Fishing Report 11-13
Aggressive Chum Salmon are currently available for catch-and-release angling on Oregon’s Miami and Kilchis Rivers through November 15th; it is illegal to target them after that date as they begin to spawn quickly. Chum populations grow the further north you go, and they are much more widespread in southwest Washington streams. Chum can be fairly simple to catch, and they are suckers for a pink jig fished under the float. The Steelhead Scampi from BnR Tackle (available at Fisherman’s), fished on a ¼ ounce jig head under a float, is about as effective as it gets. Just mind those teeth!
Fishing report 11-13
Fall Chinook fishing on coastal tributaries has been slowing down recently as we near the end of the season, but we usually see a late component of the run show up following rain events before it’s all said and done. Be sure to check the regulations for the water you intend to fish for season closures. Hit the rivers as they are dropping and clearing after rain and you might be pleasantly surprised with some chrome Chinook…or not. It’s a roll of the dice this late in the season. Back-trolling plugs, back-bouncing eggs and bobber fishing bait are the go-to techniques, but sometimes it pays to be different, and casting spinners, twitching jigs or floating jigs under a bobber will sometimes elicit strikes when other techniques do not.
B-run Coho are still an option on many southwest Washington rivers, just be sure to check regulations to make sure you are good to go. Casting Blue Fox Spinners, spoons and twitching jigs are all excellent options when conditions are right and the fish are snappy; but it’s hard to beat good roe when the fish are being picky.
Bottom fishing continues to be good when the ocean allows, but this weekend is no time to be on the ocean or lower bays as the seas are huge with the current storm front, and along with the king tides, will make for some very hazardous boating conditions over the next few days. If headed to the Coast this weekend, please use caution along our beaches and headlands, and keep an eye out for sneaker waves.
Crabbing continues to be good in coastal bays, but again, conditions are expected to be quite rough the next few days, so it might be a good idea to wait for more settled weather.
Catch-and-release Sturgeon fishing is picking up in both the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. Shrimp, squid, herring and smelt are the usual baits of choice.
Trout fishing in low-lying lakes and reservoirs is still an option where seasons allow. Most streams have now closed to Trout fishing for the season, but some exceptions do exist. When in doubt, check the regulations. ODFW typically does some more Trout stocking around the holidays, as the two days after Thanksgiving are Free Fishing Days. Valley stillwaters that remain open often provide good fishing this time of year. Henry Hagg Lake near Forest Grove receives massive numbers of Trout, and often puts out some large fish as well. As the water continues to cool as we march toward winter, bait is often the best option, but trollers will still catch plenty on small Flatfish, Hot Shots and MagLips. Casting hardware such as Roostertails, Kastmasters and other spoons also works at times.
Columbia River Walleye fishing also remains a steady option this time of year, though you may want to watch the weather and pick your days, as the Columbia can get rough when the wind blows. Trolling a worm harness rig is the go-to method this time of year, though they can also be caught on plugs and plastics.
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.
