Portland/Metro Fishing Report – There were some coho caught out of Chinook landing recently. Creel checks indicate some fair catch rates for what has been a dismal coho showing on the mainstem. Those fish seemed to have disappeared however, maybe an omen for the upcoming rainfall.
The mainstem Columbia is effectively done for salmon for the season, although there will remain some catch and effort around the mouth of the Klickitat in the coming weeks.
There are still coho ascending Willamette Falls with some subsequent catches still happening near the mouths of the Tualatin, Yamhill, Molalla and Santiam systems. This fishery fades fast however, but this should be the last productive week.
Clackamas River Fishing Report
With no change in the weather, it’s much the same on the Clackamas, but that’s about to change; we’ll talk about that in the forecast section however.
As far as Clackamas River success goes, the fish are still stoved up, waiting for better conditions to get on with their life. Mike from Fishermen’s Marine and Outdoor in Oregon City reports, “We’re still in lock-jaw mode. There are fish everywhere, still holed up at the mouth and staging at Bonnie Lure. There was a good batch that went up Eagle Creek, but lots more waiting for the rains to hit.” Mike also reported a new leader in the Fishermen’s big fish contest came in recently, a non fin-clipped coho taken from the upper Willamette at the mouth of the Molalla River. The whopper weighed in at 18.8 pounds, certainly over 20 pounds before being gutted for weighing! What a whopper!
Sandy River Fishing Report
Avid angler Jeff Stoeger reports – I hope that you all had a chance to get out and try your luck this past week. The forecast is for rain to start Friday and rain all the way until the following Friday or longer.
The river is currently running at 7.77 ft and with the rain NOAA is projecting the river to go up to just over 8ft. With this rain we will see some movement of coho.
All the normal techniques will be effective. Fishing should be good all the way until mid-November and then the winter steelhead should start showing up.
Find the full report and forecast for Members on the Sandy and the Clackamas from this page here.
North Coast Fishing Report –With the closure of wild coho on the north coast, most are wondering just what’s left. That is an October surprise in of itself, a rare lack of opportunity for north coast anglers.
Even one of the better October options, the Siletz and Alsea Rivers, have slowed for Chinook. There’s still some fresh fish being caught, but action has slowed overall.
There were some fresh fish around the Alsea on Tuesday, but that was for anglers fishing low in the system on these tiny tides.
The Nehalem hasn’t been fishy for Chinook for weeks, and the Salmon River certainly has some fish, but more are reluctant to bite and darkening by the day.
With the October 15th wild coho closure, and next to no hatchery fish left to harvest where folks fish them most, effort will likely wane on most coastal systems.
Anglers got in one more week of good bottomfishing out of our central and northern ports, but the weather will keep that from happening for the near future.
Albacore tuna are gone.
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:
From last week – This is the time of year that Glenn reports bi-weekly.
Alton Baker Canal: Alton Baker Canal was stocked with 750 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 into the fall.
Detroit Reservoir: Kokanee reports this week indicate a slowdown in the fishing. Fish are down deeper, but anglers are not reporting much catch.
At this point, there are more reports of the kokanee turning – losing scales and color in the meat.
Detroit was stocked up through the end of June with trophy trout each week. The deeper, cooler waters of Detroit make this a good trout fishing option, in depths below 20 feet and at times closer to the surface.
Green Peter Reservoir: No new kokanee reports, but there are some reports of anglers catching bigger holdover trout.
Last week I reported there are more anglers seeing signs of the kokanee turning – losing scales and color in the meat.
Fishing near the mouth of Quartzville Creek for trout can be effective. Trout have been stocked in Quartzville Creek.
Green Peter received 4,000 legal size trout at the end of May. Water level is dropping this week. Water level is at 960 feet right now. Water level can be found here: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=14186100
As a caution, there are some reports of thefts from boat ramps including catalytic converters.
Quartzville Creek: Quartzville Creek flows are too low for fishing right now at around 20 CFS.
Junction City Pond: JC Pond was stocked the end of May with 1,000 legal size rainbows. Good local option for southern Willamette Valley anglers. Note that Junction City Pond stocking is complete for the season and resumes again in the fall.
