Outdoor Report 2/14
Free Fishing Weekend February 16th & 17th! No license or tags required for residents and non-residents alike! All other fishing regulations still apply. This is the time of year when you start to have a higher likelihood of hooking a trophy Winter Steelhead. These fish are in all the local and coastal rivers and will be around through the beginning of April. These large Steelhead are caught on all types of baits from small yarnies to large profile rags. However, a lot of fishermen will tend to use large profile lures such as pink worms, plugs, spinners and spoons. These larger, brighter and flashier offerings can be the key to enticing these big Steelhead. We will also start to see a few Summer Steelhead show up as we get closer to March. You will know when you hook one of these black and white Chromers as they typically spend more time out of the water than in it. Strong, blistering runs are what these fish are known for and they have no problem staying true to their name. Both the Columbia and the Willamette are currently high and going to get higher as this snow starts to melt. But, as soon as the rivers start to drop back into shape, there will surely be Springers around. Not many, but the early fish are typically quite aggressive and will search out herring, spinners or prawn spinners and attack them with a vengeance. This weekend there will be a Razor Clam dig in Long Beach, Washington. This dig will be an evening dig so make sure to bring some head lamps, warm clothing, waders and an empty clam bag. It’s been quite awhile since we had a Clam dig in Long Beach, so the clamming should be quite good. Crabbing has been good in both Tillamook and Nehalem Bay. This time of year the weather can be the biggest problem for crabbers. However, if you plan your trip accordingly, the crabbing can be lights out. Bottom fishing, when the weather and ocean has allowed, has been good all up and down the coast. Plenty of nice quality Rock Bass and Lingcod have been caught by those getting out after them. Shrimp flies, Rock Cod Jigs and vertical jigs have all been working well. With some rivers being blown out and others almost ready to fall back into shape, trout fishing in lakes or ponds can be a great way to still get out and go fishing. Starting at the beginning of the year and running all the way though the fall, ODFW stocks legal size trout in a variety of lakes and ponds throughout the state. The Willamette Valley lakes/ponds are some of the first to receive their plantings and will continue to get plantings well into the spring time. For instance, Walter Wirth Pond near Salem is scheduled to be stocked this week with 900 trophy trout. Henry Hagg Lake near Forest Grove is supposed to be stocked with 18,000 legal-size trout the week of February 25th! Another thing to think about is, when hatchery programs start to spawn their returned winter steelhead, a lot of the time they will have a surplus of hatchery fish and will end up releasing them into specific lakes for trout anglers to target them. For instance, Town Lake, Vernonia Pond, and Coffenbury Lake have thus far received plants of surplus hatchery steelhead. Always be sure to check local regulations at ODFW and WDFW before heading out. Find reports and information on the Fisherman's Community page.
