Outdoor Report 4/4
Spring Chinook fishing has picked up this week with fish being caught all throughout the Willamette and the open section of the Columbia. On the Columbia we have had reports of fish being caught by the bank fishermen plunking Spin-N-Glo’s at Bonneville. These fishermen can really do well and at times it can take longer to drive up there than it does to catch your limit. The fishermen near the airport and below have been having great success trolling Herring and flashers. Green Label Herring and a Triangle Flasher has been the ticket for most anglers. The Willamette has also been good with fish being caught throughout the whole system. Up near Oregon City, most fishermen are back trolling eggs, Sandshrimp, Prawns or Kwikfish. From the Milwaukie area all the way down to bottom of the Multnomah Channel, fishermen are typically trolling Herring or Prawns behind either a Triangle or 360 Flasher. Winter Steelhead fishing is starting to wind down this time of year. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t still Steelhead to be caught. Lots of rivers get beautiful Winter Steelhead for a few more weeks. Jigs, worms, beads and hardware are all great choices when chasing these fish. Don’t be surprised if you hook a Summer Steelhead as they will start to show up as well. Some streams closed to Steelhead fishing March 31st, so be sure to check regulations before heading out. Catch and release Sturgeon fishing can be off the charts this time of year. Fishing for these prehistoric fish can be an awesome way to spend a day on the water as they bite well and can be found in good numbers. Sandshrimp, Herring, Squid and Anchovies are all great bait choices. Smallmouth Bass fishing is just beginning to get started with reports of some fish being caught up in the Columbia River Gorge. As we start to have some warmer weather, the rivers temps will start to rise and the Smallmouth will begin to move up shallow and start to spawn. This can be the best time of the year to catch Smallmouth in big numbers. Soft plastics, crankbaits and spinnerbaits are all great choices when searching for these aggressive fish. Trout fishing has been great in most local lakes. With all of the stocking that ODFW has done, there are plenty of hungry Trout to be caught. This week Henry Hagg Lake is receiving another 7,000 Trout on top of the 18,000 that they have already received this year. Try staying near the boat launches where they were stocked as Trout will typically hang out in those areas for a week or so as they acclimate to the lake. Often, these are areas that are accessible and good places to take your kids to introduce them to the sport. Bottom fishing remains great along the coast, with lots of really nice Lingcod in the mix. There are still plenty of rockfish to be caught as well, but a lot of fishermen are focusing their efforts on Lingcod. Dropping your crab pots on your way out of the bay is a great idea as you will typically come back in with a loaded fish box and be able to keep some crab to complete your trip. Kokanee fishing has been good and with Merwin Lake a short drive from Portland you have access to amazing Kokanee fishing any day of the week. Lots of fish are still being caught high in the water column but be sure to watch your electronics and check your water temp. As the water starts to warm up the Kokanee will start to drop down and get deeper. Dodgers and Wiggle Hoochies have been working really well and be sure to tip them with corn or Gulp Maggots. REGULATION UPDATE ON STURGEON RETENTION SEASON COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, Buoy 10 to Wauna Powerlines Always be sure to check local regulations at ODFW and WDFW before heading out. Find reports and information on the Fisherman's Community page.
