Portland, Oregon Metro Fishing Report
For all intents and purposes, salmon fishing downstream of Bonneville Dam is done. There remains some excellent opportunity for coho upstream of Bonnville Dam; be there early to score results at the mouth of the Klickitat River.
Coho numbers over Willamette Falls are still quite good, but they will taper dramatically this month. There are a few anglers focusing on catch-and-release sturgeon fishing, but the mainstem Willamette will remain quiet for the next several months.
Upper Willamette Valley Fishing Report by Terry Otto
Coho salmon finally moving into Willamette tributaries following big rains, but bite is spotty. Trout lakes and rivers bite affected by high water.
Best bets for weekend fishing:
The coho have finally moved into the Willamette River tributaries. Over 24,000 adult coho have now passed the Willamette Falls. However, the long wait for rains means these fish have been holding for a long time in warm, low water, and they often turn dark when that is the case.
You can check the Willamette Falls fish counts here. You can check the Willamette River Gauge at Salem here.
Several waterbodies will be stocked with trout this week.
Cascade Hike-in Lakes offer beauty, serenity, and the potential for untrammeled fishing opportunities, but the snow will soon close access in the high country. Check conditions before you head out to these destinations.
Trout stocking
Stocked the week of Oct 27-31:
Alton Baker Canal
Scheduled to be stocked the week of Nov 3-7:
Timber Linn Lake, Walter Wirth Lake, Alton Baker Canal
You can check out the trout stocking schedule here.
Santiam River, North Fork
River levels best for fishing are at or below 3,000 cfs, and the river is currently running at around 2,500 cfs at the gage in Mehama. The summer steelhead run is complete for the most part. Over 24,000 coho salmon have migrated above Willamette Falls so far, a good proportion of them destined for the North Santiam. Most of the action is still in the lower sections of the river below Stayton, however the forecasted rain for this weekend will likely push many of these fish higher up and into their spawning tributaries.
Mike Ferris of Fishermen Mike’s Guide Service has been hearing reports of good numbers of coho between Shelburn and Greens Bridge. However, the bite has been spotty. Anglers are twitching jigs in the deeper sections. Bobber and beads is also a good technique. Many of the fish will be dark, a consequence of the late arriving rains this fall. However, there are still fish in good condition. Anglers will need to sort through what they catch.
Remember, the use of bait is now not allowed as of November 1.
You can check the gauge at Mahama here.
Santiam River, North Fork above Detroit Lake
This river is open year-round to fishing, but river conditions are tough with the rising water. Currently, flows are around 520 cfs. Dead-drifting a nymph fly or slow retrieving a small spinner can sometimes coax larger trout to bite.
Santiam River, South Fork
Fishing is generally best when flows are below 3,000 cfs. Flows are currently at around 3,100 cfs at the gage in Waterloo. Matt Helseth of Matt Helseth Guide Service reports that the coho have come in at last following the big rains, but he reports the fishing has been inconsistent. “Seems like the big rain we had pushed a lot of coho up into the tribs,” said Helseth. “Now would be the time to fish the upper Santiam. However, fishing has been pretty spotty overall in the valley where I fish.”
McKenzie River
Last stocked the week of September 1, with 2,000 hatchery rainbow trout. Bait can no longer be used as of November 1. Anglers may now only use lures and artificial flies. The river is clear and the levels are slightly above normal, so wade with caution. Water clarity is reportedly good.
Nymphing Remains a productive method, especially in the morning before the sun hits the water. On cool days it may work all day. Effective patterns include: Possie Bugger, Jigged Hares Ear, and a variety of Caddis patterns.
Coast Fork Willamette River
Last stocked the week of July 28, with 800 hatchery rainbow trout. The river is open to fishing all year for trout, hatchery Chinook salmon, hatchery steelhead and wild steelhead over 24 inches. The use of bait is now prohibited as of November 1. In addition to five hatchery trout, two wild trout may be kept daily.
No recent report on angler success.
Foster Reservoir
This reservoir near Sweet Home was stocked several times in September with hatchery trout. Besides trout, look for smallmouth bass and yellow perch near underwater structure and drop-offs. Please remember that only kokanee and adipose fin-clipped trout may be kept as part of the 5-trout bag limit, but there are no limits on size or number of bass.
Members, read all the details and The Guide’s Forecast right here.
Clackamas and Sandy
Clackamas River Fishing Report – With few hatchery coho left in the system, fewer fishermen are in pursuit of them. The Clackamas has a great catch and release wild coho option, especially with its distinct late-run coho, which are just now coming in, in catchable numbers right now. Still, non-comsumptive coho fishing hasn’t really caught on around these parts so few are participating in the fishery.
There are certainy fish around, and they are well distributed in the watershed given the most recent water conditions. Following the big water last weekend, and the one we’re currently on right now, Anglers will find the river a bit out of reach for the next few days.
The early run coho will have more color to their skin, while the late-run fish will still be quite bright this time of year. You can keep up to date with the counts HERE, but late run coho are not nearly as abundant as early run, with the early run numbers headed towards 9,000 adults. Late run fish are nearing 300 returnees and will likely top 2,000 adults by late December.
There’s a few fall steelhead around too, are they ever a thing of beauty if you get so lucky as to catch one. There’s only a handful of them in the river right now and I’ve only ever heard/seen of a single fall steelhead caught a few years ago, but they are magnificent.
