Portland/Metro Fishing Report – It won’t be long before metro area trollers are working the mainstem Columbia in search of large fall Chinook now making their way upstream. Catches in the estuary are going very well right now, those fish will be upriver, in the Portland reach in under a week.
The earlier returning fish are often the larger 5-year olds, often tipping the scales into the high 20 pound class. Trollers will start working flashers and spinners or plastics to entice strikes, often trolling downstream to cover more water and cross more fish faces. Fishing will peak around the first part of September, but catches will start dramatically improving by next week.
Although it’s early for Willamette River coho salmon, counts at Willamette Falls are already underway, indicating another whopper return this year. Fishing won’t get good until the middle of September, but from what we’re seeing in the ocean and estuary fisheries, they will be robust in size.
Clackamas and Sandy are dropping, and migration is slowing
Clackamas River Fishing Report – Although anglers have largely given up on spring Chinook and summer steelhead in the basin, there’s still a few fresh ones coming around. Far from a biological opinion, it seems to me that these spring Chinook are turning into summer Chinook, as the watershed warms, altering the life history of the traditional spring Chinook from over-summering for 4 months in freshwater before spawning in early September to holding in cooler waters (such as the lower Columbia River estuary) before migrating up in August to spawn in September. It’s cost us a once-great sportfishery in the Clackamas River, when fishing was awesome in May, in the good ‘ol days.
Numbers of wild spring Chinook are still robust at the North Fork facility operated by PGE. Hatchery summer steelhead numbers are low, 355 have been tallied by the 10th of August. No sign of coho yet, which is no surprise, but over 50 have climbed Willamette Falls so far, that’s certainly unprecedented.
Temperatures are finally on the decline after another hot stint in the metro area. With the dropping temperatures, the splash and giggle crowds will also fade away. It’s a moot point right now however, the river is just too low and clear for any viable opportunities for spring Chinook or summer steelhead over the next few weeks. It’s all but over but this weekend’s rain could stimulate a late season bite.
Sandy River Fishing Report – Provided by avid angler, Jeff Stoeger – Good afternoon All. The Sandy is still kicking out some real bright fish. The river is currently running at 7.87ft and the water temp was around 65.7 degrees. One of my buddies was fishing just before the heat wave and caught a beautiful bright jack that fought great and looked like new nickle. Most of the fish caught recently were caught using sand shrimp, spinners and eggs and beads 14-20 mm.
The river was running slightly glacial green but with the heat, the river was on the verge of turning brown in color. Springers are still entering the river and loads of summer steelhead are stacked at Cedar Creek.
My nephew caught two hatchery summers at Cedar Creek using a size 3 and 4 vibrex spinner in purple and dark green and there is still good action up there with a lot of down river fish heading out. So if you catch a coho on the Sandy and would like to share, just send me a pic of your fish and it must be a hatchery fish and what you used to catch it and no further info needed. It must be a Sandy River fish.
North & Central Coast Fishing Report – The north of Falcon ocean salmon fishery is slated after Monday, the catch rates have been awesome. South of Falcon trollers will likely get to the 24th of August, before what’s likely to be a banner September any coho season in the ocean. The coho have been running LARGE this year, so angler’s gear will be tested.
The Buoy 10 fishery is off to a great start. Chinook catches have picked up in recent days and coho action was excellent earlier in the week. We’re posting FREQUENT reports to our YouTube Channel to be sure to subscribe!
Chinook catches in Nehalem Bay have picked up recently. It’s time for this fishery to go off and a sweet set of soft tides will make fishing at the jaws great this weekend, weather permitting.
Other coastal estuaries have yet to start for fall Chinook and it’s not expected to be a great year for this run of fish, but catches should start to improve in early September.
The ocean will go through a rough patch this weekend, but when it calms down next week, halibut, rockfish and albacore chasers will be back after them. It’s shaping up to be a great tuna yaer again.
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Central-Eastern Oregon Fishing Report by Terry Otto
Steelhead showing in the lower Deschutes, river trout action consistent. East Lake has seen phenomenal fishing at times.
Best Weekend Bets
Steelhead are showing well in the lower Deschutes River
Anglers continue to report excellent kokanee and trout fishing at East and Paulina lakes.
Anglers report excellent summer bass opportunities at Crane Prairie Reservoir
Anglers report good trout fishing at Hosmer and Little Lava Lakes.
Trout stocking will resume in central Oregon in the fall
You can check the ODFW trout stocking schedule here.
The ODFW is reporting that anglers need to pay attention to water temps this time of year. If the waters you are fishing rise to over 67 degrees F, you might leave the fish alone until the temps cool down. This is especially true if you are fishing catch and release. Rain and cooler weather are expected late this week.
Before you go:
Several wildfires are burning in central and eastern Oregon. Check the statewide wildfire incident maps: https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/pages/firestats.aspx
Columbia River Gorge
Only a few thousand fall Chinook have passed over The Dalles Dam, and there are as yet few anglers targeting them. The numbers should climb, and there should be enough fish to target so expect the action to improve in a week or two.
