Oregon Fishing Report
Portland/Metro Fishing Report by Bob Rees
With fall run Chinook pouring over Bonneville Dam, the run is clearly underway, and most experienced with this return, would say it’s going to be a good one.
While catches in the mainstem Columbia around the Portland/Metro area can be highly volatile, anglers are starting to score fair results for this early in the season. It’s too early to tell how the season will shape up for trollers and anchor anglers in this reach, but the next week will be telling on how the fishery is likely to perform.
Summer steelhead remains closed, but trolling 360° flashers with spinners or Brad’s Super Baits or Skinny Mini’s will produce action if the fish are willing. It’s the only game in town right now, but coho will soon show in the Willamette River too.
The season’s first coho have crossed Willamette Falls, but the best is yet to come. It’ll be another month before fishable numbers start to come however.
Sandy and Clackamas River reports by Jeff Stoeger and Bob Rees
Clackamas River Fishing Report – More metro warm weather and the rafting/tubing crowd have Clackamas River steelhead anglers not all that excited to fish. Most serious anglers have shifted their efforts to the coast, where the weather is more comfortable and the fishing opportunities more abundant, although bank fishing opportunities are still limited, even on the coast.
That leaves most anglers anxious for the Clackamas River coho run to get underway, which may not be long. Coho counts at Willamette Falls total just 3 fish, when last year, they were well underway. It’s way too early for speculation, but none-the-less, it is an indicator. Coastal coho catches along the entire Oregon coast were very impressive this season. Hopefully that translates into great returns everywhere.
Coho typically start to show at the NF facility towards the end of the month, there hasn’t been any just yet. Wild and hatchery spring Chinook counts are beginning to taper and so is summer steelhead.
Overall action remains challenging for anglers, mostly fishing for steelhead in the McIver Park area. There are fewer anglers fishing there each week, but when the coho start to show, summer steelhead will become more active in the cooling water temperatures of the fall as the days grow shorter.
Sandy River Fishing Report – Correction on Oxbow: it will not close on the 15th as previously reported. The closure now starts September 8th and is scheduled to run through the end of January 2027, with an earlier reopening possible if work wraps ahead of schedule. It is still unconfirmed whether Camp Collins will close its gate at the Oxbow entrance. Parking at Oxbow is limited, so stick to designated areas.
Current conditions: river level 7.68ft, water temp 68.9 degrees.
Summer traffic is easing up as families head back to school, opening more water for everyone. Nice hatchery springers and summer steelhead are still being caught throughout the river, and the first coho of the season should show up any day now.
North & Central Coast Fishing Report by Bob Rees
Buoy 10 is taking all the headline news this week as other fisheries pale in comparison to the success rates anglers are enjoying in this popular fishery, as well as the Pacific Ocean adjacent to the river.
Catch rates have been so good, anglers need to expect a reeling back to regulations, and possibly some Chinook opportunity for this red-hot fishery. An announcment is likely by Friday afternoon. Managers say the catch rates have been record high, hopefully a reflection of a better-than-expected adult return.
The Nehalem fishery is also well underway, and anglers working the lower bay around the jaws have been seeing some fair catches lately. Soft tides can produce the best catches at the jaws for anglers using herring for bait.
Other north coast estuaries haven’t really fired off yet as far as fall Chinook are concerned, but Tillamook, Siletz, Alsea and to a lesser degree, the Nestucca, should all start producing limited catches of early returning adults in the coming weeks.
Offshore anglers are delegated to Chinook only opportunities until September 1st, when wild coho are allowed for retention.
Nice weather has sparked interest in halibut and albacore tuna, with halibut anglers coming in a bit stronger than expected lately, while albacore catches are less than one would expect for this time of year.
Ocean crabbing has closed to the commercial fleet, but softshell adults make up the bulk of the ocean catch right now and their condition won’t improve until October, really.
Much more on the site for Chinook Members:
- Buzz Ramsey’s latest post – It’s All About the Tides at Buoy 10 – Mastering ocean tides at Buoy 10 is the key to unlocking massive salmon runs—discover how to leverage big tide exchanges, pick the perfect gear, and time your trip to land trophy Coho and Chinook this season! Chinook Members can read Buzz’s post HERE.
- Bill Monroe’s latest post – Keep your eyes on the prize– Fisheries managers are scrambling as an unexpected surge of fall Chinook salmon at Buoy 10 threatens to trigger sudden rule changes. 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: ZACK TICKLER THE TROUT WIZARD & THE GUITAR HERO written by Gary Lewis. Chinook Members can read the latest 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 Oregon
Wildfire smoke, road closures, blue-green algae advisories, and warm water continue to affect the region this week. Check TripCheck.com for current road conditions, as several roads remain closed due to wildfires. Deschutes River steelhead season is closed after poor returns, with a possible reopening in mid-September. Many lakes are too warm to fish safely.
