Portland/Metro Fishing Report – We’re hitting summer doldrums on the lower Willamette, with early morning bites using flashers and spinners to entice the late-run spring Chinook. Action hits early and not often, but catches were some of the best we’ve seen in the last decade for the same reporting week.
Temperatures are scheduled to moderate, which should prolong the already abbreviated bite. None-the-less, anglers will want to fish early and pray hard for success.
Shad fishing remains excellent in the Oregon City area. We should have another few weeks of prime opportunity.
Sturgeon fishing in the lower Willamette has dropped off, as these fish seek greener pastures in the estuary where sand shrimp, freshwater clams and soon, anchovies will make for an easier meal.
The mainstem Columbia closes after June 15th for adult spring Chinook. Fin-clipped jack Chinook and hatchery summer steelhead remain open but anglers are unlikely to score impressive results. Sockeye salmon season opens on June 22nd with a 1-fish bag limit. Check upcoming regulations HERE.
Shad fishing in the Bonneville reach is excellent.
| Upper Willamette Valley Fishing Report Upper Willamette system springers hit and miss, steelhead slow. Trout, warm water fish good in the lakes, kokanee slow. Almost 18,000 spring Chinook, and almost 3,000 summer steelhead have crossed the Willamette River Falls as of June 11. Most of the upper systems have steelhead and Chinook, but hot weather and warm water have slowed the action. Cooler weather this week should improve the fishing. Trout Stocking Check the 2025 trout stocking schedule Stocked the first week of June: Alton Baker Canal, Santiam River- N Fork 2, Small Fry Lake, Blue River Res, Leaburg Lake, Silver Creek Res, McKenzie River 2 (above Leaburg Dam), Quartzville Creek, Detroit Res, Salmon Creek. North Santiam River The North Santiam River has been good one day, bad the next, according to Matt Halseth of Matt Halseth Guide Service. “It’s been day to day whether it’s good or not,” said Halseth. “Some days are good, others not so much. The hot weather turned off the bite.” He does think some cooler weather would improve things. When the fish are biting, he reports that most egg techniques will get them. He has found success fishing them with divers, bobbers, and by back bouncing. When he has been traveling from deep hole to deep hole he has his guests tossing spinners. While he has had some success on steelhead, it’s definitely looking to be a disappointing steelhead year. South Santiam River Halseth reports that fishing in the south fork has been slower. He said the river tends to run warmer than the North Santiam, and that current conditions are not good for spring Chinook fishing. The same egg techniques will work here, if the weather improves. McKenzie River Halseth did report that the McKenzie is also fishing pretty well for spring Chinook. The hot weather slowed the bite recently, but there are springers in the upper sections, and the fishing has been decent. A few steelhead are also coming to hand, but as in the North Santiam, these are few. Egg techniques are doing well, but spinners can also work when the fish are found in faster water. Trout are also biting well, according to the folks over at the Fly Fishers Place in Sisters. Their report reads as follows: “The McKenzie is really finding its early summer stride with really good catch days coming for our FFP guides and clients. Dry Droppers with a Chubby Norm and a Possie Bugger has been great, and either swinging nymphs or small streamers on a sink tip, or side drifting a leech and perdigon is the most effective.” Coast Fork Willamette River Will be stocked the week of June 9th, with 800 hatchery rainbow trout. The river is open to fishing all year for trout, hatchery Chinook salmon, hatchery steelhead and wild steelhead over 24 inches. In addition to five hatchery trout, two wild trout may be kept daily. 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. Walleye fishing has slowed, but a few are still being caught in the tailrace. 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. Detroit Lake Detroit Lake will be stocked this week with about 6,000 trophy sized hatchery trout. As a reminder, anglers are allowed to keep up to five trout, with an additional five fish kokanee bag limit. Anglers are reporting good success lately for trout. Mike Ferris of Fishermen Mike’s Guide Service reports that kokanee fishing remains challenging. High winds have at times pushed anglers off the best kokanee areas. “On June 5th, I took a guest out for kokanee on Detroit,” said Ferris, “but in the afternoon the wind really kicked up. There were white caps, too.” He said they ran for protected areas of the lake but the wind kept it difficult. They eventually ran to the Kinny Creek arm, and did get some of the chunky trout that have been stocked there recently. Every trout they got was at least 15 inches. |