Sandy River Fishing Report – Avid angler Jeff Stoeger shares: The river is currently running at 9.42 feet and 50 degrees with two feet of visibility. After a significant rain event this past week, the river level rose from its long-standing mark of 7.66 feet to just over 10 feet, with water clarity reduced due to melting snow below 5,000 feet. The recent wet weather brought over 2.5 inches of rain, but conditions are expected to dry out for the weekend.
During a visit to the hatchery, I observed a notable increase in coho returns. Before the rain, only 749 hatchery coho had come back, but following the rainfall, the hatchery received an additional 1,181 coho, bringing the total to 1,929. The hatchery will begin spawning on Wednesday. Anglers reported good fishing activity at the hatchery hole and at the mouth of the Sandy River, with many successful catches from both the bank and boats. The lower river is still producing some bright chinook as well.
Find the full report and forecast for Members on this page here for the Clackamas and Sandy Rivers.
North & Central Coast Fishing Report
With a double whammy on river rises for most North Coast river systems, anglers did not have abundant opportunity to take advantage of fall Chinook stocks, and in some cases hatchery coho that were available on the Trask and North Fork Nehalem River.
Chinook of course was the main draw but drift boaters that put in a good day’s effort we’re far from impressed with their end result. Despite ideal water conditions for some of these days, angler struggled to catch Chinook on most North Coast systems.
And speaking about that, pro guide Rob Gerlitz (503-812-4950) sent over a photo of a nice Kilchis River Chinook that he got his client into, while largely pursuing chum salmon on that river. Rob has had some 20+ chum days so far this season.
The Nestucca River Produced a few fall Chinook following the last rain freshet, but overall, like most North Coast systems, it was far from impressive. Anglers must remember that they are only allowed to fish downstream of first bridge.
Few anglers fished on the Nehalem, it’s a waste of time for Chinook by mid-October, at least fresh fall Chinook.
North Fork Nehalem coho anglers found a few fish on the last rain freshet. Hatchery workers found 200 fresh coho in the trap on Wednesday, adding to another 500 that they’ve already seen this year.
Siletz, Salmon and Alsea River Chinook fishers are about done for the season. There were very few fresh fall Chinook returning to this system following the last rain event. The fresh fish were blowing right through the tidewater reach, not giving anglers much of a chance for success. From the ODF&W recreation report, “Wild coho retention is continuing on a few of our Midcoast basins into November. Siletz, Yaquina and the Alsea rivers have seasons extending into November for additional opportunity”
There aren’t many estuary anglers left on the north coast, especially given the fact that flows are up and fish are on the move. Tillamook Bay remains a fair late season estuary option, but wicked winds kept most from being inspired.
The ocean was flatly off-limits last week, it’s been a big ocean lately, it’s just that time of year.
People should always call the Shellfish Safety Hotline at 1-800-448-2474 before heading out to harvest any shellfish or visit the ODA Recreational Shellfish Biotoxin Closures Webpage.
Find the complete report and forecast for Members in the Northwest Oregon section.
| Much more on the site for Chinook Members:Buzz Ramsey’s latest post (video) – Bobber Fishing for Chinook.This Week with Buzz dives into bobber fishing for Chinook with tactical insights and scenic river action—perfect for anglers chasing fall kings. Chinook Members can see his post HERE. Bill Monroe’s latest post – Did you catch what’s coming to dinner? From bloody tuna battles off Ilwaco to surprise marlin sightings and a skipjack speared in Sitka harbor, this wild season of Pacific fishing is one you won’t believe until you read it. Chinook Members can see his post HERE. You can find all the articles from these two professionals on this page.The Salmon Trout Steelheader article of the week: Roosey by Marc Davis. Marc talks about some great trout fishing on the east side. Chinook Members can see this post HERE. All the STS articles are located here.Not a Chinook Member? Become a Member or Upgrade here. Members head to the Member’s Landing Page to find everything you have access to. |
SW Oregon fishing report
Anglers can look forward to a more promising weekend as dry and warmer weather settles in. A recent shot of rain gave the Chetco River a boost, helping Chinook move upstream just as the bobber rule expired on November 4. With boatable flows now in place, Chinook catches have picked up significantly.
The Elk and Sixes rivers also received enough rainfall to spark Chinook activity earlier in the week. Flows are dropping, but one or both rivers may still offer fishable conditions this weekend.
Summer steelhead action remains steady in the Rogue, especially in the middle and upper sections. Anglers have reported good catches between Chinook Park and Robinson Bridge near Grants Pass.
For lake anglers, Lost Creek continues to produce trout, while Lake Selmac offers solid opportunities for bass and panfish.
The Chetco would be my best bet for nice Chinook this weekend. However, get there early and be patient. You can now fish with bait and plugs from a boat and on the bank without a bobber now. Expect it to be crowded, so be patient.
The Rogue Bay is over for Chinook, but coho anglers are tossing spinners around Huntly Park and Lobster Creek with some success.
Summer steelhead on the mid and upper sections of the Rogue River have improved from fair to good. Some anglers are targeting coho with fair to good success, twitching jigs. The mid-section of the Rogue has been closed for Fall Chinook above Hog Creek, so main focus has been summer steelhead. Catches have improved and it should be a nice weekend to get out on the river. Leaves are an issue now.
The Elk and Sixes rivers are starting Chinook season. Since they recede rather quickly, it’s best to check them the night before. If there’s still enough flow to drift boat down, success should be good for the weekend.
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.
Lost Creek Lake is a good bet for some good trout fishing. Bass fishing at Selmac is another choice to wet a line.