Portland, Oregon Metro Fishing Report – The news isn’t getting any better. With slow catches and slow adult counts at Willamette Falls, the current status of the fishery is certainly depressing. A mere 116 adult spring Chinook were caught in last week’s creel count. That’s 5 more than the previous week.
We should have nearly 20,000 adults over Willamette Falls by now, not even 10,000 adults are over. The escapement goal for Willamette River hatcheries is 30,000 adults, it seems unlikely we’ll be hitting that anytime soon.
On-river reports talk about seeing 4 fish for 40 boats at the head of the channel. Creel checks are backing up this poor showing. Experienced guides and anglers are getting blanked on a regular basis and it’s high time for more fish to show up, if they’re going to show up at all.
There were some fish caught in the Oregon City area, some incidentally caught by shad anglers, no doubt. Some certainly caught by trollers working the puddle under the West Linn Bridge.
Columbia River anglers aren’t doing any better. So much so that the joint managers of both states opened up the upper deadline from Beacon Rock to the Bonneville Dam deadline. While that’s good news for salmon anglers, it’s better news for shad anglers as they can now fish from a boat to target this abundant invasive species.
Summer steelhead catches on the lower Columbia are going fairly well. Metro anglers should consider a trip to Sauvies Island this weekend as plunking close to shore could score fair results.
Find the full report and forecast for Members on this page here for the Columbia and Willamette Rivers.
Clackamas River Fishing Report – The metro rain event took a toll on Clackamas River anglers this week. Although you won’t find many complaining, summer steelhead action had been pretty good prior to the soaking.
From ODF&W: We checked 2 steelhead for 25 bank anglers. Most effort at Dog Creek. We also checked 3 steelhead for 6 boats. They were all checked at Carver boat ramp.
Avid angler and Fisherman’s Marine and Outdoor employee Mike Roberson reports, “Steelhead are still showing in decent numbers, with little pressure on the river with the exception of Dog Creek. It’s still crowded up there, but there’s quite a few fish up there and spring Chinook have been showing up too.”
Sandy River Fishing Report – Avid angler Jeff Stoeger reports
Hello All. This week’s photo is of Eddie Estoy Sr with a beautiful native springer caught using a spinner. This is the only bright spot this week. We had close to almost two inches of rain over the last couple of days and it blew up the river. We saw the river climb up to 13.6ft and was flowing mud.
I had a guide buddy who floated the river to see what it was like, and he stated that the river under the Troutdale Bridge was like a class three rapid. The river is on the drop and as of this report, the river is running at 11 ft and is on the drop. The weather this week is also going to be sunny and warm for the next ten days with the temp reaching possibly the low 90’s on Saturday and the upper 80’s.
Find the full report and forecast for Members on this page here for the Clackamas and Sandy Rivers.
North & Central Coast Fishing Report – Despite ideal river conditions for Trask River spring Chinook, fishing on Tuesday was poor. ODF&W plants about 400,000 spring Chinook smolts in this watershed, we caught just one for a strong full day effort on Tuesday. Anyone wanna buy a guide business?
Bay trolling wasn’t much better that day, but it was better. Overall, guides and anglers are reporting challenging catches for this year’s spring run Chinook, but it should be getting better in the coming weeks.
Fresh-run summer steelhead should also be more plentiful in the Wilson, Nestucca and Siletz River systems. Surely this rain freshet was good for some species…?
Ocean fishing for halibut is improving, mostly out of Newport, but fair catches have been coming from Depoe Bay and anglers are finding some success in Garibaldi too.
Ocean salmon fishing is fair but bottomfishers did quite well last week.
ODF&W just announced a coastwide clam closure and it’s extensive. Both bay and beach clamming is closed. It’s important that you read THIS PRESS RELEASE if you plan on pursuing shellfish in the very near future.
Crabbing remains uneffected and is improving in the ocean, not so much in the estuaries.
Members – read the latest and complete fishing report and forecast in the NW Oregon section of our site.
Chinook Members also have access to…
- This week, Buzz Ramsey talks Trolling for Kokanee. Read his post right HERE.
- Bill Monroe wrote last week, Cashing in for free on the pikeminnow-bounty season. Read about it HERE.
You can find all the articles from these two professionals on this page.
- The Salmon Trout Steelheader article of the week is: BEEBE KINGS THE CURE FOR THE SUMMERTIME BLUES by Bill Herzog. View it HERE.
Upper Willamette River System Report – Contributor Glenn Zinkus
More And More Steelhead in the Willamette System – Santiam, Willamette and McKenzie. Detroit Reservoir Trout Are Hot.
Alton Baker Canal: Alton Baker was stocked this week with 1,200 legal size trout and receives 900 legal size trout next week.
Detroit Reservoir: As of right now, Detroit Lake surface elevation is currently at 1559.44 feet. Docks are in.
Check the water levels here: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/or/nwis/uv?site_no=14180500
Detroit Reservoir was stocked in past weeks with trophy trout, including this week with the 4,000 trophy trout.
Green Peter Reservoir: Water level at 1001 feet right now. Water level jumped 2 feet over the past week. Water level can be found here: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=14186100
EE Wilson Pond: EE Wilson Pond was stocked with 850 legal size rainbows last week.
South Santiam Steelhead/Salmon: There are more early summer steelhead this month than in recent years – as well as better very early summer steelhead numbers over the falls. There were 949 summer steelhead at Foster as of May 29th.
