Portland/Metro Oregon Fishing Report – The depressed returns of Willamette spring Chinook will have fishery managers looking at a potential (partial) closure of the river next week. Passage is well below expectations, broodstock numbers may be in jeopardy.
As far as the fishery goes however, it’s been a slow couple of weeks, but catches in nearly all reaches of the lower river improved in recent days. The head of the Multnomah Channel produced fair results on Tuesday and Wednesday. Oregon City saw a bump as well.
Shad fishing has slowed, but still remains good for all intents and purposes. Sunny days fish best.
Willamette River sturgeon fishing is slowing as well, as fish find other food sources during this critical time of year.
Summer steelhead numbers for the upper Willamette basin are depressing however.
Clackamas River Fishing Report – Summer steelhead remain the best bet on the Clackamas, but that’s not saying much. Spring Chinook catches improved last week as well, but it’s still going to remain a challenging fishery until the new and improved broodstock returns, still several years away.
Sandy River Fishing Report – Jeff Stoeger reports – I hope that you’ve had a chance to get out and fish this past week. Fishing has been fare depending on who you talk with. The river is currently running at 8.44ft as of Wednesday and the water temp is around 60 degrees. The river is running low and clear and should stay that way until we start with any heat wave.
There were good catches for springers in the lower river this past week and most of the springers were natives in mid-teens with a couple pushing the 20 lbs. zone.
Several lakes in the district are slated for stocking. 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 – It’s still spring Chinook season on the north coast, and we’re still in the peak part of the fishery. Some of the best catches of the season can happen this time of year, and these fish are the highest quality salmon that return to the north Oregon coast.
River levels remain low, with no relief in sight. Spring Chinook are likely entering the Trask and Nestucca systems, for the long summer ahead. Summer steelhead numbers remain low, but anglers are still pursuing them on the Wilson, Nestucca and Siletz River systems.
Saltwater remains the primary focus with halibut and rockfish, as well as crabbing, fair to good options for anglers when seas allow.
Ocean salmon fishing (for coho only) opens this Saturday, June 17th. Coho are expected to be small, but at least there’s an ocean salmon option on the table. Check out all the saltwater salmon options on THIS PAGE.
Strong tides will make for good razor clam digging along the north Oregon Coast, but bay crabs will dig in. Bay clams however will be a productive option as well with the minus tide series upon us.
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
Detroit Reservoir Trout. McKenzie River Hatches Are Great. Bass Time on Many Ponds. Some Steelhead in S. Santiam, But Slow
Alton Baker Canal: Alton Baker was stocked with 900 legal size rainbows this week.
Note that Alton Baker Canal was stocked earlier in January with 700 one pounders.
Detroit Reservoir:
Detroit is currently at 1557.3 feet. Docks are in. Check the water levels here: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/or/nwis/uv?site_no=14180500
Detroit was stocked this week with 4,000 trophy trout and will be stocked weekly in June with 4,000 trophy trout.
Green Peter Reservoir: The reservoir is fairly steady, and anglers/boaters are finding Green Peter accessible. Water level is at 990.5 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.
EE Wilson Pond: Was stocked with 850 legal size rainbows during the first week of June. This is the last stocking for the season.
North Santiam Trout: The North Santiam received 2,000 legal size trout this week and receives 2,000 legal size trout next week.
Foster Reservoir: 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 3510 CFS – at a good fishing level. Some caddis activity happening later in the day.
Willamette River – From Harrisburg, to Corvallis, to Albany:
The Willamette River is at 6,480 CFS at Harrisburg and has flow/level has been dropping. Fishable levels right now.
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.
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
Newbury Crater Lakes Fishing Well. Metolius Hatches Are On, But Some Days Are Better Than Others. Deschutes River Caddis!
Weather Outlook Across Central and Eastern Oregon:
Clear weather and we enter the weekend with temperatures in the 70s and 80s, but a cooldown starts on Sunday and into the first few days of next week. Most areas in the high desert will see highs in the lower 60s, and in the mid 50s on Monday with some showers in the forecast.
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. We will watch the fish counts.
Lower Deschutes River:
The Lower Deschutes dropped to very nice fishing levels – back at typical summertime levels. Flows are currently at 3860CFS at Madras. Flow is also dropping in the lowest portions of the river, currently at 4,610 at Moody. All are nice fishing levels with typical Deschutes clarity.
Water temperatures near Madras remain in the range from 54 to 57 F.
Salmon flies are done. Caddis and PMDs abound. We are coming into prime caddis season.
These next few weeks, a month actually, has great evening bites. Caddis, midges, PMDs, some PMDs are all going. As said, there is a good evening bite at sunset.
Middle Deschutes River: Middle Deschutes is looking good right now.
Levels are good, and there is good fishing through the Middle Deschutes system. Anglers are catching fish from Bend to Steelhead Falls.
Lake Billy Chinook: Smallmouth bass fishing in the Crooked River Arm is picking up.
Crooked River: Crooked River flows have dropped nicely, and this is now a viable fishing option with somewhat steady flows of 250ish CFS. Big caddis hatches are happening.
Fall River: Busy place. Fish early or fish late. Fall River was stocked with 1000 trophy size trout this week. All of Fall River is open, including below the Falls that opened on May 22nd.
Metolius River:
The Met continues to drop and is getting near it’s normal summertime levels. The flow at Allingham at the time of this writing is about 240 CFS.
Green drakes are showing here and there throughout the river system – from lower bridge, the hatchery and above. Nothing about the hatches has been particularly thick, but they are there in the afternoons. I’ve seen them from mid to late afternoons when I’ve been on the Met.
The PMDs are active on the upper portions of the river.
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.
Fill level is at 59% full.
Crescent Lake: Crescent Lake at 20% full – no reports. Note that it is getting some water into the lake now.
Prineville Reservoir: The reservoir is at 97 % full as of today – chock full and releasing lots of water. That said, we are all hoping for some.
Salmon opens tomorrow.
Bass fishing is “hot and heavy.”
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:
School is out and it’s time to go camping and enjoy some good family time while there’s no smoke and in the pleasant 80’s. The lakes are all stocked with trout and are in good to great shape. The bass bite has also picked up in those holding them as well. Springer action on the Rogue River is winding down but still getting some action on the upper section. The lower is starting to see some boater action on the bay for some early fall run fish. Fishing on the mid-section is slow for just about anything right now.
The ocean looks to be a bit iffy for the weekend, but depending on where you go out of, there might be a break in the wind to get out for some excellent bottom fishing. Earlier in the week I saw lots of tight lines and smiles with lots of ling cod and rock fish limits. Even the halibut were biting!
Best best bet for the weekend would be the lakes, streams and ponds. 🎣
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 Report.