Oregon fishing report
Portland/Metro Fishing Report by Bob Rees
The Willamette spring Chinook run is done. Passage numbers are Willamette Falls have slumped, even for summer steelhead, which have witnessed a much better year than we’ve seen in the last several.
Water temperatures have eclipsed 75°, lethal to most cold water species with prolonged periods of residency. Fish are moving into the cooler tributaries, but they’ll remained stressed until the weather cools down.
It’ll be a warm water fishery for the near future, until coho start to show in about 6 weeks from now.
Summer steelhead on the mainstem Columbia closes starting August 1st, the run has been dismal.
Columbia Chinook won’t show for at least a few more weeks, but action should be cooking in just another 3 from now. Until then, it’ll be a coastal show.
Upper Willamette Valley Fishing Report by Terry Otto
(updates from the past)
Reports from the area are minimal – folks are fishing elsewhere.
Willamette Falls fish counts
As of Monday, July 6, 30,979 spring Chinook adults and 680 jacks have crossed over the Willamette Falls. They are reported to be in all the upper Willamette River tributaries. The steelhead count has now climbed to 15,112 adults, about half of which were wild winters.
Trout stocking
Drought conditions are already impacting Oregon waterways. The Trout Stocking Schedule is subject to change. Check the field notes below or contact the local ODFW office for questions about a specific area.
You can check the ODFW trout stocking schedule here.
North Santiam River – You can check the gauge at Mehama here.
South Fork Santiam River – You can check the river gage at Waterloo here.
Sandy and Clackamas River reports by Jeff Stoeger and Bob Rees
Clackamas River Fishing Report – Fishing on the Clackamas is as stagnant as the river itself. There are still a few anglers plying the McIver Park reach, in search of summer steelhead and a rare bright spring Chinook too. It goes without saying, the mouth of Dog Creek is where all the interest (and some catch) is.
Although temperatures have been moderate, there’s still a great deal of interest to float the river by rafters and tubers this time of year. That said, since any anglers serious about their sport will go very early to try their luck, the floatie hatch really doesn’t interfere with anglers as most know that when the sun hits the water, action is about over for salmon and steelhead.
Action overall continues to be challenging for those still seeking spring Chinook and summer steelhead. There’s few fresh fish entering the system, so they’ve about seen it all.
Both species are simply waiting out the next phase of their lifecycle, with springers due to start spawning in early September if Mother Nature has her way.
Spring Chinook counts at the NF facility are tracking ahead of last year, and hatchery summer steelhead counts are tracking WAY ahead of last year at this time. Most of the summer steelhead are recycled back downstream for anglers to have another crack at, although not many recycled fish are caught.
Sandy River Fishing Report – Avid angler Jeff Stoeger fished the upper river on the morning of July 29th, landing a dark native during the outing.
Fish counts have been good in the upper river, with both native and hatchery fish being hooked in solid numbers.
The river level is currently 7.81 feet, with a water temperature of 63.1 degrees. Clarity varies by section. The upper river is running a silty green, while the lower river is clearing up and is nearly gin clear in places.
Angler traffic was light in the upper river, with very few people out. Traffic increases as you move downriver, where swimmers and tubers become more common.
The lower river continues to produce nice hatchery springers. Guide Barry Buckland has been putting his clients on quality fish in that stretch.
A jack steelhead was landed by Jeff’s brother-in-law. A bright native springer was also spotted being caught, and another angler followed that up by landing a beautiful hatchery summer steelhead.
North & Central Coast Fishing Report by Bob Rees
It’s been a fantastic ocean salmon season all along the Oregon Coast, with more Chinook showing up to the north, and at Pacific City. Newport is still producing good catches of Chinook as well, and the coho seem to be anxious to be invited over for dinner.
Most north and central coast salmon trollers are finding coho inside of 200 foot of water.
There’s been no complaints out of most Oregon ports, anglers are hopeful this great summer action will spill over to productive fall action in just a few short weeks from now.
Albacore fishing, usually going gangbusters by late July, took a small hit this week, but for most, it’s still worth the effort, especially on friendly seas. It’s only going to get better from here.
Halibut seekers saw better catches last week, but most are focusing on the salmon as an easy target, quite wary of the challenge halibut has posed for much of the season. Nearshore catches remain sparse.
More Chinook should be starting to show in the Nehalem Basin, with a likely peak around the 3rd week of August. It’s still early for consistent catches just yet, but more productive action shouldn’t be far away.
Spring Chinook are largely over now, with most freshwater anglers awaiting the fall Chinook run, which opens August 1st. Regulations vary by watershed so check fall regulations HERE.
Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for all the news and forecasts for the upcoming Buoy 10 fishery! Of course, subscribers will get a TON of information on how best to approach this fishery.
Much more on the site for Chinook Members:
- Buzz Ramsey’s latest post – Discover why now is the prime time to target hard-fighting albacore tuna and ocean salmon off the Oregon Coast—including expert tips on where to fish, how to catch them, and the best ways to enjoy your harvest! Chinook Members can read Buzz’s post HERE.
