Hey Mark,

Welcome to Oregon.  You have a lot going on right in your back yard.  Columbia R offers just about any species you want to fish for, Salmon, Steelhead, Walleye, Bass, Shad, Carp, etc.  And don't forget the Pike Minnow Bounty program where you can earn a bit of cash for fishing.  Then the Snake and Grand Ronde are not too far from you to the east.  John Day River to the west has world class Small Mouth and a good run of Steelhead.  The Umitilla River kicks out fish as well.  As for the how and exactly where, check with your local shops, Im sure they will prove helpful.  And don't be afraid to head north into Washington.  Look in the Washington section and search out Yellow Bear.

JustDave

Living Large in Oregon Life Member Since '94, 1st Member of the NAFC Western Fishers, Proud User of St. Croix, Lamiglass, Shimano, Fishcraft, Mercury, Jabber Knuckles, Fishing With the Boys Guide Service

Thanks Dave! I will check out the spots you suggested. I am looking forward to fishing for bass and panfish, after 20 years in Alaska I really miss catching them.

Shaniko is a good starting place along the John Day (although you are on the east side) for smallmouth fishing. The bite usually starts in mid May and really gets going  in June. Around my neck of the woods which is Central Oregon we have Prineville Res. and Crane Prairie which have great bass fishing. Prineville also sports a huge crappie and catfish population.  Both of these bodies of water have bass tournaments in late June.  The biggest bass I have landed was a 5 pounder. ODFW does a random sampling of the lakes to see what kind of fish are in the lakes and how big the fish are. One of my neighbors is part of that process. He told me there are bass large enough to break the Oregon state record in Crane Prairie if people could catch them. However, they did not get big by being easy to catch. LOL   

There are numerous areas in the Columbia that have healthy bass populations too.      

NAFC life member since 1992, NAHC life member since 2005, lifetime Oregon resident. Central Oregon region.

Thanks Bill I just got my license and I have been trying a few spots, no fish yet. I am looking for a place to bank fish; my dad is in his eighties so walking far is not an option. But finding the fish is half the fun, thanks again for the help!

Hi i am Mike from Gold hill,OR i like to fish for trout and just now getting into bass i mainly fish the lakes around here and some ponds.

My name is Glen. I just moved back to Oregon about 2 months ago from Louisiana. I live in Bend where I hope to do a ton of fishing. If it swims and bits my hook that's what I fish for. Most of my fishing has been for largemouth bass. I cant wait to catch trout again, and tear up some salmon.

Hey all, My name is Mark. I am a new life member. I just moved to the Warrenton area from Montana. Been doing alot of lake fishing close by. Any input on the fishing these lakes would be a plus. Been catching alot of rainbow and bass but yet to hook into a steelhead.

NMarks,

Pretty much all of the lakes you find along 101 are full of fish.  ODFW does a lot of stocking up and down the coast.  Once they finish with the bigger lakes, any excess fish are put into the little puddles you see off the highway.  Some look too small to fish, but don't be shy, try 'em.  Summer Steelhead should be in the rivers pretty much all the way up and down the coast and throughout the systems.  Small jigs or thumb nail size baits of eggs under a bobber, small spinners, spoon and plugs will get you into fish.  The winter run Steelhead will come into the rivers after the Fall Chinook aind start showing up in mid to late November and continue through April.  The hachery on the NF Nehalem will truck excess fish to Coffinberry and Lost lake to give you a shot at them on lake.  Put in your time, they are definately worth it and my favorite fish to catch.

JustDave

Thanks Dave,
Been catching alot of bass and rainbow on the lake i live on (sunset beach lake) and they do drop some steelhead in here but yet to hit one. They do have some big ones in
here i have seen the cought and swimming the shore line. Just have to wait for my time. lol Thanks for the input.

Mark,

You might try a Sand Shrimp tail if you haven't already.  We take down quite a few in the rivers with 'em.  Good luck.

JustDave

hi life member here steve from eugene oregon. looking for local members to fish with. using bait casting on rivers for now.any info on runs and where in my area would be helpful thanks

Hi new member here, but nowhere near new to fishing. Always looking for people in the Washington County area who like Salmon/Steelhead fishing smaller rivers and streams. Would love to share my knowledge of the north coast rivers!

Hello Oregonians! Although I have been a member since 2004, I have not responded to any forums. I have a couple boats and love to spend time on the water. I often am looking for someone to go out with me. Since I retired in June, I am looking toward fishing during the week. I live in Washington County roughly 45 miles from the coast.

Darrell

fishinbeavrguy,
Let me know if you have some time available to talk some "fish."

dmapston
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Hi, do any of you know Josh Kubli of Coos Bay or Dhamendra Nath of Central Pointe? If so, they are my sons in law.

Hey everyone new member here just moved to Dallas, Or from Oklahoma and ready to do some fishing, any one in the Dallas area want to show a newbie to the area the ropes?

Welcome to Oregon.  First of all, what are you looking to catch?  Rickreal Cr running through Dallas opens for Trout fishing on the 28th as do most of the creeks and rivers in the Willamette zone.  Artificial lures and flies only.  Pick up a copy of the regulations and make sure you flollow them.  If I were to fish it, I would slide a 5mm red bead down my leader above the hook and drift it through some of the deeper pockets and slot.  There are also a ton of farm ponds around Dallas/Monmoth/Salem area with many different species available.  Jump over the coast range to the rivers and creeks and lakes (again check the regs).  Lakes are pretty much open all year, rivers on the coast usually have different sections open all year for Salmon/Steelhead and limited for Trout.  Winter Steelhead are pretty much done and Spring Chinook are showing up in the rivers now.  Summer Steelhead will start up in a month or so.  Pick pretty much any lake along Highway 101 along the coast and you'll find fish, even if it looks too small.  You'll find Trout, Bass, Crappie, Blue Gill, Catfish.  Fish the jetties along the coast for many different saltwater species. 

Basically, you have arrived in fisherman's heaven.  If it's wet and flowing, there'll be fish.  If it's wet in August, there'll be fish.  Little creeks you can step across will have fish, all of the rivers will have fish, most of the lakes and ponds will have fish.  If it's private property, ask permission.  Worst that can happen is they say no and you move on to the next.  Follow the regs and you can't go wrong.

JustDave

Im chris and I live in eugene. I fish for edible fish mostly in rivers but do lakes and sometimes ocean fishing

Im chris and I live in eugene. I fish for edible fish mostly in rivers but do lakes and sometimes ocean fishing

Live in Eugene. Notice thete hasn't been a post since 2008 on here. Maybe I'm too late. Well I fish for them all. Mostly bass, a couple steelhead, and fly fishing for bass, steelhead and trout.