Very poor Steelhead predicated returns

Umatilla River - Umatilla, OR


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
11-12-2021
Website

Due to very poor predicated returns, retention of steelhead on the Umatilla River between the Hwy 730 bridge and Three Mile Falls Dam (TMDF) will be closed Sept. 1 through April 30, 2022. From TFMD to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation boundary and from the upper border of the reservation boundary to the Umatilla headwaters, including all tributaries except for McKay Creek, is open for fishing and retention of steelhead. There have been a total of 358 steelhead counted at TMFD up to date for the this run year, with an average of 6 fish per day over the past week.

Trout fishing on the Umatilla River, and its tributaries, is closed as of Oct. 31. Bass and other warmwater species remain open all year.

The fall Chinook salmon and coho salmon fisheries will remain open through Nov. 30. The bag limit being 3 adults, in aggregate, and 5 jack salmon (≤ 24 inches for fall Chinook and ≤ 20 inches for coho) per day. A return of 6381 ± 1,960 coho and 1,264 ± 295 fall Chinook are predicated to return to the Umatilla River. A total of 6626 coho, with an average of 145 per day over the past week, and a total of 2,780 fall Chinook, with an average of 25 per day over the past week, have been counted at Three Mile Falls Dam.

For the past two weeks, the average number of hours spent to harvest a fish has been 5 hours. Anglers have been having good success near the mouth of the Umatilla on coho and fall Chinook, with most being fish caught in the early morning hours. Anglers have been using a variety of methods to catch coho and fall Chinook, however an egg rig bounced off the bottom, and pink or purple spinners have been the best producers. The number of fish being seen at the trap has picked up significantly this week, which is likely due to the increase in water in the river and the cooler fall weather. Both the fall Chinook and coho are still in good condition, so get out on the river and harvest some of the returning salmon.




More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Friday, November 12th, 2021
: Wounded elk left to suffer marks ongoing poaching problem
: November is all about elk in Oregon
Applegate Reservoir: Appplegate Reservoir Fishing Report
Applegate River: The river is open to trout fishing through the end of the year
Ben Irving Reservoir: No recent reports from Ben Irving
Emigrant Reservoir: Nothing has changed much at Emigrant except surface temperatures
Expo Pond: Expo Pong Fishing Report
Fish Lake : The current lake level is 25 percent full and the lake is filling up
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Emergency regulations are no longer in effect at Howard Prairie
Hyatt Lake: Emergency regulations have been lifted at Hyatt Lake
Lake Selmac: Bass fishing should remain fair to good out here through the fall and winter months
Lemolo Lake: The reservoir has been drawn down for the season and is quite low
Lost Creek Lake: Trout fishing should be good
Plat I Reservoir: Temps are cooling, but the bass should still be biting
Rogue River - Middle: Bait can again be used in the entire Rogue from the mouth upstream to Fishers Ferry
Rogue River- Upper: Anglers are catching summer steelhead regularly
Rogue River- Upper (Above Lost Creek): Winter weather is starting to take hold in the upper river
Smith River: The Smith is open for Chinook fishing up the head of tide at Spencer Cr.
Willow Lake: The reservoir is starting to fill and is 42 percent full
Alsea River: Fall Chinook fishing has slowed down on the Alsea
Necanicum River: No reports of early winter steelhead yet
Nestucca River: Fishing conditions will be very poor with forecasted rains this week
Salmon River: Fall Chinook fishing has slowed down on the Salmon River
Siltcoos Lake: Fishing has picked up with the recent rain
Trask River: There are Chinook throughout the fishery at this point
Wilson River: The Wilson is known for later fall Chinook
Clackamas River: Coho fishing has been slow on the Clackamas
Detroit Reservoir: Detroit Reservoir Fishing Report
Junction City Pond: The pond was recently stocked
Sandy River: Coho fishing has been good as of late, and fishing pressure has been light
Santiam River ( North Fork) : Many public access points along the river are still closed
Santiam River (South Fork): The run this year is disappointing
Walling Pond: Recently Stocked
Walla Walla River: Walla Walla River Update

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Thursday, November 11th, 2021
: ODFW Recreation Report
John C Boyle Reservoir: Past net sampling showed some large yellow perch
Upper Klamath Lake: Redband trout are scattered throughout Upper Klamath Lake
Klamath River - Upper - OR: Keno Dam to J.C Boyle Reservoir Report
Miller Lake: Brown trout will begin to cruise the shoreline
Willow Valley Reservoir: Conditions are unknown