Portland, Oregon Metro Fishing Report – Metro anglers are focused on two or three fisheries in the area. The mainstem Columbia is still booting out fall Chinook, with better catches now reported in the “Dead Zone” (Troutdale to Warrior Rock). The best catches remain in the Columbia River Gorge near Bonneville Dam, where salmon are falling at a rate close to 2 fish/boat. The season continues to be extended, as a larger than anticipated return of Chinook is still driving opportunity.
The Willamette is choked with coho. Record numbers are ascending Willamette Falls, but the coho aren’t biting all that well for the amount of effort taking place. Anglers are frustrated and there are still some good days, mixed in with plenty of challenging ones; most effort is taking place near tributary mouths.
Find the full report and forecast for Members on this page here for the Columbia and Willamette Rivers.
Clackamas River Fishing Report – It seems it’s the year of the coho in the Willamette Basin, an exciting and surprising twist of fate, most welcome of course. Anglers fishing on the Clackamas have been pleasantly surprised at the opportunity, the hatchery return isn’t likely to last all that much longer, but a bigger than anticipated run certainly doesn’t hurt return timing either.
Mike Roberson of Fisherman’s Marine in Oregon City reports, “The bite is very good throughout the Clackamas River, there’s even a bunch of fish in Eagle Creek right now. Rain will help a lot. Everything seems to be working; jigs, spinners, beads and bait. Just a reminder that the Clackamas is a 3-fish limit river. I’m seeing a few pictures of just 2-fish “limits.” Anglers are actually allowed 3 adults per day.
Overall, it’s been a great year on the Clackamas for anglers and even though the bulk of the hatchery fish are already in the system, action for hatchery fish AND a likely improvement for wild fish, still has strong promise well into the latter weeks of October.
Sandy River Fishing Report – Avid angler Jeff Stoeger reports – The river is running on the low side at 7.74 ft and the water temperature is about 60 degrees.
The coho have entered the river and are spread out throughout. We need to get some rain to move the fish further upriver.
The coho are holding in various spots and are in water that is 4 to 8 ft.
I fished Tuesday and we hooked 3 and we were able to keep one coho hatchery jack and one nice bright chinook.
Find the full report and forecast for Members on this page here for the Clackamas and Sandy Rivers.
North & Central Coast Fishing Report – It’s peak season for fall Chinook on the Oregon Coast, but it’s certainly not like the good ‘ol days. The coho return looks to be strong again, but for north coast anglers, a 2 day/week fishery is often the only opportunity there is for a take-home fish.
Starting with Tillamook, Chinook are being caught, but more coho are falling than Chinook. That’s no surprise given recent history. One guide reported a 5-fish day, 2 Chinook and 3 wild coho, for 4 rods on Wednesday, a wild fish keep day.
On the Nehalem, pro guide Stephen “Spicy” Gettel (503-999-0904) reports, “We’ve been fishing mostly Wheeler up through Nehalem the last two wild fish days. Saturday was a solo test run and my rod was hot for about half the day (incoming tide). There are plenty of small wild coho, so barbless hooks are something to consider. Seeing some nice big fish in the mix though too.
Stephen stated he was going to seek out Chinook this week, but overall, the Chinook bite on the Nehalem has been slow this season.
The Nestucca has been its usual finicky self. It was good last weekend, but by mid-week, the fish were off the bite. Overall, the Chinook show on the Nestucca has been decent so far this season, but we’re still in peak season, which always bodes well for anglers.
We don’t have a regular source for the Salmon River, but it too is in peak season right now. The field reports I’ve received weren’t encouraging, but the ODF&W report had this to say:
Fall Chinook fishing has been good. With the rains we get this week, hopefully, the fishing will pick up in the bay this weekend. Bank fishing on the lower portion of the basin offers a decent opportunity for Chinook.
The Alsea is being the Alsea, slow start but ramping up as we near peak season. Soft tides this week put most of the effort in the estuary and the lower reaches of tidewater.
The Siletz continues its march towards greatness, at least goodness as anglers again reported fair catches this week. Trollers working tidewater with 360 flashers and spinners are taking the lion’s share of the Chinook. Softer tides this week have put most of the effort in the lower reaches and anglers have been able to fish both tides in the estuary too, where Chinook still cross the shallow bar on a soft outgoing tide. There are some anglers bobber fishing, but most bobber tossers prefer a stronger tide exchange.
Lee Richie took this 20-pounder mid-week on the Siletz tidewater. The Chinook took a “banana looking” Spin fish behind a lighted Pro Troll flasher (not of the 360° variety), when the fish bit just before sunrise. Lee reported seeing quite a few caught, about 1/2 coho and 1/2 Chinook. He thought maybe as many as 25 fish before 9:30 a.m., when most everything stopped. Some were trolling, some were on anchor with plugs and quite a few fish were taken on bobbers, especially by the guides. Thanks for the great report Lee!
Finally catch and effort on Yaquina Bay has started slow, but anglers were finding better numbers of salmon, both Chinook and coho, in the estuary. Chinook returns to date aren’t impressive, but that’s no surprise, coho are just starting to show and seem to be off to a good early season start.
Not many anglers were willing to head west into the big blue with the conditions we’ve been experiencing lately. I don’t know what possessed me to agree to go halibut fishing out of Newport. My friend Bill Kremers hosted myself and two of my friends for what I was hoping would be a productive trip out of Newport. At least the company was good, but we only ended up with one 36-incher for a rather full day of effort. We caught some other nice flounder but if the halibut were there, they weren’t very cooperative.
