Fishing report 3–13

Winter Steelhead Fishing 

 Steelhead fishing has been productive along the coast and in the Willamette Valley. Most river systems are seeing a wide variety of fish, with even a few early summer steelhead making an appearance. Effective techniques include using jigs, eggs, pink worms, plugs, beads, and shrimp. With over a month of prime steelhead fishing left, anglers can take advantage of broodstock hatchery programs, which provide opportunities to catch bright hatchery fish into early April. 

This time of year is also unpredictable—when running plugs, you never know if your next bite will be from a hatchery winter steelhead, a wild winter steelhead, a summer steelhead, or even an early spring Chinook! 

Spring Chinook 

 Springers are starting to trickle in, and we’re receiving near-daily reports of catches. Just this past week, Eric Baird landed back-to-back hatchery springers—one on his signature prawn spinners and another on a herring and flasher combo. The Columbia River is seeing plenty of smelt, which often signals that a wave of springers is close behind. 

Bottomfishing 

 When ocean conditions allow, bottomfishing has been excellent along the coast. Pro angler Andy Martin has been alternating between  river steelhead fishing and ocean bottomfishing with great success. Productive lures include shrimp flies, Farallon feathers, butterfly jigs, and large curly tail grubs. 

Catch & Release Sturgeon Fishing 

 This underrated fishery offers fast action and unforgettable experiences. As water temperatures rise, sturgeon become more active, and anglers can hook into 20+ fish a day when they find a big group. Popular baits include herring, sand shrimp, squid, and smelt. While you can’t keep these prehistoric giants, the thrill of battling them is worth the trip. 

Kokanee at Lake Merwin 

 Kokanee fishing has been steady despite winter conditions. Anglers heading up I-5 through Woodland are finding success trolling high in the water column, with flat-lined dodgers near the surface producing consistent bites. Bringing multiple scent options can be key in case the fish become finicky. 

Trout Fishing 

 ODFW’s trout stocking program is in full swing, and anglers are eagerly watching schedules for upcoming plants. Recently, lakes such as Canby Pond, Commonwealth Lake, and Cottage Grove Reservoir (which received over 4,000 legal trout) have been stocked. Trout fishing will continue to improve as both Oregon and Washington ramp up stocking efforts. 

For bait anglers, PowerBait, nightcrawlers, salmon eggs, sand shrimp, and salad shrimp are all excellent choices. Boat anglers should try flat-lining small MagLips, FlatFish, Hot Shots, or Wiggle Warts. Wedding rings tipped with nightcrawlers, small bright-colored hoochies, or Spin-N-Glo setups have also been effective. The best time to fish? Just a few days after a fresh stocking! 

Good luck out there, and we’ll see you on the water!