03-16-2003, 02:48 PM
Fisheries Update
March 14th – March 20th, 2003 With all the extra time you have on your hands, (seeing how all the rivers are blown out) now is the time to get ready for those Willamette springers. Go to: the tech report order page and order tech report #1 to learn how to effectively fish on some of the 110,000 springers that are due back to the river!
The Columbia, Willamette, Clackamas, Sandy and most of the North Oregon Coast streams are not near fishable conditions and will likely stay out for much of the weekend. Good steelhead prospects were starting to be realized on the Kilchis and Wilson Rivers before they went out again.
When flows subside, the smaller rivers will fish best for native fish but the larger systems like the Willamette and Columbia will not be an option for quite some time. Drano Lake on the Colombia will open for springer fishing on Saturday, March 15th.
And how about that ocean season for chinook? Almost too good to be true but check out the official press release from ODF&W:
The early recreational ocean salmon season between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mountain opens this weekend for anglers willing to brave the unpredictable spring weather to target chinook benefiting from good ocean conditions.
"We're expecting a fair number of fish out there. It may not be as good as last year's great year, but it will be very good," said Eric Schindler, an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist who leads the ocean salmon monitoring project in Newport.
Schindler said with good ocean conditions, anglers can expect to see the large chinook of last fall show up again. Many of the adult fish off the Oregon coast have spent the majority of their ocean life phase with good ocean productivity and feed availability.
But, he cautioned, pay attention to the weather.
"Things can turn very quickly in the spring and in the fall. It's hit or miss. Last year, we had great weather in March," Schindler said. "We're going to have an ocean season that lasts well into October, so anglers can pick their days to go fishing."
The early salmon season was set earlier this year to last from March 15 to April 30, 2003. Additional sport seasons for chinook and coho salmon will be set in mid-April by the Pacific Fishery Management Council and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Current proposals call for ocean sport salmon seasons to be open through Oct. 31, 2003. If adopted, the 2003 season will be the longest ocean salmon season since 1955. In 2002, the season was open April 1 - Oct 31.
Schindler said many of the chinook swimming off Oregon's coast come from California rivers, the Klamath Basin and southern Oregon basins. California fish managers predict the California rivers will produce high fish numbers similar to last year, with the exception of the Klamath Basin which is slightly down. Oregon biologists expect Oregon's rivers to produce an above-average number of fish.
The early ocean salmon season opens Saturday, March 15, for all salmon except coho between Cape Falcon, near Manzanita, and Humbug Mountain near Port Orford. The daily bag limit is two salmon and requires retained chinook and the occasional steelhead to be at least 20 inches long. No more than two single point, single shank, barbless hooks may be used. Anglers are advised that chinook harvested in the Tillamook Triangular Control Zone March 15 - July 31 must have a healed fin clip. This regulation is to protect the wild Tillamook spring chinook population that is depressed.
Anglers are reminded that sport fishing rules may change from those printed in the 2003 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations. Changes to the printed pamphlet may be found are posted to the ODFW Web site.
The Siletz also showed promise before rains had an influence in current water conditions. The Umpqua and Siuslaw Rivers have also fallen victim to recent precipitation but should fish well when levels return. The Umpqua has given up some more springers this week!
The Rogue River which was spared by the last storm and has been as summer-level lows, will catch the brunt of the current deluge and blow out along with al the other Oregon rivers.
The all-depth halibut season between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mountain will be open May 8-10 and May 15-17. If the quota is not filled after six days of fishing, the fishery may be opened on one or more of the following dates: June 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28.
Look east angler: The central Oregon options remain the best for those needing to experience all that the “Oregon Trail” has to offer. The Deschutes John Day and Grande Ronde Rivers are options for some steelhead and trout in open areas. Some smallmouth bass are available when the water temperatures warm up during the day on the John Day River.
Henry Hagg Lake, Trojan Pond, Freeway Lake East and Alton Baker Canal will be planted this week. Extensive stocking of state-raised rainbows is planned for the upcoming week.
More on the site:
http://www.TheGuidesForecast.com/
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You can also subscribe to the full version of the TGF report giving you much more detail and access to professional guide's tips and tricks.
