Fishing Report 02-12-2021
Noted fish whisperer, Amy Bennett, and Author Gary Lewis teamed up earlier this week to catch this nice Oregon broodstock hatchery Steelhead from a North Coast River. The gorgeous chromer fell for a BnR Soft Bead scented with Crawfish Super Gel from Pro Cure. Nice job, Team! Fisherman’s Marine and Outdoor proudly stocks a huge selection of both Pro Cure and BnR Tackle products, three great local companies based right here in western Oregon!
Fishing report 2-12
Winter Steelhead fishing has been good for many anglers around the region. Throughout the Willamette Valley and up and down the Oregon Coast, anglers are finding success using a multitude of techniques. The most popular boat technique has been Bobberdoggin', as it allows you to fish virtually all types of water while covering miles of river. Eggs, yarnies, worms and beads are all great bait options that any Steelhead has a hard time passing up. Bank anglers are finding success bobber and jig or worm fishing, drift fishing, casting hardware and even bobber and bait fishing. Always bring along a few different techniques to try as you never know what the fish may want.
A few Spring Chinook have been caught recently and more are sure to come. These early fish are usually caught by two types of fishermen: the folks plunking and the fishermen trolling down in the harbor. The plunkers usually find success using Spin-n-Glo’s with sand shrimp or prawns. And the trolling fishermen are typically trolling triangle flashers with either a cut-plug green label herring or a prawn spinner.
Catch and release Sturgeon fishing has continued to be a great choice for anglers wanting to spend a fun day on the water catching fish. The prehistoric fish provide great sport throughout the winter months and especially in the calm, slow waters of the lower Willamette. Squid, sand shrimp, herring and anchovies are all good bait choices.
Crabbing has been a consistent option for those that are looking to bring home some tasty meat. Crabbing is also a great winter-time outdoor activity as the meat quality is superb and baiting, pulling and re-baiting pots is a fun time for everyone on board.
Kokanee fishing has remained a great option up at Merwin Lake. The fish have been aggressive and anglers are reporting quite a few limits of these delicious fish. Trolling high in the water column has been the ticket for a lot of anglers, with a few fishermen finding fish just below the surface. Wedding rings, small Spin-n-Glo’s, small spinner blades and small bright colored hoochies have all been producing well.
Locally, Trout anglers are still out searching for that giant holdover Trout from last season's stocking. Most low- level lakes have plenty of Trout left over from this past fall and summer stocking, so focusing on the larger bodies of water such as Hagg Lake will give you some of the best opportunities. Still fishing bait is always a good option, and with cold temperatures hanging around, still fishing gives lethargic Trout the most amount of time to inspect and take the bait while expending little energy. Spinners, Kastmasters and small plugs are also good options as a reaction-type bite can sometimes be exactly what the doctor ordered to get these fish to snap out of their cold-induced torpor.
Always be sure to check local regulations at ODFW and WDFW before heading out. Find reports and two most widely used baits, information on the Fisherman's Community page.
