Fishing Report – 9/30
Columbia River Salmon
The Columbia opened up last weekend for two days, and from all of the reports we received, the fishing was great. Anglers trolling 360 flashers with hard-spinning baits or small spinners seemed to be the most productive.
It was mainly a Chinook game, with many anglers finding their limits of Chinook early in the morning. However, those who stayed persistent also found quite a few Coho using the exact same technique.
Be on the lookout for regulation changes from ODFW, as the Columbia is heavily monitored for salmon fisheries. When we have a year with a lot of Coho, which this year appears to be, the lower Columbia can actually provide very good Coho fishing well into October.
Above Bonneville
Up above Bonneville, the Chinook fishing has been very good as well. These fisheries tend to be focused around cold-water inlets, such as the mouth of the White Salmon and the Klickitat.
These fisheries are typically split between two techniques:
- Trolling 360 flashers with hard-spinning baits or spinners.
- Hover fishing a small bait of eggs, often including a small sand shrimp tail.
Both techniques can be extremely effective, and it often pays dividends at the end of the day to have both options on board. Some days the 360 guys are crushing them, and other days the hover-fishing guys are the ones putting fish in the boat.
Oregon Coast Chinook & Coho
Chinook and Coho fishing along the Oregon coast has been really good so far. A number of these fisheries have small bubble fisheries, where anglers are allowed to fish outside the bay and into the ocean within a designated distance.
Anglers have been jumping back and forth between fishing inside the bay and outside in the bubble. They are switching between 360 flashers with small spinners or hard-spinning baits, and more traditional triangle flashers with herring.
A number of these fisheries have also been allowing anglers to harvest wild Coho because the runs have been so robust. Be sure to check your local regulations, as these fisheries often allow retention of wild Coho only on certain days.
The majority of these fisheries should continue producing well into the middle of November. After that, most of the fishing effort will transition into the tributaries.
Oregon Coast Bottom Fishing
Bottom fishing continues to be a very consistent producer all along the Oregon coast. This fishery has become a great option throughout the year, and with so many anglers currently focusing their efforts on salmon, bottom fish are not receiving the pressure they normally do.
Pro angler Andy Martin has been spending a lot of time recently helping his clients find limits of bottom fish, often including limits of Lingcod along the southern Oregon coast.
Vertical jigs, shrimp flies, Farallon feathers, and twin-tail scampis have all been producing well.
Washington Razor Clamming
Razor clamming along Washington beaches is tentatively set to open in just over a week. These activities are heavily regulated by WDFW, so keep an eye out for season updates, which can sometimes be announced only a few days before the scheduled clamming tides.
The department closely monitors marine toxin levels to make sure the clams are safe for everyone to eat. Since we have not had a clamming season in several months, chances are the clamming could be very good once the beaches reopen.
Trout Fishing & Stocking
Trout anglers are starting to see an uptick in trout plantings across the state. As daytime weather and overnight temperatures begin to cool, ODFW often ramps up stocking efforts before winter sets in.
This gives anglers a great opportunity to get out on the water and enjoy some fishing while we still have good weather.
Locally, Faraday Lake, Estacada Lake, and North Fork Reservoir have recently been stocked or are scheduled to be stocked before the beginning of next week.
Get out there and have some fun!