Timber Linn Park Pond: Was stocked with 1000 legal size rainbows at the end of May. Note that Timber Linn stocking is complete for the season and resumes again in the fall.Find the latest full report and forecast as well as past reports for Members on the Willamette Valley/Metro from this page here.
Central Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Glenn Zinkus reports:
From last week – This is the time of year that Glenn reports bi-weekly.
Fall River and Metolius Fishing Well. Good Smallmouth and Walleye Fishing Happening In the Mid Columbia Region. Hosmer and Crane Prairie Fishing Well
Weather Outlook Across Central and Eastern Oregon:
Summer-like temperatures continue.
Temperatures throughout Central Oregon will in the 70s through the Cascade Lakes Highway area, the Metolius, and other parts of the high desert through the weekend and into next week.
The Deschutes Canyon will have temperatures in the 80s through the weekend and next week.
There is no chance of rain over the next week.
Lower Deschutes River:
Water temperatures range from lows of 54.5 degrees to highs of 55.5 degrees near Madras with a flow of 3620 CFS.
Water temperatures range from lows of 56 degrees to highs of 59 degrees near Moody with a flow of 4020 CFS.
The shops and anglers are reporting that nymphing is the way to go. Nymphing this past week has been effective, as well fishing a bead head leech. Blue and green Perdigons – bead size adjusted up or down depending upon water speed and depth.
Some occasional caddis and BWOs are present. But note, dry fly fishing is hit and miss right now.
October caddis are emerging at night.
Middle Deschutes River: The Middle Deschutes has been fishing well – good October fishing. Fish nymphs and streamers at any time, and there are some PMD and BWO hatches going now, as well as a tan caddis in the afternoon and evenings.
Upper Deschutes River: Closed as of Oct 1 for the season.
Haystack Reservoir: Fill level is 34 %. Bass fishing has been excellent.
Effective Sept. 16 through Nov. 30, in Haystack Reservoir, there are no size limits, bag limits, or gear restrictions for all gamefish.
Lake Billy Chinook: Kokes are stacked up in the Metolius Arm.
Crooked River: Closed to angling due to low flows.
Members can always see the latest complete reports for this section by starting right here.
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome reports:
Happy anglers that have been doing the rain dance will be getting some reprieve to the low water conditions by the first significant forecasted rain in months by this weekend. Pretty much everywhere throughout Southern Oregon and coastal, rivers and streams have been in desperate need of rain not only to “sweeten” up the water, but to increase flow enough to get fish moving upriver to their spawning grounds.
The Chetco estuary Chinook bite is past prime as a lot of fish have shot upriver. A few fish are still being caught but more angling pressure is present at the gravel bars in the bobber fishery where there’s been a decent bite going on this week with eggs/ sand shrimp cocktails.
The Rogue Bay Chinook run is dwindling as is angler boat pressure. There is still some fish being caught by persistent anglers with coho out numbering Chinook. Blustery conditions are in the outlook for the weekend so mid next week looks better to try for new incoming fish.
The mid-Rogue River has been beautiful to fish lately…. Fall colors and warm days have anglers appreciating all the area has to offer. The summer steelhead bite has been variable depending on where you’re at, what is offered, time of day and so forth.
The Coos basin estuary of coho catches remain good from Charleston up through the airport area.
Winchester bay is producing nice crab and anglers are getting fair catches of salmon in the main Umpqua estuary.
Be safe, be nice and enjoy!
Jeff’s expanded report, multiple lake updates, and forecast in this week’s version for Members!
I have a question about your report. Do you ever include the information about how the fishing is going at the Rupert landing in Rupert Oregon? I have been going there, off and on and sometimes it’s been really great fishing, for salmon, steelhead and walleye . But it’s really kinda hard to get any information about how it’s going there. Please let me know about this. Because I live in Troutdale Oregon, and I do most of my fishing in the Columbia River above the Bonneville Dam, and up around the John Day Dam . But I do sometimes get on the sandy river but only around the Troutdale area. If you have this information in your report, I might like to subscribe to it. Thank y’all for your assistance and your time m sincerely appreciate it, Danny Gonzales.