Portland/Metro Fishing Report – With Chinook fishing closed, anglers are having a hard time getting motivated to target coho on the mainstem Columbia. There are fish available, but success rates have been slow river-wide for coho salmon. The mouths of the tributaries, particularly on the Washington side, are the best bet.
Upper Willamette River anglers are catching a few coho at the tributary mouths. Fishing is much slower than anticipated, coho counts at the falls are running half of what they were last year. The coho prediction is way off the mark. Jack counts are impressive however, for what that’s worth.
Clackamas River Fishing Report – Clackamas River anglers remained frustrated, hoping for a change of pace if the rain ever arrives. Low water has many coho staging at the mouth of Eagle Creek, with few being caught on a daily basis. Coho have been slow to migrate due to these less-than-ideal water conditions.
Sandy River fishing report – Avid angler Jeff Stoeger reports – I hope that you all had a chance to get out and fish this week. The river is running at 7.8ft and will stay that way until we get the first good rain event.
Here are the numbers from the hatchery as of the 7th of this month. Hatchery coho collected this week was 500 for a total 560, wild coho for the week was 74 for a total of 87 passed up Cedar Creek. Summer steelhead this week was 24 out of a total 351. There is fish to be had and certain areas are seeing lots of pressure.
Find the full report and forecast for Members on the Sandy and the Clackamas from this page here.
North Coast Fishing Report – North coast anglers are targeting wild coho, but the fishery is slated to close after this Saturday. Chinook are in short supply in many systems, effort is likely to drop when the opportunity for wild coho does.
The ocean remains open for Chinook, but very few are being caught. Bottomfishing remains good in the nearshore and fair offshore as well. Most offshore anglers are packing it up for the season, but crabbers remain interested in ocean waters just outside estuary entrances. This “fishery” also closes after October 15th, Chinook remains open through October 31st.
No sign of significant rain to bring in more Chinook. Hopefully rain comes soon or we’re destined for another Chinook die-off, like the one that was responsible for this year’s poorly performing return in the Tillamook Basin in 2019 (Press release HERE).
Fall opportunities are uncharacteristically low for the Oregon Coast this time of year. Odd for sure, and hopefully not a pattern for the years ahead.
Soft incoming tides should be good for bay crabbing this weekend.
Don’t overlook fall trout opportunities on the coast, the north coast stocking schedule can be found HERE.
See the full North Coast Report and Forecast for Members right here.
Willamette River System Report – Contributor Glenn Zinkus reports:
Alton Baker Canal: Alton Baker Canal was stocked with 750 legal size trout. As always, a great put and take option for anglers and families in the Eugene area. Alton Baker will be stocked weekly into the fall.
Detroit Reservoir: Kokanee reports this week indicate a slowdown in the fishing. Fish are down deeper, but anglers are not reporting much catch.
At this point, there are more reports of the kokanee turning – losing scales and color in the meat.
Detroit was stocked up through the end of June with trophy trout each week. The deeper, cooler waters of Detroit make this a good trout fishing option, in depths below 20 feet and at times closer to the surface.
Green Peter Reservoir: No new kokanee reports, but there are some reports of anglers catching bigger holdover trout.
Last week I reported there are more anglers seeing signs of the kokanee turning – losing scales and color in the meat.
Fishing near the mouth of Quartzville Creek for trout can be effective. Trout have been stocked in Quartzville Creek.
Green Peter received 4,000 legal size trout at the end of May. Water level is dropping this week. Water level is at 960 feet right now. Water level can be found here: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=14186100
As a caution, there are some reports of thefts from boat ramps including catalytic converters.
Quartzville Creek: Quartzville Creek flows are too low for fishing right now at around 20 CFS.
Junction City Pond: JC Pond was stocked the end of May with 1,000 legal size rainbows. Good local option for southern Willamette Valley anglers. Note that Junction City Pond stocking is complete for the season and resumes again in the fall.
