Portland/Metro Fishing Report – Mainstem season extension!
Metro anglers got a few more days of Chinook opportunity, when state agencies extended the closure date through September 21st and re-opened Chinook retention to Buoy 10. This gives already successful anglers an extended opportunity through the weekend, with good catches reported from Bonneville Dam to St. Helens. The river reach downstream of Warrior Rock re-opens too. See the full press release HERE.
360° flashers with spinners or Super Baits remain the ticket, with a variety of colors working. Anglers are finding responsive Chinook deep in the channel, often targeting fish in 35 to 50 foot of water.
Willamette River coho fishers are starting to see numbers of coho build over Willamette Falls, which should stimulate interest for the above-falls fishery. Numbers aren’t nearly as robust as last year’s record return, but it’s still very early in the season.
Find all our fishing reports and forecasts for Members on this page.
Upper Willamette Valley Fishing Report by Terry Otto
Warm water species improving in lakes. Rivers low, waiting for coho, trout fair. High country trout lakes fishing still a good bet.
Only about 2,000 coho have crossed over Willamette Falls as of this week. And, that is combined adults and jacks. What is needed is rain to get them moving. The first rains will bring them up the Willamette, where they will stage at the mouths of tributaries. However, while the fish are in the Willamette, the warm water tends to make them tight-lipped. Once they enter the tribs the bite is much better.
The weather will be in the low 80’s to high 70’s, with light rain possible Sunday. As the weather cools the rivers will also cool, bringing better trout bites. The best fall hatches will soon arrive.
Best Bets for the weekend:
McKenzie, Santiam, Middle Fork Willamette rivers trout are active mornings, evenings
Several local lakes have just been stocked with trout
Warm water lakes are producing bass, crappie, and yellow perch
Trout stocking
Stocked the week of Sept 8-12:
Alton Baker Canal, McKenzie R-2 above Leaburg Dam.
Scheduled to be stocked the week of Sept. 15-19:
Small Fry Lake, Alton Baker Canal, Foster Reservoir.
You can check out the trout stocking schedule here.
Cascade Mountain lakes trout
Fall is a great time to fish the high Cascade Mountain lakes. There are less people and less mosquitos. These small, backcountry lakes will remain fishable until they get snowed in this fall. To see a map of high mountain lakes where fish are available, and the species stocked, click here. Zoom in on the map to see the lake name. Click on the lake to find the information. Learn more about fishing in the high lakes.
The McKenzie River
The McKenzie continues to be a strong bet. There have been a lot of good days with the trout taking Caddis dries, Parachutes, Chubby’s, Perdigons, Leeches and Sculpins.
North Fork Santiam River
The North Santiam is currently running at around 1,200 cfs at the gage in Mehama. Fishing for spring chinook is now closed. The summer steelhead run is also complete for the most part, although fishing continues into October. About 4,850 summer steelhead have passed above Willamette Falls as of Aug 28. A bobber and jig set-up or drifting a cluster of salmon eggs is the usual technique, but flies and spinning lures will work as well, depending on flow.
You can check the river gauge at Mahama here
McKenzie River below Leaburg Lake
The river was stocked the week of September 1st, with 2,000 hatchery rainbow trout. All non-adipose fin-clipped trout must be released unharmed. Few steelhead remain, and the Chinook run is over. Trout fishing is fair, but You should be able to catch good numbers of trout. Conditions are in good shape in the freestone stream section and the tailwater. The freestone section is a little below a normal level and clear, and the tailwater a little above a normal level and clear. Good flies right now include size 18 nymph, emergers, duns and spinners. Also, cream and Red (Blood) midges sizes 20/22, larva, pupa and adult. Larva and pupa midge flies, pre-rigged in tandem, are effective. You can fish them under a strike indicator keeping the larva fly near the bottom.
McKenzie River above Leaburg Lake (R2)
The river was stocked the week of Sept 8 with 2,000 hatchery rainbow trout. All non-adipose fin-clipped trout must be released unharmed.
Cottage Grove Reservoir
A few trout are still being taken, but the bite will improve now that cooler temps are arriving. the warm water fisheries are still the better bet right now. The bass can still be found near shore early in the morning, but as the sun climbs, they are moving into deeper water along drop-offs. Look for the yellow perch and crappie in the deep channels.
Members, read all the details and The Guide’s Forecast right here.
Clackamas and Sandy remain low but coho are showing.
Clackamas River Fishing Report – It’s no longer early for returning coho adults in the Clackamas River system, but anglers so far, are unimpressed.
The usual suspects are showing up on the usual spots, with the 24-Hour Fitness hole getting the most attention on the lower river.
Mike Roberson from Fisherman’s Marine in Oregon City reports, “There’s a few around, it doesn’t seem like much. I’m going to hit the coast this weekend but local action has been terrible. The 24-Hour Fitness Hole still has biting fish, but you know the routine there.”
