Portland/Metro Fishing Report – Salmon fishers in the Portland area still have plenty of options to mull over for the weekend. From the Columbia to the Willamette, coho and Chinook remain fair to good options for trollers and bank anglers.
Coho are passing Willamette Falls in fantastic order. It looks like it’ll be a great return. Anglers fishing upstream of the falls have the best opportunity as both wild and hatchery coho are open for retention.
The Bonneville reach will offer up the best opportunities for metro Chinook trollers, but upriver reservior anglers stand a great chance too. The river in front of Portland is likely to hold its own for Chinook and coho anglers, this should be another good week for trollers.
Clackamas River Fishing Report – Despite favorable weather patterns and a mild rise in river levels, coho catches on the Clackamas remain flat. Coho are congregating in deep holes in the upper river and just above Eagle Creek, giving state troopers reason to observe under-cover. Hopefully selfish snaggers learn a lession here, this is not a resource to jeopardize.
Early mornings will continue to offer up the best opportunities for river coho anglers, along with spinner casters working the mouth of the Clackamas for first light migrating coho.
Sandy River Fishing Report – Jeff Stoeger reports – I hope that you all had a chance to get out this week and fish. The little bit of rain had started to get the fish moving and the forecast is for the river to take a bump over the next few days. The river temp has dropped to the mid 50’s and will drop as weather starts to cool down causing the to continue to move up stream.
There were good numbers of fish caught by a few buddies of mine over the last couple days with limits of adult coho and lots of jacks in the mix. There were also some late springers and fall Chinook in the mix. The fall Chinook are mostly tule stock and should be released and the last of the springers are in poor shape to keep.
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 – A very recent report indicates that a slug of fish have entered the lower Columbia, giving hope to trollers targeting B-run coho in the Buoy 10 reach. The tides and timing are favorable for weekend anglers, it will set the stage for October opportunities in the estuary for anglers.
Ocean coho season will close with little opportunity in recent days. Rough weather kept most anxious anglers at bay.
Chinook fishers working north coast bays and tidewater reaches are finding moderate numbers of biters, but many keep the faith that chrome is a possibility. It’s clear that the return is again depressed, but catchable numbers are available.
Tillamook anglers struggle with seaweed and eel grass but low slack and high tide does offer a short reprieve. The incoming tide remains the best chance at success and anglers working the upper bay found success over the course of the week. Wild coho remain the most robust, but is open just two days per week, with constrictive limits. Check your favorite watershed for limits during this opportunistic period of time.
The Trask received a shot of both coho and Chinook, but river levels remain low with variable catch rates. The Tillamook River tidewater also has a few biting fish for trollers, it’s hard to bank fish here with the exception of the Handicap Hole.
Nehalem trollers are also finding a mix of Chinook and coho and it too offers a 2 day/week opportunity for wild coho, of which there are many. Chinook should be peaking, but like other north coast systems, catches are fair at best.
The Salmon, Nestucca and Alsea systems are in peak season, but catches here aren’t impressing many anglers. Most bright biters remain in tidewater, although Salmon River anglers are finding fish all the way to the hatchery.
The Siletz is continuing to be a bright spot for north coast anglers. It’s getting a lot of attention since it’s been a productive option in recent years. It looks like it’ll be a fair return again this year.
Razor clam digging opens up again on October 1st north of Tillamook Head in Seaside. This is the most productive beach on the north coast. Digging will be most productive if the ocean swell lies down, which may happen early next week. Night tides are most promising when the opener finally arrives.
Estuary crabbing is improving, but tides are a bit too strong for excellent catches this weekend.
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
Dexter Reservoir Trout. McKenzie River Trout. Foster and Detroit Reservoirs Producing.
Alton Baker Canal: Alton Baker was stocked with 900 legal size rainbows this week. Will be stocked with the same next week.
Detroit Reservoir: I have a good kokanee report – fish in 60 feet of water plus, and they were biters. Range from 60 to 70 feet.
Good fishing report on the inlet into Detroit near Hoover Campground with angling from the bank opportunities.
Green Peter Reservoir: Fishing kayaks and canoes have access. Whitcombe is closed. Thistle Creek boat ramp has been closed. Water level is at 905.8 feet. Dropping with some pulsed flows. Level can be found here: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=14186100
More kokanee reports in the Thistle Creek arm – maybe some better fish being caught.
Quartzville Creek: Quartzville Creek is open all year, and just stocked earlier this month with 2200 legal size trout. Stocking is complete for the season. River flow is at 43.7 CFS feet, having spiked up since the 25th. A good, under the radar trout fishing location for the beginning of fall. It is not scheduled to be stocked, but there will be some holdovers.
South Santiam Steelhead/Salmon: Small numbers of steelhead are present in 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.
Chinook, however, is better – looking 4367 at Foster on August 29. Angling success on the South Santiam is good. Most of the run is complete – peaking earlier in July.
