Willamette Valley/Metro - The winter sturgeon fishery in the gorge remained inaccessible during the inclement weather but warmer temperatures may improve the bite slightly. Smelt and shrimp will be the best offering. With the stabilizing weather pattern, the stretch from the mouth of the Willamette to the mouth of the Cowlitz should also improve this week.

The tropical storm which hammered the area early this week has raised water temperatures which were dropping to near 40 degrees late last week. The impact to the lower Willamette sturgeon fishery is a recent improvement. With temperatures remaining somewhat stable, the fishery is likely to continue improving this week. Winter steelhead were caught at Meldrum Bar before the storm passed.

Waters of the North Santiam are high and muddy. It won't fish this week.

A few Eagle Creek stock winter steelhead have entered the Clackamas although the deluge has the water up and roiled. At 24.5 last week, it is predicted to drop from high mid-week levels to 28 feet at Oregon City by the weekend.

The Sandy is not fishable following the torrential rain. Once the river falls into a fishable state, the winter steelhead fishery will be underway. Like the Clackamas, the bulk of the winter steelhead are later returning broodstock or native run although steelhead have already been caught prior to the storm.

Blue-winged olives (a typical winter pattern) will be effective for trout on the McKenzie when it drops back into shape. Junction City Pond is scheduled to be stocked with 12-inch trout. West Salish Pond was planted with brood trout last week.

Northwest ??? Northwest Oregon rivers were just falling below flood level late Tuesday and will likely be fishable again by the weekend. For fall chinook, most area rivers are done but the Wilson will likely hold another late shot of quality chinook destined for the Little North Fork of the Wilson when the river recedes.

The Kilchis also typically receives a December run of chinook but if the November run on this river is any indication, anglers shouldn't expect much. This river will clear before any other in Tillamook County. It could fish as early as Thursday.

Winter steelhead have been caught on the Kilchis, Nestucca, Wilson and North Fork of the Nehalem Rivers. A mix of both Alsea stock and broodstock steelhead were retained. For anglers specifically seeking early returning steelhead, the Necanicum, North Fork Nehalem, Three Rivers, Kilchis, Wilson and Nestucca Rivers in that order, should produce light catches well into the weekend.

Drift clusters of eggs or sand shrimp in higher flows and pull plugs as the rivers drop and fish begin to hold. Chinook are also likely to be found in the tailouts in higher flows and likely to take backtrolled plugs. Wild coho will also be present, are likely to be mis-identified as steelhead or small chinook and must be released unharmed. Male chinook will make the best tablefare as hens, even though they may be bright, often have pale flesh as they are so close to the end of the spawning season.

Record setting winds and heavy precipitation have toppled scores of trees along our riverbanks. Driftboaters must exercise extreme caution when drifting. The smaller streams will have accumulated the most obstacles but no river is immune to hazards of navigation. It will be a critical week to wear lifevests.

Bay crabbing is shot in most estuaries but Tillamook and Nehalem Bay sturgeon fishing may be worth a try. Sturgeon were observed in Tillamook Bay at the end of November and with most crabs back at sea, the action could pick up. Softer minus tides in the late afternoon make for ideal conditions for those using sand shrimp. Debris from the recent flood however may hinder success.

Southwest ??? Heavy rain is likely to have chased Dungeness out of local estuaries. While the ocean is open and forecast to lie down in the coming weekend, winds may prevent crossing of bars. A series of mild minus tides late in the day is predicted for Saturday and Sunday.

Angers hoping for warm rain to improve coho and steelhead fishing on the North Umpqua got it in spades. There should be fish available when levels drop.

The Elk will drop rapidly, as usual, and will provide a decent prospect for chinook to anglers who time it right.

The Rogue was heading for the nine-foot level and over 19,000 cfs at Agness on Tuesday this week. It'll be a while before this river will fish but fresh steelhead are coming in.

At Brookings, the Chetco topped 21,000 cfs and nearly 15 feet earlier this week but was dropping and should be fishable by the weekend. It remains to be seen if any of those late chinook which showed last weekend will remain but there will be winter steelhead available.

Eastern ??? As steelhead are settling into their winter holding pattern and with little effect from the storm, fishing has shown some improvement on the lower Deschutes.

Crooked River fly fishers are taking a mix of trout and whitefish in cold-weather conditions.