12-14-2002, 05:30 AM
Fisheries Update
December 13th – December 19th, 2002
The rains have arrived! This will have a significant effect on salmon and steelhead fishing in Oregon but anglers will be on hold once again but at least this time, it is due to high flows instead of low flows! Starting with the Columbia, the rains may have an impact on sturgeon fishing as it has gone a bit stagnant since the opener on the 23rd of November.
The best fishing remains in the gorge but especially around Cape Horn. Shrimp should be a part of your arsenal. Crabbing in Astoria remains hot despite the commercial opener on the 10th. Hopefully they can get out in the ocean and off the estuary so it will continue to be awesome! More fish will be heading for the Clackamas and Eagle Creek making Meldrum Bar a good option for plunkers working the Willamette River.
With the predicted return of spring chinook back to the Willamette this year, the season's first chinook may grace us by late January but it is just so close, that we had to mention it in this week's edition! Winter steelhead counts over Willamette Falls are still to low to get really excited. The Clackamas and Sandy Rivers got a shot of fresh fish on the early part of the rising river. Hard to say what these rivers will do, but don't count on much fishing over the weekend if we get the rain that is anticipated.
The north coast streams are in the same situation. There was a great bite at the mouth of Three Rivers on 12/11 before the river blew out later that morning. The larger streams will likely be out of commission for the weekend but the smaller streams like Three Rivers, the North Fork of the Nehalem and the Necanicum may fish by the weekend if the rain isn't too bad. Since high winds are forecasted, driftboaters MUST be aware of potential hazards to navigation. Trees will likely be across the rivers that are floatable so use extreme caution. The chinook that were staging at the mouths of the Elk and Sixes will be extremely anxious to head their way upstream on this rain freshet.
Anglers using plugs or backbounced eggs should have ample opportunity for them when it drops back into place. Crabbing has been excellent out of Newport and Waldport and will remain so until there's enough rain to flush them out into the ocean. No trout are scheduled for sticking this week. Boaters age 30 and younger will be required to obtain a Boater's Education card to operate a water vessel after December 31, 2002. Details are in the complete report or at http://www.boatoregon.com.
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December 13th – December 19th, 2002
The rains have arrived! This will have a significant effect on salmon and steelhead fishing in Oregon but anglers will be on hold once again but at least this time, it is due to high flows instead of low flows! Starting with the Columbia, the rains may have an impact on sturgeon fishing as it has gone a bit stagnant since the opener on the 23rd of November.
The best fishing remains in the gorge but especially around Cape Horn. Shrimp should be a part of your arsenal. Crabbing in Astoria remains hot despite the commercial opener on the 10th. Hopefully they can get out in the ocean and off the estuary so it will continue to be awesome! More fish will be heading for the Clackamas and Eagle Creek making Meldrum Bar a good option for plunkers working the Willamette River.
With the predicted return of spring chinook back to the Willamette this year, the season's first chinook may grace us by late January but it is just so close, that we had to mention it in this week's edition! Winter steelhead counts over Willamette Falls are still to low to get really excited. The Clackamas and Sandy Rivers got a shot of fresh fish on the early part of the rising river. Hard to say what these rivers will do, but don't count on much fishing over the weekend if we get the rain that is anticipated.
The north coast streams are in the same situation. There was a great bite at the mouth of Three Rivers on 12/11 before the river blew out later that morning. The larger streams will likely be out of commission for the weekend but the smaller streams like Three Rivers, the North Fork of the Nehalem and the Necanicum may fish by the weekend if the rain isn't too bad. Since high winds are forecasted, driftboaters MUST be aware of potential hazards to navigation. Trees will likely be across the rivers that are floatable so use extreme caution. The chinook that were staging at the mouths of the Elk and Sixes will be extremely anxious to head their way upstream on this rain freshet.
Anglers using plugs or backbounced eggs should have ample opportunity for them when it drops back into place. Crabbing has been excellent out of Newport and Waldport and will remain so until there's enough rain to flush them out into the ocean. No trout are scheduled for sticking this week. Boaters age 30 and younger will be required to obtain a Boater's Education card to operate a water vessel after December 31, 2002. Details are in the complete report or at http://www.boatoregon.com.
Have this report e-mailed to you weekly or sign up for our full version with tips, forecasts, and professional guide's advice!
http://www.TheGuidesForecast.com/
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