South Santiam Trout: Levels are great for fishing. There is an afternoon and evening caddis hatch going.
North Santiam Trout and Steelhead: North Santiam just opened this week. The North Santiam received 2,200 legal size trout two weeks ago, and will receive the same next week. This continues into August.
Willamette River – Middle Fork:
Climbed over the past day and 3,360 CFS at the time of this writing at Jasper. It’s coming down. Level at Oakridge is at 9.8 feet and dropping. Best fishing above Oakride – look at the North Fork of the Middle Fork as that section will clear first. Fishable in Jasper and below Dexter.
Willamette River – From Harrisburg, to Corvallis, to Albany:
The Willamette River is currently is at 8,130 CFS at Harrisburg, having spiked early in the week and now it’s receding.
Temperature range is climbing, and in a good zone now. I’m seeing temperatures in the 55 to 60 degree range this week, having warmed from the last report.
All of the Willamette and tribs have increasing numbers of steelhead and spring chinook passing through, with reasonable expectations for anglers to have some success. Swinging flies, and spinners accounted for some of the success that I’ve heard about this past week
McKenzie River – Trout: The mainstem McKenzie flow at Vida is 4,140 CFS – dropping since a spike early in the week. Temperature range narrowed during the spike, but I’d estimate the normalized temperature range from 50 to 56. The bug activity has increased over the past two weeks.
Members – find the latest complete report and forecast as well as past reports for Members on the Willamette Valley/Metro start on this page here.
Central Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Glenn Zinkus reports
Caddis Will Start To Take Over The Deschutes. Odell Producing Kokanees. Metolius Bull Trout Catches. Paulina Lake Trout Are Active.
Weather Outlook Across Central and Eastern Oregon:
Fair, warm weather are coming into Central Oregon. Temperatures in the upper 80s on Friday, and low to mid 80s are in the forecast in through the middle of next week.
The lower Deschutes canyon around Warm Springs and Maupin will also see temperatures in the 90s on Friday and perhaps Saturday, and 80s through the rest of the extended forecast.
Lower Deschutes River: The Lower D is up from last report at 4700 CFS at Madras and 6150 CFS at Moody. Water temperature ranges at Madras are in the 54-to-57-degree F range.
The levels have bumped up. Water temperature ranges are ideal.
The last hurrahs on salmon flies are best in the Warm Springs to Trout Creek day stretch. More forecasts below.
My success at Trout Creek came from swinging streamers – using a Skagit setup to get the flies down in some bigger water, and this can happen anytime.
Middle Deschutes River: Middle Deschutes is still in great shape for angling. Now that we’re into June, shift the patterns to PMDs, PEDs, Caddis and smaller stimulators. A general searching pattern like a purple haze is good.
Upper Deschutes River: Hearing great things about the Upper Deschutes – and itching to try it.
Lake Billy Chinook: Last reports over the previous week are of some good, consistent bull trout catches. No reports since June 1 however.
Crooked River: Crooked River has been fishing well. Caddis have been prevalent, and with the coming warmup, PMDs will get going stronger.
Check the flows and regional levels at: https://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/destea.html
Metolius River: The Met has been on fire. Green drakes became more prevalent through the river this past week. These are starting up in the mid-afternoons – typically during the afternoons from 2 PM to 5 PM.
Wickiup Reservoir: At 74% full. Reports of the kokanees being spread out and the bite is slow. Still, persistent anglers are catching some fish for a morning’s effort.
Crescent Lake: Crescent Lake at 20 % full – and there are some good reports of kokanee catches.. The levels came up through the winter.
Prineville Reservoir: The reservoir is at 100 % full as of today. Lots of good crappie reports.
Devil’s Lake: Just stocked this week, and I have earlier reports of trout on spinners.
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:
It’s gonna be a hot weekend with higher and coastal lakes a good choice to stay cool while soaking a line. Ocean goers should be able to get out for some great bottom fishing and search for Chinook. Expect some wind chop though.
The lower Rogue Springer fishing is wrapping up until the Fall run hopefully starts around the traditional 4th of July. As far as the mid and upper sections of the Rogue, expect lots and lots of floater traffic since temps close to 100 are expected this weekend. Best to get on early and get off early for the fair at best success of Springers and trout.
The Chetco is also producing some nice Cutthroat trout now.
The Umpqua systems are lackluster with shad and stripers mostly on the bite. Only a few Chinook have been “reported” on the main Ump.
All lakes and ponds have plenty of stocked trout and the bass/ panfish are biting as well.
Applegate lake, Lost Creek, Diamond, Hyatt Howard Prairie, Fish, and Lake Selmac are my best bets of good lake fishing.
Ocean outlook for the weekend is a bit windy, but bottom fishing has been excellent, and salmon hit and miss trying to find em. If conditions permit, there lots of halibut quota left and only a few are targeting them.
The Rogue River is Springer action happening mostly on the upper stretch from Dodge Park on up. Despite a (meaning 1) Summer steelhead has been counted as of May 31st, there may be more coming in since the dam has kicked up flow to 2400 cfs Monday. Around the Shady Cove area, fly anglers are working stone fly patterns to entice trout wanting a juicy salmon fly that are hatching now. Catches are good. Expect lots of river floaters!
Bass are multiplying and striped bass and shad are being taken on the main Umpqua. Shad have been reported as well on the Coquille River.
Tight Lines 🎣 – Romer
Read this week’s SW Washington fishing report.