing with a number of top guides and in every case they make a practice of changing their herring about every 20 minutes.

Further up the bay in the West Channel, the Ghost Hole and certainly the Oyster House/Memaloose area spinners become the tactic du jour. Again, make sure your "fishin" by checking your spinner frequently to assure it's weed-free. Of course, you'll want to have your hooks sharpened to a fine point...sticky sharp and nothing less. Last, don't put your spinner rod in the rod holder...you'll want to hang on to it in case you get a "slack-line bite". That's where the salmon moves up behind your spinner and pushes it towards the boat. You feel nothing other than the pulse of the spinner is gone in which case you set the hook. A local guide figured this out 30 years ago and recognized there's such a thing as a "slack-line bite" which since has accounted for thousands of sport caught salmon along Oregon's coast.

If the coast's not your thing but you want to get out and wet a line I can tell you the Clackamas is jammed with silver salmon. The float from Feldheimers to Barton, Barton to Carver, and Carver to Riverside Park are all good floats that should have plenty of fish in them. Bobber fishing small baits of eggs or jigs has really caught on but backtrolled metallic red, purple, blue or pink plugs or flame red or chartreuse Blue Fox spinners are excellent bets too.

The Deschutes has steelhead available throughout the river. Interestingly, fishing holds up well for steelhead throughout the river into December. Friends of mine make an annual pilgrimage to the Deschutes in December, mountain bike up from the mouth and throw spoons and spinners often catching several fish a day.

With a couple 70 degree days forecast next week there may still be some life left in local bass for one last good bite before the onset of winter. Try pitching crankbaits for opportunistic feeders that are moving into the shallows to enjoy a warm water break before the next set of storms hit.

If you're planning on going crabbing Netarts Bay is going to be your best bet in the near term. With freshwater pushing down the Columbia and into Tillamook and Nehalem Bays crab may be scattered and few. A break in the weather will pull them right back into the bays and river...making the Columbia just out of Hammond or Illwaco my pick for easy limits of oversized Dungeness.

I'm headed to the coast right now and hope to report back with news of eager biting mammoth fish...I'll keep you posted.

Boat safe and good fishing.

Trey

Plenty To Do Before Winter - October 1, 2007

With torrential rains starting to find their way to the coast range and inland, it's clear that summer's over and fall is here. Leaves are beginning their transformation and reminding us to take advantage of the sun breaks.

I've been taking my own advice and made several trips to the coast. I can tell you crabbing is excellent. Go to Hammond, put the boat in, take a left and head west about 300 yards and set your traps from 25' to 35'. Tuna heads are the ticket if you can find them, otherwise shad or fish carcasses work well too.

There's so much crab around right now that getting your limit should be pretty easy. These rains though can knock the crabbing activity down a peg as fresh water floods the system and pushes the crab back out to sea.

Still, the crab catching should continue to build through the next couple of months.

Some quick words of advice. Please wear your life vest/pfd when pulling traps. Taking a dip this time of year can be dangerous business and more than one person's gone overboard pulling their gear.

Hour before, hour during and an hour after...that's the rule and it's a good one to stick too. That is, confine your crabbing efforts to an hour before high tide, through the flood and an hour after the flood tide (high slack tide). As the ocean water pours into the system crab follow the fresh salt water looking for food and turn tail and head back out when the tide turns and starts pulling freshwater through the system on the outgoing tide.

Quick tips:
1. Know the difference between a male and female crab. Only the males can be harvested.
2. Make sure you have your shellfish license. One gentleman thought this was an elaborate joke we were trying to play and insisted we were pulling his leg. We weren't...it's the law and for the $6.50 you'll spend it's well worth it.
3. You can only have three traps for each license you have aboard your boat.
4. Oregon's crab limits are pretty liberal. Please take only what you can eat that day and maybe the next and no more. Dungeness don't freeze well and are best eaten fresh...if we all do our best to conserve this resource it will continue to flourish.

On another note salmon fishing's still a good bet at the coast. Fish are starting to find Tillamook Bay and Nehalem Bay's an on-again, off-again affair for many. Friends of mine fished Friday and landed three nice salmon at Nehalem Bay, I joined them Saturday and saw a couple fish caught though not a bite for us...most agreed it had slowed considerably from the previous day.

