The latest spring chinook prediction indicates a Columbia return of 269,300 fish but only 34,000 is forecast for the Willamette. Springers caught from the Columbia or Willamette must be finclipped to keep. Effort for salmon in the Columbia has been nearly nonexistent and for good reason. Virtually no fish have returned. Sturgeon fishing has not been worthwhile anywhere on the Columbia.
Fishery managers this week will determine the fate of the Willamette spring chinook fishery. It is likely to be a 7-day per week fishery despite a poor run forecast for returning hatchery fish.
Sturgeon fishing improved on the lower Willamette over the last Thursday through Sunday retention period. While some anglers caught only shakers, others took several keeper-sized fish.
Smelt and sand shrimp were top baits although fish also were taken on squid and herring. The stretch below the St. Johns Bridge has been great for shakers, slow to fair for keeper-sized sturgeon. Plunkers are seeing very few hookups with steelhead in the Meldrum Bar stretch.
Patient anglers putting in their time on the Clackamas are catching the occasional steelhead. Jigs and spinners have been effective this week. When the water warms a couple of degrees, the bite will improve. Eagle Creek has produced steelhead for anglers using bobber and jig rigs.
http://www.newsregister.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=231508
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