Portland, Oregon Metro Fishing Report – With water temperatures heating up, and migration timing winding down, metro anglers are having a harder time finding viable options along our metro river systems.
Spring Chinook are still being caught in the Portland Harbor, for those that get up early to get the worm. The fishery is waning however and with the river hitting 77°, there are some small mortality event happening on our waterway to handle fish for release very carefully.
Pro guide Stephen Gettel (503-999-0904) offered up this bit of information. Stephen reports, “Water temps are gradually increasing still. I haven’t fished the Willamette since Sunday and the middle river was super dead, despite several fish being marked. Down at the mouth, it has continued to be good for some boats very early in the morning. I have some friends that had been consistent with multiples through the weekend and another friend that had a great day yesterday (Wednesday). Everything from small shiny blades to 3.5’s to stuffer baits and all the above with or without hoochies have been getting fish.”
Maintem Columbia anglers received additional opportunities last week, but the run is largely over and catches were far from fantastic. Most mainstem anglers are anxiously awaiting the return of a robust fall Chinook run, expected to eclipse 700,000 adults.
Upper Willamette Valley Fishing Report by Terry Otto
River systems low, fishing slow to fair. Local lakes good for trout and warm water species.
Low, clear water has the upper Willamette River systems fishing slow for Chinook, and even slower for steelhead. A few fish are being taken, mostly early and at dusk. Hot weather coming this week will not help, but conditions could improve by the weekend. However, warm water is sure to be an issue going forward.
You can check the Willamette Falls counts here.
Trout fishing is good in the river systems early in the morning and near dusk, but mid-day is tough. Summer patterns will prevail until fall weather cools the rivers down.
Trout stocked between June 30, and July 11:
Leaburg Lake, McKenzie River-1 below Leaburg Dam, McKenzie River 2- above Leaburg Dam, Quartzville Creek, Alton Baker Canal, Santiam River- North Fork-2. McKenzie River 2- above Leaburg Dam, Willamette River- Coast Fork, Alton Baker Canal, Clear Lake, Salmon Creek, Santiam River- North Fork 2.
You can check the trout stocking schedule here.
Almost 30,000 spring Chinook have passed over the Willamette Falls. Also, 8486 summer steelhead have passed the falls.
North Santiam River
The river is currently running at around 800 cfs, or 3.2 feet, at the gage in Mahama. Both summer steelhead and spring Chinook are present in the upper river, but the water is low and clear, and has made fishing tough. However, Matt Helseth of Matt Halseth Guide Service, reports that fishing for Chinook has been fair to good at times in the upper sections of the North Santiam. As of July 14th, almost 30,000 spring Chinook have crossed over Willamette Falls. Salmon eggs, fished a number of different ways, has been the best bait for springers. A few steelhead, but not many, are taking spinners or spoons. Bobber and bead can also be effective for the steelhead.
You can check the river gauge at Mahama here
Trout fishing has been decent, but the action is best either early or late. For fly anglers, nymphing has been good. Also, some Caddis and Stonefly hatches have been coming off. Gear fishers can get the fish on hardware.
There are several large, downed trees in the river creating some dangerous hazards for boaters in the lower river. For more information check out the Oregon State Marine Board website.
South Santiam River
The action in the south fork is also slow, according to Mike Ferris of Fishermen Mike’s Guide Service. Ferris recently floated the South Santiam, and was disappointed in what he found. He spent a lot of time below Foster Dam, and he was watching the super clear water for fish, but could find no schools fish. The river is also low enough that care must be taken when drifting the river. The anglers fishing for steelhead at the mouth of Wiley Creek have also struggled, but a few have been taken with hardware.
You can check the gauge at Waterloo here.
The McKenzie River
Fishing is slowing in the McKenzie for steelhead. The numbers over Willamette Falls are not great, and what steelhead there are may be tough to draw strikes from. The river is low and clear, and the water is bound to warm up with the hot weather this week
Jeff of The Fly Fishers Place in Sisters reports that the McKenzie is getting a little low for drifting, but fishing for trout is still pretty good early and late in the day. Fly anglers have had good success with dry droppers, and tightline Euro jig set ups. Caddis and Stonefly hatches seem about average for mid-summer, and there have been enough good mayfly hatch days to highly recommend fishing Light Cahill’s and larger Parachute Adams.
Cascade Hike-in Lakes
High in the Cascade mountains there are hundreds of lakes of all sizes that offer beautiful scenery, seclusion and excellent fishing. These small, backcountry lakes will remain fishable until they get snowed in this fall. Check with the U.S Forest Service Willamette National Forest for the latest info on wildfire-related closures. To see a map of high mountain lakes where fish are available, last year stocked and species available click here.
