Portland/Metro Fishing Report
Following a much needed rise in metro rivers, plunkers at Meldrum Bar and trollers working the Sellwood and Multnomah Channel are hopeful for salmon and steelhead success.
Undoubtedly, Meldrum Bar plunkers have the best chance at metro chrome, but the season’s first spring Chinook isn’t far away. Sellwood seems to produce the best early season options, for anglers dragging herring around in hopes of finding a pilot fish.
Larger numbers of sturgeon should be moving into the lower Willamette, where water temperatures are warmer than the mainstem Columbia, but few are fishing for them this time of year.
And speaking of mainstem Columbia sturgeon, the Oregon and Washington Departments of Fish and Wildlife have set a 1-day season for anglers wanting to take home a keeper upstream of Bonneville Dam. That one day will be Monday, February 16th for anglers to try their luck. Fishing should be good, despite the cold snap that lies ahead.
Upper Willamette Valley Fishing Report by Terry Otto
Recent rains bring fresh winter steelhead to local rivers. Heavy stockings offer great trout fishing. Springer/summer steelhead runs still months away.
Best bets this weekend
Multiple local lakes recently stocked with trout
Wild winter steelhead are arriving in upper Willamette systems.
Detroit Lake offers good trout, decent kokanee
Several central coast lakes well stocked with trout
Trout stocking
Stocked of the week of Feb 2-6:
Alder Lake, Waverly Lake, Row River Nature Park (Formerly Cottage Grove Pond, Dune Lake, Carter Lake, Alton Baker Canal, Timber Linn Junction, Walter Wirth Lake, Cleawox Lake, Lost Lake, EE Wilson Pond, Munsel Lake, Thissel Pond, Junction City Pond.
Scheduled to be stocked the week of Feb. 9-13:
Silver Creek Reservoir, St. Louis Pond, Row River Nature Park- formerly Cottage Grove Pond.
You can check the ODFW trout stocking schedule here.
Dexter Pond road closure
No public access into the Dexter Ponds Hatchery at least through Summer 2026 due to construction. Please call the USACE Park Ranger Office at (541) 942-5631 with questions.
Please call the USACE Park Ranger Office at (541) 942-5631 with questions[YS1][RO2] .
Sign up for the latest information on boater access
Marine Board’s Opportunities and Access Report incorporates information from federal and state agencies, local facility operators and fellow boaters to provide up-to-date information so boaters can decide where to recreate and what to expect this season. Subscribe to receive email updates.
Upper Willamette Valley Weather
The Eugene area is expected to see some showers on Saturday, and cloud cover on Sunday. Later in the week there is a chance of dicey, icy weather.
Wild winter steelhead are now crossing the Willamette Falls in good numbers. As of February 10, over 3,000 steelhead have crossed the falls. Recent rains have lifted the rivers, and the steelhead have responded, with daily counts rising. There have also been a few (eight) clipped hatchery strays. There are no hatchery winter steelhead planted in the upper Willamette systems.
Spring Chinook and summer steelhead will probably not arrive in good numbers until at least mid-April.
You can check the Willamette Falls counts here. You can check the Willamette River Gauge at Salem here.
Santiam River, North Fork
According to Mike Ferris of Fishermen Mike’s Guide Service, anglers have struggled to find winter steelhead in recent weeks. However, the river has risen following the recent rains, and is now running at 2480 CFS. Bank anglers are fishing bobbers with beads, bait, or jigs. The fast water offers good drifting options, and spinners are also effective, especially when the fish are on the move in the mornings.
You can check the gauge at Mahama here
There are several large, downed trees in the river creating some dangerous hazards for boaters in the lower river. For more information check out the Oregon State Marine Board website.
Santiam River, South Fork
Fishing is generally best when flows are below 3,000 cfs, and flows are currently at around 1,000 cfs at the gage in Waterloo. Wild winter steelhead are moving into the river, but no report on recent success.
You can check the river gage at Waterloo here.
Coast Fork Willamette River
The river is open to fishing all year for trout, hatchery Chinook salmon, hatchery steelhead and wild steelhead over 24 inches. Fishing has remained slow due to low water.
Detroit Lake
Mike Ferris reports that during a recent trip to Detroit Lake found decent action on juvenile Chinook, small kokanee, and a few trout.
Refilling the reservoir for the summer has begun. Water levels are currently a couple of feet above the low water ramp at Mongold State Park. Bank anglers fishing Powerbait are getting some nice trout, but fishing effort is low this time of year, especially mid-week. A few trout might take spinners cast from shore. Anglers with small craft such as kayaks can launch and do better. As a reminder, anglers are allowed to keep up to five trout, with an additional five kokanee.
Foster Reservoir
This reservoir near Sweet Home was stocked several times in September with several thousand hatchery trout. Besides trout, look for smallmouth bass and yellow perch near underwater structure and drop-offs. Please remember that only kokanee and adipose fin-clipped trout may be kept as part of the 5-trout bag limit, but there are no limits on size or number of bass. Trout and yellow perch can be caught year-round.
The reservoir elevation has dropped down to its winter low-water level. However, Sunnyside Park Boat Ramp is still usable and should be available throughout the winter.
Sandy and Clackamas River reports by Jeff Stoeger and Bob Rees
Clackamas River Fishing Report – The Clackamas saw a nice rise in river levels, but those akin to fishing it, didn’t have much good to report about its productivity.
We’re due to get a good push of hatchery fish on the Clackamas, but most would say, it hasn’t happened yet. The river came up to just over 13 foot and the drop was just perfect, not to mention the temperatures, but overall interest seems down for Clackamas River steelhead this season.
