Fishing report 10-30
It’s almost the end of October and we are finally starting to get some decent rain. Along the coast, many tributary fishermen are begging for rivers to rise and get flooded with Chinook and Coho. The folks fishing Tillamook and Nehalem have been enjoying a great sort of “extended” trolling season in the bay as the lack of rain has kept this fishery going strong. Fisherman’s Pro, Russ Morrow, has been absolutely crushing it this Fall in Nehalem targeting Chinook. Lately, he has been finding his success trolling plug-cut herring behind triangle flashers and even finding some late returning hatchery Coho! In Tillamook, Pro’s Terry Mulkey, Chris Vertopoulos, Pat Abel and others, have been doing very well also. Again plug-cut herring has been the most productive bait followed up by 360 flashers and Small spinners. Many folks will still find success through November, although as rivers rise and the bays swells with the extra precipitation, majority of folks will be headed for the Tributaries.
In Tillamook, Nehalem and Neatucca the rivers are going to get good. Like really good after the first big flush of water pulls all of the leaves down stream. These hard charging and great biting Fall Chinook will be making their way up river and be eager to bite a well presented kwikfish or glob of eggs. Back trolling plugs is a staple technique in these coastal fisheries with Kwikfish, Brad’s Killerfish and Maglips all making the cut during the plug selection process. Wrap them with a strip of herring, sardine, anchovy or tuna for some added scent. Backbouncing or bobber fishing eggs is also a technique that has been utilized for the better part of a century along the coast. These hefty Chinook really have a hard time passing up a well presented glob of eggs x. Especially if it is accompanied by a sand shirm, chunk or sardine or a piece tuna belly.
Crabbing has been a bit sporadic this fall with some days being killer and some days your pots will be full of sub legal size Crab. Either way it’s a super fun way to get all ages of people into the outdoors as there is always a job for everyone. From running the boat, to baiting pots to pulling and sorting Crab, everyone can get involved.
Razor Clamming opens along many Washington coast lines on November 1st. This go around it is only a 5 day opener, but there are plenty more days tentatively scheduled already. Be on the lookout for updates on more Razor Clam days.
Bottom fishing remains a constant options for folks. Weather, wind and wave height are all limiting factors for. Tossing the bar into the ocean. But when those three line up in a positive way, you will see a flurry of anglers hoping I to the ocean to chase
coolers full of delicious bottom fish. Farallon Feathers, P-Line Lazer Minnows, large curly tail grubs and shrimp flies are all good bait choices.
B-Run Coho are now officially on the menu! All across the northwest there two main runs of Coho. The A-Run and the B-Run. A-Run typically, are slightly smaller, enter rivers early, have a tendency to not bite as well and have a tendency to get dark a bit quicker in the warmer, late summer and early fall water temps. Now B-Run Coho are a different beast. Typically coming into the river during high water events, chrome
Bright, typically larger and also typically great biters. Eggs, coon stripe shrimp, plugs, jigs, beads, spoons and spinners are honestly all baits that these fish will get caught on.
On the Columbia, fisheries managers just reopened Summer Steelhead retention. Now this may not seem like a big deal, but there are many fisheries that go on throughout the middle to up Columbia targeting these large B-Run Steelhead. Most years there are large, over 20lb, hatchery Steelhead caught during the Fall and early winter months. These fish enter the Columbia with larger then normal fat reserves to get them through the harsh early winter months and then spawn in February, March. Which makes them a great fishery this time to target this time of year. Common stripe shrimp, plugs like Maglips or wiggle warts, jigs, spinners and pink worms are all baits to consider when targeting these iconic fish.
ODFW has continued to stock lakes with legal and trophy size Trout for anglers to target through the late fall months. In fact, many lakes will receive a large plant of Trout right before Thanksgiving, giving anglers another option for outdoor activities over the holidays. Powerbait, nightcrawlers, salmon eggs or any of the Gulp products will be great options for targeting these highly aggressive Trout. Trolling Maglips, Flatfish, wedding rings and even slow trolling flies will also be a great technique to try.
It’s Deer and Elk season for modern rifle hunters. This cold and wet weather is welcomed by many folks as it gets animals up and moving. Check your local regulations for specific season dates and times in the area you are planning to hunt this fall
