Portland/Metro Fishing Report
With flooded rivers and a lack of early winter steelhead options, it’ll be another slow week for metro anglers.
The Willamette River will fish again after the weekend however, where plunkers working Meldrum Bar will be in search of Clackamas River bound hatchery steelhead, more likely to show in better numbers come February however.
There’s a few late-season wild coho still making their way upstream too however.
The agencies came out with their Columbia and Willamette River spring and summer Chinook predictions however, along with sockeye as well. You won’t be shocked to learn that the prediction is looking similar to 2025, which wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad either.
You can judge for yourself by viewing the document HERE.
Upper Willamette Valley Fishing Report by Terry Otto
Rivers blown out, dangerous for boating, wading. Detroit Lake trout fair, but boat launches dry. Local Lakes also suffering from high water.
While the upper Willamette Valley has dodged the worst of the extreme rains, the rivers have all been blown out and will be out of condition for the next week. More rain is forecast, and the NOAA river level forecasts point to a few real floods, but no return to fishable conditions anytime soon. However, how much rain the region receives over the next few days will determine when conditions will improve. Also, wading and boating can be dangerous at high flows. Caution is advised.
Many local lakes may also be affected by high, muddy waters pouring in. Most reports advise waiting at least a few days for better conditions.
A few winter steelhead are trickling over the Willamette Falls, but it will be late January before the run begins in earnest.
You can check the Willamette Falls fish counts here. You can check the Willamette River Gauge at Salem here.
Trout stocking
Stocked the week of Nov 17-21:
Row River Nature Park (formerly Cottage Grove Lake)
Scheduled to be stocked the week of Nov 24-28:
Walter Wirth Lake, Waverly Lake, Junction City Pond, Timber Linn Lake.
You can check out the trout stocking schedule here
Santiam River, North Fork
River levels best for fishing are at or below 3,000 cfs, and the current level is 6300 cfs. This is one river that is expected to reach the action stage. It is expected to drop quickly, but will still remain too high for good fishing through next week.
Detroit Reservoir
Water elevation has now reached its low, winter level for storage purposes, and there are no longer any usable boat ramps. Refilling the reservoir for the summer will begin on February 1. The crowds are mostly gone this time of year, especially during the week, so anglers can find fish as well as solitude. Pretty much any technique will catch fish, but it might take some experimenting to find out what is most effective on the day you’re out there.
Santiam River South Fork
Fishing is generally best when flows are below 3,000 cfs, but current flows are over 6,000 cfs. They are expected to drop but then rise again. It may take a week or more for the river to return to a good fishing level. Boating and wading are not advised right now.
McKenzie River below Leaburg Lake
The river is running at nearly 6,000 cfs, and is too high for productive fishing, or safe boating or wading. It is expected to remain too high for another week at least. Beginning Nov. 1, anglers may only use lures and artificial flies.
McKenzie River above Leaburg Lake
The river is too high for productive fishing. All non-adipose fin-clipped trout must be released unharmed. As of Nov. 1, anglers may only use lures and artificial flies.
Cottage Grove Reservoir
Trout fishing is rated as good to fair, although the warm water species have slowed. The yellow perch and crappie bite may continue in the winter. However, muddy water coming into the lake may turn the lake turbid.
Dexter Reservoir
It was last stocked the week of October 6 with 5,000 hatchery rainbow trout. Dexter Reservoir near Lowell is visible from Hwy 58. Boat and bank access is available through state and county parks. Parking and bank access are also available from the causeway near Lowell.
Doreena Reservoir
Last stocked the week of October 6, with 2,700 hatchery rainbow trout. The warm water species are moving off the shoreline, but can be found in deeper water. Lake access is limited by the closure of the park for winter.
Fall Creek Reservoir
Fall Creek Reservoir is currently being held down and will be held at low winter levels until early May to allow passage of juvenile spring Chinook salmon. Cascara, Winberry, and North Shore boat ramps should all be accessible in June.
