Portland/Metro Fishing Report – With most of the hatchery coho now in their natal rivers, mainstem opportunity for hatchery coho (Chinook remains closed) is gone. It’s best to target salmon in the tributaries and crab in the estuary. It’s just time for the Columbia to go into fall and winter hibernation.
It’s much the same with the mainstem Willamette. With the bulk of the run over Willamette Falls (now over 10,000 adults), catch and effort will wane quickly for upstream anglers. It’s best to target coho at the tributary mouths now.
Clackamas River Fishing Report – Well, as expected, the rain was a game-changer on the Clackamas River. Mike from Fishermen’s Marine and Outdoor reported that there has been fair activity at the river mouth nearly every morning until Sunday, when that small shot of rain sent them upstream, into oblivion. “They just seemed to disappear,” he reported, “The bite has fizzled.” Mike reported.
Sandy River Fishing Report – Avid angler Jeff Stoeger reports – Well we finally got some much-needed rain and the river came up and colored up quickly. Last week when I did the report, I reported that the river was 7.7ft and as of this Wednesday the river is currently running at 8.6ft and is expected to climb over 9ft. It should stay colored up until the freezing level drops and the weather turns colder.
Most of the fish that have been caught have been on eggs drift fished, spinners and beads in sizes 14mm and 16mm.
Find the full report and forecast for Members on the Sandy and the Clackamas from this page here.
North Coast Fishing Report –With many north coast systems showing low returns of Chinook, we’re already on the wind down for most north coast fisheries.
Wild coho sustained effort and opportunity through mid-October, but with that closure, there’s really not much to fish for.
It’s pretty simple, the Nehalem is even slower for Chinook, there are some Chinook being caught in Tillamook Bay, most requiring release, the Salmon River is fading, the Nestucca has some Chinook but most are small and not in a very bitey mood. That leaves the Siletz and Alsea, more on the central coast and still the bright spots, but dimming, for most coastal anglers.
The long awaited rain freshet drew darkening coho up the North Fork Nehalem, where hatchery workers observed congregating coho still in the low flows of this Nehalem tributary. Low flows certainly didn’t promote a hot snap, and even if they did, the vast majority of these fish are pretty dark in color.
Some guides worked the lower reaches of the Nestucca, but with little success. They reported seeing smaller Chinook (some thought they were spring Chinook due to their skin color), but they weren’t in a biting mood at mid-week.
Bay crabbing remains productive in nearly every coastal estuary.
The ocean looks angry for the week, not so conducive to an offshore opportunity.
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.
Read Bob’s soap box post this week
Bob talks about the lack of opportunity with this year’s potential catch
Willamette River System Report – Contributor Glenn Zinkus reports:
Lower Willamette River Fishing Report – Numbers of coho, both adult and jacks, are fading at Willamette Falls, as is often the case this time of year. Although we’re looking at half of the return we had last year, 10,000+ adults over the falls is a good return year. Maybe more exciting is the abundant jack counts we’re witnessing at Willamette Falls as of late. It always gives us hope, no matter how false those hopes may be.
Catches have expectedly tapered, but there’s still just shy of 100 adults per day ascending the falls, certainly enough to provide some opportunity for folks. The cooler weather is certainly a welcome reprieve for fish and anglers alike.
McKenzie River Trout In The Fall. South Valley Ponds Are Being Stocked. Willamette Steelhead Moving Around – Catch Rates Drop
Detroit Reservoir: Kokanee reports this week indicate a slowdown in the fishing.
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.
Green Peter Reservoir: No new kokanee reports, but there are some reports of anglers catching bigger holdover trout.
Early in the month, I reported there are more anglers seeing signs of the kokanee turning – losing scales and color in the meat.
Quartzville Creek: Quartzville Creek flows bumped up and climbing, now at 150 CFS which is a fishable level.
Quartzville Creek is open all year. Quartzville was stocked in May with 4400 legal size trout, and stocked early July with 2200 trout. Quartzille Creek was just stocked again in August.
EE Wilson Pond: EE Wilson Pond was stocked with 850 legal size rainbows at the end of May. Note that EE Wilson stocking is complete for the season and resumes again in the fall.
Waverly Lake: Waverly Lake received 1,000 legal size trout this past week.
