Greetings Members and guests:

 

 

Fishing/Whale Watching Update, 04/21/10

Migrating Whales

Gray whales are migrating along the Oregon coast. The whales are moving north along the coastline on their way to the rich feeding grounds of the Bering Sea, and many of the females have calves in tow. Places to observe these migrating mammals include Depoe Bay Whale Watching Center, Cape Kiwanda near Pacific City, Cape Lookout and Anderson Viewpoint located just south of Netarts, Cape Meares located west of Tillamook, Neah-Kah-Nie Mtn. and Cape Falcon located north of Manzanita, Silver Point located just south of Cannon Beach and Tillamook Head (Ecola State Park) located just north of Cannon Beach. Look for signs designating “Whale Watching Spoken Here”, and bring your binoculars and spotting scopes for optimal viewing, which is best on calmer days when the ocean is smooth. 3/31/10.

SILETZ RIVER: winter steelhead

Steelhead angling is fair with best opportunities in the upper river. Catch rates have been fair for both bank and boat anglers around the moonshine park area. A variety of techniques can be productive this time of year as fish tend to be aggressive around the peak spawning season.

Here is the link to watch for fishing regulation changes:

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/fishing/reg_changes/index.asp

 

Siletz River and Bay (Lincoln Co.):

1. Mainstem upstream to painted

boulder located 900 feet downstream

from Siletz Falls at Rivermile 64.5,

including tidewater

Open for adipose fin-clipped steelhead entire year.

Open for Chinook salmon April 1-Dec. 31, upstream to deadline marker at the Moonshine

Park boat ramp.

Use of bait allowed.

 

 

2. Mainstem Siletz upstream from 900

feet below Siletz Falls, North Fork

Siletz, South Fork Siletz and all

tributaries of these streams                            Closed.

 

Local Trout Information:

 

Here is a link to the local lakes ODFW is stocking:

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/fishing/trout_stocking_schedules/2010/northwest/N%20Coast%20Stocking%20Sites.pdf

Here is a link to the stocking schedule:

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/fishing/trout_stocking_schedules

This link also has valuable tips and best locations.

Your tax dollars and license fees at work!

 

Chinook Bend Resort sells ALL ODFW licenses and tags.

 

Attention Kayakers!

Here is a link to Northwest Kayak Anglers.com.

Check out their tournament in Depoe Bay in June.

2010 Oregon Rockfishing Classic

The group will camp here during the tournament. Drop by and talk to them about kayak / and / or local rock fishing. They will be glad to answer your questions.

http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?;tpstart=7

 

We rent kayaks by the hour, half day or day.

 

 

Spring Chinook

 

 

Spring Chinook season starts in April. The fall season starts late July.

As you may know, this will be the best fall season in many years.

The return rate four  years ago, good river conditions and the high

number of jacks in 2009 support this forecast by ODFW.

 

Currently the river offers steelhead and sturgeon. The sturgeon fishing is

Best in the deep holes. I notice almost all sturgeon fishers are locals.

Winter steelhead angling picked up a little with a new group of fresh fish

moving in and good fishing conditions. The majority of hatchery fish have

moved into the upper river around Moonshine Park or up into the lower

gorge. Good numbers of native steelhead can be found throughout the river.

River conditions for the week should allow anglers to fish the entire river.

 

Cutt Throat and Blue Back season opens in May. Some locals reported

hooking and releasing 19 trout at Bull’s Bag while fishing steelhead this past weekend. The biggest was 17”. That may indicate a good trout season coming.

 

Clamming is fair to good with more good clamming tides coming in a few weeks.

 

Crabbing is almost always good in the Siletz Bay. Some neighbors reported on a

recent crabbing outing the crabs were good and sweet and pretty full but a

little soft shelled. They limited out.

 

Currently there are no regulation changes for any species.

I will post any changes as I get them.

 

I would like to thank 12 Mile Mike for advising me on this update.

Mike is the man who worked in our bait shop last year. He is a guru

on all aspects of fishing and an expert on the Siletz, where he lives.

We look forward to fishing with him in 2010.

 

That’s all I have for now. I’ll keep you posted on any changes.

Make your reservations. Let’s go fishing!

 

Ralph