Fishing report 12-6
Winter steelhead fishing is just starting, and looks like it will be a few more days before we can have a chance to fish again. These fish are going to be coming in fresh from the ocean and ready to snap. Jigs, pjnkworms, beads, spinners, spoons and bait will all work well as these fish aren’t overly picky. Getting a good presentation can make all of the difference, especially when the water is high. Folks that have been targeting Steelhead have been catching a lot of late Coho this year. Now the majority of them have been wild, but having action all day definitely makes for a super fun day on the water. These fish have been biting pink worms, hardware and bait for most anglers.
Catch and release Sturgeon fishing had been good for the anglers that have been targeting them. The slow water of the Portland Harbor has been producing well with anglers reporting constant action, once you find out where the fish are stacked up at. Smelt, squid and sandshrimp have been some of the most productive baits this past week. With rivers being so high and debris coming down, it’s best to wait a little bit before dropping an anchor in search of Sturgeon.
All along the coast the Crabbing continues to be productive and especially along the north coast. Crabbers have been reporting good success with a lot of really nice size keepers in the mix. The localized flooding along the coast will make the Crabbing slow as the bays fill up with fresh water, pushing the Crab back into the ocean. But once the rivers drop back into shape, and the bays flush the excess water out of them, the Crabbing should pick back up.
The most recent weather pattern has made this fishery a no go, however Fishermen that had been spending time along the jetty had been finding success. Greenling, Perch and Bass are just a few of the many types of rock fish that inhabit these rocky structures. Sandshrimp fished along the bottom has been working well, especially for the Greenling and Perch. Another bait to try are the Berkley Gulp Sandworms. These baits work well for all rock fish, however Perch and Greenling really love them. Curly tail grubs and spinners have been working well for anglers targeting Seabass.
Again, prior to the gnarly weather we have been having. Bottom fishing has been good for fishermen that have been heading out into the ocean. Lingcod and seabass have been in great numbers with a lot of anglers reporting boat limits. As always, check your local weather reports as well as the wind and wave reports. It’s always good to be fully prepared as the weather can change at the drop of a hat. Vertical jigs, P-Line Rock Cod rigs and large curly tail grubs have all been catching fish.
Razor clamming at Long Beach and along the Oregon coast, from Seaside North, has been really good. The last opener at Long Beach folks reported great success with a lot of people taking their limits in 30 minutes! Be sure to check with any one of our 3 locations as to when the next razor clam digs will be.
Trout fishing is always a great back up plan if rivers blow out or weather makes going over the coastal pass not an option. Many lakes got a nice shot of stocked fish just before Thanksgiving, to encourage folks to get outdoors over the holidays. These fish are definitely willing biters and make for a great way to spend a day in the outdoors. Check with both ODFW and WDFW to see what lakes have been most recently stocked, to up your chances for success. Fishing bait is a sure fire way to catch these fish with Powerbait, Power eggs, nightcrawlers, salad shrimp and sand shrimp being great options. Casting spinners, kastmasters and even jigs can work exceptionally well, especially if there are weeds at the bottom of the lake which can make fishing bait off the bottom a pain.