The lower Deschutes River is still producing good trout fishing, though steelhead remains closed. Air quality at Deschutes Angler Fly Shop in Maupin has been clearing at times, typically in the afternoon. Bottom release has begun at the dam, which should bring cooler water downstream.
The upper Deschutes walk-and-wade section above the Road 40 Bridge is fishing well for whitefish, redband trout, and brookies. The float section from Tenino to Bull Bend is also fishing well.
The Metolius River continues to fish excellently for mountain whitefish, redband trout, and bull trout.
Fall River was recently stocked. Crowding and poor angler behavior, including spot-stalking, have been reported near the hatchery grounds between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The Crooked River remains cold for six to seven miles below the dam, with good fishing.
Wickiup Reservoir is producing good brown trout fishing. Three Creek Lake has excellent fishing for recently stocked and holdover trout. Crane Prairie Reservoir has smaller than average (12-16 inch) but abundant rainbow trout, plus 15-inch kokanee. New permanent docks were installed at Crane Prairie, Paulina, and Cultus Lakes through a Bend Sustainability Fund grant.
Paulina and East Lakes have good trout fishing and excellent kokanee fishing, but surface water is now too warm in the afternoons for safe catch-and-release, though deeper water stays cooler. Lava Lake and Little Lava Lake are not fishable due to algae and water temperatures in the high 60s to 70s.
Lake Billy Chinook has excellent kokanee fishing on the Crooked, Deschutes, and Metolius arms, but the Oregon Health Authority has issued a cyanobacteria harmful algae bloom precaution for the lake. Odell Lake has small but abundant kokanee, mostly around 12 inches, and lake trout fishing has been very good. The bag limit is twenty-five kokanee at Odell, Suttle, and Elk Lakes.
Jeff at The Fly Fishers Place in Sisters advises anglers to avoid the Middle Deschutes, Little Lava Lake, Lava Lake, Crane Prairie, and South Twin until significantly cooler weather arrives.
Stocking runs August 17 through September 11 at Cultus Lake, Fall River, Metolius Pond, Shevlin Pond, Twin Lake North, Twin Lake South, and Walton Lake; schedules have been affected by low water and high temperatures. Weather this weekend is sunny with highs in the 80s; the coming week brings partly cloudy skies and highs in the upper 80s to low 90s, with smoke expected to clear some.
Columbia River
The walleye bite remains good near Rufus, according to Gorge Outfitters Supply, though few anglers are targeting them since most are fishing salmon in the lower Columbia. Air quality has been an issue at times. Schools are holding 12 to 30 feet deep over gravel or rocky reefs.
Northeastern Oregon
Kokanee fishing has been good on Wallowa Lake. Willow Creek Reservoir is producing trout, bass, and crappie, and Penland Lake is producing limits of rainbow trout. Wallowa Lake was stocked August 3-7.
Due to multiple large wildfires in the John Day Basin, access is closed across much of the region. The Prineville BLM has closed all its lands in the basin, including boat launches; the Twickenham boat launch and all other BLM launches from Dale to McDonald Ferry are also closed. Flows are extremely low and smoke levels are unhealthy throughout the basin. The upper North Fork John Day area is also under closures due to active fires near Granite and Sumpter. No new reports.
McKay Reservoir is currently being used as a water source for fire suppression; refuge gates are locked and boating is prohibited, though bank angling is still allowed. Bass and panfish fishing has been good, but the Oregon Health Authority has issued a harmful algae bloom precaution.
Flows have dropped on the Wallowa River, and fishing may be slower, especially on warmer days. Kokanee are still biting at Wallowa Lake, with most fish now holding deeper than 45 feet.
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome (from last week)
Prime Time for Rogue Bay Chinook
This is going to be a short version of my report since I’m getting ready to leave for the UK (a week in England, Ireland, and Scotland each) in a couple of hours. I’ll be gone until September 9th of which I “should” get to that week’s report, providing not too much jet lag and I’m on time.
We’re in prime time on the Rogue Bay for Chinook. This past week, it’s been almost 100 fish days! The mid and upper sections of the Rogue River are now seeing more summer steelhead. Best catches have been on the upper.
The ocean is looking like another good weekend to get out for whatever you want. There’s still lots of halibut quota left and the tuna aren’t too far out.
Most trout lakes are pretty low, but if your around Diamond or Howard Prairie Lake, then those would be good. Lake Selmac is still producing some good bass and panfish despite lots of shoreline weedage.
Thanks for being patient with me as I go on this bucket list photo journey and vacation. Cheers!