By “routine,” Mike is referencing the amount of snagging that takes place in this spot, most unintentional, but none-the-less, it can bring out the worst in people.
Others are reporting the same, with most of the lower river effort taking place around the Highway 99 Bridge, both upstream and down. There’s already some natives showing up in the catch. Numbers at the NF Facility are about 1/3 of what they were at this time last year. Unless the fish are runninng really late, which could be the case, the run seems well over-predicted for this year’s return. That won’t be good news for Clackamas River anglers.
Sandy River Fishing Report – Provided by avid angler, Jeff Stoeger – Good afternoon All. I hope that you had a chance to get out and try your luck on the Sandy this last week.
There are coho in the river and the next big rain event we will see more fish entering the river. Guide Barry Buckland is floating the lower river in his Clackacraft drift boat and is finding some success. He landed a beautiful 10 lb. nickel bright fish the other day on a #5 blue fox spinner. The river is also holding some really nice fall Chinook and my buddy landed three nickel bright native Chinook the other day using eggs.
Find the full report and forecast for Members on this page here for the Clackamas and Sandy Rivers.
North & Central Coast Fishing Report – Offshore coho are hit and miss. Even Oregon’s most productive fishery in recent years is seeing its challenges.
Oregon’s signature September opportunity in the face of depressed fall Chinook returns is still progressing, but in previous years, the ocean coho quota was largely eaten up by this time. It’s still good, to the tune of about 1 keeper coho per angler, which is hard to be disappointed about. Garibaldi and Bandon continue to lead the charge for productivity, but other ports are worth your time as well.
As far as fall Chinook, well, read all about it, returns are depressed this year… again.
Even though that’s the case, there are still catchable numbers coming back and maybe we’ll learn to appreciate this incredible resource even more.
September opportunities for fall Chinook on the Salmon, Nestucca and Tillamook Bay often peak this time of year, but these fisheries have been slow to start, but certainly aren’t on the ropes either. As a general rule, soft tides promote bette fishing in the lower reaches of the estuary/tidewater reach, while stronger tides often produce better catches in the upper reaches. We’re in a transition from low exchanges to greater ones, so they could be anywhere in between.
The Nehalem is often a beacon for coho returns, and with both the Tillamook and Nehalem coho hatcheries transitioning to wild broodstock, hatchery fish returns will be later than normal. There aren’t many showing up just yet so Nehalem anglers are left twiddling their thumbs a bit so far.
The Siletz has been the bright spot in recent years, and with it’s shallow bay entrance (bar), these aren’t the greatest tides to bring in new fish, but anglers are hopeful for a repeat performance for this productive watershed. It’s going to start get interesting in the coming weeks if it remains the coast’s top target for fall Chinook.
Weather looks promising for offshore tuna, salmon, bottomfish and even halibut altough interest in the flatfish is waning with the season.
Those that target bottomfish need to be aware of the reduction in bag limits. Anglers are now allowed just 3 bottomfish, along with 2 lingcod (if you could be so lucky) for a day’s limit. You should keep a copy of this PDF HERE.
Fall crabbing is picking up, it looks like it’ll be a good year for “sea spiders!”
Find the complete report and forecast for Members in the Northwest Oregon section.
Pictured above is me, Bob Rees (left) with Bob Keerins, with a poorly photoshopped 43# Chinook Keerins took off of the Long Beach Peninsula around a decade ago. It was the last 40+ pounder to slide into my net, but more importantly, it was tamed by a giant himself, eloquently written about in Bill Monroe’s article below.
Typically reserved for Chinook Members, we wanted to share the life and times of this wonderful man, I personally emplore you to read it, celebrate it and recognize a man whose passion for Oregon’s fish, wildlife and under-privileged residents meant more to him than life itself.
Many of us know a Bobby Keerins and we’re better off for it. In these times of depleted runs and conflicting political attitudes, let’s celebrate the people we cherish most, friends, family and even foe, and take from them their greatest gift; living a life by example, to make each one of us a better human being on Mother Earth.
Please read Bill Monroe’s “A Big Fish.”
Central-Eastern Oregon Fishing Report by Terry Otto
Chinook excellent in the Columbia, especially at Deschutes mouth. Steelhead improving from the mouth to above Maupin. Cooler weather will improve trout bite in east side lakes.
Best bets for weekend fishing, (ODFW)
Steelhead fishing on the lower Deschutes has been good this summer
Following recent stockings anglers report good fishing on the Fall River.
Anglers continue to report excellent kokanee and trout fishing at East, Paulina, and Odell lakes. Kokanee are beginning to darken in preparation for spawning, but quality fish can be caught through the end of August and into early September.
August and September are good months for the Metolius. Bull Trout have entered the river to spawn and anglers report aggressive takes on streamers.
Anglers report good trout fishing at Hosmer and Little Lava Lakes.
Devils Lake was recently stocked with rainbow trout providing a great opportunity for paddleboard, kayak, or float tube fishing.