ODF&W’s saltwater creel report reflected low ocean effort:
Effort for halibut has been winding down, as anglers turn their attention to inland salmon fishing.
Dungeness crab both inside and outside of our coastal estuaries is good, but the meat content in the shells of these crustaceans is low.
Razor clam digging re-opens along Clatsop Beaches on October 1st, just in time for nighttime minus tides a few days later. Use EXTREME caution when digging in or near the surf. You can find updated coastal fall salmon regulations HERE.
Find the complete report and forecast for Members in the Northwest Oregon section.
Central Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Glenn Zinkus reports
Deschutes Steelhead Through The Lower River. High Lakes – Most Of The Mid Altitude Lakes Fishing Well. Metolius Hatches.
Weather Outlook Across Central and Eastern Oregon: Friday and Saturday temperatures will top out in the upper 70s and lower to mid 80s through much of Central Oregon. There will be a cool-down for Sunday and Monday, with highs at 70 or low 70s, with 60s in locations such as Sisters. Warmer weather returns on Tuesday.
Lower Deschutes River: Steelhead are in the river from the mouth to the Warm Springs to Trout Creek stretch, and anglers are catching steelhead all throughout the river. That said, Amy Hazel at Deschutes Angler also was finding not just steelhead, but mayflies around the Maupin area. Other reports of a pale mayfly, like a PED are in from other anglers in the Maupin area and below.
Middle Deschutes River: Coming up a bit as some of the irrigation subsides.
It may be time to take out those streamers on the Middle Deschutes with the increase in flows.
PMDs are still going. Caddis, and some BWOs are coming off the river. Jeff Perin reports that BWO emergers, cripples, and duns will cover you for all cycles of the BWOs.
Lake Billy Chinook: Recent good kokanee reports – fish in the 9 to 12 inch range – many towards the upper end of the range.
Fall River: Stocking the week of Sept 30 and again the week of Oct 7th with 500 trophy trout. Midges, microstreamers, some caddis are all working. There are increasing BWO hatches, and PMD hatches.
Metolius River: PMDs, Green Drakes (D. grandis and flavs), caddis, little olive stones, BWOS and mahogany duns are all present and popping. Jeff Perin reported earlier that the grandis were happening earlier in the afternoon. Plan to be there from noon to 5 to catch the action.
Odell Lake: Suttle is fishing well right now, the fall is fantastic. Kokes, trout – reports of some browns.
Prineville Reservoir: The reservoir is at 61 % full as of today and this is a good bet for bass and crappie. Lots of good crappie reports. The warm water anglers are now having great success.
Members can always see so much more in the complete report as well as the forecast for central Oregon by starting right here.
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SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome reports:
A 53-pound whopper Chinook was caught recently in the Chetco estuary (see main photo). The Rogue Bay is slowing down as many of the Chinook moved upriver towards their spawning grounds. Coho are coming in many of the estuaries like the Rogue, Coos, Coquille and Umpqua rivers. Of course some rain this time of year could help. Ocean goers should have a good weekend for remaining halibut, large ling cod and excellent bottom fishing. The middle Rogue is seeing better numbers of Chinook caught and the upper Rogue fish count tallied 2 coho so far while summer steelhead has been lackluster so far. There’s some great Fall trout fishing on some of the lakes that still have decent levels and the bass at Lake Selmac are biting.
Yes, you read it, a 53-pound Chinook was caught on the Chetco estuary…wow! That said and done, many more trollers are working the small stretch trying to get another one, but only a few (smaller) fish have been caught. Rain is needed to open the upper river stretch which probably won’t happen for a few weeks.
The ocean should be decent for boaters trying to get the rest of the halibut quota as well as great Fall bottom fish and ling cod action. Crabbing has picked up a bit for meatier crabbages and should improve further into the fall.
Winchester Bay on up towards Reedsport, Chinook catches have improved along with coho. Crabbing has improved. Salmon anglers are also getting better catches on the Coos from the jaw jetties up to Chandler Bridge.
The Rogue Bay boater pressure has decreased to less than a third of what it was a few weeks ago. A few Chinook daily are caught along with a high number of wild coho that must be released. Anglers fishing further upriver are having better success at Huntley Park tossing Flying C spinners for coho. Half-pounders are spread throughout.
Fall Chinook are rolling all over the mid-section of the Rogue River from Hog Creek up through Gold Hill. Anglers working wrapped plugs in the deep holes and seams have been getting a few nice fish. However, this late in the season, many fish are too dark to keep for any kind of eating. Decreased outbound flow from the dam has the river around 1300 cfs now and will concentrate fish in these holes. Summer steelhead are present too, but they’re not in great numbers. Many have been taken on plugs fished to target salmon, but it’s best to target them with silver spoons and side drifting worms with corky.
Lost Creek and Fish Lakes are low, but the cooler weather will make them good for Fall Lake fishing. Diamond Lake is still producing good catches of fat trout.
The main Umpqua is getting some decent catches of Chinook and an increased number of coho in the tidewater. Upwards from Scottsburg, the bass bite is excellent. The North Ump is slow for summer steelhead and the South Ump is closed.
Tight Lines 🎣 – Romer
Jeff’s expanded reports, multiple lake updates, and forecasts including his past reports can be found here for Members! There is SO much more.
Read this week’s SW Washington fishing report.