Timber Linn Park Pond: Was stocked with 1000 legal size rainbows at the end of May. Note that Timber Linn stocking is complete for the season and resumes again in the fall.Can you believe there is MORE? Find the full report and forecast for Members on the Willamette Valley/Metro from this page here.
This is the time of year that Glenn reports bi-weekly. You can find a copy of the fishing report from last week here and Members can always see the latest reports for this section starting on this page here.
Central Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Glenn Zinkus reports:
Fall River and Metolius Fishing Well. Good Smallmouth and Walleye Fishing Happening In the Mid Columbia Region. Hosmer and Crane Prairie Fishing Well
Weather Outlook Across Central and Eastern Oregon:
Summer-like temperatures continue.
Temperatures throughout Central Oregon will in the 70s through the Cascade Lakes Highway area, the Metolius, and other parts of the high desert through the weekend and into next week.
The Deschutes Canyon will have temperatures in the 80s through the weekend and next week.
There is no chance of rain over the next week.
Lower Deschutes River:
Water temperatures range from lows of 54.5 degrees to highs of 55.5 degrees near Madras with a flow of 3620 CFS.
Water temperatures range from lows of 56 degrees to highs of 59 degrees near Moody with a flow of 4020 CFS.
The shops and anglers are reporting that nymphing is the way to go. Nymphing this past week has been effective, as well fishing a bead head leech. Blue and green Perdigons – bead size adjusted up or down depending upon water speed and depth.
Some occasional caddis and BWOs are present. But note, dry fly fishing is hit and miss right now.
October caddis are emerging at night.
Middle Deschutes River: The Middle Deschutes has been fishing well – good October fishing. Fish nymphs and streamers at any time, and there are some PMD and BWO hatches going now, as well as a tan caddis in the afternoon and evenings.
Upper Deschutes River: Closed as of Oct 1 for the season.
Haystack Reservoir: Fill level is 34 %. Bass fishing has been excellent.
Effective Sept. 16 through Nov. 30, in Haystack Reservoir, there are no size limits, bag limits, or gear restrictions for all gamefish.
Lake Billy Chinook: Kokes are stacked up in the Metolius Arm.
Crooked River: Closed to angling due to low flows.
Members can always see the full reports for this section starting right here.
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome reports:
Anglers have been beating the river estuaries to a froth in the low flow conditions and are anxiously awaiting a possible rain event in a week or so. If so, that should maybe be enough to get more fresh fish in and moving up. Also possibly starting the Elk and Sixes Chinook season.
The hot or hottest spot in SW Oregon is still the Chetco estuary. Boaters trolling the estuary are picking up some nice Chinook as well as bank anglers drifting their bobbers up river at the popular gravel bar holes. The beautiful weather as of late isn’t helping the low low rivers and streams bring fish up, but is soon to “hopefully” change in another week🤞.
The Rogue Bay Chinook run is winding down and more coho enter the system despite the good numbers of fish lingering around the estuary. Some fish that have been around awhile and just can’t wait any longer have migrated upriver but the flow is very low and clear and fish are pretty “tight lipped”.
The mid-Rogue River is at it’s Fall low hovering around 1100 cfs. A few anglers are working the deep water around the canyons targeting salmon of which I did witness 1 caught last Sunday among the plethora of end of season rafters. Few anglers are targeting summer steelhead since the water is low and clear and weeds are a factor for much success….. of which has been slow.
Halibut season which has been extended by ODFW till October 31st to the southern sub area saw some bent rods and sore cranking hands as some nice limits out of Brookings were had earlier in the week. As long as the weather/ ocean conditions hold, it’s definitely worth the 2-3 mile ride out to the 200+ feet of water out of Brookings-Harbor. There’s still around 30% quota left!
The Coos basin estuary has seen increased coho catches from Charleston up through the airport area. Chinook catches upriver from the Empire boat ramp up to Chandler bridge have been fair to good depending on the day.
Winchester bay is producing nice crab and anglers are getting fair catches of salmon in the main Umpqua estuary.
The north Umpqua is producing some nice summer steelhead
Be safe, be nice and enjoy!
