Portland/Metro Fishing Report – The Columbia is closed to Chinook fishing and the Willamette spring Chinook season is tapering fast as well. Metro opportunities for salmon are shut out for a few more weeks, until the fall run of salmon make an appearance, starting about mid-August.
Anglers may get another week out of the lower Willamette for spring Chinook but with only 10 to 70 salmon a day crossing Willamette Falls, it’s about over here.
Sockeye and summer steelhead remain open on the mainstem Columbia, but fishing is very challenging.
Clackamas River Fishing Report – There remains a few summer steelhead falling to early rising anglers around Dog Creek on the Clackamas River. Other than that, the river is dominated by the splash and giggle crowd, a needed reprieve from the hot temperatures ahead.
Wild spring Chinook are passing by the North Fork Facility in good numbers. At least we have that going for us.
Sandy River Fishing Report – Jeff Stoeger reports – I hope that everyone is doing well and was able to get out and fish. In my last report I mentioned that I thought that fishing was slowing down and all of a sudden, I was proven wrong. There was a good spurt of fish that showed up and I heard of a good number of springers being caught over the last couple of days.
The river was a nice color due to cool and cloudy weather and keeping the heat down during the days. There are a lot of swimmers and tubers on the river floating from Dabney Park to Lewis and Clark and lots of swimmers at Oxbow Park.
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 – As freshwater fisheries wind down, anglers continue to look to the saltwater for options to satisfy their needs. As it turns out, weather conditions were ideal for that type of opportunity this last week. Several people made it pay, but it’s clearly a different year as salmon anglers struggle for consistent results, and some halibut fishers came home empty handed.
Freshwater fisheries are on the decline as spring Chinook numbers taper and summer steelhead ones never got cooking.
Most anglers fishing for springers in the Trask and the Nestucca systems are doing so from the bank. Bobber fishing is required in the holes with the highest densities as snagging becomes a problem this time of year. Early mornings of course are best. This fishery is on its last legs.
Summer steelhead are available on the Wilson, Nestucca and Siletz River systems With the bulk of the return hunkered down in broken surface hiding spots this time of year.
From the salt, anglers on the north and central coast report a mixed bag of results. Over the weekend, coho were harder to find but they have seemingly made they strong comeback in recent days. Many anglers have been reporting the quality of size they are seeing for these July specimens. They typically start out much smaller this time of year.
Halibut fishing remains good but some anglers are still struggling to find consistent catches. Nearshore halibut seems to be a bust but few are participating since they can choose their offshore options in one of our most liberal seasons on the West Coast.
Anglers that are going further offshore are finding good success for quality sized lingcod and rockfish as well.
Ocean crab in the hard-shelled state are a bit more challenging to find.
TGF wants you to STAY SAFE OUT THERE! Have you seen our FREE webinar on ocean and bar safety? Check it out HERE!
Don’t overlook spring opportunities on the coast, the north coast stocking schedule can be found HERE and it looks as if there will be robust plants in the Newport and Tillamook districts in the coming two weeks.
See the full North Coast Report and Forecast for Members right here.
Upper Willamette River System Report – Contributor Glenn Zinkus reports
Alton Baker Canal: Alton Baker was stocked with 900 legal size rainbows this week, and will be stocked with the same next week.
Note that Alton Baker Canal was stocked earlier in January with 700 one pounders.
Detroit Reservoir:
Detroit is currently at 1551.8 feet. Docks are in. Check the water levels here: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/or/nwis/uv?site_no=14180500
Green Peter Reservoir: The reservoir is dropping some at this point in the season. Water level is at 977.7 feet right now. Water 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: Quartzville Creek is open all year, and just stocked last week with 2200 legal size trout at the end of June. Quartzville was stocked again this week.
Flows are at summertime levels, and dropping slightly through the week, currently at 34 CFS. Still good for trout fishing, but start fishing the pools a bit more and this is into summertime levels.
Timber Linn Park Pond: Was stocked with 1,000 legal size rainbows during the first week of June. Stocking resumes in the fall.
EE Wilson Pond: Scheduled was stocked with 850 legal size rainbows during the first week of June. This is the last stocking for the season.
South Santiam Steelhead/Salmon: Reports of good springer fishing continue.
Small numbers of steelhead are present in the South Santiam now, with 236 at the dam on July 6, and 9 more counted on July 11. Running at less than last year – at about 1/3rd of last years numbers.
South Santiam Trout: No New Updates.
North Santiam Trout: The North Santiam received 2,200 legal size trout this week, and receives 2,200 legal size trout next week. Stocking continues through July.
