Fishing Report 12-04
There have been a handful of early Winter Steelhead caught this week, including this chromer caught on Monday by Robert from our Oregon City store. The bright fish hit a #4 Blue Fox spinner fished through some rowdy pocket water on an Oregon Coast stream. No doubt it is very early in the season, but there are a few around for those willing to work at it. Be sure to check out our killer selection of Winter Steelhead gear at all three Fisherman’s Marine and Outdoor locations. Good luck!
Fishing report 12-4
The first few Winter Steelhead of the new season were caught over the past week, with a small number of fish confirmed from Oregon Coast rivers, as well as a couple of Southwest Washington streams. Rumors of a few Steelhead being caught from the Sandy River remain unconfirmed. Yes, it’s very early to expect consistent success, but many Winter Steelhead anglers are diehard fishermen who relish the opportunity to tangle with their favorite quarry no matter the odds. Of course, numbers will only build in the coming weeks. Now is a great time to prepare your gear, tie rigs and get those reels filled with new line. Come visit one of our three stores and we’d be happy to assist you with all of the above!
There are still a few late-run Fall Chinook to be had on those coastal streams that remain open through December, but things are definitely winding down. B-run Coho are also still an option, particularly on a few Southwest Washington rivers, but always be sure to check the regulations for the river you intend to fish. Twitching Jigs and casting spinners work very well on aggressive, late-returning Silvers.
Catch-and-release Sturgeon fishing has really turned on over the past couple of weeks, particularly on the lower Willamette River below the falls. We typically see a good number of Sturgeon migrate into the Willamette this time of year from the Columbia, attracted by the slightly warmer water temperatures. Squid and sand shrimp have been the best baits recently, but herring and smelt will also get bit this time of year.
Crabbing remains solid on coastal bays, and with little rain in the immediate forecast, should remain good at least through the weekend. (Large amounts of freshwater run-off into the bays will temporarily drive Crab back out to sea, which is why Netarts Bay is a solid winter time option as it has few freshwater tributaries feeding it.)
Trout fishing remains an option at low elevation lakes and reservoirs, and ODFW and WDFW typically continue to stock multiple lakes with legal and trophy-size Trout this time of year. Most streams have closed to Trout fishing for the season, but a few exceptions do exist. When in doubt, check the regulations. As water temperatures continue to cool, bait becomes the go-to technique, though hardware like small spoons and spinners will also still take some fish. Henry Hagg Lake near Forest Grove receives tons of planted Trout, and also has plenty of bank access for the shore-bound angler. “Hagg Lake,” as it is referred to locally, also puts out a good number of larger Trout in the 16-20-inch plus category. Being close to town, Hagg is a great winter option for Trout fishing. If the weather turns foul or your feet get cold, you’re already close to home and a warm beverage. Fish on!
Always be sure to check local regulations at ODFW and WDFW before heading out. Find reports and two most widely used baits, information on the Fisherman's Community page.
