Portland, Oregon Metro Fishing Report – Between a declining (if not dead) Willamette River spring Chinook fishery, and a mainstem Columbia River fall Chinook fishery that has not begun yet, most metro anglers will be headed west in search of better opportunities for fresh run salmon just now entering the lower Columbia.
Simply put, between low and warm water conditions, and a lack of quality salmon and steelhead present, metro anglers don’t have much to look forward to for the next few weeks. Thankfully, there are greener pastures just 90 minutes away.
Upper Willamette Valley Fishing Report by Terry Otto
River systems still producing spring Chinook, trout. Detroit Lake kokes improving, warm water fish peaking. High country trout lakes heating up.
Best bets for this weekend:
Spring Chinook in Santiam Rivers, McKenzie, and Coast Fork Willamette. Get them while you can, the condition of the fish will soon turn poor.
Trout, kokanee lakes good.
Bass, yellow perch, bluegill good in warm water lakes.
High country lakes good for trout
Stocked the week of July 14-18:
McKenzie R-2 above Leaburg Dam, Alton Baker Canal, Quartzville Creek, Santiam River North Fork-2, Leaburg Lake.
Stocked the week of July 21-25:
McKenzie River 1 and 2 above and below Leaburg Dam, Alton Baker Canal, Quartzville Creek, Clear Lake, Santiam River, Leaburg Lake.
You can check the trout stocking schedule here.
Cascade Mountain lakes trout
High in the Cascade mountains there are hundreds of lakes of all sizes that offer beautiful scenery, seclusion and excellent fishing. Lakes are stocked every other year, on odd years (ex. 2023,2025). 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, and the species stocked, click here. Zoom in on the map to see the lake name. Click on the lake to find the information. Learn more about fishing in the high lakes.
Santiam River (North Fork)
The river is currently running at around 1040 cfs at the gage in Mahama. The spring Chinook run for the Upper Willamette is complete and at this point all the adults are in their spawning tributaries. Most of these fish are above Stayton, but a few stragglers can be found in downstream sections. Fishing guide Matt Helseth of Matt Halseth Guide Service reports that the upper sections are producing some spring Chinook, but you have to be on the river early.
The summer steelhead run is also complete for the most part, about 4,500 summer steelhead and over 30,000 spring Chinook have passed above Willamette Falls as of July 20. A bobber and jig set-up or drifting a cluster of salmon eggs is the usual technique, but flies and spinning lures will work as well, depending on flow conditions.
You can check the Willamette Falls counts here
Middle fork Willamette River
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers refurbished the boat ramp on the south side of the Middle Fork Willamette just below Dexter Dam allowing drift boat and raft access. Chinook and summer steelhead fishing should be good June – July downstream of Dexter Dam, but will start to slow through August. A Columbia River Basin Endorsement is required for anglers targeting salmon and steelhead.
The Middle Fork Willamette above Lookout Point and Hills Creek reservoirs is open to fishing using lures and artificial flies. All wild trout must be released upstream of Lookout Point Reservoir. The Middle Fork Willamette River is not stocked with hatchery trout.
McKenzie River
The McKenzie was stocked the week of July 21st, with 2,000 hatchery rainbow trout. Jeff of The Fly Fishers Place in Sisters, reports that the river is lower this summer by 250 cfs than this same week last year. The majority of the fish are coming on Perdigons, Walts Worms, Frenchies and Jig Leeches either run as a Euro/Side Drift Rig or as a dropper under a dry fly. Another approach is a Chubby or Hippie Stomper as they have plenty of Foam to support a bead in many cases.
There are still a few Chinook being taken in the upper reaches of the system. Eggs have been the go-to bait.
Detroit Lake
Summer has arrived and with it the slow drop in water elevation from ever-decreasing inflows and evaporation. Most boat ramps are still in the water, however. Pretty much any technique will catch fish, but it might take some experimenting to find out what is most effective on the day you’re out there. For those anglers without a boat, there are recreation areas in both upper arms of the reservoir that allow for easy bank angling.
