Fishing Report 08-13-2021
Long-time Fisherman’s Pro, Terry Mulkey, landed this giant 31lb upriver bright Chinook in Astoria this week. Trolling 360 flashers with 3.5 size Mini Mulkey Spinners have been the ticket for him.
(Terry Mulkey's Guide Service: (503)-803-1896)
Astoria/Buoy 10 has been open for the last 10 days and the fishing has been pretty good overall. The weather, specifically the wind, had made conditions quite challenging a few of the days but, folks that weathered the storm were rewarded for their efforts. Starting on the 11th anglers are now able to retain any Chinook that is caught, where previously it was fin clipped only. This is a welcomed rule change as many anglers were finding themselves weeding through lots of Chinook to find their hatchery keepers. So far, our reports are that both triangle and 360 Flashers are producing with both spinners and bait working equally well. A lot of anglers like to fish fresh Anchovies or Herring while fishing in the estuary. However, if you talk to some of the veteran guides, they will tell you that having a few dozen brined Herring can save the day at times. Another alternative is to use Brad’s Superbaits, Cutplugs or Yakima Bait Spin Fish. These artificial spinning baits work exceptionally well when you are flying through bait on a good Coho bite or when you are pounding the bottom of the river on a hard-outgoing tide. The key is to come up with a game plan, stick to it, and stay consistent. The best anglers in Astoria are those that have a routine and stick with it. Obviously being able to fluctuate locations with the tide is a must, but if you can get your crew to work like a well-oiled machine, you will find greater success.
Ocean fishing has been great for folks that have been able to make it over the bar. With the wind we have had it has made crossing the bar a bit challenging, to say the least. Always make sure to check the wind and wave predictions for the day you are planning on going out. Once over the bar though, anglers have found great success chasing Coho and Chinook. This fishery is still going strong and we have seen good surges of Coho coming in last few days. We are expecting a large run of Coho this year so look for the amount of Coho being caught in the river to start drastically increase over the next few weeks. The bottom fishing has also been great. A lot of folks have been choosing to fish for both, especially if they catch their salmon limits early. Fisherman’s Pro, Bill Monroe Jr., reports that even when the ocean has been super bumpy from the wind and waves, the bottom fish haven’t minded at all. He said that his clients have been having great success catching their Lingcod almost every trip.
With valley temperatures being so hot, a lot of anglers have been heading to the coast for a day or two at the beach. Surf Perch fishing is always an option, specifically during the incoming tide. These delicious pan sized fish make for amazing table fare. Jetty fishing is also a great option right now. Warm weather, some good food and a wide array of bottom fish to catch, what’s not to like? Curly tail grubs in white or green are usually a go-to technique with Sand Shrimp or clam necks fished off of the bottom being another good choice.
Tuna are being caught, but the wind has been a major factor in being able to get offshore to chase them. When we have gotten breaks from the wind, anglers have been doing well trolling either Xraps, Tuna Clones or Cedar plugs. These fish like to attack trolled baits with reckless abandon, so always be prepared for a Tuna assault.
Above Tongue Point, anglers are already fishing for Chinook as fish are blasting upriver on every tide set. These upriver brights are on a one-way mission to get to their spawning grounds so now is the time to start getting after them. Anglers are starting to find success anchor fishing with Wobblers, this is an outgoing tide fishery. As the tide switch’s and goes slack to incoming, those same anglers are unhooking from their anchor spots and breaking out the 360 trolling rods. In the last few years, folks have really started to dial in this trolling fishery. They are focusing on the fish at a suspended depth, alternating their rod depths to locate exactly where the fish are at. You will see anglers using 3.5 size spinners, Brad’s Cutplugs, Superbaits, Spin-N-Glos and Spin Fish.
Kokanee are being caught and especially deep in the water column. Continuing with the warm weather and warm water trend, Kokanee are diving deep to try and stay cool. Downriggers will be almost a necessity to keep at consistent depths. Some folks are doing well jigging for them as well. Especially early in the morning.
Walleye are being caught in the Columbia River Gorge. Once again, the early morning will be your go-to time to get after them. Especially when the winds kick up in the gorge. These fish love to lay in long even depth runs where they can forage for food and ambush their prey. Trolling bottom walkers and worm harnesses works well to help you cover some ground. Once you find some, there are folks that like to switch up to jigging for them. This gives the fish a look at a different type of bait as well as engaging in a more interactive technique.
Trout fishing is still a good option, but early morning and late evening will be your best times to try and target them. These fish are riding out the heat wave trying to find cool water, so fishing near cold water inlets or in deep water is a good idea. Bait is always a good choice as these fish are looking for an easy meal. Early morning fly fishing and spinner casting is another good choice, especially when wanting to have a more interactive technique.
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