Anglers report excellent crappie fishing at Ochoco and Prineville reservoirs.
Trout stocking
Stocked July 14-18: Hosmer Lake, Walton Lake, Shevlin Pond
Stocking in Central zone will resume in September.
You can check the ODFW trout stocking schedule here.
Columbia River Gorge
Fishing has been excellent for fall Chinook in the Columbia River, with the best bite, and the most pressure, coming at the mouth of the Deschutes. The friendly folks at the Gorge Outfitters Supply in Rufus report that lots of anglers are trolling with 360 flashers and hard plastic baits. Very few anglers are out for walleye, and there have been no reports on success.
Lower Deschutes River
At the Deschutes Angler Fly Shop in Maupin, Amy Hazel reports that while there are a lot of steelhead coming into the river, the warm water has meant spotty action. “They were not on the bite when it was hot,” said Hazel, “Now it’s cooling down and that could be a good trend, we’ll find out soon.” She said most fly anglers are fishing with spey rods and swinging small flies, mostly hare-wing patterns. The fish are spread from the mouth up to Mecca.
Jeff of The Fly Fishers Place in sisters also reports anglers are getting steelhead, and rates the fishing a little better than Hazel. He reports that anglers are getting the best results with floating lines. “Nymphing is good, but for now why not get them on the swing and a floating line? That is varsity level.”
Crooked River
The Crooked River is outstanding fishing right now and you can approach it a lot of ways. Try a swung Soft Hackle, fish the PMD hatch, Euro Nymph a Perdigon and Indicator fish with Micro Mayflies and Split Case Emergers. NZ Wool remains the #1 choice of indicator for this river with a small or micro OROS the next best indicator.
Metolius River
Green Drakes are showing up here and there but the intensity of the September Drakes has not yet revved up all the way. I think this coming week with the weather change is going to add fuel to the rev. This includes the Flav #14 and the bigger Drakes that are usually #10, but can range from #8 to #12 and the fish can be quite selective to the size on some days, and other days they can be agreeable to any size.
Davis Lake
Anglers report good bass fishing near the lava flow and good trout fishing near the Odell Creek channel. Recent sampling by ODFW found an abundance of largemouth bass in the 2-3 lb range, but few fish larger than 3.5 lbs.
Fly-fishing only, barbless hooks required. Catch-and-release for trout. No limit on size or number of warmwater fish. Davis Lake anglers may encounter bull trout which must be immediately released unharmed.
Little Lava Lake
The lake was on fire this week with Callibaetis action coming from all stages of the life cycle at different times of the day. The other standout was with my Jiggy Beetle for several customers!
Leeches and Chironomids under an indicator will round out what is important, and Ants will compliment the beetle as another choice when fish will feed at the top but there is not a hatch.
East Lake
The Callibaetis action has been very good. 3 flies that have been better than most are the White Extended Body #16, a Harrop’s Captive Dun and a Grey Comparadun #16. The Nymph that is the best is a Callibaetis Cate, and a Red PT Jig is right up there and Crostons Callibaetis Jig is also money. Spinners are usually prevalent in the AM. Beetles, Ants and Grasshoppers are good along the banks. Chironomid fishing is good from 12 to 18 feet with an indicator, and from 19 to 35 feet on a type 7 with a dangle approach.
Members can always see so much more in the complete report, as well as the forecast for central Oregon, by starting right here.
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome reports
Rogue Bay Chinook catches have slowed down. Hopefully this is due to the decreased outflow from the dam this week, making for a temporary slowdown 🤞. Some coho and even a few steelhead have been taken up at Lobster Creek. Most Chinook catches are from the jaws on up just past the bridge.
A limit increase to 3 fish in the Coos Bay area have anglers chomping on their rod tips for Saturday’s opening of wild coho retention on the Coos and Coquille rivers.
The ocean should be good again for the most part. Anglers have seen many limits of big ling cod, some nice halibut into the 50-pound range, tuna within 50 miles, and lots of assorted rock fish. Crabbing has also been good out of most ports as well.
The mid-section of the Rogue has seen increased angler pressure for Fall Chinook. Only a few have been taken, but now with cooler weather, it might perk up. Summer steelhead on the mid and upper sections of the Rogue River continue to be slow. A few half pounders are being taken, however. There are fish all throughout the river. Plugs are the best choice and doubles your chance for either.
The main Umpqua is now closed for Chinook. However, there are lots of bass to catch on the main and both forks of the Ump. Whatever you do, wherever you wanna fish, have a great, safe, and enjoyable Labor Day weekend. 🎣😎
Lost Creek, Diamond, Hyatt, Howard Prairie, and Fish lakes are still my best bets for good lake fishing while they still have good water levels. Lost Creek, Howard Prairie, and Diamond have been good lately and are my best bets for lake fishing.
Be safe, be nice, and enjoy!
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.