Fishing Report: 3/20

Winter Steelhead

Winter Steelhead fishing is still rockin’ and rollin’! Fish are being caught all along the coast, with some impressive size in the mix. Our Pro Staff have been finding success running plugs, bobber dogging, side drifting, casting spoons and spinners, and traditional float fishing. These fisheries will hold strong well into April, especially with many river systems now utilizing Broodstock hatchery programs.

With rain in the forecast this weekend into next week, expect rivers to bump up and bring in a fresh wave of fish. Focus on wide sweeping tailouts, current breaks, fast seams, and areas where the main current gets broken up.

Techniques & Gear:
Plugs, Bobber Dogging (eggs/beads), Side Drifting, Spoons & Spinners, Float Fishing (jigs/pink worms)

Spring Chinook

Spring Chinook are here, and more fish are showing up every week. The Columbia is still loaded with smelt, but they’re starting to thin out. Once they clear, the bite should improve as your herring won’t be competing with as much natural bait.

Trolling triangle flashers with herring or anchovies remains a go-to. Anchor anglers are finding success with plugs like Mag Lips, Flatfish, Kwikfish, and Killerfish. Don’t overlook running a herring and flasher while on anchor—it produces more fish than people think.

On the Willamette, more fish are being caught in the Multnomah Channel and Portland Harbor, with numbers expected to climb as water clarity improves. Trolling herring or prawn spinners around Sellwood and up through Milwaukie has been productive. As water temps rise, keep an eye out for the Oregon City egg bite to kick off—possibly as early as early April.

Techniques & Gear:
Triangle Flashers, Herring, Anchovies, Mag Lips, Flatfish, Kwikfish, Killerfish, Prawn Spinners

Sturgeon

The Willamette catch-and-release Sturgeon fishery continues to be world-class. As river conditions improve with dropping and clearing water, the bite should only get better.

Techniques & Gear:
Sand Shrimp, Prawns, Herring, Smelt, Anchovies

Bottom Fishing & Lingcod

Bottom fishing has been solid, and the Lingcod bite has been especially strong. Pro Staffer Andy Martin has been consistently putting clients on limits, and that trend is holding steady.

Techniques & Gear:
Curly Tail Grubs, Farallon Feathers, Shrimp Flies, Vertical Jigs

Razor Clamming

Razor clamming at Long Beach has been excellent. With morning digs available right now, anglers are able to get out during daylight hours, which always makes for a better experience.

Techniques & Gear:
Clam Guns, Shovels, Headlamps (for early light), Buckets

Surf Perch

With the favorable low tides, Surf Perch fishing has been a great option. After limiting on clams, it’s worth sticking around and targeting perch.

Incoming tides are best, as they stir up bait and trigger feeding activity.

Techniques & Gear:
Clam Necks, Sand Shrimp, Berkley Gulp Sandworms

Trout

ODFW has been busy stocking coastal lakes, with Hebo Lake, Vernonia Lake, and Munsel Lake each receiving over 2,000 legal trout recently.

Bank anglers will find success fishing PowerBait or nightcrawlers on the bottom or under a float. Boat anglers can troll worm-tipped wedding rings or small Mag Lips. Casting spinners or Kastmasters is a great way to target aggressive fish.

Techniques & Gear:
PowerBait, Nightcrawlers, Wedding Rings, Mag Lips, Spinners, Kastmasters