"Weird year" by most accounts on the Nehalem.

This week's rain may wake up Clackamas silvers which should be filling the river right now. Try drift fishing small 50/50 (brass/nickel) Dick Nite spoons. By "small" I mean trout sized...they can be very effective in clear water. Also, dime and nickel-sized baits of eggs under a steelhead bobber can be very good too. Of course, Blue Fox spinners are a staple as are Bolo spinners.

Chinook and sturgeon fishing's been excellent in the Columbia. For those in the know, now's the time. Below Bonneville it's chrome and chartreuse sardine-wrapped K-15 Kwikfish behind jumbo jetdivers. For sturgeon try smelt...that’s been the meal ticket. I just had a photo sent to me today that's proof of how hot the bite was with a caption that read: 15 Chinook salmon, 4 keeper sturgeon, 10' oversize sturgeon. The photos said the rest.

There may be one more very good bite left in area smallmouth bass...I'd fish crawdad crankbaits through any rocky structure I could find. By November these fish will shut-down and the season will be over.

Good boating, good fishing and I'll keep you posted on any and all hot goings-on in the area.

It's Not Over! - September 12, 2007

Don't believe the reports that Buoy 10 is over...it's been hot, hot, hot for the few that have been out enjoying a smokin' silver bite! Early this week the wind died in the afternoon leaving the water flat calm in Astoria. On the change of the tide from high to low the fish turned on above the bridge along the Green Can Line in 25' to 30' of water. With only a dozen or so boats around to relish the excitement it's been a fish-fest with the best action coming on trolled whole anchovies behind a diver and Fish Flash. Fresh herring are tough, if not impossible to come by but bait's been the key. Frozen herring doesn't seem to perform as well but if that's all you have then try soaking it overnight in Brine N' Bite by Pro Cure.

Remember, this section of the river is closed to the retention of Chinook and all unmarked Coho must be released immediately.

Upriver to Bonneville Dam it's been very busy on the weekends with spotty catches. Give it a week or so and the Chinook catching should pick-up considerably. Backtrolled divers and K-15 Kwikfish are the meal ticket. Use any color just so long as it's chrome with a chartreuse bill behind a Jumbo Jet Diver. Make sure you let out at least 50 feet of line so the diver gets near the bottom where the fish are.

It's still a great time to head to the high country. You'll have plenty of space and the fishing should be excellent. Fall's starting to kick in and the fish will be feeding up for the long winter hiatus. This is my favorite season for fishing...so much to squeeze in over about 60 days. Bass fishing's peaking right now, summer steelheading in the Columbia going great guns, there's Buoy 10, fish starting to trickle into Tillamook Bay, crabbing opportunities and more water than you could fish in two lifetimes.

I'll keep my ear to the ground and let you know what I learn but if you're looking for a go-to spot for some hot fishing give Buoy 10 a whirl. You may want to go to the NOAA website first and check on the wind forecast and make sure you time your trip to the tides. I'd recommend getting your boat in the water an hour before the tide change while the high tide's still underway. Start below the bridge along the Green Can Line and fish with the tide all the way to the East Basin in Astoria. When the tide goes slack and begins to turn fish above the bridge focusing your efforts in the 25' to 30' depth with 20' to 25' of line out on a line counter reel. The bite's been best right when the tide begins to run out and stays good for about an hour.

Good fishin! Safe boating!

Time To Eat Crow - August 29th, 2007

Well it doesn't look like I'll be eating salmon...crow maybe, salmon no. Just back from the most brutal Buoy 10 season I've ever had. In my last blog on the 23rd I shared the news of biblical catches and scalding hot bites. Unfortunately, that opening day frenzy on the 22nd and 23rd cooled off substantially for most us as bites were far and few between. I worked hard, covered lots of water, burned more than 60 gallons of fuel over 3 days and came up empty. We'd had a couple drive-bys (fish that came unhooked) but that's about all we could muster up. Don't get me wrong...the fish are there. We marked some great schools and stayed on fish most of the day but just couldn't get them to cooperate.