Lower Deschutes River
Amy Hazel of the Deschutes Angler Fly Shop posted that there are steelhead showing in the lower Deschutes, although it is mostly happening down near the mouth. The river does not get as many steelhead in August as it used to, (thanks PGE! You are wrecking the steelheading with your new water regimen: read, warm water releases.) Most gear anglers looking for steelhead are tossing spinners, or fishing beads. A few fish are taking these offerings. Spey anglers are at it, and they are running into a fish now and then as well.
Deschutes River, Benham Falls to Little Lava Lake:
The popular brown trout fishery below Wickiup Reservoir and brook trout fishery between Crane Prairie and Little Lava Lake has been good. Anglers report excellent fishing for mountain whitefish, brook trout and redband trout from Crane Prairie to the headwaters. Pale Morning Dun and Caddis are primary hatches in July with dry fly opportunities most afternoons. Anglers should also stock up with ant and micro-hopper patterns. Fishing between Wickiup Dam and Pringle Falls has been productive for large brown trout.
Metolius River
Jeff at The Fly Fishers Place: The entire river is seeing good #16 PMD hatches, #16 Tan Caddis, #16-18Little Olive Stones, some #20 Blue Wing Olives and the beginnings of an explosion of Yellowish Micro Caddis #18-20 in the Middle River. Any of these hatches could occur at any time of the day from about 11 AM to Dusk, and at Dusk you’ll want a good Rusty Spinner pattern tied on your tippet if you want to add a fish to the end of the day total. Nymphing mid-day is also good.
Lake reports
Hosmer Lake
The district office continues to receive positive reports on fly angling for Brook and Rainbow Trout. Callibaetis and damsels are an integral part of the diet at Hosmer, and we recommend anglers stock their fly boxes accordingly. Restricted to fly-fishing only with barbless hooks. Catch-and-release for all species.
Hosmer Lake road repair
There is a very bad pothole in the road leading to the boat ramp. It will be 2 or 3 weeks before it can be fixed. Anglers will need to take a detour SLOWLY through the campground to access the boat launch. Follow the signs.
East and Paulina Lakes
The good folks at the East Lake Resort report excellent fishing for both trout and kokanee. Some anglers are trolling with kokanee rigs, and others are tossing spinners. Fly anglers are also scoring very well at both lakes. Overall the fishing has been very good, but some days the bite is hot, and others it’s a little slower.
Little Lava Lake
The lake continues to be good, with good catch numbers and a nice average size on the fish.
There has been good callibaetis fishing over the weed beds lately. Beetles are also a good bet on the lake here, including over the weed beds and along the edges. Ants too.
Fishing callibaetis nymphs either on a sinking line or under an indicator is super good. Leeches are the same.
Gear anglers can throw spinners or spoons.
Eastern Oregon
Best Bets
Large kokanee > 16 inches have been caught in Wallowa Lake this year.
Bass fishing is good on McKay Reservoir.
Nice sized bass and perch can be found on Willow Creek Reservoir.
Trout stocking will resume in September
Wallowa Lake
Kokanee are now deeper in the lake with many being caught in 50 – 70 ft of water. Trolling and jigging are both proving effective for kokanee fishing in Wallowa Lake. However, jigging may be more effective for deeper kokanee. Anglers are landing kokanee with multiple fish weighing more than 5 pounds. Rainbow trout can be caught near the river mouth, and lake trout are dispersed throughout the lake.
Imnaha River
Fishing for trout and whitefish can be good in the upper Imnaha River throughout the summer. Whitefish gather in large schools and can provide a great angling opportunity.
Downriver, smallmouth bass move into the Imnaha River from the Snake River. Anglers can catch bass on a variety of gear types including spinners, plastic baits, and flies.
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome reports
Cooler weather is in store and a nice reprieve from this week of 100+ temps. My best bet is out on the saltwater. A calm ocean, along with a big variety of fish options, should have anglers reeling in, hands hurting! Lots of reports of limits of big ling cod, coho, and even some halibut over the 50-pound range have been caught this week. You’ll have until this coming Monday to maintain the 5 fish bag limit for rock fish.
The Rogue Bay has been fair this week, possibly due to the full moon and hot weather. Anglers are still catching fish daily, but not “hot” yet. Increased river flow starting Monday from the dam might also have something to do with it, since it usually gets some holding fish to move upriver. Boaters are working from the lower bay on up to Indian Creek. I’m thinking this weekend could be good since it will be a bit cooler and chances of a shower or two on Saturday may get fish to come in out of the ocean🤔
The upper Rogue is seeing a bit more summer steelhead action despite the number of river floaters. Even some Cutthroat trout have been caught, although they must be released. The middle Rogue has a few more anglers pursuing Chinook at Finley Bend and other popular holes with slow success. There has been a slight improvement in summer steelhead, mostly during the week and early before it gets too hot and all the river floaters are out. The Rogue River above the dam, out towards Union Creek, gets stocked weekly and has been good for trout and a cool option.
Lost Creek, Diamond, Hyatt, Howard Prairie, and Fish lakes are still my best bets for good lake fishing. Fish early before it gets too hot. Lost Creek and Diamond have been good lately.