South Santiam Trout: Flows are picking up for trout in the upper South Santiam River above Foster Reservoir. Note the South Santiam will close to trout angling after October 31
Friends did quite well last week for rainbows and cutthroats on the stretch below Foster dam; but no new reports from anglers this week.
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. October caddis, drakes and BWOs should all take fish.
Willamette River – Steelhead
Steelhead catches are down over this past week as water releases and flows increased, and steelhead have been moving around. The water is off-color and a bit murkier. 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:
Fall River and Metolius Fishing Well. High Lake Options Beginning To Diminish. Deschutes Going Strong
Weather Outlook Across Central and Eastern Oregon:
Well things have changed since the last report. We saw below normal temperatures arrive and snow at the high lakes.
As we go into this weekend, temperatures are somewhat seasonal and turn cooler again into next week. Today through Sunday will be in the mid to high 50s through the High Desert area, and will be in the 50s along the Cascade Lakes Highway through Sunday, before dropping on Monday into the 40s and dropping on Tuesday into the 30s with snow chances. There is a chance of rain at lower elevations on Saturday, and again starting on Monday.
The Deschutes Canyon will have temperatures in the 60s through the weekend, dropping into the low to mid 50s next week with some rain shower activity starting on Monday.
Lower Deschutes River: Water flows near Madras are 4030 CFS. Water flows at Moody are 4610 CFS.
Reports are that October caddis nymphs, blue and green Perdigons – bead size adjusted up or down depending upon water speed and depth, stonefly nymphs and heavy jig style flies are working well now.
October caddis have been emerging at night.
Middle Deschutes River: The Middle Deschutes is running high now, and best bet is to fish streamers and jigs.
Lake Billy Chinook: Kokes are stacked up in the Metolius Arm, and during the last several days, kokanee fishing has been good.
Crooked River: Closed to angling due to low flows – closed at least until October 31.
Fall River: Fall River has been fishing well. Stocked earlier in the month with trophy trout.
At this point, BWOs will be the most prevalent. Jeff Perin also advises that there was a smaller orange caddis.
Metolius River:
I was on the Metolius earlier in the week and got to navigate the downed tree that blocked much of the road just below Camp Sherman. Someone with a large pickup was just about to chain the trunk up, and move more of this off the road, so all should be good by now.
The upper river was quiet in regards to people, not many other anglers.
There is some occasional fishing with October caddis dries right now through the river, as well as some tan caddis and micro caddis.
Kokanee are spreading lightly lower in the lower river, which is getting the bull trout going.
Hosmer: Hosmer is becoming less accessible, with the channel likely freezing over. The lower lake should still be open. However, it is getting snowy in that area.
North and South Twin Lakes: North Twin and South Twin will still be accessible and one of the better bets along Century Drive.
Crane Prairie Reservoir: Crane Prairie is open through October 31, then closed for the season. During the warmer weather last week, a friend was there and reported some fish to the boat, but for the most part slow.
Members can always see the latest complete reports for this section by starting right here.
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome reports:
The caption says it all……rain that did come throughout most of Oregon definitely helped, but it wasn’t quite the “big” rain event as hoped. There’s more rain on the way this weekend so hopefully it will be enough to get the Chetco and Rogue a bit more flow.
The Chetco estuary Chinook action has now moved up river. Angling pressure is present at the gravel bars in the bobber fishery where there’s been an increased bite this week with eggs/ sand shrimp cocktails.
The Rogue Bay Chinook action is over and anglers are mostly targeting coho but even most of those fish have split for upriver. The mouth of Indian creek seems to be the best hang out and coho success tossing Flying C spinners. Even thought the boat pressure is way down, it might make for a lucky angler to hook into a late 5 year old whopper Chinook.
The mid-Rogue River saw an increased steelhead bite as well as some coho earlier this week. Those targeting coho are twitching various holes from Gold Hill down to Hog Creek with fair success. There’s still plenty of nice summer steelees and half pounders scattered throughout as wall. More rain is definitely needed to really get fish active.
The Coos basin coho fishery is now closed and most of the Chinook have moved up river into their spawning grounds. The recent rain might encourage some late comers into the estuary making fishing worth while for another week.
Anxious anglers are hoping for more significant rain to get fish moving into the Elk and Sixes
Be safe, be nice and enjoy!
Jeff’s expanded report, multiple lake updates, and forecast in this week’s version for Members!
Find our latest SW Washington fishing report summary from this page here.