Fishing Report 11-19

Fall Chinook – Oregon Coast

Fall Chinook along the coast is still rocking. This stretch of November can be hit or miss depending on river levels, but each high-water push brings new waves of fish into nearly every coastal tributary from the Columbia clear down to Northern California. A lot of anglers will launch, fish a few prime spots, and either commit to that river or pull out and hop to another system just minutes away.

This time of year gives you a real mixed bag. You’ve got Chinook pushing in, Coho still around, and Chum willing to eat just about anything. Coho show up on jigs, eggs, or plugs. Chinook are coming on both bait and hardware depending on flows.
Techniques & Baits: Backbouncing eggs, bobber-and-bait, backtrolling Kwikfish, twitching jigs

Southwest Washington Coho

Coho fishing is still rolling. People assume the run is over, but every season produces chrome-bright fish even on Thanksgiving morning. These late Coho come in hot, aggressive, and ready to swing on just about anything. Bring a mix of gear and stay mobile and you can run into some fantastic action.
Techniques & Baits: Twitching jigs, bobber-and-eggs, drift-fishing bait, casting spinners, casting spoons, bobber-and-beads

Crabbing – Oregon Coast

Crabbing remains excellent. Pro Terry Mulkey may be retired from guiding, but he’s still on the water. Last week he took five friends out and they wrapped up full limits of 72 Dungeness in a hurry. Fall tides and fresh shells are keeping this fishery wide open.
Techniques & Baits: Chicken, fish carcasses, turkey legs, canned tuna in oil

Bottom Fishing

When weather allows you to slip over the bar, bottom fishing has been lights out. This year-round fishery continues to grow in popularity, and limits have been coming fast for those dropping metal or plastics. Pro Andy Martin has been bouncing between chasing early winter steelhead and loading up on bottom fish, depending on the conditions.
Techniques & Baits: Vertical jigs, shrimp flies, Farallon feathers, swimbaits

Winter Steelhead

Winter steelhead season is right around the corner. Thanksgiving is when most die-hard steelheaders mentally flip the switch. Broodstock systems no longer pump out the early wall-to-wall hatchery fish we used to see, but the first tricklers are coming soon. If you’re itching to get out, start rigging up now.
Techniques & Baits: Bobber jigs, pink worms, spinners, spoons, plugs, beads

Catch & Release Sturgeon – Willamette

Sturgeon fishing in the Portland Harbor can be surprisingly good this time of year. Find deeper holes and settle in for steady action. This bite is simple, relaxing, and always a blast when the fish start rolling through.
Techniques & Baits: Squid, herring, sand shrimp, smelt