Detroit Lake
Fishing has improved for kokanee, and the trout bite has been good. The fish are running real nice sized, from 12 to 20 inches. It was stocked recently with 4,000 trophy-sized trout. Trolling has been effective, and anglers are taking some with bait. Powerbait has been effective when fished off the bottom. Trolling a Spinfish packed with tuna or other bait behind a lake troll or dodger can draw good bites from the trout. Anglers are reminded that they can keep 5 kokanee in addition to a 5-trout daily limit,
Doreena lake
The lake is 59% full. It has largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, yellow perch and bluegill. It is also stocked with trout and was stocked this spring with 5,500 rainbow trout. The bass are in summer patterns and are taking spinnerbaits, and bright colored soft plastic baits. The yellow perch and bluegill are taking worms. Trout fishing is slowing, but some are still taking Powerbait.
Clackamas and Sandy are dropping, and migration is slowing
Clackamas River Fishing Report – Warm water has the Clackamas River salmon and steelhead off the bite. Between low, warm flows and the splash and giggle hatch, only early morning anglers stand a chance.
Weekend anglers will get a temperature reprieve, but fish remain stressed under these conditions, especially spring Chinook.
Those still wishing to come across a summer steelhead, should fish the swift water with small baits and with great persistence. By 10:00 a.m. however, it becomes increasingly more challenging.
Sandy River Fishing Report – Provided by avid angler, Jeff Stoeger – I hope everyone is enjoying the weather, despite a few uncomfortable days of high heat. The fishing has been slow, with most anglers heading out early in the morning to beat the heat and avoid the sunbathers and swimmers.
The river is currently running silty green and could turn brown if the heat continues. Most fishermen have been fishing from Oxbow to Cedar Creek, where the summer and spring fish are concentrated. Cedar Creek is very low, causing the fish to be stuck and less likely to bite due to the pressure from numerous anglers.
The weather forecast indicates a few changes, with a chance of rain later in the week. For the best fishing experience, it’s recommended to get out early before the heat sets in.
North & Central Coast Fishing Report – With freshwater options for spring Chinook on the decline, anglers are looking to the salt for almost all of their fishing opportunities. Rivers are low and clear, making pursuing summer steelhead and spring Chinook in freshwater very challenging. Bay trolling is tough too, but remains the best option for those seeking the late-season springers that are largely headed to the Trask, Nestucca and the Siletz River systems.
The summer steelhead return to the Siletz, Nestucca and Wilson River systems is low, keeping anglers from getting too excited about this challenging opportunity. Sea-run cutthroat trout is a better small stream option, especially in the tidewater reaches of nearly every north coast system.
Most anglers are weighing their saltwater options, with salmon, halibut, bottomfish and now albacore tuna (south coast) hitting the docks in better numbers by the week.
The ocean out of the lower Columbia is boasting the best catch rates, but Depoe Bay and Newport aren’t all that far behind.
Newport and Depoe Bay have been top shelf options for halibut with plenty of quota still remaining.
Bottomfishing is good out of all ports, but the southern ports are producing some of the best catches, with a 5-fish bag limit now in effect.
Ocean crabs are largely softshell and bay crabbing is tough. Razor clamming is now closed north of Tillamook Head near Seaside.
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome reports
More hot weather is in store for the Rogue Valley and most interior places to fish. The coast would be my best bet to beat the heat and get on some excellent ling cod and coho fishing. Depending on where you go out of, wind might be a factor…..I know, it’s always a factor! Reports from Brookings and Winchester Bay this week show that the coho are starting to “size up,” and when you find them, they’re very scrappy and fun to catch. Surprisingly for this time of year, the crabbages have been in pretty good shape, with about 60% hard shells.
Besides the cool coast, you may want to head for some of the higher lakes like Diamond, Howard Prairie, Hyatt, Fish, Lake of the Woods, and the upper Rogue River towards Union Creek. Trout catches have been good, and the daytime temps have been lower than the valley. Take mosquito repellent!
The Rogue Bay Fall Chinook season is well underway now, as a few more boats are adding to the daily norm. The river flow has steadied, and subsequently, fish are more likely to “stack up” in the bay. This week, there were some good days with over 20 fish caught, and then some days where fewer than 10 fish were caught. However, keep in mind, there’s most likely a fair amount more not reported caught. Boat traffic on the bay is respectable, with some anglers working the holes a little further upriver. Weekend outlook is fair with probable windy and or foggy conditions from the inland heat.
The middle and upper Rogue River has some summer steelhead, but unless you fish really early, expect the river to be crowded with river floaters.
Other lakes like Lost Creek, Galesville, Applegate, and Selmac are “warmer” options as well.
Striped bass fishing on the Coquille is still good.
Striped bass are biting well on the main Umpqua River, as are the smallmouth bass on the South Umpqua.
Read this week’s SW Washington fishing report.
I can’t get the NW Oregon coast report. Ive logged in several times.
I must be doing something wrong
Thank you, Bob
Bob – sorry I missed this until now. If you are still having issues with getting access to what you need, please let us know by using our contact form.