02-02-2002, 02:36 PM
Fisheries Update<br> <br>February 1st - February 7th, 2002<br><br> This version of The Guide's Forecast is unusually short due to the lack of opportunity our strong list of contacts had for fishing the higher rivers this week. Fortunately, this should change this week if a warm, wet weather system doesn't move into Oregon anytime soon. The Columbia seems to be hit or miss at this time. Sturgeon have a lot of smelt to choose from so you had better make yours a stand-out bait if you expect results. If you are not getting the bites you deserve, pulling anchor and re-position is good advice given by our guide contacts. The Willamette has yet to give up a springer but it will likely soon come. Plunkers at Meldrum Bar had mediocre results at best on Tuesday this week. The Sandy and Clackamas showed early promise as both systems came into shape sooner that expected due to low freezing levels and most of the precipitation falling as snow. These rivers will likely continue to slowly drop creating good opportunity for anglers on both systems. Fish were being caught on the Sandy and Clackamas on 1/29. The north coast streams are also fishing as of Tuesday. The smaller streams even earlier. The Wilson produced great catches (mostly wild steelhead) on 1/29 which also likely made the Trask (although slower to get into shape) and the Nestucca good bets by mid-week. The fact the wild fish are starting to show in numbers is an indicator of a strong run to come. Also wild fish tend to distribute better than hatchery fish making for better opportunities over extended sections of river. Further south, the Siletz, Umpqua and Siuslaw should come on strong this week again barring any major warm fronts moving onshore. Town Lake, Cape Meares Lake, Spring Lake, and Lorens Pond in the Northwest Zone, Walling Pond in Salem and E.E. Wilson Pond (Adair) will get a mix of hatchery, broodstock and steelhead. <br><br>Soapbox Update<br> <br> Avid angler Mike Fegles wishes to continue dialog on our litter problem. Mike, I know your words here fall on deaf ears because our readers are of the utmost ethical when it comes to streamside etiquette but we sincerely appreciate your comments and we should all take them to heart! Mike writes, "I would like to echo the message of your guest writer in this volume of the Guide's Report. <br><br>More at http://www.theguidesforecast.com/<br><br>Subscribe today!<br><br>Get more Oregon fishing information at<br>http://www.theguidesforecast.com