Portland/Metro Fishing Report – The mainstem Columbia is beginning to slow, but the Bonneville reach will remain the best option for metro area anglers. It’ll be about the last week for viable fishing here, with not much more opportunity for metro anglers in the weeks after.
Coho and some Chinook will remain an option in The Dalles reservoir, especially at the mouth of the Klickitat River. Those numbers are starting to slide at Bonneville as well however.
Willamette River anglers will be watching the river go by for the next few months. The coho run is winding down although there can be some good winter time catch and release fishing. It’s been a banner return of adult and jack coho over Willamette Falls, but they didn’t bite all that well this year, sadly.
Clackamas River Fishing Report – The hatchery run on the Clackamas is winding up too, but Eagle Creek remains loaded with fish. Most of the fish are towards the hatchery and exhibit the lock-jaw effect as we’ve seen for much of the freshwater season.
Wild fish will continue to stream into the system, it’s been an amazing return for these fish, but they still aren’t biting all that well either. North Fork passage is nothing short of amazing.
Sandy River Fishing Report – Avid angler Jeff Stoeger reports, this week we received our first good rain fall and most of the rain fell as snow on hood. The freezing level was three thousand feet and will stay that way for a period of time for the weather front that is moving through.
The river is currently running at 8.1 feet and will climb to 8.3 feet and will be clear and cold. The water temp is falling and has dropped 3 degrees and will continue to drop as the weather proceeds to get colder.
Fishing has started to slow down with most of the hatchery fish staged at the mouth of Cedar Creek and on the move. The fish at Cedar Creek are on the dark side and look like fire trucks. There are fish still scattered throughout the river with some late coho slowly entering the river still.
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 – The North Coast Rendezvous is underway and catches didn’t impress many today. None-the-less, it’s a great event and the fleet is out in force in hopes of scoring Tillamook chrome.
There are some Chinook being caught, along with some wild coho. There should be a few hatchery coho still coming in for the next few weeks.
District rivers came up enough to make it interesting. The Trask and Wilson should both have fresh Chinook available, not in great numbers however.
The Nehalem is done, put a fork in it. There should still be big numbers of coho still coming in for the next several weeks. Catch and release only of course.
The Siletz continues to be a bright spot for Chinook anglers, but will likely fade following the most recent rain event. The Siletz bumped to nearly 4.5 foot, with good numbers of fish certainly riding the freshet upstream.
The Nestucca is a fair option, Alsea not so much. The Salmon River is about done for the season.
Crabbing is good, despite the rain freshet. It’ll stay good for at least another month.
Minus tides are happening at night. Coupled with a FLAT ocean, the razor clam digging should be excellent.
Bottomfishing should be productive too with these excellent ocean conditions.
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
McKenzie River Trout. North Santiam System At Nice Flows.
Alton Baker Canal: Alton Baker was stocked with 750 legal size rainbows this week. Will be stocked with the same next week.
Detroit Reservoir: Detroit is currently at 1496 feet. Mongold is accessible. Check the water levels here: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/or/nwis/uv?site_no=14180500No new fishing reports this past week. Of course, the recent cold front is affecting conditions on Detroit.
Good fishing report on the inlet into Detroit near Hoover Campground with angling from the bank opportunities.
Green Peter Reservoir: There are reports in the news of large fish kills in and around Green Peter, with large numbers of floating fish. More on this later as the investigation continues, with some reports of kokes down deep being affected by the rapid emptying of the reservoir.
Fishing kayaks and canoes have access. Whitcombe is closed. Thistle Creek boat ramp has been closed. The water level is 873.5 feet. Dropping with some pulsed flows. Level can be found here: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=14186100
Quartzville Creek: Quartzville Creek is open all year, and just stocked earlier this month with 2200 legal size trout.
Junction City Pond: JC Pond was stocked during the last week in May with 1,000 legal size rainbows.
South Santiam Steelhead/Salmon: Small numbers of steelhead are present on the South Santiam, with 350 at the dam on August 29th. Running at less than last year – at about 1/3rd of last year’s numbers.
North Santiam Coho: Flow came up over the past day – as of the time of this writing, the North Santiam at Mehema is 2650 CFS.
Great numbers of Coho in the Willamette system right now, and it’s primetime on the North Santiam for coho.
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.
Foster Reservoir: Foster was stocked during late September with 3000 legal size trout.Foster is now dropping, currently at 618.6 feet. The water levels are reported here:
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/or/nwis/uv?site_no=14186600
There are reports of some good crappie fishing on the east side.
Willamette River – Middle Fork: It’s a great time on the Middle Fork. The Middle Fork flow is currently 1,890 CFS – at a good fishing level and steady since the last report. Upper portions of the Middle Fork, including parts of the North Fork of the Middle Fork were affected by the Bedrock Fire, although the fire is coming under control. Access is more open now, but 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 6,430 CFS at Harrisburg at the time of this writing.
Cohos are being caught above the Falls, in areas to the north up through the confluence of the Santiam River. Anglers have been catching a few steelhead here and there, as some incidental catches.
Dexter Reservoir: Was stocked last week with 2,530 trophy trout.Dexter received 3,000 trophy trout during May. Stocking is complete for the spring. Bass fishing is still good. But as the days get shorter, and the waters cool, trout are now a viable option again. Right now is the time to start in on this. Bait, gear and flies will take these fish.
Current water level at Dexter Reservoir can be found here: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/or/nwis/uv?site_no=14149500
McKenzie River: Prime time on the upper river. The upper portions of the McKenzie have been fishing well. Access has opened back up.