Jeff’s expanded report, multiple lake updates, and forecast in this week’s version for Members!
SW Washington by Ian Carter
It goes without saying that the lack of rain is on everyone’s mind. Anglers in our region are scattered looking for the Coho bite. There are many angling pursuits other than Salmon right now. If you don’t have a hot bite to get to, maybe try something new.
REMINDER, please verify the regulations before fishing any body of water
BEST BET – Fishing the Naselle, with a Razor Clam dig on Friday evening at Long Beach.
Lewis Report
This week I fished with my son, who just moved back from Montana. Monday morning, we spent a few hours focusing on the hatchery to Johnson flats. The first part of the morning was spent hovering eggs by the outlet pipes. Of a half dozen boats in the 3 hours we fished that area; we observed 3 Coho and 2 Chinook caught. There were so many fish jumping that on three different occasions they almost jumped into the boat. Jumping Coho were the closest we came to hooking any in that area. These smaller A run fish are notoriously closed mouthed and they made the point today.
Kalama Report
I unsuccessfully completed some research today to determine the planned date for the weir removal. One could anticipate nothing happening until rain comes. The river is barely a trickle, with virtually no fishing pressure. Today at Modrow Bridge launch, there were no vehicles.
Cowlitz Report
Dave Mallahan with Dave’s Guide Service just finished for the day (Wednesday) and told me they killed five today. Fishing is by far less than the twenty fish days he is accustomed to this time of year. He went on to say, basically the bottom line is we need rain and a bunch of it. WDFW anglers’ checks reported the following: Cowlitz River I-5 Br downstream – 11 bank rods had no catch. 1 boat/1 rod released three coho jacks. Cowlitz River Above the I-5 Br – No report.
Last week, Tacoma Power employees recovered 5,881 coho adults, 1,226 coho jacks, 329 fall Chinook adults, 40 fall Chinook jacks, 100 cutthroat trout, 37 summer-run steelhead adults, and three spring Chinook adults over six days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.
Washougal Report
Chinook are off limits and Coho have yet to show. Coho fishing in the Columbia by the mouth could be a good possibility. Try trolling plugs or hoochie spinners. Historically, the Camas Slough has been a great place to catch Coho, but due to emergency rule it is closed to all Salmon and Steelhead fishing until the end of the year.
Toutle Report
Nathan at Sportsman’s Warehouse in Kelso didn’t have anything to report specifically this week. Based on what’s going on in the rest of our geographic area, I would assume things at this location to be about the same.
Naselle Report
Release all wild fish on this river. Currently only open below the Hiway 4 bridge until October 17th. There are very complex “fishing zones” on the Naselle, so please consult the Fish Washington App. I highly recommend the App as it’s been greatly improved since the debut a few years ago.
Columbia Gorge and Tributaries
The high point is for the area is Drano Lake, albeit it busy. Fishing success has been very good. WDFW creel check report shows: Wind River – No report. Drano Lake – 95 bank rods kept seven Chinook, three coho, four steelhead and released 15 Chinook and three coho. 100 boats/286 rods kept 64 Chinook, two Chinook jacks, 79 coho, 20 steelhead and released 24 Chinook, 15 coho, one coho jack and 16 steelhead. Klickitat River below Fisher Hill Bridge – 16 bank rods released one Chinook jack. Klickitat River above #5 Fishway – Two bank rods had no catch.
Reservoir Reports
Merwin is fishing pretty good right now. The Kokanee aren’t as big as during the summer as most of those are in the spawning process. The best bites appear to be happening as the sun comes over the hills and early afternoon.
Columbia Summary
The Columbia isn’t receiving much pressure. In the Woodland area today, there were a few boats working the area outside the mouth of the Lewis. Trolling small hoochie spinners and plugs are effective in certain places for Columbia Coho. We need the B-run fish to show as they are more prolific biters. It appears that some Chinook are being intercepted and released in the pursuit of Coho. As the rules are today, the limit is three Coho down river from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line and two Coho above.
There is A LOT more for SW Washington Members here. Become a SW Washington Member here.
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