| Clackamas River Fishing Report – It’s still a quiet scene on the Clackamas River, but there is more interest coming around for summer steelhead and spring Chinook. Thankfully, anglers are still holding out hope for this once great fishery.Now, with school out and temperatures climbing, we’re going to start to see more interest in rafting and tubing on the Clackamas. That won’t make fishing success any easier.Mike Roberson from Fisherman’s Marine in Oregon City had this sad statement when asked if he’d heard anything from the Clackamas:”Bubba, dead as it can be, no reports, not even from Dog Creek. Shad remains red hot in Oregon City.”Well, at least we have that going for us, red hot action for an invasive species.About 420 spring Chinook have nosed up to the North Fork facility, and only about 100 summer steelhead. That’s similar to what we saw last year, for spring Chinook anyway, summer steelhead numbers are down, but we already knew that.Sandy River fishing, as reported by avid angler Jeff Stoeger – Fishing activity has slowed recently due to elevated temperatures, prompting many anglers to take a break to stay cool. Current weather forecasts indicate a gradual cooling trend over the coming days, with temperatures expected to return to seasonal norms. Additionally, some rain is anticipated later next week, which should help moderate the heat and reduce the rapid snowmelt currently affecting conditions.The river has been fluctuating in clarity, with snowmelt resulting in glacial green or light brown hues. Water temperatures have also been increasing, and with warmer weather, greater activity from swimmers and rafters can be expected.If you plan to wade or walk the river, exercise caution, especially in areas where the riverbed is obscured. Hidden shelves and drop-offs could pose potential hazards. |
North & Central Coast Fishing Report – Coastal spring Chinook, particularly in Tillamook Bay, remains the focus for most anglers seeking silver sided treasure. After one good day over a week ago, it’s back to spotty fishing.
Anglers are reporting fish rolling and finning in the upper estuary, but not all that interested in biting. Slime has hit the upper bay, impeding angler’s opportunity as well.
The lower bay produced a few biters at mid-week, but it too is sporadic.
District streams are too low and clear to have any expectations of success for summer steelhead or spring Chinook. There is no significant precipitation in sight.
Ocean salmon fishing is off to a slow start, mostly because anglers had a hard time getting out last week. It’s early for quality coho to be taken and Chinook are scattered, making them challenging to catch. It’ll be several more weeks before catches get exciting.
Bottomfish and halibut are still on the menu, with fair catches this week, especially out of Newport.
Dale Murff of Claminator Clam Guns had this to report, “It’s been a little tough. I got limits the last couple of days, but it’s been a grind. I see lots of people walking around with bags blowing in the wind!”
Bay crabbing remains challenging but ocean crabbing is fair for those fishing deeper water with quality crab bait, say fresh shad?
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome reports
It’s officially summertime as just about all schools are out now. Are you looking to do some camping or do some weekend outings with the family while able to wet a line?
There’s plenty of good options with my number one best bet is the various lakes that have been stocked with trout- Diamond, Hyatt, Howard Prairie, and Fish Lake(s) are up a little higher and are not only cooler, but they’re fishing good now with good catches of trout. Lost Creek, Selmac, Agate, and Galesville are also excellent choices for more local trips.
The ocean, which has been excellent for lingcod, bottom fish saw a good coho opener out of Brookings last weekend. Unfortunately, this weekend looks a bit iffy with a small craft advisory out for Friday from Port Orford south. Ocean goers might be able to get out on the weekend depending on where you go out of.
Perch fishing out of Winchester Bay is still good and a great option for lots of action. This might also be a better chance to get out on the ocean as well for the weekend.
There’s halibut and coho to be caught!
Striped bass fishing on the Umpqua and Coquille is still good.
Springer fishing on the Rogue is transitioning into summer steelhead now as the 3000cfs flow out of the dam has helped most of the fish scream up the river to their spawning grounds.
More and more presence of summer steelhead, while not exactly great yet, is improving from the lower section on up to the upper section.
Read this week’s SW Washington fishing report.