The lower portions of the McKenzie have been fishing well recently – hopper-dropper combos catching many trout. River is spiking up.
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
Metolius and Fall Rivers Consistent – Great For The Seasonal Weather Change.
Weather Outlook Across Central and Eastern Oregon:
A cold front hit the high desert and Cascades. Temperatures currently are topping out in the low 40s through Saturday, with cold nights. Temperatures rebound into the 50s next week.
At the time of this writing, the passes are snow covered as well as the higher elevation lakes.
ODFW News – Angling Restrictions
The entire ODFW Steelhead Management Framework presentation is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPjaWczzOD8
The Deschutes will remain open through the entire season for steelhead angling. READ the regulations please, things change!
Lower Deschutes River: The Lower Deschutes continues with good fishing levels. Flows have been up and down since the last report, and the flow at Madras is 4,150 CFS during the time of this writing. Flow is similar to the last report and currently at 4,680 at Moody.
Water temperatures near Moody are around 53 to 54 deg F range. Dropping now making me think there is some increased White River incoming flows.
Middle Deschutes River: Flows are up. Fishing is quite good – with some anglers catching good numbers of fish.
Upper Deschutes River: Closed as of now.
Haystack Reservoir: ODFW started stocking fish, including some rainbow broodstock to begin rebuilding after the drawdown last year.
Lake Billy Chinook: Metolius Arm closes after October 31.
Gear guys are catching big fish now in the Metolius Arm – if you are out in the cooler temperatures we are seeing now.
Crooked River: Crooked River flows are at 100 CFS currently. BWO hatches are going. A few PMDs are out, and the midges can be going strong. Nymphing with scuds and perdigons is producing.
Fall River: Fall River was stocked with 500 trophy trout two weeks ago.
Small streamers and jigs are taking some fish.
Metolius River: There are some BWO and PMD action during the afternoons. The bulls are getting more active and after the kokes.
Wickiup Reservoir: Closes October 31st. Fill level is at 13% full – watch those boat ramps.
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.
Hosmer: Remains open, but these higher elevation lakes have gotten some snow and Hosmer will have perhaps a few days next week and into early November that will be good. Reports from many, including Jeff Perin at the Flyfishers Place in Sisters reports that the channel is now devoid of fish. The upper lake has some large fish, but the lower lake has the best fishing right now.
North and South Twin Lakes: These lakes will be some of the go to lakes over the next several weeks. The lakes were stocked earlier in September.
Crescent Lake: Crescent Lake at 7 % full – no reports. The levels are starting to slowly decline.
Prineville Reservoir: The reservoir is at 60 % full as of today. Early fall fishing for bass and crappie has been good.
Crane Prairie Reservoir: Crane Prairie closes after October 31st. Reports are good – Crane is fishing well and the fish are healthy.
Lava Lake/Little Lava Lake: Latest reports are that there is okay fishing.
Three Creek Lake: Snow covered and roads will close soon.
Miller Lake: Just stocked in September with 2,400 legal size trout. Big browns are cruising the shallows. Streamers in the evening are hot right now.
Paulina Lake: Paulina, like the other high-altitude lakes is becoming snow covered and concentrate on some of the other lower elevation lakes.
East Lake: East Lake, like the other high-altitude lakes is becoming snow covered and concentrate on some of the other lower elevation lakes.
Odell Lake: Closes October 31st.Latest is that the kokes are on the small side. Mackinaw fishing has been good.
North Central Oregon/Mid-Columbia Waters: We have the latest from Wendy at Gorge Outfitters Supply in Rufus:
For you duck hunters, there are good reports of hunters shooting limits. I’ve been in the upper Columbia Basin and hear of hunters getting limits around sunrise along the Umatilla.
Wendy reports anglers are finding catch and release fishing for sturgeon to be very good. Anglers are targeting walleye in a bit deeper water.
The shop is waiting for winter steelhead to really kick off. With the lower John Day open this winter, they expect successful fishing trips.
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:
Chetco, Elk, & Sixes Chinook anglers await big rain.
Well it’s that time of year again when the World Series is just a couple days away, College football standings are shaping up to the championship, and Winter Steelhead season is coming soon. Chinook runs in the Chetco, Elk and Sixes and the late season (but still good) Summer Steelhead in the mid to upper Rogue will continue to bring on smiling faces and bent rods till at least Thanksgiving. The ocean is a crap shoot now with various storms keeping ocean goers off, but bay crabbing could be very good in between. There are some lakes still fishing well despite low levels…both for trout and bass anglers.
The Chetco bobber anglers have been having decent success upriver as well as estuary boaters after the recent rain. It’s low now, but more rain is coming and should be another good opportunity mid next week. The same goes for the Elk and Sixes which should also start to get more fish into the systems after this next rain event and should be fishable mid to latter next week.
The mid and upper Rogue continues to be good to excellent for summer steelhead. Falling leaves are starting to be a factor now. Fly anglers are doing well on the upper, boaters to bank anglers on the middle are doing well for half pounders and adult steelhead drifting soft beads, worms and working plugs.
The ocean might be good on Friday which might be the last opportunity for halibut, but another storm is expected to bring winds and rain for the weekend.
Lakes worthy of fishing now are Lost Creek, Fish Lake and Lake Selmac for trout and bass.
Be safe, be nice and enjoy! Go Beaves! 🏈
Tight Lines 🎣 – Romer
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.
No Umpqua reports it seems. Ever. 🤷
There’s no such thing as an “Umpqua”