Portland, Oregon Metro Fishing Report
With clear, cold and low water, the winter steelhead bite has slowed on most metro rivers, including the Willamette at Meldrum Bar.
Winter steelhead counts at Willamette Falls has been good. The adult returns are looking stronger than they have in a while.
With colder water, sturgeon may move into the lower reaches of the Willamette, escaping the cooler flows of the mainstem Columbia. That may still not inspire catch and release anglers however, there will be better fishing come March, April and May.
Upper Willamette Valley Fishing Report by Terry Otto
Steelhead improving in the Santiam rivers, local lakes to see trout stockings. Kokanee and trout available in Detroit Lake
Best bets for weekend fishing:
Wild winter steelhead are beginning to show in the Santiam rivers and upper Willamette systems
Several waterbodies will be stocked with trout this week.
Trout are available in the upper river systems
Kokanee are available in Detroit Lake
Trout stocking
Stocked the week of Jan 26-30:
Walter Wirth Lake, Waverly Lake, Walter Wirth Lake, Junction City Pond, Timber Linn Lake, EE Wilson Pond.
You can check the ODFW trout stocking schedule here.
Weather: Forecasts for the Eugene area predict dry weather this weekend and into early next week. Showers may arrive in late week, but not enough precipitation to raise the rivers. Moderate river flows should be the norm as the systems continue to drop and clear.
Winter steelhead are now passing over the Willamette Falls, with 1100 having moved upstream as of January 15. You can check the Willamette Falls fish counts here. You can check the Willamette River Gauge at Salem here.
Santiam River, North Fork
The river is running at about 1830 CFS and should continue to drop over the next week. River levels best for fishing are at or below 3,000 cfs, so conditions are good, but flows a little low for good fishing. A few wild winter steelhead have already been caught. Flows will likely continue to drop through the week as dry weather continues. The spring Chinook run usually starts in late March or April, along with the summer steelhead.
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.
You can check the gauge at Mahama here
Santiam River, South Fork
The river is running at about 2,090 CFS at the river gage near Waterloo, and is running at about 42 degrees. The river is expected to drop over the next week due to the dry weather. A few winter steelhead have been taken, but the numbers are still low. The spring Chinook run usually starts in late March or April, along with the summer steelhead.
You can check the river gauge at Waterloo here.
Detroit Reservoir
Refilling the reservoir for the summer will begin on Feb. 1. Water levels are currently too low to safely launch boats at Mongold State Park, so the kokanee are out of reach until higher water returns. Bank anglers fishing Powerbait are getting some nice trout, but fishing effort is slow 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.
Coast Fork Willamette River
The river was last stocked with hatchery trout last July. Spring Chinook and summer steelhead are still a month away from arriving in any numbers. Wild winter steelhead are available, but no report on angling success. The river is open to fishing all year for trout, hatchery Chinook salmon, hatchery steelhead, and wild steelhead over 24 inches.
Beginning Nov. 1 anglers may only use lures and artificial flies. In addition to five hatchery trout, two wild trout may be kept daily.
Middle Fork Willamette River
No report on angler success. Steelhead may soon start to enter the river, although no hatchery winter steelhead are stocked in this system. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers refurbished the boat ramp on the south side of the Middle Fork Willamette just below Dexter Dam, allowing drift boat and raft access. A Columbia River Basin Endorsement is required for anglers targeting salmon and steelhead.
The Middle Fork Willamette above Lookout Point and Hills Creek reservoirs are open to fishing using lures and artificial flies. All wild trout must be released upstream of Lookout Point Reservoir.
Junction City Pond
This pond is located 2 miles south of Junction City on Hwy 99W. It usually gets stocked with trout between November and May. It was stocked recently with about 1,500 ½ pound hatchery trout. In addition, about 125 extra-large brood trout became available last week and were released into this pond. Anglers are reminded that they can keep only one fish over 20 inches per day as part of the 5-trout bag limit.
Sandy and Clackamas River reports by Jeff Stoeger and Bob Rees
Clackamas River Fishing Report – It hasn’t been an exciting week for Clackamas River anglers. Between a stiff east wind at times, and cold water temperatures under clear water conditions, the steelhead haven’t been all that motivated lately.
Avid angler and realtor Tim Wilson (503) 201-3525 reported this. Tim states, “I floated the Clackamas from Barton to Carver. The water is gin clear with the level at 12.09 feet. There was very little pressure, no fish for me today! We desperately need rain!”
