Portland/Metro Fishing Report – With the mainstem Columbia and Willamette void of any viable salmon or steelhead runs at this time, anglers will be on a multi-month hiatus, with spring Chinook starting to show in February. Plunkers downstream of Portland may take an occasional winter steelhead, but catches are relatively sparse throughout the winter months.
Clackamas River Fishing Report – Late-run wild coho are still entering the Clackamas in good numbers. A state-of-the-art passage facility at the North Fork facility has proven effective in recovering wild salmon and steelhead in the basin in recent years. New records of fish passage, both for adults and downstream migrating juveniles are happening with some regularity. If only other passage facilities in the basin were that effective…
Sandy River Fishing Report – Jeff Stoeger is on vacation this week but we got some information from pro guide Jack Glass (503-260-2315). Jack reports, “No steelhead yet, but still some old Chinook around. I will try next week, after this rain. Hopefully it will come up as it’s still very low water.” Jack knows the Sandy like no other and typically starts running pilot trips around mid-December.
Find the full report and forecast for Members on the Sandy and the Clackamas from this page here.
North Coast Fishing Report – It’s early stream steelhead season right now and we’re entering peak season. This peak is different than most however. I’ve talked about it more than once.
Small streams such as Big and Gnat Creek, the Klaskanine and Necanicum Rivers are primte targets right now, especially following rain events like the one we’re experiencing right now.
The North Fork Nehalem hatchery hotline reported the river coming in at about 37″ today (Thursday, 12/8), but fish were being caught nearly every day, a few fish anyway. The recording also mentioned between 55 and 60 steelhead were in the trap this week, not a bad number for just “a few being caught” daily. Most anglers will gain a lot more confidence when the river rises once again, which is on the horizon. More on that in the Forecast section (Paid subscribers only).
Smaller streams like Gnat Creek saw some action several days ago, when the water level took its season starting bump. Mike Hazen that works nearby got this chrome buck fairly close to the hatchery:
Don’t overlook fall trout opportunities on the coast, the north coast stocking schedule can be found HERE.
See the full North Coast Report and Forecast for Members right here.
Willamette River System Report – Contributor Glenn Zinkus reports:
South Valley Ponds Stocking, McKenzie Redsides
Alton Baker Canal: Alton Baker Canal was stocked with 700 legal size trout. As always, a great put and take option for anglers and families in the Eugene area. Alton Baker will be stocked weekly through the fall.
Detroit Reservoir: Kokanee reports dwindled except for an angler catching a limit within 3 hours, about a week ago. Otherwise, I’d say koke fishing will be back in the early spring.
Detroit was stocked up through the end of June with trophy trout each week.
Green Peter Reservoir: There are some reports of anglers catching bigger holdover trout. Access is getting more difficult with the dropping levels.
As a caution, there are some reports of thefts from boat ramps including catalytic converters.
Quartzville Creek: Quartzville Creek flows spiked last weekend, and is slowly receding, currently at 433CFS. A bit high, but very fishable. I saw other local waters (Upper S. Santiam while driving) today that were running clear.
Waverly Lake: Waverly Lake received 820 legal size trout last month and will be stocked with 1000 trout next week.
South Santiam Steelhead: No New Fish Counts. Continued steelhead count watch: there were 1528 summer steelhead collected at Foster Dam as of August 29 – this is the latest report as of the 24th.
South Santiam Trout: Closed.
North Santiam Trout and Steelhead: The North Santiam will close to trout angling after October 31. The North Santiam received 2,200 legal size trout late July.
Water above Detroit is looking good and trout fishing is excellent on the upper portions of the North Santiam.
Foster Reservoir: Foster received 6,000 legal trout earlier in the fall. There are reports of trout being caught on Foster – with all conventional methods taking trout. I passed by Foster on Monday and did not see any anglers at that time.
The Calkins boat ramp is not usable, but Gedney and Sunnyside Park remain usable.
Willamette River – Middle Fork:
Most reports from the Middle Fork indicate fishing has been difficult. with an increase in flows. The Middle Fork is climbing and currently at 2070 CFS and dropped over the past week. These are fishable flow rates, but the fish are moving around and reports are that they are difficult to find. Also, the water was a bit murkier and off-color.
