Oregon fishing report
Portland/Metro Fishing Report by Bob Rees
There’s a bit of a lull for metro anglers this time of year, with the end of the spring Chinook fishery, and pre-Willamette coho and mainstem Columbia fall Chinook. Most metro anglers are working coastal options and coming home rewarded with a variety of species.
It’s all bass and panfish for most anglers in the neighborhood, and although we don’t report on that fishery very often, we’re sure it’s going well.
Summer steelhead on the mainstem Columbia is now closed, passage numbers at Bonneville are alarming.
The first catchable numbers of fall Chinook are still about 2 weeks away, but given catches in the lower river and adjacent ocean, it looks like it will be a good one.
We’re only 4 days into the Bonneville fall Chinook count but it’s already better than last year at this same time.
Sandy and Clackamas River reports by Jeff Stoeger and Bob Rees
Clackamas River Fishing Report – As metro air temperatures soar, so does the water temperatures, and Clackamas River salmon and steelhead are having a hard time tolerating either. Couple that with a fleet of rafts and innertubes floating on through, above their heads, and fish are pretty stressed right now.
While the bulk of the Clackamas River anglers have largely given up, there remains a few die-hards, mostly in search of summer steelhead, which hold up pretty well through the summer months. Fresh spring Chinook are still entering the Clackamas River, but only small pods of them are new to the scene so the vast majority are not in great shape.
Dog Creek and McIver Park remains the mainstay for those still seeking biting salmon and steelhead, but fewer and fewer anglers are taking home quality fish.
Come 10:00 a.m., the raft hatch will be wide-open, you have a better chance of hooking a beer can than a salmon or steelhead this week. We’re over a month away before catchable numbers of coho show.
Sandy River Fishing Report – Avid angler Jeff Stoeger reports, “It was another good week of fishing in the mid to upper sections of the river. Current river level is 7.76 ft at 64.4 degrees. The upper river was showing some glacial melt, but by the time you reached Dabney Park, the water was clearing up.
A few hikes into Cedar Creek turned up quite a few fish hooked and landed, a mix of hatchery summer steelhead and mostly native springers. There are still some nice, bright fish to be had.
The forecast called for extreme heat this week, but wildfire smoke blocked most of it. A large fire on the back side of Mount Hood is threatening Mount Hood Meadows.
There was a drowning in the lower river last week. Anyone swimming or crossing the river should carry a hiking stick or wear shoes with some grip.
The river bottom is starting to slime up from algae due to the warm water. Most parks are closing around 8:30 or 9 pm.
A reminder that Oxbow Park closes to the public starting September 8th, 2026 through the end of January 2027. An attempt was made to reach Camp Collins to find out whether the gate at the Oxbow entrance will stay open for coho and winter steelhead fishing.
North & Central Coast Fishing Report by Bob Rees
Ocean coho fishing is going swimmingly well. Coastal ports from Newport to Garibaldi are producing great catches of mostly coho, but anglers fishing nearshroe, adjacent to the Nehalem, Tillamook, Nestucca and Siletz Estuaries are catching some early returning fall Chinook as well.
And speaking of the Nehalem, “summer” Chinook are starting to nose into the estuary with catches improving in the Wheeler to Nehalem reach, certain to improve in the coming weeks. Smaller tides this week should produce fair catches at the jaws if history repeats itself.
The Siletz, Nestucca and Tillamook systems should start to see some early returning fall Chinook as well. It’ll be September before catches start to get real however.
Albacore is becoming all the rage and anglers are reporting some good catches up and down the coast There should be some favorable weather on Friday, but weekend winds could stymie effort once again. Most “albie” seekers are traveling 30+ miles to find their fish.
Halibut fishing remains challenging, about as challenging as finding a summer steelhead in the Wilson, Nestucca or Siletz Rivers. The two communities might consider starting a support group together, at least then they’d have something productive to talk about…
Old fashioned trout trollers should consider working the tidewater reaches of these coastal streams for sea-run cutthroat trout. August is a good month for that as these unique trout start to think about what they’ll be eating before the long winter starts in.
Coastal crabbing is challenging with all the pressure, ocean crab are soft, for the most part.
Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for all the news and forecasts for the upcoming Buoy 10 fishery! Of course, subscribers will get a TON of information on how best to approach this fishery.
Much more on the site for Chinook Members:
- Buzz Ramsey’s latest post – Discover why now is the prime time to target hard-fighting albacore tuna and ocean salmon off the Oregon Coast—including expert tips on where to fish, how to catch them, and the best ways to enjoy your harvest! Chinook Members can read Buzz’s post HERE.
- Bill Monroe’s latest post – Respect for a fishing buddy that bends, but doesn’t break – In this humorous and personal reflection, outdoor writer Bill Monroe recounts dropping a $500+ rod and reel overboard while salmon fishing in Astoria—and how a custom-built, sentimental rod called “Cool Change” remains his ultimate, irreplaceable fishing companion. Chinook Members can read Bill’s post HERE.
You can find all the articles from these two professionals on this page.
- Salmon Trout Steelheader feature of the week: Ocean salmon fishing Newport, any salmon goes! Join the crew from Oregon Lures with Tony Amato, catching wild coho off of Alsea Bay. Chinook Members can watch the video from 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.