Mike Roberson from Fisherman’s Marine and Outdoor in Oregon City reported, “Unfortunately, there isn’t much to report. I’ve been out a few times this week but haven’t seen a fish caught. I’m hoping it’s just a late season. The river actually looks pretty good. One thing for sure, the river has changed since the storm. I’ll be on the Sandy tomorrow.”
Over 200 wild winter steelhead have bypassed the PGE system in the upper river, that’s already more than crossed the entire month last year, so that’s good news. Maybe the more encouraging news, almost double the number of wild coho have passed the facility this year than last.
Sandy River Fishing Report – Avid angler Jeff Stoeger shares: The boat ramp at Oxbow Park is currently improved and operational, with space for one boat to launch at a time. Downstream, there is room to accommodate about six boats. However, anglers should be aware of a large snag directly in front of the ramp, which may pose a challenge.
The river is running at 9.2 feet with a temperature of 39.4 degrees. Water clarity is good, offering three feet of visibility, and the water has a green tint. An east wind has made floating, rafting, and float fishing or drifting more difficult. Despite these conditions, there are fair to good numbers of fish scattered throughout the river, from Cedar Creek to the mouth. Both hatchery and native fish have been caught using various methods.
North & Central Coast Fishing Report by Bob Rees
It’s low, clear and cold for north coast steelheaders, and that’s just not right for the middle of January.
After an abundance of rain just a few weeks ago, district rivers are too low and clear for productive steelhead fishing. The fish wanna come, they just don’t have the water to do it.
Word from most major (and minor) stream systems is challenging fishing, with some anglers coming up with an occasional fish in the lower reaches of these rivers. Most guides are bumping their people to a more productive window, hopefully in the near future.
The Nestucca is slow from today’s report, it’s one of the last to slow down since it is a larger watershed for anglers to take advantage of good conditions.
The Nehalem remains the best option and it too is getting low and clear. Regardless, it’s the best option with the lower reaches likely to see some new fish come in on a fairly regular basis.
The big story of the week is bottomfishing. With an east wind influence, the westerly swell has been knocked down, making for some calm seas to recreate in. And, with a smaller tide series afoot, it’s only going to get better this weekend, and into next week.
Lingcod action has been good, as it often is this time of year. With the limit jumping to 3, anglers have something to be motivated by. Sea bass fishing has been good too, crabbing a bit more challenging with all the commercial gear still deployed.
Razor clam digging was good last week, with a calm swell. Clams in the 4.5″ to 5.5″ range were pretty plentiful in the Clatsop Beach stretch on the north coast. Tides wane this weekend, however, but will be more promising in a few weeks.
Much more on the site for Chinook Members:
- Buzz Ramsey’s latest post – Bobber Doggin Refresher. Unlock the subtle tweaks that make Bobber Doggin one of the most effective winter steelhead tactics in the Pacific Northwest. Chinook Members can see his post HERE.
- Bill Monroe’s latest post – A Lucky Local Lager. A Portland brewery is rolling out a first‑of‑its‑kind Sportsmen’s Show lager, complete with seasonal wildlife labels and a conservation tie‑in, giving outdoor fans a sneak peek at the buzz behind this year’s big event. 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: Willamette Wild Steelhead Runs Improve After Sea Lions Euthanized. Read all about the most effective steelhead recovery in recent years with an afterward by Bob Rees. 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
Winter Steelhead Outlook
Winter steelhead options on the major fish‑holding rivers have slipped to only fair after a couple of weeks of good to excellent conditions. With little to no rain for more than a week, flows on the Chetco, Elk, and Sixes have dropped to low, clear, and largely non‑boatable levels. For anglers looking ahead to the weekend, the most reliable bets will be the lower to mid‑sections of the Rogue River and the mainstem Umpqua.
Even with the gloomier outlook, dedicated steelheaders will still find places to fish. Low and clear water isn’t ideal, but seasoned anglers know how to adjust. Beyond the primary options, the Applegate, upper Rogue, Coos, Coquille, and both the North and South Forks of the Umpqua remain viable choices for those willing to explore and adapt.
Ocean & Bay Opportunities
There’s brighter news for ocean anglers. A stretch of good weather and calm seas should open the door for excellent bottom fishing and crabbing. Offshore action has been strong, and conditions look favorable for more of the same. Bay crabbing is also holding up well, particularly out of Charleston and Winchester Bay, where pots have been producing consistently.