Fish Report

May 22 trout opener

This Sunday, most western Oregon rivers and stream open to trout fishing. Spring is a great time to fish for native cutthroat and rainbow trout while the water (and weather) are cool.

Chinook on lower Columbia open through Sunday

The spring Chinook season on the lower Columbia will continue through Sunday, May 22. And after a brief pause, it will reopen June 4-16.

Clammers: Low tides continue 

With negative tides continuing and sunshine in the forecast, this would be a great weekend to go clamming. So grab your shovels, check out our where-to-clam pages and be prepared to get muddy!

Best bets for weekend fishing

There’s a lot going on in the water this time of year. Here are just a few highlights, be sure to check out the zone reports for even more ideas.

• For early spring Chinook on the North Coast, check out Nestucca Bay, Tillamook Bay, Trask and the Lower Columbia tributaries (Big Creek, Gnat Creek, and Klaskanine River). Some already are moving into tidewater.
• Anglers are still catching decent numbers of rockfish around the jetties in the lower Coos Bay estuary.
• Surfperch anglers are reporting good catches of redtail surfperch, with some fish weighing over 2 pounds, on sandy beaches like Horsefall Beach, Bullards Beach, and near Cape Blanco.
• Bass fishing on the South Umpqua opens May 22. These fish haven’t seen a lure in a while and might be very interested in what you’re casting.
• Chinook season is open on the Hood River, which is seeing the best Chinook return in years.
• Shad fishing is happening in the mainstem Umpqua and Smith rivers.
• With over 2,600 springers over Willamette Falls, anglers have been catching a few in the Middle Fork Willamette River.
• Anglers report good bass fishing on Green Peter Reservoir, with some fish up to 5 pounds.
• Gerber Reservoir is a good bet for yellow perch – a fish fry favorite. 
• Trout fishing at Cottonwood Meadow Lake was fantastic last weekend. This time of year, 40 to 50 fish days are not uncommon. 

Have you bagged your spring turkey and/or black bear?

If not, you’ve got until May 31 to fill your tag.