02-23-2002, 02:30 PM
Fisheries Update<br> <br>February 22nd - February 28th, 2002<br><br> As springer fishing starts up, many hopefuls may be found on the lower Willamette River, especially on weekends, forming hoglines and trolling the lower river. Only a few are being taken, but that's a few daily and enough to inspire confidence in many. It's still better than working to doing chores around the house. Sturgeon fishermen have found willing quarry once again as the bits took off again after falling off last week. Smelt remain available in the Cowlitz and Lewis Rivers in Washington State. New ODFW regulations will disallow the retention of sturgeon on Sundays and Mondays each week from March 3 to May 13 this year, and it'll be strictly catch and release from July 25th through the end of September to protect the diamond sides from depletion due to over-fishing. Anglers Gary and Eric two of a pair of husky sturgeon 48 and 60 inches from Tillamook Bay last weekend according to Marie Will at Tillamook Bait Company (503-842-5031). These coastal sturgeon prefer sand or mud shrimp according to Marie, and she oughta know! The sandy River continues to reward bank anglers with bright steelhead, although hatchery fish are outnumbered now by wild. The Clackamas River will soon present spring chinook opportunities, but currently is putting out only winter steelhead. Eagle Creek has been good for bright hatchery steelhead recently. Nearly 5,700 winter steelhead have crossed Willamette Falls, making for some very good fishing in the North Santiam for mostly wild steelies. Town Lake, Cape Meares Lake, Spring Lake, and Lorens Pond, all have recently received large releases of excess adult hatchery steelhead. This week, Coffenbury, Cullaby and Sunset lakes will receive adult steelhead. Willamina, E.E. Wilson, Junction City and Walling Ponds and Walter Wirth Lake all get legal-sized Oregon-brand rainbow trout along with Big Creek Reservoirs #1, Alton Baker Canal and Creswell Pond. Olalla Creek Reservoir and Big Creek Reservoir #2 will got 'trophy-sized' trout this week. <br><br>Subscribe now by clicking over to<br>http//www.theguidesforecast.com/signup.html <br><br><br><br>Get more Oregon fishing information at<br>http://www.theguidesforecast.com