Big Lake
Located at the top of Santiam Pass off hwy 20 near Mt Hoodoo ski resort, this large lake is known for its wonderful views of Mt. Washington and for all kinds of recreational boating. The lake is stocked with several different kinds of trout fingerlings. Fishing is best in early summer and in September when there is less crowding. There are several campgrounds and hiking trails. Anglers should consider fishing early in the day or late in the evening during the busy season when the activity and noise from all the motorized activity is diminished.
Clackamas and Sandy are dropping, and migration is slowing
Clackamas River Fishing Report – Clackamas River spring Chinook are far more interested in migrating than biting right now, despite fair returns of adults in the system. Summer steelhead fishing is slow as well, but poor returns have graced most metro rivers this year.
Most Metro anglers anxiously await the return of coho to this system, which should start in around the 1st of September.
Sandy River Fishing Report – Provided by avid angler, Jeff Stoeger – Good morning, everyone! If you’ve been thinking about hitting the water, now’s the perfect time to try your luck. I’ve seen a handful of photos from friends who have had some excellent catches lately.
The lower river continues to produce bright, fresh springers. As for summer steelhead, the run is winding down.
Currently, the water level is 7.83 feet, and the temperature sits at a comfortable 67.8 degrees. Remember, from Oxbow to Lewis and Clark, you’ll be sharing the river with swimmers and rafters, so plan accordingly.
Get out there, enjoy the river, and tight lines to all!
Ocean fishing report –
Don’t forget to subscribe to The Guide’s Forecast YouTube Channel and turn on those notifications to find our reporting easily. Especially this time of year!
North & Central Coast Fishing Report – There is lots going on for saltwater cowboys, with salmon, bottomfish, halibut and albacore tuna all headlining the opportunity kiosk this time of year. Opportunity is driven by offshore weather, and we’re in a nice stretch of ocean possibilities.
Quality coho have been easy to access in the nearshore, with Newport and Depoe Bay leading central coast ports, but Garibaldi posting its fair share of successful anglers. Nothing beats the mouth of the Columbia River however, where limits are fairly easy to achieve. Chinook are starting to show in the nearshore ocean fishery, but Chinook fishing remains closed south of Cape Falcon.
The world famous Buoy 10 fishery opens on August 1st and it’s likely to be a productive one. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for frequent reports, paid Chinook and steelhead members will get more detailed reports and a forecast when they log into their accounts. Become a paid member HERE.
There’s ample halibut quota remaining, especially with the additional 60,000 lbs for the summer fishery. Halibut fishing can be sporadic this time of year, but there’s certainly plenty of them out there.
Bottomfishing remains productive with expanded opportunity for an additional keeper in your creel and cabezon open as well.
Albacore is all the rage in August. The best fishing should remain from Garibaldi to Astoria.
Coastal fall Chinook seasons also opened up on August 1st, but returns aren’t expected to blow anyone’s socks off. Reduced bag limits for Chinook are becoming the norm. There will be expaded wild coho fisheries however, which will certainly prove worthwhile.
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome reports
The Rogue Bay fall Chinook season picked up slightly from last week. Fortunately, the tidal rush of the Russian tsunami only took out a day of good ocean fishing for halibut, coho, and ling cod action. The weekend looks decent for ocean goers to get back at it. The mid and upper sections of the Rogue River are seeing more summer steelhead catches, but only fair. Trout and bass catches on many of the lakes and ponds are fair to great. Stripers and smallmouth bass angling on the lower Coquille and Umpqua had been pretty good.
The Rogue Bay Chinook season picked up this week with 30+ Chinook catches on Monday. Boat traffic has increased, and thus the number of anglers. Summer steelhead numbers are gaining, but the best catches have been in the upper Rogue River. There are some in the middle section, but they’re not biting well due to the heat and tons of river floaters! Fishing early before floater traffic is a must for best success on hooking a summer run steelhead.
The ocean outlook for the weekend is looking good with a variety of good fishing options. Coho catches from Brookings on up to Winchester Bay have been good this week, with many limits. Big ling cod, bottom fish, and halibut have been good earlier this week, too. Tuna might be within 40 miles this weekend.
Lost Creek, Diamond, Hyatt, Howard Prairie, and Fish lakes are still my best bets of good lake fishing. Fish early before it gets too hot. Lost Creek and Diamond have been excellent lately.
Read this week’s SW Washington fishing report.