Clackamas and Sandy
Clackamas River Fishing Report – When the Clackamas River is above 12 foot in height, angler interest is low. Well, it’s been that way since last weekend so besides there being a lack of fish around for anglers to angle for, water conditions have been less than ideal.
There are still good numbers of late-run wild coho passing the NF facility in the upper Clackamas, but only 28 wild winter steelhead to date over the counter here.
The high water is simply too challenging for anglers to get motivated to find catch and release coho and steelhead, effort has been very low lately.
Sandy River Fishing Report – Avid angler Jeff Stoeger shares: I hope everyone made it through the heavy rains without flood damage. What a week it’s been! The atmospheric river brought over 5 inches of rain, with even more expected. The Sandy River surged from 8.8 feet to 17 feet in just a few days.
The water turned chocolate brown, filled with trees and debris washing down from the upper stretches. As of now, the river sits at 15.5 feet and is expected to drop over the next couple of days as the rainfall eases before the next round of storms. On the lower river, a few boats were out last week before the water rose to 14 feet and changed color.
North & Central Coast Fishing Report
Anglers didn’t have much to write home about following a big high water event we witnessed all week long. Prior to the high water, there were early season steelhead being caught on several north coast systems.
The North Fork Nehalem, Big and Gnat Creek, the Klaskanine and Necanicum Rivers all have early season steelhead available. We lay out your best options in our forecast section so if you’re a paid member, be sure to read our detailed forecast if you plan on going out this weekend.
Bigger systems will remain a bit too big for productive steelheading and with Chinook season now closed, your productive options will be limited.
The ocean forecast isn’t looking promising for much of next week, but experienced boaters may look at Satuday for a last minute bottomfishing trip. The commercial fleet start soaking their gear on Saturday as well, but those wishing a last minute bounty should score good results if the bar is safe to navigate.
If you’re a trout fisher, check the ODF&W stocking schedule for winter opportunities.
Bay crabbing may not be your best decision, given the amount of freshwater coarsing down our coastal watersheds right now.
People should always call the Shellfish Safety Hotline at 1-800-448-2474 before heading out to harvest any shellfish or visit the ODA Recreational Shellfish Biotoxin Closures Webpage.
Much more on the site for Chinook Members
- Buzz Ramsey’s latest post – Guide Tips for Steelhead Success. Discover pro guide secrets to landing bigger winter steelhead on Oregon’s top rivers… Chinook Members can see his post HERE.
- Bill Monroe’s latest post – Salmon for All. Anglers, families, and industry leaders packed Ilani Casino for a record-breaking Hatchery & Wild Coexist banquet that raised over $100,000 and sparked bold new plans for the future of Northwest fisheries. 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: Avoiding Single Point Failures by Bill Herzog. Subscribers can find the article HERE.
All the STS articles are located here.
Not a Chinook Member? Become a Member or Upgrade here.
Central-Eastern Oregon Fishing Report by Terry Otto (Last week’s report)
Winter time patterns evolving on the spring rivers. Trout good, steelhead slowing on the Deschutes. Most lake fishing for trout is over, but a few lakes are still accessible.
Best bets for weekend fishing
Steelhead anglers have been doing okay on the lower Deschutes, but it is slowing
Fall is great time to fish the Crooked and Metolius Rivers.
Anglers report excellent dry fly and nymphing opportunities on Fall River.
Anglers report good bank fishing opportunities for trout at Haystack Reservoir
Anglers report excellent kokanee fishing at Lake Billy Chinook.
Trout stocking
Weekly fish stocking will resume in March, 2026.
You can check the ODFW trout stocking schedule here.
Seasonal Road Closures
The road to Newberry National Monument accessing East and Paulina Lakes and the Cascade Lakes Highway closed on November 18th. The road to Three Creeks Lake (NF-16) remains open until mid-November but is not maintained for winter travel. For additional information see the Deschutes County Road Department website: https://www.deschutes.org/road
Columbia River
The good folks at the Gorge Outfitters Supply in Rufus report that there is no fishing going on until at least mid-December, which is when the winter walleye bite starts.