The Guide's Forecast
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March 14th – March 20th, 2003 With all the extra time you have on your hands, (seeing how all the rivers are blown out) now is the time to get ready for those Willamette springers. Go to: the tech report order page and order tech report #1 to learn how to effectively fish on some of the 110,000 springers that are due back to the river!
The Columbia, Willamette, Clackamas, Sandy and most of the North Oregon Coast streams are not near fishable conditions and will likely stay out for much of the weekend. Good steelhead prospects were starting to be realized on the Kilchis and Wilson Rivers before they went out again.
When flows subside, the smaller rivers will fish best for native fish but the larger systems like the Willamette and Columbia will not be an option for quite some time. Drano Lake on the Colombia will open for springer fishing on Saturday, March 15th.
And how about that ocean season for chinook? Almost too good to be true but check out the official press release from ODF&W:
The early recreational ocean salmon season between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mountain opens this weekend for anglers willing to brave the unpredictable spring weather to target chinook benefiting from good ocean conditions.
"We're expecting a fair number of fish out there. It may not be as good as last year's great year, but it will be very good," said Eric Schindler, an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist who leads the ocean salmon monitoring project in Newport.
Schindler said with good ocean conditions, anglers can expect to see the large chinook of last fall show up again. Many of the adult fish off the Oregon coast have spent the majority of their ocean life phase with good ocean productivity and feed availability.
But, he cautioned, pay attention to the weather.
"Things can turn very quickly in the spring and in the fall. It's hit or miss. Last year, we had great weather in March," Schindler said. "We're going to have an ocean season that lasts well into October, so anglers can pick their days to go fishing."
The early salmon season was set earlier this year to last from March 15 to April 30, 2003. Additional sport seasons for chinook and coho salmon will be set in mid-April by the Pacific Fishery Management Council and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Current proposals call for ocean sport salmon seasons to be open through Oct. 31, 2003. If adopted, the 2003 season will be the longest ocean salmon season since 1955. In 2002, the season was open April 1 - Oct 31.
Schindler said many of the chinook swimming off Oregon's coast come from California rivers, the Klamath Basin and southern Oregon basins. California fish managers predict the California rivers will produce high fish numbers similar to last year, with the exception of the Klamath Basin which is slightly down. Oregon biologists expect Oregon's rivers to produce an above-average number of fish.
The early ocean salmon season opens Saturday, March 15, for all salmon except coho between Cape Falcon, near Manzanita, and Humbug Mountain near Port Orford. The daily bag limit is two salmon and requires retained chinook and the occasional steelhead to be at least 20 inches long. No more than two single point, single shank, barbless hooks may be used. Anglers are advised that chinook harvested in the Tillamook Triangular Control Zone March 15 - July 31 must have a healed fin clip. This regulation is to protect the wild Tillamook spring chinook population that is depressed.
Anglers are reminded that sport fishing rules may change from those printed in the 2003 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations. Changes to the printed pamphlet may be found are posted to the ODFW Web site.
The Siletz also showed promise before rains had an influence in current water conditions. The Umpqua and Siuslaw Rivers have also fallen victim to recent precipitation but should fish well when levels return. The Umpqua has given up some more springers this week!
The Rogue River which was spared by the last storm and has been as summer-level lows, will catch the brunt of the current deluge and blow out along with al the other Oregon rivers.
The all-depth halibut season between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mountain will be open May 8-10 and May 15-17. If the quota is not filled after six days of fishing, the fishery may be opened on one or more of the following dates: June 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28.
Look east angler: The central Oregon options remain the best for those needing to experience all that the “Oregon Trail” has to offer. The Deschutes John Day and Grande Ronde Rivers are options for some steelhead and trout in open areas. Some smallmouth bass are available when the water temperatures warm up during the day on the John Day River.
Henry Hagg Lake, Trojan Pond, Freeway Lake East and Alton Baker Canal will be planted this week. Extensive stocking of state-raised rainbows is planned for the upcoming week.
More on the site:
http://www.TheGuidesForecast.com/
Go to -
http://www.TheGuidesForecast.com/ and sign up to have this report e-mailed to you every Thursday night for FREE.
You can also subscribe to the full version of the TGF report giving you much more detail and access to professional guide's tips and tricks.
The Guide's Forecast
Helping you catch more fish!
[signature]