Central-Eastern Oregon Fishing Report by Terry Otto
Central Oregon
Best Bets
- Wickiup Reservoir: brown trout
- Three Creek Lake: trout
- Crane Prairie Reservoir: rainbow trout, kokanee
- Paulina Lake: trout, kokanee
- East Lake: rainbow trout, brown trout, kokanee
- Crooked and Metolius Rivers: redband trout, whitefish
- Fall River: trout
Wildfire smoke, road closures, and warm water are hampering anglers across central and eastern Oregon this week. The lower Deschutes River steelhead fishery will likely close August 15 due to poor dam counts and is expected to stay closed until numbers improve; warm water in the Columbia River has fish holding in place. Smoke around the lower Deschutes is at an unhealthy level, with fires burning on all sides.
Wickiup Reservoir is producing brown trout, and the Upper Deschutes River from Wickiup down is fishing well. The Deschutes River headwaters between Little Lava and Crane Prairie are a great bet right now, with hatches of small stoneflies, caddis, PMDs, and some BWOs. Three Creek Lake has excellent fishing for recently stocked and holdover trout. Crane Prairie Reservoir has smaller than average (12 to 16 inch) but abundant rainbow trout, plus 15-inch kokanee.
The Crooked and Metolius Rivers continue to fish excellently for redband trout and whitefish, with good PMD hatches on the Crooked. Fall River was recently stocked and is fishing well, with good hatches of PMDs, midges, and small caddis.
Paulina Lake has good trout and excellent kokanee (13 to 14 inches), still holding cold water but needing wind to mix it; nights have been the coldest of the season so far. East Lake continues producing rainbow trout in the 16 to 18 inch range, trophy brown trout over 24 inches, and kokanee 13 to 15 inches; watch temperatures in the shallows. Upper Hosmer Lake was pretty good this past week.
Lake Billy Chinook has excellent kokanee fishing on the Crooked, Deschutes, and Metolius arms, but a cyanobacteria harmful algae bloom health precaution is now in effect there; check the Oregon Health Authority website before heading to any central Oregon water. Odell Lake has small but abundant kokanee averaging 11 inches, and lake trout fishing has been very good; the kokanee bag limit is 25 at Odell, Suttle, and Elk lakes. Ochoco Reservoir, stocked with broodstock rainbow over winter and legal sized trout in April, is fishing well on the flats near the upper end and where Ochoco Creek enters.
Weekend weather is hot and sunny with highs in the low to mid 90s, cooling into the 80s next week; air quality could turn poor depending on wind direction. Stocking has been slowed by low water and high temperatures. Check TripCheck for current wildfire road closures.
Columbia River
Best Bets
- Rufus: walleye
- Vancouver: early Chinook
229 salmonid boats and 130 Washington bank rods were counted on the August 1 flight count, with anglers picking up a few early Chinook near Vancouver. Walleye fishing at Rufus remains good despite air quality issues, with fish running 1 to 3 pounds and a few larger, holding 12 to 30 feet deep over gravel and rocky reefs.
Northeastern Oregon
Best Bets
- Wallowa Lake: kokanee
- Willow Creek Reservoir: trout, bass, crappie
- Penland Lake: rainbow trout
Kokanee fishing has been good on Wallowa Lake, and Penland Lake is producing limits of rainbow trout. Willow Creek Reservoir is worth a look for trout, bass, and crappie. Stocking resumes in September.
The John Day River basin has multiple large wildfires closing access to much of the region; check current closures before heading out. On the Grande Ronde River, flows have dropped to summertime base levels and trout fishing will likely slow as water temperatures climb. Trout and whitefish fishing can be good through the middle and upper Imnaha River; angling for salmon, including catch and release, is prohibited throughout the Imnaha.
Wallowa Lake has been stocked with rainbow trout, fishing best near shore on the south end near the Wallowa River inlet. Kokanee are still being caught, mostly holding deeper than 45 feet now.
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome
It’s been a scorcher inland this week, and that heat pushed the best fishing to offshore waters and the higher lakes. Anglers who made it out before the ocean turned rough were rewarded with coho, Chinook, lingcod, bottom rockfish, and halibut. Conditions look a bit sloppy through early next week, so plan ocean trips carefully.
Lower Rogue River — Best Bet Right Now
If you’re looking to beat the heat and still get into fish, the lower Rogue at Gold Beach is the place to be. Chinook and summer steelhead are in and biting, and the August fall Chinook season is officially underway. Trollers working from the Hwy 101 bridge to the jaws have already seen a couple of 30+ pound Chinook this week. Boats able to reach Indian Creek are finding both summer steelhead and Chinook as well.
Umpqua River Option
Further north, anglers trolling the main Umpqua estuary up to Reedsport are also picking up quality Chinook. It’s a solid alternative if ocean conditions keep you off the salt.
Steelhead angling on the North Umpqua River is closed Aug. 10 – Nov. 30
Inland Waters — Hot and Smoky
Expect heat and smoke across most inland areas. For lakes, the coolest and most comfortable option remains Diamond Lake. Howard Prairie and Hyatt still have enough water to fish well. The upper Rogue above the dam near Prospect continues to receive weekly trout plants, though wildfire smoke may affect visibility and comfort.
Bass Action Heating Up
Warm weather has smallmouth bass absolutely exploding on the South and main Umpqua and the Coquille. And despite heavy weed growth at Lake Selmac, anglers are still landing some nice largemouth bass.
Jeff’s expanded reports, multiple lake updates, and forecasts, including his past reports, can be found here for Members! There is SO much more.
Oxbow closes Sept. 8 , not Sept. 15
Thank you, Charles.