Portland/Metro Oregon Fishing Report – Metro anglers are eagerly awaiting better fishing. The mainstem Columbia River fishery is a good one when the fish decide to bite. That has not been the case lately.
Trollers working the mainstem Columbia from Troutdale to Longview have had limited success. The weak tide exchange this week will not help matters.
Those casting wobblers from the bank or backing them off the stern of their boats are finding better success. Nonetheless, a stronger tide series will yield better results.
The Willamette will be barren until coho start to show in early September. Anglers will focus some effort at the mouth of the Clackamas, where a decent hatchery return is expected. The fishery for coho above Willamette Falls won’t kick off until early October.
Clackamas River Fishing Report – The Clackamas is a no-show for fish and fishermen, as anglers await anxiously as spring Chinook and summer steelhead action fades, and coho have yet to arrive. Wild spring Chinook at the PGE passage facility have already out-paced last year’s return and if all goes well, we should top over 4,000 adults by month’s end.
Reports have been sparse, as have anglers so we’ll be a bit light on reports this week. It’s pretty safe to say what we’ve been saying for weeks now; a few summer steelhead for early risers at the PGE Fish Counting Facility, coupled in with a rare fresh spring Chinook, and I do mean rare.
Sandy River Fishing Report – Jeff Stoeger reports – ““Good morning, all. Well, this week we saw hopefully one of the last heat waves of the year. This week we will see a couple of days hit the low 90’s and then we see weather back into the 70’s. The current river level is running at 7.6 ft and should stay that way until we get that first good rainfall. The river temperature is running about 67 degrees and will slowly drop as the weather cools down. The fishing has slowed down with most of the fish being native late springers and summers.”
Check out the lake stocking schedule. Go HERE to see if your favorite is on the list this week.Find the full report and forecast for Members on this page here for the Clackamas and Sandy Rivers.
North Coast Fishing Report – We’ve been following the ODF&W saltwater recreation report and it’s been good. Foul weather however kept most anglers at bay last week, but we found this updated data which shows just how little effort got out to recreate this week:
Ocean salmon
The salmon fishing this past week was very limited due to poor weather/ocean conditions limiting opportunities for boats to get offshore.
The recreational salmon season (hatchery coho only) from Leadbetter Pt., Washington to Cape Falcon, Oregon has a bag limit of 2 salmon but no more than 1 Chinook, and all coho must be marked with a healed adipose fin clip. Total landings for the season (Oregon and Washington combined) through August 20 are 14,546 coho and 6,421 Chinook out of the quotas of 79,800 coho and 11,490 Chinook.
The recreational salmon season (hatchery coho only) from Cape Falcon to the Oregon/California Border for the week of August 14-20, had an estimated 304 salmon angler trips with a retained catch of 77 hatchery coho. Anglers also released an additional 163 coho and 6 Chinook. The catch rates dropped from 0.30 coho per angler in the week of August 6-13 to 0.25 coho per angler this last week.
Be sure to know how to ID coho and Chinook. See the season details here (dates, places and other regulations). To check the quota status, visit the Ocean Salmon Management Program catch index page.
If you missed it, here is a video update from Thursday evening.
Albacore
Anglers were unable to access the albacore this past week due to challenging ocean conditions.
Bottomfish fishing resources:
What can I keep and how many? Keep up with in-season regulation changes.
The Nehalem has been steady but is likely to fade in the coming weeks. The summer Chinook return was fair and still likely to put out some fish over the weekend. The 1 Chinook per angler restriction won’t end until mid-September.
Other estuaries should start producing early returning fall Chinook such as Tillamook and Siletz Bays and their respective tributaries. Nehalem will remain the best option this weekend however.
Other freshwater options are poor, such as the summer steelhead return on the Wilson, Nestucca and Siletz River systems.
August is a prime sea-run cutthroat trout fishing month. All north and central coast river systems should have biters available. Fly fishers and trollers stand the best chance.
TGF wants you to STAY SAFE OUT THERE! Have you seen our FREE webinar on ocean and bar safety? Check it out HERE!
See the full North Coast Report and Forecast for Members right here.
Upper Willamette River System Report – Contributor Glenn Zinkus reports
Fire Still Dominates Upper McKenzie and Upper Willamette Areas – Limits Access And Smokey Conditions. Willamette River Slough Bass.
Alton Baker Canal: Alton Baker was stocked with 900 legal size rainbows this week, and will be stocked with the same next week.
Detroit Reservoir:
Good fishing report on the inlet into Detroit near Hoover Campground with angling from the bank opportunities. Power eggs and flies were taking trout. Other reports are of good kokanee away from the dam.
Green Peter Reservoir: Green Peter is open and accessible, for now.
Whitcombe is closed. Water level is at 941.6 feet. Level can be found here: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=14186100
Green Peter was stocked end of May with 2,800 legal size trout. Stocking for the season is complete.
Quartzville Creek: Caution – the nearby Wiley Fire may effect access. Fire containment lines have been stable. Quartzville Creek is open all year, and just stocked last week with 2200 legal size trout . Stocking is complete for the season.
