Fishing Report 04-14-2023
Trout fishing across the region is beginning to ramp up as we head into spring. Be sure to check out the HUGE selection of trout gear at our stores, where we stock plentiful rods, reels, lures, bait and more to help you catch lots of fish this season. Good luck on the water! (Note: The popular Beckman net pictured here is currently 20% off during our 48th Anniversary Sale, as are ALL other Beckman Net models!)
Fishing Report:
Last week the Columbia River below Bonneville, started off slow as there were still a lot of smelt hanging around and, subsequently, Sea Lions. However, on Tuesday, the last day of the extension, the fishing picked up drastically! We had reports of many different boats finding success trolling Herring. Fisherman’s Pro, Ted Teufel, was one of those boats. He tried Chartreuse dyed herring and natural color herring and found all three of their biters on the natural bait. As fisheries managers analyze the numbers and consider another extension, now is the time to be sharpening your hooks, tying up leaders and washing your Kwikfish. Being prepared is half the battle to finding a fish box full of Springers.
The Willamette had been producing fresh Spring Chinook, up until the last few days. The low elevation snow melting coupled with the torrential rains have jacked up river levels and blown the Willamette out. It looks to be out for the better part of a week, unfortunately. However, this means the fish will also be getting a break from angling pressure. Once the Willamette falls back into shape the fishing should be pretty darn good! There will be fish spread throughout the whole lower river, from Oregon City down to the bottom of the Multnomah Channel. Many anglers will be finding success trolling herring and flashers as well as 360 flashers and 3.5 size spinners. Those headed up near the falls and down through Oak Grove will do well backtrolling divers and eggs, shrimp, prawns, coon stripe shrimp or small and large Kwikfish. Backbouncing eggs is another popular choice and vertical jigging has become quite popular as well. Needless to say, there will be plenty of options.
Bottom fishing has been quite good and should continue to be good as the weather improves. Lingcod have been the main target for folks but they are also catching many other species of rockfish. Vertical jigging has been a great technique, and casting swimbaits and larger curly tail grubs is also paying off.
Catch and release Sturgeon fishing is a great option right now. The fish are really healthy and looking to become more active as the water and weather improves. Squid, herring, sand shrimp and smelt are all great bait choices.
Trout fishing is getting rolling all across the state. ODFW is staying very busy stocking lakes, reservoirs and rivers every single day. Take a quick glance at the ODFW stocking schedule on line and you will see what we are talking about. If you have a specific body of water you are wanting to fish, just use their search button to focus your search on the exact lake you are after. If you can get to that lake within a few days of them stocking it you will surely be set for a fun day on the water. Bobber and bait, bait fished off the bottom, casting spinners or trolling small plugs should all work fantastically.
Kokanee fishing up at Lake Merwin has been exceptional for many folks. These delicious landlocked Salmon are abundant and typically great biters. Sitting high in the water column this time of year they make for great sport. Dodgers fished with a small Spin-N-Glo, spinner blade, Brad’s Cutplug, Wiggle Hoochie or bright-colored Hoochie will all produce well for folks.
Razor Clamming at Long Beach was pretty good last week. The crazy weekend weather made for a little tougher Clamming conditions, but many folks found their limits rather quickly. Be on the lookout for a press release from WDFW as there are plenty more tentative digs schedule throughout the rest of the month.