Lower Deschutes River
The good folks at the Deschutes Angler Fly Shop in Maupinreport that the trout fishing is “pretty damn good right now”, but the steelhead are getting harder to find. Also, many anglers look to keep from disturbing them as they head into the spawn.
Trout anglers are seeing some Blue Wing Olives hatching now and then, but nymphing is what most anglers are doing. Bead heads, girdle bugs, and stone flies are good bets. Also, egg patterns will work as the steelhead spawn begins. Pink and orange are the best colors.
Metolius River
The Fly Fishers report that hatches are slowing down a little but keep looking for BWO’s and Caddis every day it is above freezing for the winter months. CInygmula hatches are sporadic and probably going to end their consistent daily emergences quite soon. Stonefly nymphs are also really important, especially #8-12 Golden Stones. #6 Black stones have their day to shine too, and the fish are used to seeing them, but if you fish the Met in the Summer and Fall you are aware the Salmonfly population is way smaller than the Golden Stone population and that makes the Golden Stone nymphs the top choice 365, and especially so in December and January when a lot of the mayfly nymphs are in tiny, early instar phases and not as available in the drift.
Crooked River
Anglers report excellent fall fishing for trout and whitefish. Flows have been holding steady since irrigation storage season began around 95cfs. Nymphing fall mayfly hatch patterns and midges has been the most effective method, but fly-anglers should keep an eye out for fishing rising in afternoon. Try blue wing olive or midge patterns. November and December is Mountain whitefish spawning season and yellowish egg patterns can be an effective tactic.
Haystack Reservoir
Anglers report good fishing for rainbow trout in the 16 to 17-inch range. Fall sampling also indicated good numbers of largemouth bass averaging 10-12 inches and smallmouth bass averaging 9-11 inches. Keep an eye on the recreation report for winter announcements for rainbow trout broodstock opportunities at Pine Nursery Pond and Haystack Reservoir.
Northeastern Oregon
Best bets for weekend fishing
Trout and whitefish fishing should be good throughout the fall on the Wallowa River.
Steelhead fishing has been good on the Grande Ronde and Imnaha Rivers
Steelhead fishing is good on the Umatilla River.
Trout can still be found on Willow Creek Reservoir.
Grande Ronde River
Fishing for steelhead has been good lately. Now through December (when colder temperatures settle in) is likely to be some of the best steelhead fishing on the Grande Ronde. A few Coho salmon are being caught also. Swinging flies and drifting nymphs has been effective for fly anglers, and jigs drifted under bobbers works well for anglers using spinning rods or bait casters.
You can check the Grande Ronde River gauge below clear creek here.
Willow Creek Reservoir
The reservoir’s water temperature has cooled down but there are still fish to be caught. Anglers have been catching trout from the shore near the boat launch. As a reminder, there is a 25 fish limit for crappie on Willow Creek Reservoir.
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome reports
The look of disappointment was on many anglers’ faces since last weekend as hopeful rain missed the area south of Florance and Roseburg. The good news is that a much better chance is coming early next week, so be on the ready to take advantage by Tuesday or so.
The Chetco, Elk, and Sixes that should be in prime Chinook fishing state have remained low and clear. Even further north, the Coos, Coquille, Millicoma, and the Umpqua systems remain void of anything close to the rain that drenched areas further north.
The mid to upper Rogue River also didn’t see any precipitation other than fog droplets but remains the best bet to try for lingering summer steelhead and coho. The weekend weather forecast looks good especially in the Rogue Valley.
If you’re looking for some nice bottom fishing for holiday time fish tacos, the ocean should be good to get on for excellent rock fish and ling cod action. Ocean and bay crabbing has been excellent and your last chance for good ocean crabbing before the commercial crab boats start soaking next week.