Fishing report 4-16

Winter Steelhead 

Winter Steelhead fishing has come to a close for the Northwest. Now, you may still find a few when fishing tributaries in search of Spring Chinook or Summer Steelhead, but as a whole, it’s just about wrapped up. Tributary fishermen running divers and bait, or backing down a plug through a good-looking run, may find themselves hooked up with any number of fish during the early spring months—like we mentioned, late-run Winter Steelhead, a Summer Steelhead, or maybe even a Spring Chinook. These fish, especially in higher flows, will all be running in a lot of the same areas as they work their way upriver, so you truly never know what might grab your bait right now. 

Productive Techniques & Gear: 

Spring Chinook 

The Columbia reopened over the past weekend as well as for several days during the week. The fishing has definitely gotten better, but it seems the fish are still a little slow making their way upriver. The Willamette, on the other hand, has seen better numbers in the Multnomah Channel and Portland Harbor. These fish often come into the river and suspend completely in the water column, so varying your trolling depths will give you the best shot at finding where they’re running on a given day. Trolling triangle flashers with cut plug herring, hard-spinning baits, or prawn spinners is a very popular technique right now. 

As the water warms, you’ll notice a shift in the lower river with more people using 360 flashers paired with spinners, Spin-N-Fish, Simon Spindawgs, Brad’s Cut Plugs, Super Baits, and prawn spinners—all fan favorites. Especially in the lower river area. As anglers migrate toward Oregon City, the game becomes more focused on eggs, sand shrimp, prawns, and coonstripe shrimp. At this point, the fish will be staging and hugging the bottom, using the shelf system of the middle Willamette’s riverbed to their advantage. In Oregon City, you’ll see a wide variety of techniques used, with backtrolling divers and bait being one of the most popular. Once the water warms and the current slows, you’ll see a big switch to trolling 360 flashers. 

Up in Drano Lake and the Wind River bubble, the fishing will improve day by day. These fish often haven’t seen bait in weeks, so they can be very snappy. You’ll see anglers using all sorts of methods to catch springers in these unique fisheries: flatline trolling plugs, trolling 360 flashers or triangle flashers, bobber fishing bait, casting spinners, and even hover fishing. Bringing a variety of scent and bait options can be a big key to success here. 

Tips & Techniques: 

Oregon City Approach: 

Drano Lake & Wind River Springers 

Fishing here is improving daily. These fish haven’t seen much pressure, so they can be very aggressive. Anglers use a wide variety of techniques in these areas. 

Effective Methods: 

Sturgeon (Catch & Release) 

Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing has continued to be excellent. Pro guide Steve Leonard has consistently shown his clients a great sampling of Pacific Northwest fisheries, including the iconic sturgeon. He’s been finding plenty of fish in the Willamette using sand shrimp, smelt, herring, or shad strips. 

Top Baits: 

Razor Clams 

Clamming has been good on Long Beach and other Washington beaches. Recent AM tides made for great digging conditions. 

Notes: 

Surf Perch 

Surf perch fishing is a year-round opportunity, but since you’re often wading in the surf, most folks prefer doing it during the spring and summer months. The low clamming tides we’ve been seeing lately create ideal surf perch conditions—especially when clam diggers stir up the sand, creating feeding opportunities for perch.  

Best Conditions: 

Top Baits: 

Kokanee 

Kokanee fishing at Lake Merwin remains a solid option for folks looking to fill their fish box with a pile of Salmon.  Yea they are land locked Salmon but delicious non the less.  Trolling still remains the most productive technique and the fish are still quite high in the water column.  

Best Approach: 

Trout 

Trout fishing all around the state is getting better and ODFW has continued to ramp up their planting efforts.  For the most part the stocking is of legal size Trout, but on occasion, they will plant trophy or brood size Trout. 

Recent Stocking Highlights: 

Go-To Methods: