Willamette anglers have been sidelined for over a week now, turbid waters have boats at bay and springers hunkering down. Another rain freshet will put the system out for another several days but those interested in good fun, check out the sturgeon fishery as pro guide Stephen “Spicy” Gettel (503-999-0904) reports, “Willamette sturgeon fishing seems to be picking up. Despite the large numbers of smelt in the Columbia system, there are still plenty of good-sized fish in the Willamette. Did a trip a couple of days ago and our best success was down near the Kelly Point Terminal. So the fish seem to be responding to herring. My theory is that they’re sick of smelt. We tried squid and earthworms and neither had any luck. And anchovy late in the day did get us into 28-in fish.”
The mainstem Columbia has not been all the productive for spring Chinook just yet, but there is effort around I-5 happening. There have been spring Chinook caught locally in this area, but the Columbia is forecasted to rise as well, which could put the fish down for a while as well. Almost a dozen spring Chinook have bypassed Bonneville Dam already, not a bad start for this early in the season. The water temperatures have been running warmer than normal for this time of year.
Metro anglers should look up trout stocking lakes and ponds in the Willamette Valley. It’s “All in” for trout plants in many still waters, in preparation of spring break. Check out the stocking schedule HERE…