- Bill Monroe’s latest post – Summer arrived in a flash – After surviving a terrifying close call with lightning while out on the water, veteran outdoor writer Bill Monroe shares a harrowing story alongside vital advice on how extreme summer storms and wildfires are impacting local fishing and wildlife. Chinook Members can read Bill’s post HERE.
You can find all the articles from these two professionals on this page.
- Salmon Trout Steelheader feature of the week: From Salmon Trout Steelheader Magazine, Pacific Northwest angling expert Buzz Ramsey demonstrates strategies for targeting Chinook and coho salmon at the mouth of the Columbia River during the Buoy 10 season. He provides practical guidance on timing the tides, adjusting trolling locations along key river channels, and managing tackle effectively to increase your success on the water. You can see the video HERE.
All the STS articles are located here.
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Members head to the Member’s Landing Page to find everything you have access to.
Central-Eastern Oregon Fishing Report by Terry Otto
Central Oregon
Wildfire smoke and warm water remain the two big issues across central Oregon. Spring-fed rivers and high elevation, hike-in lakes offer the best escape, with cooler temperatures and lighter pressure, though smoke can still reach those areas too.
The Deschutes River steelhead fishery is under real pressure. Water temperature at the John Day Dam hit 71.5 degrees on Tuesday, and only 7,559 steelhead have crossed The Dalles Dam so far, well behind pace. On the Lower Deschutes, heavy smoke and an active wildfire have closed the river from Warm Springs to Trout Creek, along with nearby campgrounds; the water around Maupin remains open. The river could stay closed to steelheading if dam counts don’t improve before August.
Paulina Lake and East Lake continue to be standouts, with strong trout and kokanee catches, including kokanee in the 13 to 15 inch range and browns over 24 inches at East Lake. The Metolius River and Fall River are running cold on groundwater and fishing well despite the heat; Fall River was recently stocked.
Sunny skies and highs in the mid-80s to mid-90s are expected all week, keeping warm water a threat throughout the region. Air quality is mixed by location. Anglers should watch for blue-green algae blooms and check the Oregon Health Authority site before heading out, and carry a thermometer since hot water is making catch and release tough on local waters.
Stocking is scheduled July 27 through August 7 at Metolius Pond, Fall River, and Devils Lake. The best drivable lake options right now are Three Creeks, Upper Hosmer, East Lake, and Paulina Lake, and anglers should stop fishing once water hits 68 degrees.
Columbia River
The walleye bite near Rufus remains strong despite the heat, according to Gorge Outfitters Supply, with most fish in the 1 to 3 pound range and some larger ones mixed in. Schools are holding in 12 to 30 feet of water over gravel and rock, and there’s no sign yet of the bite slowing.
Southeast Oregon
Catch and release with no bait is now required through October 31 across Upper Klamath Lake and its major tributaries. Several waters are producing well right now: Willow Valley Reservoir for bass, perch, and crappie; Fourmile Lake for hatchery rainbow; the Wood River for brown trout; and the Malheur, Owyhee, Dog Lake, Deadhorse Lake, and Campbell Lake for good holdover fish and crappie.
The Blitzen River is flowing around 56 cfs with water in the 60s, and fishing near Page Springs has been good. The Chewaucan River is low but holds abundant redband trout; much of the surrounding land is private.
On the Klamath River, the section above Highway 66 is closed until October 1. Below that, the river is open year round to trout but closed to salmon and bait fishing, with a one-fish bag limit in the 12 to 15 inch range in the upper stretch. Flows are fair, and recent surveys found strong leech and scud populations.
Lake of the Woods was stocked with trophy and legal rainbow about a month ago, with fish now holding deep near 15 feet, and the lake remains full of stunted perch. Heart Lake is fishing well for holdover and stocked trout, though the boat ramp is still in rough shape.
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome (from last week)
Salmon anglers trolling out of Brookings—both on the ocean and inside the Rogue Bay—saw plenty of bent rods this week with a strong bite for coho and Chinook. Conditions look good to excellent heading into the weekend, making it another solid opportunity to chase salmon, halibut, and even run lighthouse trips for limits of rockfish and lingcod.
The Rogue Bay is edging closer to prime time for the Fall Chinook season. More fish are being caught each week, and the momentum is clearly building. 40+ fish were already caught by midweek with only a fraction of boats that will soon arrive, thus making for pretty good catch rates.
Farther north, anglers out of Winchester Bay continue to find Chinook in the tidewater up to Reedsport when ocean conditions keep boats inside. The weekend outlook is favorable there as well, with reports of schools of coho just outside the south jetty. Bottom fishing has been excellent, and a few boats even picked up halibut limits earlier this week.
Inland, wildfires and hot weather have pushed many anglers off the middle and upper Rogue River. While a few summer steelhead are around, most folks have swapped rods for rafts and floaties. For those still wanting to fish, the lakes are the best bet—especially ones high enough to escape smoke depending on wind direction.
Diamond Lake and Lemolo are great options for cooler air and steady trout action. Lost Creek, Howard Prairie, and Hyatt continue to fish well as dropping water levels concentrate trout. For warmwater anglers, the main Umpqua and Coquille remain productive for stripers, while the South Umpqua is a solid choice for smallmouth bass. Lake Selmac continues to deliver a strong bass bite.