Fishing Forum

This is Dennis Dobson at Oregon Outdoors with your north coast fishing report for the week beginning Thursday,August 1, 2002. General Conditions I’ve spoken with a number of anglers who seem to think the ocean is closed off of the Columbia River for salmon fishing. It isn’t. The August 1 coho closure is for the central coast, from Tillamook Head south to Cape Falcon. The north coast remains open, except for Friday and Saturday, through August 15. As of August 16 it will be open seven days per week through September 30 or until the quota is reached. The ocean salmon bite off the north coast is ranging from excellent to outrageous. Most anglers are limiting early with the catch ratio running right at 50/50 chinook versus coho. Effective the 24th of this month ODFW has decided that all ocean-caught chinook must be 26-inches as opposed to the current 24-inch minimum size. This size increase is intended to encourage anglers to keep more coho. The chinook bite has been so good they are concerned we may take too many of them too early. While the ocean minimum size limit for chinook is now 26-inches, it remains 24-inches for Buoy 10. Also, please be aware that while barbed hooks are allowed in the river, the ocean remains barbless. Salmon August 1 marks the opening day of the lower Columbia River Buoy 10 season. All indications are that we will have another great run. Although ODFW has been predicting a drop in coho numbers and an increase in chinook returns over last year all of my ocean salmon fishing, conversations with other guides and charter captains as well as the commercial fishermen indicates ODFW may be well off on their estimations. So far, at least, it is looking as if the total fish numbers this season may meet or exceed last year’s record run. Let’s hope so. With fairly light pressure for the Buoy 10 opener fishing was consistently good. While many anglers reported lots of non-clipped coho caught they are also, I suspect, among those who are fishing too shallow to consistently catch chinook. My guys (this is being written Thursday evening) boated 7 chinook, releasing three, and over 20 coho, keeping four. We were back at the dock, with four full tags, by 1PM. Not a bad day on the river. The two best bites appeared to be in the area known as “Chinook Alley”, from in front of Chinook, Wa., to the edge of the Ilwaco channel, and in “Church Hole” on the Washington side of the river from the Astoria-Megler Bridge downstream towards Chinook, Wa. I expect, based on guide and charter bookings and the amount of pre-ordered bait local shops are reporting, to see a big jump in the number of Buoy 10 anglers this weekend. If you are headed this way be sure to get here early as lines at Hammond and Ilwaco aree likely to be long. Also, if you intend to bring an RV or tent camp this weekend and you don’t already have a space reserved at one of the local state parks or RV camps don’t be surprised if you can’t find a place to camp. Amost, if not all, of the available spaces would appear to be already spoken for. Steelhead There are still good numbers of steelies in local rivers. However, low, warm summer rivers are making the fish difficult to catch. Work early and late, while it is still fairly cool and there is no direct sunlight on the water and extend your leader length. It will also help to downsize both your bait and the pound-test you fish with. Persistent steelheaders are still taking good numbers of summer run fish however and numbers of available fish are good enough to justify making the effort. Sturgeon ODFW has announced that, effective July 25, sturgeon fishing on the lower Columbia River will become catch-and-release ONLY. While anglers can no longer keep sturgeon on the lower river there are still huge numbers of fresh fish present and the fishing itself is great. On Wenesday, fishing with just one client on a half-day trip, we played and released 32 sturgeon in just five hours. The lower Columbia River, from the mouth of the John Day River east of Astoria to Clatsop Spit, has been producing good catches consistently. Fish are, however, scattered. Don’t be surprised if you have to “shoot and scoot” to find them. Although rough water conditions still prevail almost daily - driven by high onshore winds - making fishing the flats along Desdemona Sands difficult during the afternoon, the area upriver from Tongue Point, protected from the worst of the winds, has been treating anglers well. The area from Bronstein’s to the Astoria-Megler Bridge on the Oregon side and from Portugese Point down to Church Hole on the Washington side have been producing steady catches. Expect this fishery to get better almost daily through the end of July. If you want to wet a line this coming week I’d suggest you call either Ron Byrd at Nestucca Valley Sporting Goods (503-392-4269) for up-to-date info on the Nestucca and Three Rivers or Dennis and Marie Will at Tillamook Bait Company (503-842-5031) for the latest word on the Trask, Wilson and Tillamook Bay. Kelly and Janice at The Jetty Fishery can give you all of the up-to-date info you need on the fishing at Nehalem. They can be reached at 503-368-5746. For accurate info on the lower Columbia fishery contact Corkey or Jo at Corkey’s Four Corners Store in Hammond. There number is 503-861-2088. Trout Trout fishing in most coastal streams opened on May 25. All north coast streams north of Neskowin Creek are catch and release only. Be sure to check the regs for the specific river or stream you want to fish as many have closures and bait restrictions. The stocking schedule is now available on the internet at www.dfw.or.us. AND at www.localfishermannews.com. Ocean Ocean salmon sport catches are still excellent. Trolled herring, whole or plug-cut, anchovies and even spoons are all taking consistent limits. The ocean is still closed on Fridays and Saturdays until August 15.Charter and commercial fishermen are reporting that both coho and chinook numbers appear to be higher than ODFW predicted. All indications are we should have a great Bouy 10 season later this summer. Bottom fishing, from Winchester to Tillamook, has been excellent. Crabbing and Shellfish Crabbing ranged from good to excellent last week. Tides this week remain good for crabbing. Wind and weather permitting all local bays should continue to produce fair to good catches of crab. For the latest info on beach closures, call the Shellfish Hotline at 503-986-4728 or go to www.oda.state.or.us on the web for updates. Summer fishing special: Fill all four seats for just $125 per seat. A savings of $100 per day… enough to cover your motel room and meals. Sturgeon season: June 1 through August 1 (primetime is June 1 through July 15)Note: ODFW has determined that sturgeon fishing on the lower Columbia will become catch-and-release ONLY effective July 25. Chinook and Coho (Silver) season at Buoy 10: August 1 through the second or third week of September (we don’t know yet when ODFW will close the season). Primetime is the second week of August through the middle of September. Remember, the sooner you email or call us the better your chances of getting the date(s) you want. Our new subscription-only website, Oregon Outdoors Fishing Report is now up and running. Simply go to www.oregonoutdoors.org and click on the appropriate hotlink. You will find a sample publication, complete with a weekly report, monthly forecast, an “Ask The Pro’s” section and discounts on bait, tackle, guides, charters and motels. To subscribe, simply fill out the subscription form and email it to us or call 503-815-2766. Ask Us If you’d like to ask about local river conditions or book a trip you can reach us by phone at 503-815-2766, cell phone at 503-801-1843 or via e-mail at oreoutdd@pacifier.com And be sure to visit our web site at oregonoutdoors.org. Just follow the link to the homepage. Please sign our Guest Book … we always enjoy seeing who is visiting us. GIFT CERTIFICATES for the angler in your life (you?) are always available. CREDIT AND DEBIT CARDS: We can now accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express credit cards and any major bank debit card for payment. Please call us to complete the transaction. We choose to do this over the phone so you won’t have to send important personal financial information over the internet. Until next week, have a great time and go catch some fish.

Hooker_Sean