Oregon fishing report
Portland/Metro Fishing Report
Metro anglers fishing from I-5 to Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge scored the best results in the last spring Chinook opener, and now anglers fishing downstream will get one more crack at them this Saturday, April 18th, just as the run is nearing its peak migration. Fishing should be good and the weather is shaping up too.
Given the multi-day closure, anglers are likely to score good results, with most still trolling herring and flashers near the bottom likely to get the most attention. Anchor fishers are also likely to find success, sitting on anchor along the river’s various islands and wing dams from St. Helens to Troutdale. There’s good reason to put some time in this Saturday.
Meanwhile, Willamette River anglers are still struggling to find consistent success. Catch rates are fairly poor river-wide, but should improve as we head into peak season, are witnessing a slight river rise, and after Saturday, the mainstem Columbia is likely to close, where a fair number of Willamette-bound springers get caught before entering their home stretch.
Even before the closure however, the bump in river levels is likely to help boaters and bank anglers are Meldrum Bar versus the 8 foot, gin-clear water of last week. River temperatures are climbing to that magical 57° benchmark, making hardware a fine option as the spring progresses into summer.
Sturgeon fishing in the lower Willamette is sparking back to life too, especially if you have this year’s smelt to use for bait.
Sandy and Clackamas River reports by Jeff Stoeger and Bob Rees
Clackamas River Fishing Report – Reports from the Clackamas are predictably sparse. With most serious Clackamas County anglers pursuing spring Chinook on the Willamette, there’s only a few wild fish die-hards still working the Clackamas River, in relative solace I might add.
The catch has been fair from the few reports coming in, almost exclusively wild fish in the upper reaches of the Clackamas. Anglers working from McIver Park to Barton are scoring the most success, with only a rare summer steelhead in the mix.
There has been rumors of a spring Chinook caught in the Clackamas, but view it more of a fluke then an inspiration, which has been hard to come by for hatchery fish enthusiasts on this river for the last decade, anyway.
There are still anglers fishing at Dog Creek and the early risers are the ones that find the most consistent success, but success is waning by the week, since the hatchery has largely collected all the broodstock they need.
Sandy River Fishing Report – Avid angler Jeff Stoeger shares that the Sandy was running just above 9 feet before the last rain event and has since climbed to just over 10 feet. With another rain event expected over the next few days, the river could rise a little more. The river came up about a foot, picked up some color, and was running at 46.7 degrees.
Recent reports indicated fair numbers of summer fish in the river, with some late winter fish still mixed in. There has also been some springer action, along with a few native fish in the mix. Productive areas have included the Dodge Park and Oxbow Park sections.
With the river level coming up, there may be more sled traffic on the Sandy, especially with the Columbia closed in the lower river. Fish are still around, so there is still an opportunity for anglers willing to get out and put in the time.
North & Central Coast Fishing Report by Bob Rees
For all intents and purposes, winter steelhead fishing on the north and central coast is over. The season ended with few fishermen, but still decent fishing for those in the know about how to pursue late-season action.
Pro guide Kent Anderson (503-550-6303) was still averaging 2 – 3 chances per day on the lower Nestucca, with most fish still coming in with sea lice in tow. Kent is shifting his effort to his Alaska Salmon Camp; he still has a few openings for the Nushagak, which has come on strong in recent years. Give him a call if you have a hankering to head north for some great Chinook action.
The Wilson was still putting out a few late-season steelhead as well, but most anglers have shifted their effort to Willamette Valley spring Chinook.
Some rivers and streams closed on April 1st so be sure to check regulations.
Spring Chinook won’t show in catchable numbers at least for another month, and some of the best fishing takes place in late June and July now. Offshore Chinook are available, with ports Newport and south producing the better ocean catches. These fish are largely of California origin, and thankfully experiencing a rebound in numbers this year.
And speaking of the ocean, it looks like a productive option for saltwater anglers this weekend. Lingcod, sea bass and an improving crab bite could prove productive for salty anglers. Tides are on the increase however, so be extra careful about bar crossings in the morning hours in particular.
Those same tides should produce excellent clamming over the weekend and into next week for those willing to dig along Clatsop Beaches to find the best success.
Much more on the site for Chinook Members:
- Buzz Ramsey’s latest post – Buzz details his 2-day trip with guide Bob Rees on the lower Columbia River in pursuit of spring Chinook. See the YouTube video HERE.
- Bill Monroe’s latest post – Trout seasons don’t close in Oregon. Oregon’s year‑round trout stocking is delivering fast action, big fish, and easy spring getaways for anglers who want bites without the guesswork. Chinook Members can read Bill’s post HERE.
You can find all the articles from these two professionals on this page.
- Salmon Trout Steelheader article of the week: THE STICK LEAD, REVISITED by Bill Herzog. Discover how a simple “stick lead” quietly became one of the most game‑changing, fish‑saving innovations in modern steelheading. See his article HERE.
All the STS articles are located here.
