Fishing Report - 3/19

Fishing report 3-19 

Winter Steelhead 
Winter Steelhead fishermen have been finding great success all along the Oregon coast. Pro angler Mile Kelly has been enjoying the chase for Southern Oregon Steelhead as he prepares to transition to Spring Chinook. Meanwhile, Pro David Johnson has been seeing success on the North Coast. With recent on-and-off rain and a significant temperature jump in the forecast, many rivers will be fluctuating in levels almost daily. 

When the rivers are running green, backtrolling plugs, bobber-dogging a variety of baits, and fishing hardware have all been producing well for many anglers. If you find yourself dealing with an unexpected overnight spike in river levels, switching up tactics may be necessary. Consider using larger baits like oversized pink worms, larger corkies, and bait. Large beads can also be effective if you can find a soft inside seam or a slow, wide tailout to fish. 

Spring Chinook 

Springers are here and getting caught! Pro angler Eric Baird has been on a tear this past week, consistently finding hatchery Springers—including a double while trolling herring! The Willamette River has jumped up and become murky, and with warm weather in the forecast, it looks to stay high and off-color for a while. The fish will still bite, but finding a calm seam or trolling down in the Portland Harbor may be your best bet. Effective baits include herring, prawn spinners, Spin-N-Fish, and Brad’s Cut Plugs. Be sure to load them up with plenty of scent to help the fresh Springers locate your bait in the dirty water. 

On the Columbia River, some Springers are being caught, but the massive influx of smelt has made trolling herring less effective. Anchor fishing has been the better option, allowing anglers to fish large plugs with big bait wraps, creating a scent and presentation distinct from the millions of smelt in the river. As we approach the end of the month and smelt numbers dwindle, trolling should improve significantly. 

Catch-and-Release Sturgeon 

Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing has been good on the Willamette River. As we've mentioned before, this is an underappreciated fishery. Fisherman’s Pro Steve Leonard knows it well and has been putting his clients on plenty of fish. Top bait choices include squid, herring, anchovies, smelt, and sand shrimp. 

Bottom Fishing 

Bottom fishing has been excellent when weather and ocean conditions allow safe passage through the bar. Pro angler Andy Martin took advantage of a recent small weather window and found success! Lingcod and bass were caught by everyone aboard, using shrimp flies, Farallon feathers, and Scampi tails. 

Trout Fishing 

Trout stocking continues to ramp up across the state. From Lake Lytle on the coast to Rock Creek Reservoir near The Dalles, fish are being stocked daily. Always check the latest stocking schedule before heading out to ensure you're fishing in freshly stocked waters. Productive bait options include nightcrawlers, eggs, PowerBait, salad shrimp, sand shrimp, and a variety of Gulp products. 

Kokanee Fishing 

Kokanee fishing at Lake Merwin continues to be productive. These Kokanee are starting to put on weight and remain schooled up. Look for them to stay high in the water column until lake temperatures rise, at which point they’ll gradually move deeper, eventually requiring the use of a downrigger. Lately, dodgers paired with small Spin-N-Glos and a kernel of Shoepeg corn have been a killer combo. Bringing along a few Brad’s Kokanee Cut Plugs or Hawken Fishing Hottails will further increase your chances of success! 

Tight lines, and good luck out there!