Foster Reservoir: Foster was stocked during April. Foster was stocked late May with 3,800 legal size trout. Foster will be stocked again in September. Foster is steady at 636 feet. The water levels are reported here:
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/or/nwis/uv?site_no=14186600
Willamette River – Middle Fork:
The Middle Fork flow is currently 2770 CFS – at a good fishing level and staying steady.
The usual spinners and spoons are also taking trout.
Some steelhead are starting to show in the Middle Fork.
Willamette River – From Harrisburg, to Corvallis, to Albany:
The Willamette River is at 5,090 CFS at Harrisburg, and has flow/level has been steady since last week.
Fishable levels right now. Anglers have been catching a few steelhead here and there, as some incidental catches.
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
Weather Outlook Across Central and Eastern Oregon:
A summer heatup is starting now. The weekend is set for highs in the 90s through all of Central Oregon. Friday will hit 90 or more in many locations, with higher elevation areas topping out in the 80s. A short-lived cooldown into the 80s starts on Monday.
The Deschutes Canyon will have temperatures in the high 90s now and hitting 100 or more on Saturday. Monday and Tuesday will have highs in the 80s.
ODFW News – Angling Restrictions
The entire ODFW Steelhead Management Framework presentation is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPjaWczzOD8
The same metrics as last year are being applied. However, ODFW does forecast a lower steelhead return, which unlike last year, could close down steelhead for later in the season. But, that is only a return forecast which are not always accurate. Steelhead fishing on the Deschutes will be open to start.
As of July 12th, there have been 4,038 wild steelhead across Bonneville dam since July 1. Although ODFW steelhead forecasts called for a lower return, ODFW indicated today at the PGE Deschutes Fisheries workshop they are cautiously optimistic about the return so far.
Lower Deschutes River:
The Lower Deschutes continues with good fishing levels – at typical summertime levels. Flows are currently at 3560 CFS at Madras. Flow is currently at 4,120 at Moody. Water is clear.
Water temperatures near Madras remain in the range from 55 to 57 F, with the range staying consistent through the week. Continues to look like a blend of bottom water and top water from the dam.
Middle Deschutes River: Middle Deschutes is doing very well. Since we are into full-on summer, the morning and evening hours are producing best.
Levels are good, and there is good fishing through the Middle Deschutes system. Anglers are catching fish from Bend to Steelhead Falls. PMD, PED, and caddis activity are continuing to go strong.
Upper Deschutes River: Fishing is good. But, be warned, the mosquitoes are feasting on the brave anglers who fish the Upper D.
Better and better dry fly opportunities. With the onset of summer, bigger sections like that around Blue Hole will be fishing well.
Haystack Reservoir: At 71 % right now, down from previous report. ODFW started stocking fish, including some rainbow broodstock to begin rebuilding after the drawdown last year. Leeches – balanced leeches are taking fish.
Lake Billy Chinook: Smallmouth bass fishing in the Crooked River Arm is picking up – plugs for the bass, with topwaters very early in the morning and later in the evening.
Gear guys are catching big fish now, and still taking trolled lures like Rapalas. Bulls of more than 30 inches have been grabbing plugs.
Fish are getting more active and fly anglers are getting in on the action. Think leeches and streamers thrown to the shore.
Crooked River: Crooked River flow are around 250ish CFS – most recently at 265 CFS.
Lots of fish. We have continued good reports last week and this week of very good fishing – lots on nymphs. Jeff Perin says scuds, perdigons, jig flies, Two bits, Micro Mays, Rainbow Warriors – the usual gamut.
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:
A Hot Weekend with Cooler Choices
It’s hot and gonna get even hotter this weekend, so if you’re wanting to do some fishing it will be best to get over to the coast, higher lakes, or just plain go early!
The ocean which might be iffy due to variable winds (better South) has been excellent for just about everything but tuna (yet). Limits of bottom/ rock fish, ling cod, halibut and even coho were had earlier this week.
The Rogue Bay fall Chinook season has had a slow start but has picked up this week slightly. Summer steelhead numbers have increased on the mid and upper sections of the Rogue. The upper Rogue is still getting some late Springers.
Most trout lakes are still doing decent, but starting early before the full sun and heat of the day are obviously best. Those lakes with bass and panfish have been doing well and so are the weeds along the shore.
Bass fishing on the Coquille and S. Umpqua have been good. Pink fin perch are still biting well at Winchester Bay.
Best best bet for the weekend to beat the heat would be the higher lakes, streams and ponds for trout and bass and over to the coast for surf perch and get on the ocean for epic bottom fish, halibut and coho. 🎣
Be safe, be nice and enjoy!
Tight Lines 🎣 – Romer
Jeff’s expanded report, multiple lake updates, and forecast in this week’s version for Members! There is SO much more.
Read this week’s SW Washington fishing report.