Fishing Report 01-01-2021

Fishing Report 01-01-2021

Customer Brad Baker fished earlier this week with Fisherman’s Pro Guide, Chris V, and was all smiles after landing this awesome broodstock Steelhead from a coastal river! (Chris V’s Guide Service: 503-349-1377.)

Fishing report 12-30

Winter Steelhead fishing has started to pick up and folks have been finding some success, especially after last week’s rain. Along the coast, anglers started finding success back-trolling small Steelhead plugs and Bobberdoggin’ beads, eggs or pink worms. The fish have been on the large size with some fish being caught in the teens. Let’s hope this trend continues, as we are still so early in the season. We are in for another round of heavy rain this week so look for rivers to rise and more than likely blow out. With that in mind, look for the smaller tributaries to start to fish first. Bright colored offerings loaded with scent will be some of your best options. Corkie and yarn with some Shrimp Smelly Jelly, Cheaters and a cluster of eggs, Mag Lips with Pro-Cure bait oil are all good choices. Look for soft inside seams, boulders that create a large pocket behind it or a downed tree. These areas allow fish to take a retreat from the fast, hard-charging main flow and give you more opportunity to target them.

Catch and release Sturgeon fishing has been decent, however, the major rains we’ve had have put a damper on this fishery as there has been a lot of debris floating down river. This poses a large problem when anchoring. So, many anglers have opted to wait until the rivers subside to target these great biting dinosaurs. Squid, Sand Shrimp, Herring and Smelt have all been working.

Trout fishing has been an option that some anglers are taking advantage of. Cold weather Trout fishing can yield some of the largest Trout of the year. A lot of the time you will find fish cruising shorelines looking for an easy meal and that is where you can intercept them. Casting spinners, spoons or Kastmasters is a great way to target these fish. Some folks will also find success bobber fishing bait as well as fishing bait off of the bottom.

Hiking is another way to get the family into the outdoors during these tough times. Hiking is a great way to go on an adventure that doesn’t cost much money and allows everyone in the family to enjoy the outdoors. Doing some research online will help you find out what trails are open and what trials are closed during the winter months.

Note: Rough ocean conditions and heavy surf will likely cause unsafe conditions on ocean beaches through the upcoming weekend; please use caution.



Always be sure to check local regulations at ODFW and WDFW before heading out. Find reports and two most widely used baits, information on the Fisherman's Community page.