Oregon Fishing Forecast – January 31, 2019

Published 12:00 am Thursday, January 31, 2019

Portland/Metro – Although steelhead season is rapidly headed toward peak season, catches have remained fair-at-best in the Sandy and Clackamas Rivers. Fluctuating flows due to the freezing level haven’t helped much either, but anglers have been waiting for February to come, and with it, more consistent catches of winter steelhead.

Both the Sandy and Clackamas are kicking out fish, but better catches are expected to start by early February. With later returning wild broodstock now making up the bulk of the hatchery returns, fish more naturally mimic the later returning wild strain so action will stay good into March.

Sandy River water and air temperatures have remained frigid with the bitter east wind, so anglers are encouraged to wait until late morning before fish become more active. Anglers are still finding bobber dogging with eggs and single beads to be effective, but plugs are coming on as well as flows drop and migration slows.

Steelhead, particularly larger fish, become more territorial when river levels drop.

The Clackamas is giving up fish to persistent anglers, with the Barton to Carver stretch more consistent. The lower the flow however, the lower in the river system anglers should target.

Beach plunkers on the mainstem Columbia reported a flurry of activity around Rainier over the weekend with some large hatchery steelhead in the creel. It’s a sign that a new flush of fish, likely destined for the Sandy and Clackamas River systems is on its way.

Plunkers are Meldrum are seeing a few more fish, but still no signs of spring Chinook on the Willamette or Columbia systems.

Huddleston, Mt. Hood Community College and Sheridan Ponds are all expecting trout plants this week, and with the warm weather in the forecast, the bite should be pretty good.

The Tillamook Report – Coastal steelheaders had some good luck late last week, and overall, the season has been fair. Like the inland rivers, the broodstock steelhead of the Wilson and Nestucca systems will produce the best catches of late season hatchery fish, and also draw the largest crowds. Although the overall numbers seem to be down, the quality of fish is excellent. One guide observed few of the 2-salt fish (6 to 8 pound fish), but a fair return of the 3-salt steelhead exceeding 10 pounds in weight. Bobber-dogging beads, yarnies and soft beads remain the ticket, but plugs are also drawing strikes.

The Trask and mainstem Nehalem are good options for wild fish and solitude as catch and release fisheries don’t draw the interest that rivers with hatchery fish offer. The Kilchis is another good wild fish option, but is currently low and clear, making for wary steelhead.

A handful of salty anglers made their way out of north coast ports, finding willing lingcod, sea bass and Dungeness crab. Lingcod fishing has been challenging as we enter spawning season, but when the ocean is friendly, the action is good. Those windows of opportunity have been rare this season however.

Crabbing is fair in Yaquina and Tillamook Bays, and the lower Columbia River.

For a more detailed report, go to http://www.theguidesforecast.com

Bob Rees is a sixth generation Oregonian and a 20-year veteran fishing guide of Oregon’s Northwest region. Bob Rees’ column, The Guide’s Forecast, has been a trusted fishing resource for over 16 years and will appear in the Thursday edition of the Portland Tribune. He welcomes the opportunity to partner with the Portland Tribune to bring the sport fishing community timely and accurate fishing information so you can catch more fish!