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Central-Eastern Oregon Fishing Report by Terry Otto
Columbia walleye still biting very well, schools moving shallow. Spring rivers, Deschutes surface action beginning to pop. Lake Billy Chinook bull trout good, kokes excellent.
Note: Recent snows may have closed some roads that opened early.
Best bets for weekend fishing
Shevlin Park youth and disabled fishing pond, Prineville youth pond, and Pine Nursery Pond were recently stocked to provide excellent spring break angling opportunities.
Anglers continue to report excellent kokanee and bull trout fishing at Lake Billy Chinook. The Metolius Arm is fishing well with bull trout up to 31″ being caught.
The Crooked and Metolius Rivers continue to provide excellent early spring angling opportunities for redband trout and mountain whitefish.
Deschutes River surface action heating up.
Anglers report excellent nymphing opportunities on Fall River.
Early Openings
Low snowpack is allowing early access to lakes that are typically inaccessible in spring including North Twin and South Twin Lakes, Davis Lake, Crescent Lake, Cultus Lake, Lava Lake, Little Lava Lake, and Sprague and Century Gravel Ponds. The Lava Lake Campground and boat launch remained closed and access to Lava Lake is limited to small craft, kayaks and float tubes at this time.
Trout stocking
Stocked the week of March 30 – April 3: Pine Hollows Res, Bikini Pond, Baker Pond, Rock Creek Res.
Scheduled to be stocked the week of April 6-10: Fall River.
You can check the ODFW trout stocking schedule here.
Weather
A warming trend is on tap for the coming weekend in the Bend area, with highs both days to be in the upper 60’s, following a cold week. Also, both days should be cloudy, perhaps a perfect storm for trout anglers looking for surface action on local rivers and lakes. During the week proper it should turn cooler, with daytime highs about 10 degrees cooler, with some scattered showers on Monday and Tuesday.
Columbia River
The good folks at the Gorge Outfitters Supply in Rufus report that the walleye fishing continues to be very good, with anglers finding the fish in water that is much shallower. The schools are now reportedly spawning, but still biting in 12 to 25 feet of water. However, heavy wind for much of the last week has kept a lot of anglers off the water. Bottom walkers and deep-diving plugs have still proven effective. Jigging can also bring action now that the schools are in shallow.
Lower Deschutes River
Amy Hazel oftThe Deschutes Angler Fly Shop in Maupin reports that it has been windy, but the trout fishing has been good. “The fishing has been getting better here,” said Hazel. “There have been a lot of hatches, a lot of March browns around, and some caddis. The fishermen are really happy.” She expects the big mayflies to start hatching earlier than usual, since the water is much more warm than usual for this time of year. She expects to see them by the end of the month.
You can check the river gauge at Moody Rapids here.
Metolius River
Jeff at The Fly Fishers Place in Sisters reports that the Metolius River continues to be well worth the effort no matter your pursuits. For trout and whitefish the nymphing action is by far the best. It seems like most of the best fishing for trout so far is below the hatchery and around Bridge 99. He would still recommend the Allingham to Gorge section and fish it well, but the reports are the best catches are downriver.
Lake Reports
South Twin Lake was one of the standouts this week, with Balanced Leeches and Chironomids.
No new reports on North Twin, but it should be pretty darn good too.
Davis Lake is open and the Bass bite is decent down the lava cliffs. I have not heard any trout reports, but the access to the lake is good at the moment.
Chickahominy is still fishing well, either bank access or with a boat. Balanced Leeches and Damsels, Scuds, Blobs, Chironomids.
Lake Billy Chinook
The Metolius Arm of Lake Billy Chinook reopened March 1, 2026. Anglers report good fishing for bull trout with fish up to 31″. Anglers are reporting excellent kokanee fishing with nice size fish being landed on the Crooked, Deschutes, and Metolius Arms. Kokanee have been remaining deep in the water column over the last few weeks.
Bull trout and smallmouth are also biting well, and are taking a Jig Minnow stripped on a sinking line.
All the arms are producing Bulls and this ought to be a super week to be there.
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome
As tax season wraps up and we settle into true spring weather, this weekend is shaping up to be a great time for some family fishing. Nearly all lakes and ponds have now been stocked at least once, and conditions are excellent across the board. If you’d rather head for saltwater, the ocean is also a strong option, depending on which day and port you choose. Chinook anglers out of Brookings and Winchester Bay have been grinning all week with some outstanding catches. Crabbing should improve as freshwater influence in the bays continues to drop. And don’t overlook spring surf perch—Winchester Bay has been producing good action.
If rivers are more your style, the entire Rogue River is a solid ticket right now for both spring Chinook and winter steelhead. The mid to upper Rogue remains my best bet for a mix of both species, while the lower river is in prime shape for springers. It’s getting later in the steelhead season, but there are still good numbers from the mid‑section all the way up to the dam. The recent shot of heavy rain pushed more springers upriver, with 127 additional fish counted this week.
For lake anglers, my top picks are Lost Creek, Applegate, Hyatt, Howard Prairie, and Selmac. All have been stocked at least twice and are holding plenty of legal and trophy‑size trout—perfect for a relaxed spring outing.