Fishing Report 04-28-2023
John Paul and Brent Walker fished with Fisherman’s Pro Guide, Eric Baird, to catch these awesome Willamette River Spring Chinook on Wednesday. The final meal for each of these fish was sand shrimp. Nice catch, fellas! (Play N Hooky Guide Service: 503-504-1822.)
Fishing Report:
Spring Chinook fishing this past week was quite good on the Willamette River. Fish are spread all through the river from Oregon City down through the mouth of the Multnomah Channel. In the Multnomah Channel, Portland Harbor and even up near Oregon City anglers are finding great success trolling herring and flashers. Fisherman’s Pro, Tim Juarez, has been regularly finding fish in the lower Willamette .He has been using plug cut herring and triangle flashers to keep his clients happy. This past week the river has maintained a cold temperature which has lead to a better herring bite. As the river warms up, look for prawns spinners to really take off as well as small 3.5 size spinners, Brad’s Superbaits, Hawken Spin Dawgs and Yakima Bait Spinfish. Up in Oregon City, many anglers can be found backtrolling jumbo jet divers and eggs, sand shrimp, prawns, small plugs and prawn spinners. The Oregon City Reach should heat up any day now!
The catch and release Sturgeon fishery in the Willamette and Columbia can be absolutely phenomenal this time of year. There is usually little angling pressure and the fish are starting to get really active as the water warms up. Squid, herring, sand shrimp and smelt will all be good options when picking out Sturgeon bait.
Bottom fishing is another spring fishery that folks can partake in. Who doesn’t love fresh fish tacos? With warmer weather in the forecast look for folks to be getting the itch to get onto the big blue pond. Lingcod will often be the primary target, but there are many other bottom fish species to catch as well. Vertical jigs, large curly tail grubs and shrimp flies have all been working well.
Kokanee fishing up at Lake Merwin has been good. Fish are being caught all around the lake with anglers still finding success high in the water column. As we head into warmer weather and rising lake temperatures look for the fish to start going deeper. But for now enjoy that they are high up. Trolling dodgers and Wiggle Hoochies, wedding rings, Brad’s Kokanee Cutplugs, small Spin-N-Glos and small spinner blades have all been working. Tip your lures with Shoepeg Corn for better results.
Trout fishing around the region is improving and many lakes have been producing well. ODFW continues their planting efforts around the state with several local waters receiving large groups of stocker Trout. Henry Hagg Lake, Dexter Reservoir, Foster Reservoir and the McKenzie River all received very generous plants this past week giving anglers great opportunity. Fishing bait is always a good go-to option, however, casting spinners or Kastmasters along shorelines can be equally as effective.
Smallmouth Bass fishing in the Willamette and Columbia has really started to pick up. Fish are starting to move up to shallower rock outcroppings and inlets as they near their spawning grounds. Lipless crankbaits and tube baits work well along those rocky outcroppings and deeper diving crankbaits can help pull fish up off of the bottom in those areas with deep water shelves holding fish.
Razor Clamming in Long Beach has been stellar. The nice weather and cooperative ocean has made for prime Clamming conditions