For the guides the story was quite different. Most of the guides were finding and catching fish, but they were working for every fish they found. That's the difference between someone who's fishing 50 days a year and someone who's fishing 300. In previous years, when I'd was logging hundreds of days on the water annually, the story was the same.

Here's what I learned...and believe it or not I'm going back this Friday and Saturday to see if I can change my luck.

The water temperature was running around 66 degrees through the low tide. On the change, the ocean water that pushed in dropped the temperature to 62 degrees...great water for salmon. On my next go around, I'll position myself closer to Buoy 10 and try to intercept fresh fish coming across the bar in the cooler water.

On the outgoing tide, I'll stick to the Green Can line (the green channel markers along the Oregon channel starting just above the bridge and continuing downriver to just beyond the bottom of Desdomona Sands) and troll with the tide in 30' of water at 19 pulls.

Both herring and hardware have been catching fish but I have to admit, in the three days I fished I only saw a couple fish boated. I'd also had lots of contact with other anglers who were suffering through the same drought.

I try to stay to the positive in these posts in an effort to let you know what's hot but I also feel a sense of duty in letting you know what my experience has been. Sugar-coating only leads to frustration so I promise to give you the straight scoop...even if it means eating crow.

Further upriver there's been some good days for Chinook off of St. Helens with wobblers and Kwikfish on the outgoing tide.

The ocean before the closure last weekend was white hot for salmon and the belief is when those fish start moving across the bar it's going to be lights-out salmon fishing with tens of thousands of targets to aim at.

I did receive a good report from the Deschutes. Summer steelhead fishing's been pretty good in the lower reaches. It might be a good time to flatline troll plugs off the mouth. As mentioned in previous posts, metallic red, purple and pink are all good choices. Make sure the plug is at least 75 feet in back of the boat, I like to run them back about 100'.

Good fishing! If I hear anything worthwhile I'll post it immediately.

All the best

Trey

The Water's Boiling With Fish - August 23, 2007

Leave it to fishermen to concoct a tale. "The bite was so hot we had to stand behind a tree to bait up --- otherwise the fish would have taken right out of our hands." "The fish we were hooking were so big the negatives from our photos weighed five pounds!" "Don't put your toes in the water if you want to keep them on your foot." And the list goes on and on.

The reports from Buoy 10 have been outstanding...bordering on unbelievable. For some it's been a "can't miss" affair and with others it's just getting revved up. It seems clear though that the 2007 season is off to a much better start than 2006. It may be a better-than-average year but stellar --- no --- but by comparison to 2006's dismal performance just about any kind of a bite is "hot."

So, what's shaping up to be the hot ticket. Once again, hardware is working well. Red and white size 5 spinners top the list. The rigging is simple too...a diver (your choice) with a Luhr Jensen Bungee attached to it, a 30 lb. five foot leader with a five bead chain swivel in the middle of the leader to eliminate line twist tied to a red and white (50/50) size five spinner.

Start at 17 pulls (a "pull" is a length of line pulled from the front of the reel to the first guide on your rod) continue to 19, then 21, 23 and finally 25 until you find the fish. If the water's warm (surface temp in the high 60's or low 70's) you may need to fish deeper cooler water, say 40' or so. If that's the case you'll need to switch to lead, at least 12 ounces and maybe 16 ounces to get to the bottom. Once you make contact with the bottom reel up two or three full rotations of the reel handle to get the lure into the strike zone.

If you prefer to use herring make sure you order it the day before...better yet, a couple days before. Use only fresh herring at Buoy 10...frozen doesn't work as well in this fishery.

Important Note: Make sure you were your life vest the entire time you're on the water. It's the cheapest insurance policy you'll ever have. This stretch of water, from the Astoria-Megler Bridge to Buoy 10 is extremely treacherous and very deceptive. There are strong currents, sand bars and rip tides that can wash you away before anyone has time to react. Do not take chances in this stretch of water! Literally hundreds of boats have sunk in this area, most have been preventable, and dozens of ships have been lost here too! Good sense goes along way in this fishery. If the wind starts to blow start heading back to the area you launched. You'll find even short runs in lower Columbia River chop can be grueling so make your move early and get close to safe haven so you're just a few minutes from the launch if you need to get out of trouble.

