Fishing Report 02-24-2023
Winter Steelhead fishing has entered the low and clear stage. This is when the fishing can be a bit tougher, unless you are willing to try new techniques or switch gears depending on what the fish want. Down-sizing your gear is one way to pry fish out of low, clear conditions. Changing up leader material and going to fluorocarbon can also be beneficial. Trying muted jig colors or new bead colors is another great tactic. And lastly, you may just have to back down a plug into a likely hiding spot to “wake them up,” or, cast a wobbling spoon or spinner into a dark pocket to lure out one of these grey ghosts. Being flexible on what rivers you fish is also very beneficial. Going to your desired river and quickly finding out that it is lower or clearer than you thought will have you thinking of a plan B. If you have that plan B in place before the day starts you will be giving yourself a definite head start.
Spring Chinook are starting to become a real possibility. We have had several confirmed reports including the Spring Chinook Bounty winner, Mike McMahon. He landed a beautiful hatchery Springer last week which won him our $200 Fisherman’s Marine Gift Card, Beckman Net and P-Line prize package. Trolling herring and triangle flashers has seemed to be the ticket early on. So get your herring brined and flashers washed as more Springers will continue to enter the Willamette and Columbia weekly. Fisheries managers have also set a Spring Chinook season on the Columbia. The season will be Wednesday March 1 through Friday April 7, equating to 38 retention days. The boundary will be from Buoy 10 line upstream to Beacon Rock (boat and bank) plus bank angling only from Beacon Rock upstream to the Bonneville Dam deadline. Two adult hatchery salmonids (Chinook or steelhead) may be retained per day, but only one may be a Chinook.
Kokanee fishing has been going well up on Lake Merwin. The fish are high in the water column and anglers are finding good success trolling dodgers and small lures like Wiggle Hoochies, small Spin-N-Glos, spinner blades or small, bright- colored hoochies. Most folks have been doing well flat lining their offering with little to no weight. Tipping their lures with Shoepeg corn and using their favorite scents have been adding to the success.
Catch and release Sturgeon fishing is always a great option for folks in the Portland Metro area. The lower Willamette including the Multnomah Channel can have some great Sturgeon fishing during the winter months. These fish like the slower water of the Willamette and will spend their time in deep underwater holes where food will funnel down to them. Squid, herring, smelt and sand shrimp have all been working well.
Crabbing should improve as the bays along the coast have emptied out all the excess freshwater from the last rains. During the Winter months crabbing can be a fun, interactive and productive way to get the family onto the water. Baiting and pulling pots is a great way to get the younger generations involved.
