Embrace the allure of the high lakes! The Pacific Northwest (PNW) boasts an exceptional Brook Trout fishery that caters to anglers of all kinds. With a significant portion of their diet comprised of insect larvae and nymphs, Brook Trout are highly sought after by fly-fishers who employ fly patterns that imitate these aquatic insects. Nevertheless, their voracious nature prompts them to strike at various bait and lures, making them an enticing target for anglers with diverse preferences.
Fishing Report:
The Columbia has been shut down for Chinook fishing however, the Summer Steelhead fishing has been fair. Fisherman’s Pro, Josiah Darr, has been down in the lower Columbia chasing Summer Steelhead and doing well. Fishing Coon Stripe Shrimp on an anchor has been his recipe for success, and as we move further into July the fishing should improve. Targeting Steelhead can be tricky, however the best bet is to find a rocky outcropping, underwater structure or some sort of structure that the fish have to swim around. If there is no structure to fish around then use your fish finder and find ledges or underwater funnels that will force these fish into one specific channel or slot. Anchor fishing is the most popular option and using coon stripe shrimp, prawns, small spinners, small FlatFish, K11’s or Wiggle Warts will all produce fish.
Astoria Sturgeon fishing is definitely picking up. This world class fishery allows anglers to target Sturgeon that are up to 10’ long in water as shallow as 4 feet! There isn’t much more of a rush than seeing a prehistoric dinosaur swim up and eat your bait. Fisherman’s Pro, Jim Nicol, has been down in the estuary cleaning up on the Sturgeon using sand shrimp in water that is less than 10 feet deep. Bait options of Squid, herring and anchovies are all great to use in this fishery.
Bottom fishing remains excellent for many anglers along the coast. Fisherman’s Pro, Andy Martin, has been finding great success fishing the southern Oregon coast with big Lingcod in the mix. There is a lot of variety in this fishery as you never know what kind of species you may hook on your next drop down. Shrimp flies, vertical jigs, Pline twin tail squid and swim baits have been cleaning up lately.
Ocean Salmon fishing is just getting going and Fisherman’s Pro, Ted Teufel, has been doing quite well. He has been chasing bottom fish, shallow water Halibut, and Salmon. He’s been finding some quality Chinook and some nice Coho already. Trolling has been the name of the game with herring being the preferred bait.
Tuna fishermen are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Albacore Tuna off the coast of Oregon and Washington. Typically, early July is the beginning of the Tuna season. Most of the early fish are usually caught trolling Tuna Clones, Cedar Plugs, X-Raps or other swimbaits. However, having multiple techniques on board is the name of the game when it comes to Tuna fishing, live bait and vertical jigs are other fan favorite techniques.
Walleye fishing in the Columbia Gorge has been producing plenty of healthy Walleye for anglers that are looking to chase these delicious fish. Trolling bottom walkers with worm harness rigs has been the go-to technique.
A fishery that does not get much notoriety is fishing for Sea Run Cutthroat Trout. These highly aggressive and beautiful Trout primarily live in rivers that have a direct connection to the ocean and will travel back and forth during the year. Since these are wild Trout the population numbers can fluctuate from year to year, however one thing's for sure is they are almost always very aggressive. Fly anglers and hardware anglers both will find success.
Trout fishermen are finding success all across the state. The vast majority of high mountain lakes are free of snow and the Trout are hungry! Coastal lakes have been stocked, eastern and southern Oregon lakes have been stocked and more lakes are getting stocked this week. Early mornings and late evenings will be the best times of the day to target Trout, especially during the heatwave we have been going through. Fishing bait off of the bottom is one of the best ways to get a hungry Trout's attention. Boat anglers will find success trolling Mag Lips, FlatFish, Wedding Rings and even small Spin-N-Glos. Casting spinners, Kastmasters or bubble and fly will also produce well for anglers.
