JANUARY
Steelhead...peak season fishing in most N.W. rivers and into N. California
Trout...some trout activity available on year around lakes like Detroit, Coffenbury
Sturgeon (Casting reels)....spotty but worthwhile for the hardcore crowd
FEBRUARY
Steelhead...shifting from hatchery returns to native fish.
Trout...some very good trout fishing begins kicking in
Sturgeon...still spotty
Walleye...some very good opportunity on the Columbia in Feb.
MARCH
Steelhead...again, the main game in town. Action for natives is really picking up and hatchery fish are all but done
Trout...more of the same identified above...the "trout opener" is a month away. (Barnes Butte/Crooked river/etc.)
Sturgeon...water's beginning to warm and sturgeon are beginning to bite
Salmon...Columbia River Spring Chinook beginning to turn on, still a little early for Willamette but lots of people are out trying to catch them
Bass...spotty opportunity but warming weather can make for some good days
APRIL
Steelhead...prime time for native especially Siletz, Sandy, and Coastal Rivers (i.e. Wilson Brood Stock)
Salmon...peak month for spring chinook in Columbia and Willamette
Trout...traditional opener, peak of trout activity...Detroit, Fish FArm, Odell, Potholes, etc.
Sturgeon...Fish are beginning to turn on and bite well, one month away from promised land
Bass...In Southern tier States (CA, AZ, TX, etc.) first good month for Bass fishing (Dorena Lake)
MAY
Steelhead...over
Salmon...still some fishing opportunity available through the month, particularly in the Willamette, and beginning in the Clackamas
Trout...in full swing from here through the Summer and into Fall. Good fishing available throughout the region.
Sturgeon...a top month for "oversize" fish.
Bass...Good regionwide. Some spawning activity going on in the N.W.
Shad...Begin to show late in the month on the Columbia and Willamette systems.
JUNE
Steelhead...Summer steelhead fishing begins to perk up considerably in most N.W. rivers. High points include: Clackamas, Cowlitz, Lewis, Kalama, Elochoman, Willamette tribs (McKenzie/Middle Fork Willamette/Santiam).
Salmon...all but done, however good fishing available in Santiam system. Trout...as mentioned above, in full swing across region. Sturgeon...still very good.
Bass...Good fishing available regionwide.
Shad...begins to wind to a close late in the month.
JULY
Steelhead...a peak month for summer steelhead in the Clackamas, Santiam, Cowlitz, Elochoman, Kalama, Lewis, Skykomish and other systems.
Salmon....ocean salmon are just beginning to stir in the N.W. (June's an excellent month in Alaska). This fishery for both Chinook and Coho will build to a fever pitch by the middle to end of August.
Trout....lots of good opportunity throughout the region that will hold up well into Fall.
Sturgeon...big fish will begin to spread out although some opportunity still exists.
Bass...Same as June.
AUGUST
Steelhead...another good month for Summer Steelhead. Near the end of the month, steelhead fishing will be blistering on the Columbia system and tributaries above Bonneville Dam all the way to the Deschutes. Lots of troll fisheries, with some great river fishing still available in the Cowlitz, and a few others.
Salmon...Big month! Buoy 10 is in full swing by mid-month. Puget Sound should be producing well too. Trout...more of the same (identified above).
Sturgeon...some waters closed. Good opportunity available for "keepers" on the lower Willamette and San Francisco Bay.
Bass...Same as June and July.
SEPTEMBER
Steelhead...great fishing for summers available on the Deschutes, with fish still available in the Cowlitz and a few other rivers.
Salmon...great fishing regionwide (including Northern California). All the major fisheries should be producing fish.
Trout...excellent opportunities throughout the West. Big fish will move into the shallows and begin bulking up for the winter months. Pressure's low on most lakes with kids back to school, etc.
Sturgeon...some good fishing available in the Columbia and Willamette systems.
Bass...Great month for excellent fishing. Bass "move up" (out of deep water summer haunts) and hit crankbaits very well. September's generally very dependable and productive fishing.
Walleye....like bass, walleye feed heavily as water temps begin to cool in the Fall. Fishing can by dynamite.
OCTOBER
Steelhead...still plenty of great opportunity around the region, especially from the Deschutes upriver (Columbia). Salmon...tons of silvers in area rivers. Great chinook fishing available below Bonneville Dam, in Tillamook, Yaquina, and Nehalem Bays and most coastal river systems. Vernita Upriver Brights also producing well in the first half of October.
Trout...one of my favorite months for catching big fish...generally have the water all to yourself...most, if not all the lakes around the region are still open and producing well.
Sturgeon...some good fishing available in the Columbia and Willamette Systems.
Bass...Last great month of fishing. Get it while the getting's good.
Walleye...same as September.
NOVEMBER
Steelhead...summer steelhead fishing winding to a close. Deschutes, John Day and Snake Rivers all produce good catches in Nov./Dec. The traditional winter steelhead "opener" (not a formal but a seasonal opener) is Thanksgiving.
Salmon...Good to excellent fishing in coastal river systems.
Trout...all done with the exception of a few year around lakes.
Sturgeon...good fishing when the weather cooperates.
Bass...all done.
DECEMBER
Steelhead...Winter steelhead peak around the middle of the month and stays that way (for hatchery fish) through the middle of January.
Salmon...Winter chinook show in a few coastal rivers.
Trout....same as November.
Sturgeon...same as November, although some good fishing's available in Tillamook Bay.
Bass...same as November.
Contact:
Russell Cameron, President
P.O. Box 2151
Lake Oswego, Oregon 97035
Phone: 503-675-7345