Summer steelhead fishing is going to be a prime target the next few weeks in the Columbia River. With counts as high as 11,000 fish over Bonneville there's no shortage of steelhead in the system. The last week of August and first week of September are typically the strongest weeks of the year for these fish so make your plans now to flatline troll Brad's Wigglers and Yakima Bait Fatfish at the mouth of any cool water tributary.

With the coastal fisheries getting all the press right now there's plenty of room at places like Detroit Lake, East Lake, Odell and Lava Lakes. There's still some time left before the kokanee go into their spawning colors and trout fishing should be going great guns with cooler evenings and cooling water temperatures in the evenings.

Ever throw a topwater bait for bass? Now's a perfect time to start! Large floating Rapalas, Hula Poppers, Jitterbugs and Pop R's are all ideal N.W. top water baits. I started in my teen years with a frog colored Hula Popper and find it still works well today...especially on coastal lakes. It's hard to beat a 7" Rapala floating minnow in the silver or perch patterns...either one works in most lakes and rivers that support bass in the N.W.

Now's also a great time to be planning some end-of-year adventures. September and October see low pressure on most lakes and rivers around the state. Most of the activity is at the coast which makes for lots of open, uninhabited space around the rest of the region. Grab a copy of Fishing In Oregon or Fishing In Washington and start making plans for a couple long weekend breaks to out-of-the-way waters and fishing experiences. I've got a couple floats planned and some trips to the mountains after my week or so of trips to Buoy 10.

Good fishing and safe boating! See you at Buoy 10!

Trey

Summer Fireworks! - August 8th, 2007

The action's been fast and furious in the ocean! Fast limits of silvers and a few Chinook are being taken up and down the coast with the best catching from Garibaldi to the mouth of the Columbia.

As expected, this is forecast to be a very good year for coho salmon and even for Chinook. Though this year's Buoy 10 Chinook season features a narrow window of opportunity that opens August 22nd thru September 3rd, the 13 day season is in place to protect listed stocks of lower-river Tule Chinook. The return of highly prized upriver bright Chinook should be pretty good. Buoy 10 is open for silvers (coho) right now although the fishing's been slow with just a few fish reported thus far. Give it a week, probably less and the catch rate should pick up considerably.

Excellent and fast catches of silvers are being made right now out in "big blue" just outside of Tillamook Bay, Nehalem Bay and the mouth of the Columbia. Try a green and glow hoochie with a small spinner blade ahead of it and a herring fillet hanging off the back. I just returned from Juneau and spent a couple days checking this pattern out and can report it works exceedingly well!

The typical rig both in the ocean and in the Columbia is a diver (choose between an Old Salty, Delta or Comet), flasher (Fish Flash, Kone Zone or Hot Spot), Bungee (a surgical tubing shock absorber), a leader and your offering (either a hoochie, Apex spoon or herring). Start at 17 pulls with 150' to 200' of water under your boat. This depth range has been critical. In fact, just a week ago the optimum range was between 150' and 180' . Troll with the tide and keep your troll speed around walking speed.

For Chinook you'll want to go a bit deeper, 25 to 35 pulls.

Summer steelhead fishing below Bonneville Dam has been pretty dependable. Warm water above the dam has slowed the bite. Try anchoring in 15' to 20' of water with good flow and using a 3' lead line and 5' leader. I prefer a size 4 blue-tipped rainbow spinner. Other spinner combinations work well too.

Davis Lake in Central Oregon has provided some unique and blistering action for largemouth bass. "Unique" because this is a fly fishing only lake and "blistering" because it's loaded with largemouth. Small boats are perfect, motors are allowed but the speed limit (slow) is strictly enforced. The first time I learned of this new fishery was by phone a half dozen years ago. "Hey! You won't believe it! I just released my 4th largemout...it had to be 6 pounds...AT DAVIS LAKE!" I thought it was a joke but soon learned it wasn't and that there were behemoth bucketmouths in Davis Lake. Large leech patterns, deer hair bugs and streamers are perfect patterns.

There's plenty going on right now so please take advantage of pleasant weather and abundant fishing opportunity.

Safe boating and great fishing!

Wakeboard Alert! - 07-20-07

A quick word of caution to any and all who wakeboard. Wake enhan