Fishing report 2-14
All along the coast we have been getting reports of successful Winter Steelhead fishermen. From Astoria to Northern California, fishing has been pretty darn consistent. Now the rivers had been in perfect condition for quite a few days in a row which means that by now they are starting to get clear. Fisherman’s Pro, Pat Abel, has been still finding success by adjusting his tactics slightly. He has been doing quite well bobber fishing BNR beads and mixing up his color variations until he finds what the fish are wanting that day. When you head out next try and bring along several different techniques with you as being versatile on the water can be the difference maker.
The first confirmed Spring Chinook was caught this past week and brought into our Delta Park location. Allen Bray landed the 13.35 lb hatchery Spring Chinook on Sunday this past weekend to be our winner of the First Spring Chinook of the Year Bounty!
Typically these early fish are caught trolling herring or prawn spinners and flashers in the lower Willamette. There are also always early fish caught anchor fishing kwikfish in the lower Columbia.
Catch and release sturgeon fishing is always a fan favorite during the periods when the tribuTaries start to get low and folks are wanting to spend a day on the water in a nice covered sled. The lower Willamette can offer so pretty amazing catch and release action for those folks. Squid, herring, smelt, sand shrimp and Shad are all great bait options.
Bottom fishing still remains an excellent choice for anglers. Folks fishing out of Tillamook Bay as well as ports further south have been doing well. Shrimp flies, Farallon Feathers, squid jigs and curly tail grubs have been taking the majority of the fish.
Razor Clamming was quite good during last weeks opener and with many more tentative digs coming up the Razor Clam outlook looks promising!
Crabbing is another one of those activities that just keeps quietly producing throughout the winter. Fisherman’s Pro, Bill Monroe Jr., has been taking folks for productive boat rides chasing big Dungeness Crab out of Astoria.
Trout fishing is starting to pick up some as ODFW has continued to ramp up their stocking efforts. This week they have stocked quite a few lakes with legal size Trout as well as Trophy Trout. Henry Hagg Lake and Silver Creek Reservoir both received
over 1,000 Trophy size Trout this week! These larger Trout are typically quite aggressive and anglers will catch them fishing the tried and true Powerbait, nightcrawler combo however casting spinners, spoons or Kastmasters is an interactive way to target these big bellied Trout.
Kokanee fishing up at Lake Merwin and Yale Reservoir has been good still with fish remaining high up in the water column. Trolling dodgers and small bright colored hoochies has still proved to be one of the most productive techniques. Bringing along several different scent options will, at times, set you above the rest of the Kokanee Fishermen and definitely help you round out a nice limit of Winter Kokanee.