The folks that have been going out aren’t overly excited about their success to effort ratio, but some hatchery and wild steelhead are hitting the deck, less the case for bank anglers.
It’s really time for the Clackamas to pop off if it’s going to, but there have been years when a slug of steelhead show up later in the season. Only time will tell if that’s to be the case this year.
Sandy River Fishing Report – Avid angler Jeff Stoeger shares: Last Saturday, I hit the bank, and the rain showed up right on schedule. The river climbed quickly, rising about 2 feet from 8.9 feet to 10.9 feet, while the water temperature dropped to 41.43 degrees. Despite the rise, the river stayed mostly gin clear.
Today, the river is sitting at 9.8 feet and about 42 degrees. That bump of much-needed water finally raised the river enough for the fish that were stacked at Cedar Creek to make it to the hatchery.
On Sunday, the hatchery received 61 hatchery fish, which looks like the start of more fish pushing upstream. The hatchery also recycled 39 fish back down to Lewis and Clark Park to retrace the journey back to the hatchery.
Fishing was good to fair from Oxbow to the Lewis and Clark stretch of the river. There were also fair catches from Cedar Creek downstream.
The weather forecast calls for more rain later in the week with a good amount of precipitation, and temperatures dropping with a forecast of 3 to 4 feet of snow. With those conditions, there should be a good push of fish over the next couple of weeks.
North Coast Winter Steelhead with Mike Hazen
Join Mike Hazen of Hazen’s Guide Service to learn the tips and tricks of successful North Coast winter steelhead fishing.
Bob Rees will host this event for The Guide’s Forecast.
Sign up even if you are unable to attend the event and get access to the recording the next day!
North & Central Coast Fishing Report by Bob Rees
Anglers got the rain freshet they were hoping for early in the week, right smack dab in the middle of the start of peak season for later running winter steelhead. Although catches on most north coast systems was good for a few days, it was not epic for most anglers although bank anglers working the upper reaches of these systems seemed to do better than those working the lower reaches, primarily boaters.
The Wilson, Nestucca, Siletz and Trask produced fairly for folks early in the week, but tapered quicky and most guides already deemed flows low and clear by Wednesday. More weather lies ahead but weekend anglers should expect to see challenging conditions once again.
Those same rivers mentioned above, will remain primary targets for those seeking a consumptive opportunity, along with the Alsea, also a fair late-season target due to some wild broodstock programs still underway here.
Early season systems are still producing a few late season chromers. When I asked ODF&W’s Mike Hazen about how Gnat Creek was faring, he reported, “Every time I think it’s over or close to being over, I hear or see somebody carrying out a chome bright fresh steelhead!”
The NF Nehalem Hatchery Hotline also reported recycling more steelhead downstream to make another run, and several fish headed to local area still water fisheries such as Sunset and Coffenbury Lake, as well as Vernonia Pond. It ain’t over until the fat lady sings, I guess…
There were a few ocean anglers make it out for bottomfish, catches were good, even for lingcod.
There’s a nice set of clam tides for diggers starting over the weekend. The surf may even be cooperative enough to produce some great catches.
Much more on the site for Chinook Members:
- Buzz Ramsey’s latest post – Tillamook Winter Steelhead. Prime‑time winter steelhead action is unfolding on the Tillamook rivers, and this on‑the‑water report reveals exactly what anglers are finding right now. Chinook Members can see his post HERE.
- Bill Monroe’s latest post – Damn some dams and full hatcheries ahead! A deep dive into why the Northwest needs fewer dams, stronger hatcheries, and a smarter path forward for salmon recovery. Chinook Members can see his post HERE.
You can find all the articles from these two professionals on this page.
- The article of the week: The Other Side of Fear. Sharon Trammell talks about overcoming beginning anglers intimidation to fish with confidence! You can find the article HERE.
- All the STS articles are located here.
Not a Chinook Member? Become a Member or Upgrade here.
Members head to the Member’s Landing Page to find everything you have access to.
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome reports The recent rains finally gave our struggling river flows the boost they needed, and it shows. Steelhead conditions improved dramatically this week as rivers dropped into prime shape, and anglers wasted no time getting back after winter chrome. Reports of fish in the mid‑20‑inch range have been common, with a surprising number of wild fish in the mix—not a bad problem to have.
Looking ahead, the weekend forecast—rain showers and all—actually looks pretty favorable whether you’re fishing rivers or heading out on the ocean. My top pick for steelhead would be the mid and lower Rogue River, where flow, turbidity, and temperature have all lined up nicely. Fresh fish have been reported throughout the system this week, which is always encouraging.
For those eyeing the Chetco, Elk, or Sixes, be prepared for lower flows again. They may still be fishable from a drift boat, but expect bony conditions. Definitely check before you haul the boat—conditions can change fast. Of the three, the Chetco fished best earlier this week as it dropped.
The Umpqua system is another solid bet. Both the North and Main Ump have produced improved catches in recent days. The Coos and Coquille systems should also be in decent shape and worth a look. The Millicoma, however, is pretty much done for now.
Ocean anglers willing to gear up for some rain should find good opportunities for lingcod and bottom fish. Crabbing may not be lights‑out, but it’s still worth dropping a few pots. Surf perch fishing in Winchester Bay is picking up as well, and it’s a great option along the beaches and rocky jetties.
And with Free Fishing Weekend upon us, there’s no better excuse to grab your sweetheart and spend some quality time on the water together.