Fishing Report 10-20-23

Fishing Report:

The Chinook fishing continues to happen on the Columbia with anglers still finding success throughout the lower river. We have had successful reports from the mouth of the Lewis up to Bonneville Dam. Anglers are also finding success above Bonneville at the Cold Water I flinches like the Deschutes, Klickitat and White Salmon. These fisheries tend to be split right down the middle with folks hover fishing eggs and shrimp vs folks trolling 360 flashers and a wide variety of lures behind the flasher. As long as we have this warm weather sticking around, look for these fisheries to continue kicking out fish.

In Tillamook and Nehalem, the Chinook fishing has been consistent with many of our Pro Staff finding success on a daily basis. Pro, Tim Juarez, has been successfully fishing in the upper bay trolling spinners behind flashers. There has been plenty of Coho in the mix, with clipped Coho being far and few between. Fisherman’s Pro, David Johnson, has also been finding success. He has been poking around all over the bay and finding success using multiple techniques. 

Crabbing has been stellar! In Tillamook and Nehalem, folks have been finding quick limits the past few weeks with the Crab getting fuller by the day.

Razor Clamming at Long Beach just had its second opener for the fall and the Clamming was great! Reports of quality Clams and some quick limits were the norm. The next tentative opener will start on Friday October 27th, providing marine toxin levels are low.

Bottomfishing continues to be killer. Many folks have been dropping Crab pots and heading out to the Bottomfish grounds to have a full seafood spread when they return home. Vertical jigging and shrimp flies have both been very productive techniques.

Tributary Coho fishing continues to improve as we near towards November. Rivers like the Lewis, Kalama and Cowlitz all receive B Run Coho which are typically larger and more aggressive than the earlier returning A Run Coho. These fish willingly attack spinners, spoons, twitching jigs, plugs, bait and beads. Also, Coho really love woody debris, so if you can find some wood along the shoreline with some deep water near by, you are in the zone. Look for this fishery to steadily get better over the next month.

Summer Steelhead fishing has been quietly going on with anglers that are in the know, doing quite well. Many of these fish entered the Columbia months ago and, during the heat of the summer, spent their time waiting out the heat. Now that rivers temps are dropping these fish are coming alive again and are on the move to their respective tributary. Casting spinners or spoons can be a great way to target these fish if you are searching for them. Running a bobber and jig through a likely looking riddle is another deadly technique. On rivers that bait is allowed you will find success using eggs, sand shrimp, prawns and coon stripe shrimp!