Fishing report 1-1
Winter Steelhead are here!
That’s right, it’s the time of year that hardcore Pacific Northwest anglers look forward to—driving rain, freezing temperatures, cold fingers, and that adrenaline rush that comes with a hard spoon grab, soft drift-fishing take, or a bobber shooting below the water's surface. That’s winter Steelhead fishing in a nutshell.
Locally, rivers are finally starting to drop into shape, and anglers are rejoicing. Along the coast, many rivers have become fishable as the temperatures have stayed low and the rain has subsided—at least partially. The Wilson, Trask, and Nestucca are just barely coming into shape, and anglers have started launching their drift boats in hopes of landing some winter chrome. Legendary Northwest icon Buzz Ramsey was on the water at the end of the year and found success in the high but green water. Drift fishing was a technique that seemed to produce well, as anglers could use larger, brightly colored offerings that fish could see and smell from a distance.
Anglers wanting to cover a ton of water quickly were finding success bobber-doggin' large beads and yarn/egg combos. Bank anglers found some fish higher in the river systems, especially when they got high enough to avoid competing with boat anglers. And as you go higher in a watershed, the river typically clears faster.
Sturgeon fishermen have been patiently waiting for the Sturgeon retention season that happens above Bonneville every year starting January 1st. This fishery has a limited quota and typically only stays open for a few days. Sand shrimp, squid, herring, and smelt are all good bait options. The Willamette catch-and-release fishery is open year-round, and as the turbidity decreases, fishing should improve. The Willamette Winter Sturgeon fishery is unique because the river doesn’t have the hard-charging current that the Columbia does, so Sturgeon move out of the Columbia and into the Willamette for some reprieve. That is one of the reasons the lower Willamette, particularly the Portland Harbor area, improves this time of year. The same baits mentioned above work very well here.
Razor clamming at Long Beach has been good, and for those braving the elements, the rewards have been worth it!
Crabbing remains a stellar option during the winter. Weather obviously plays a huge factor in your ability to stay out long enough to get boat limits, but those who can endure have been finding limits of very healthy crabs!
Bottom fishing has been very good when conditions have allowed safe bar crossings. Temperamental ocean conditions coupled with rough weather can make bar crossings rare, but when the stars align, fishing has been excellent. Vertical jigs, Farallon feathers, shrimp flies, and large curly tail grubs are all great techniques to try.
Winter Kokanee fishing at Lake Merwin is a fishery that doesn’t get the notoriety it deserves. The fish are there year-round, and during the winter months, they tend to be right near the surface, chasing the warmest water temperatures they can find. This unique time of year allows anglers without downriggers to access these absolutely delicious fish. Trolling with a small amount of weight or no weight at all will keep you within the top 20 feet of the water column, where large schools of Kokanee reside. Dodgers paired with a Brad’s Kokanee Cut-Plug, wiggle hoochies, wedding rings, or even just a small Spin-N-Glo tipped with a kernel of Shoepeg corn are all productive lure choices. Vary your speed and try different scent combinations to find exactly what the Kokanee are craving that day, and you’ll find that limits are easily achievable!