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.
Willamette River – Middle Fork: The Middle Fork flow is currently 1,840 CFS – at a good fishing level and steady since last week. Upper portions of the Middle Fork, including parts of the North Fork of the Middle Fork are effected by the Bedrock Fire, although the fire is coming under control. 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 3,080 CFS at Harrisburg – up slightly since the 25th.
Anglers have been catching a few steelhead here and there, as some incidental catches. Anglers in the Eugene area continue to catch some walleye below the dams in the Willamette system, and reports are that the walleye fishing is picking up.
McKenzie River: Upper portions may be viable options again but do watch for access restrictions.
The upper portions of the McKenzie have been fishing well. However, some access may be restricted by the Lookout Fire and the area is likely going to remain smokey. Fire closure information in the Willamette National Forest can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/willamette/fire/?cid=fseprd552029
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
Fall River Trout! Metolius River Bull Trout On The Bite. Paulina Lake Brown Trout.
Weather Outlook Across Central and Eastern Oregon:
Some showers on Friday afternoon with highs in the 50s in most parts of the high desert with cool temperatures and less rain on the weekend. Next week warms into the 60s.
The Deschutes River canyon will see 60s from Saturday through Sunday and warming into the 70s by Tuesday of next week.
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.
Just as a point of reference, there have been 37,292 wild steelhead across Bonneville dam as of September 27 2023, compared with the 10 year average of 52,698 wild steelhead across the dam. The wild steelhead run this year is outpacing last year, although total steelhead across the dam is 105,345 this year versus 111,103 total steelhead across during the same dates.
Lower Deschutes River:
The Lower Deschutes continues with good fishing levels. Flows bumped up more through the week and are currently at 4,360 CFS at Madras. Flow is currently at 4,470 at Moody.
Water temperatures near Moody remain in the 57 to 60 F range.
Last week I reported steelhead have spread through the lower river and up through the Maupin area- lots of takes being reported. I can say definitively that anglers are getting steelhead as far upriver as Trout Creek, a friend caught one while nymphing at the Trout Creek area.
Middle Deschutes River: This is the time when flows change, so be aware. Be careful if you see sudden changes in color, stream level, etc.
Upper Deschutes River: The upper Deschutes closes Sept 30th. Upper Deschutes is providing some good nymphing right now, and euronymphing is producing.
Haystack Reservoir: At 100 % right now. ODFW started stocking fish, including some rainbow broodstock to begin rebuilding after the drawdown last year.
Lake Billy Chinook: Bull trout in the Metolius Arm is improving. Gear guys are catching big fish now, and still taking trolled lures like Rapalas. Bulls of more than 30 inches have been grabbing plugs.
Crooked River: Crooked River flow are at 180 CFS currently. Good fishing conditions, and BWO hatches are going. Some traces of PMDs remain, but BWOs will become more important.
Metolius River: Start watching for October caddis. Green drakes are happening in parts of the river – middle near the hatchery downriver below Bridge 99. PMDs are starting to slow, but watch during the afternoon and evenings.
Odell Lake: Kokes, from recent reports, are an early morning deal. Once the sun hits the water, it’s over. Plan to start very early in the morning.
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:
Rain on the way… Angler’s anxious for outcome
The recent rain got fish moving and on the bite from the Chetco estuary and the Rogue River system on upwards to Winchester and Coos bay. The Rogue Bay has slowed down for Chinook ,but coho numbers are increasing. Coho are starting to show and more rain is expected on Friday that should help more. Unfortunately for you ocean goers, it looks dicey for getting out with another front coming. The Coos and Coquille systems also got a shot in the flow that has anglers getting out their fishing rods in between their favorite football games for decent Chinook and coho action (respectively). Cooler weather has helped improve the lake action trout bite for those lakes having enough water to fish. The bass bite is still decent at Selmac. After some more rain Friday, fishing should improve late weekend and into next week.
The mid Rogue has been good to excellent for Fall Chinook and summer steelhead after the recent rain that bumped up the flow and “sweetened” up the water. Chinook will close above Hog Creek on the 30th, but action below should stay decent. Some reports of coho below Hog creek have been reported as well. Summer steelhead action on the upper from Touvelle on up has also improved. A bit more rain on Friday should improve conditions for the weekend.
The Rogue bay fishery has been slower for Chinook despite the recent rainfall. Half pounders are starting to come in and summer steelhead catches have increased in the mid and upper Rogue since river floater traffic has decreased. Anglers targeting Chinook in the middle section are getting fish as well.
The Chetco estuary saw some decent Chinook catches along with a few coho. It’s still a bit early, but more forecasted rain can only help.
The Coquille and Coos river systems are seeing increased Fall Chinook and coho action.
The main Umpqua in the lower is seeing increased Chinook catches
Be safe, be nice and enjoy! Go Beaves! 🏈
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.