South Santiam Steelhead/Salmon: Small numbers of steelhead are present in the South Santiam, with 346 at the dam on August 16th. No ODFW updates since then. Running at less than last year – at about a third of last year’s numbers.
Chinook, however, is better – looking 4092 at Foster on August 16.
South Santiam Trout: No New Updates.
North Santiam Trout: The North Santiam received 2,200 legal size trout early August. Stocking is complete for the year. That said, fishing has been good.
Willamette River – Middle Fork:
The Middle Fork flow is currently 1,840 CFS – at a good fishing level and slightly reduced flow from last week, although steady in recent days. Upper portions of the Middle Fork, including parts of the North Fork of the Middle Fork are effected by the Bedrock Fire. Look carefully at conditions, expect smoke in the area, and heed fire closure signs and stay away from these areas. Fire closure information in the Willamette National Forest can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/willamette/fire/?cid=fseprd552029
Willamette River – From Harrisburg, to Corvallis, to Albany:
The Willamette River is at 3,770 CFS at Harrisburg – flow has been steady over last last several days, although this is a drop from last week. Lower water now, but fishable levels. Anglers have been catching a few steelhead here and there, as some incidental catches. Anglers in the Eugene area are also getting some walleye below the dams in the Willamette system. Steelhead numbers are down from last year.
Dexter Reservoir: Dexter received 3,000 trophy trout during May. Stocking is complete for the spring. Dexter received in total about 12,000 trophy trout this spring and remains a good option this week.
McKenzie River:
The upper portions of the McKenzie have been fishing well. However, some access may be restricted by the Lookout Fire and the area is likely going to remain smokey. Fire closure information in the Willamette National Forest can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/willamette/fire/?cid=fseprd552029
Members – find the latest full report and forecast as well as past reports for Members on the Willamette Valley/Metro start on this page here.
Central Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Glenn Zinkus reports
Lower Deschutes Trout and Steelhead. Salmon At The Mouth Of The Deschutes. Metolius Hatches Continue To Pick Up.
Weather Outlook Across Central and Eastern Oregon:
Smoke will continue on and off, and be localized at times. There is a warming trend starting, with widespread temperatures in the 80s on Friday and into Saturday, warming into the 90s for Sunday and Monday. There is a cooling trend mid-week next week with temperatures dropping back to the 70s and 80s.
The Deschutes River canyon area temperatures will remain around 90 into the weekend, and cooling into the 80s middle of next week, maybe some 70s as well.
Lower Deschutes River:
The Lower Deschutes continues with good fishing levels – at typical summertime levels. Flows bumped up and are currently at 3590 CFS at Madras. Flow is currently at 4,060 at Moody. Water is clear.
Water temperatures near Madras remain in the range from 53 to 54 F, with the range lower than previous weeks. The flow regime continues with a blend of bottom water and top water from the dam. Waters warm in the lowest stretches near Moody to a range of 60 to 64 F. Fortunately, the temperature range is dropping to safe levels. Getting to a better range in that lower river for steelhead.
There is on and off overhead smoke in the canyon. That does create some conditions that the get the trout more active.
There’s more talk of steelhead and steelhead activity now. A few anglers swinging small flies are getting some grabs.
Middle Deschutes River: No new reports. The waters have been cooling. Jeff Perin reports some good fishing on the Middle D all the way to Lake Billy Chinook. Steelhead Falls area can be good this time of year. I do recommend mornings. Jeff says there are BWOs and caddis in the evenings.
Upper Deschutes River: Upper Deschutes is providing some good nymphing right now, and euronymphing is producing.
Lake Billy Chinook: The smallmouth bass fishing in the Crooked River Arm has been good.
Fall River: One of the better bets for fishing with cold waters. Fall River was stocked with 1000 trophy size trout earlier in August, and will be stocked again during the first week of September.
Metolius River: The Metolius continues to improve. PMDs are going strong afternoon and evenings. Caddis are getting thicker – being present through the day, but especially active in the evenings. Now is the time that there are rises and some caddis activity around sunset.
Wickiup Reservoir: Wickiup still has rainbows and browns, and is very accessible. Reports of good kokanee fishing continue – good option for kokes. Otherwise, reports are that fishing is slow.
North Central Oregon/Mid-Columbia Waters:
This week’s report from Gorge Outfitters Supply (541-739-2222) in Rufus.
Salmon fishing at the mouth of the Deschutes is starting to produce lots of big fish. Wendy has heard of some 30+ pounders being caught.
Most of the efforts are now for salmon, but there is still some bass and walleye action, with good fishing for both.
Keep up with the latest on the shop’s Facebook page. They now have a close by Airbnb with room for a boat trailer.
Members can always see so much more in the complete report as well as the forecast for central Oregon by starting right here.
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome reports:
Jeff will be on a 3-week sabbatical and will return with the latest update the week of September 14th. He predicts pretty much the same will be going on with increased summer steelhead catches on the Rogue as well as some Chinook in the mid-section below Hog Creek. The ocean, when you can get on, should also provide good opportunity for tuna, fat coho and bottom fish.
Jeff’s expanded reports, multiple lake updates, and forecasts including his past reports can be found here for Members! There is SO much more.
Read this week’s SW Washington fishing report.