Willamette River – From Harrisburg, to Corvallis, to Albany:
The Willamette River is currently at 52100 CFS at Harrisburg and somewhat steady – with a good fishable flow.
Trout are getting into their winter mode.
Willamette River – Steelhead
The steelhead guides I know stopped for more than a week now with the earlier crazy water levels.
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:
Metolius and Fall Rivers Consistent – Bulls Have Been Active On The Met
Weather Outlook Across Central and Eastern Oregon:
Some precipitation through the weekend – snow and a little rain in the high desert. Highs in the 30s and low 40s on Friday, 40s on Saturday, back to the 30s for Sunday onward. It gets downright cold starting midweek topping out in the 20s through much of the region.
ODFW News – Angling Restrictions
Deschutes River:
The ODFW metric of a minimum of 9,900 wild (unclipped) steelhead through Bonneville was achieved back on July 23. That means the Lower Deschutes will open to steelhead angling August 15 to September 15.
The ODFW metric of a minimum of 23,100 wild steelhead through Bonneville was achieved on August 18th. That means the Lower Deschutes will remain open for the remainder of this year for steelhead angling.
John Day River:
Angling for, and retention of steelhead will be closed in the mainstem John Day above Tumwater Falls (and tributaries above this boundary) from Sept. 15-Dec. 31, 2022 due to low projected returns.
Lower Deschutes River:
The Lower Deschutes stayed fairly steady, with only slight flow decreases downriver, with normal flows of around 3960 CFS at Madras and 4430 CFS at Moody.
Steelhead activity is slowing. Trout remains steady.
Middle Deschutes River: The Middle Deschutes is running high now, and best bet is to fish streamers and jigs. Try areas below Benham Falls.
Upper Deschutes River: Closed as of Oct 1 for the season.
Haystack Reservoir: Drained for maintenance – should be complete and starting a refill. At 11 %.
Lake Billy Chinook: A few anglers were reporting good koke fishing prior to the latest snow.
Crooked River: Flows at the dam are near 50 CFS, and although fishable, are low and steady and a big improvement over the 10 CFS. The Crooked is open again.
Fall River: Fall River will continue to fish well with the onset of winter conditions and snow on the ground.
Stocked earlier November with trophy trout.
Metolius River:
The Met is blanketed with snow.With the onset of more winter-like conditions, anglers are more reliably seeing blue wing olive hatches. This is one of my favorite times of year on the Metolius, when it seems all becomes quiet except for the sound of moving water and swaying ponderosas.
Bull trout are present throughout the river.
Members can always see the latest complete report as well as the forecast for this section by starting right here.
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome reports:
The last rain was just big enough to get a good bite going in most steelhead and Chinook rivers. Another yet bigger rain happening now should really help “flush” out fallen leaves and weedage making for optimal fishing conditions Sunday into next week on most rivers. Summer steelhead are still being caught along with coho on the mid to upper Rogue. Winter steelhead should start to show after this big rain. Take warm clothes and rain gear!
Ocean opportunity appears to be shot for awhile until maybe late next week🤞 Bay crabbing won’t be worth the gas until all the fresh river rainwater clears.
The mid-Rogue river from Griffin Park on up to Gold Hill this week saw good action for remaining summer steelhead and coho. No winter fish yet but should maybe be coming after this big rain. Boaters are having the best luck pulling plugs that will attract both steelhead and wondering coho. River flow is currently rising but will start dropping by Sunday/ Monday which should improve conditions and get a good bite going. Water temp is in the low 40’s, so covering lots of water and moving from spot to spot to find fish is the key.
The Elk and Sixes will have been producing nice catches of Chinook and should continue through December.
The Chetco will be blown out for a day or two, but Sunday into early next week it should be back in prime shape and a great time to get back on for remaining Chinook and summer steelhead. Some fresh Chinook have been caught and winter steelhead are starting to come in🎣
The Coos basin rivers like the Millicoma and Coquille would also be a good bet to try for early winter steelhead.
Be safe, be nice and enjoy!
Jeff’s expanded report, multiple lake updates, and forecast in this week’s version for Members!
Find our SW Washington fishing report here.