Portland, Oregon Metro Fishing Report by Bob Rees
Mainstem Columbia springer seekers came home largely disappointed after last Friday’s opener. That theme continued through the open days, and managers offered up even more days (2) before they would have to assess it again. Overall, the opener was a dud, but it’s nice to have the opportunity. There were some fish caught closer to the estuary, as we predicted in our Columbia River Forecast section, but it was far from consistent.
The catch was so poor, the state fish and wildlife agencies could expand opportunity for 2 more days as identified in this press release.
The Willamette has slowed, but may remain the better bet as late season springers seem more prevolent on the Willamette then the Columbia starting this time of year. The lower Multnomah Channel is where the vast majority of springers are being caught this time of year, and where the bulk of the effort takes place as well.
Water temperatures have reached into the low 60’s, and over 14,000 adults have bypassed Multnomah Falls.
It’s 360 flasher and spinner/plastics time on the Willamette right now.
Shad are in thick at Oregon City and catches are ramping up quickly. Sunny days typically produce the best catches.
Upper Willamette Valley Fishing Report by Terry Otto
Spring Chinook moving into upper Willamette systems, steelhead coming in, too. Spring trout fishing boosted by heavy stockings. Warm water species biting in local lakes.
Best bets this weekend
Spring Chinook are now in all the upper Willamette systems in good numbers.
River system trout are becoming more active, good hatches increasing.
Trout lakes fishing very well.
Largemouth and smallmouth bass are biting in warm water lakes.
Panfish are beginning to feed hard as they enter the spring spawn.
Willamette Falls fish counts
As of Tuesday, May 18th, total spring Chinook counts are rising strongly, with a total of 14,000 plus springers having crossed the falls. Daily counts have surged, following reports that the springer fishing in the lower Willamette has finally picked up quite a bit.
Over 10,000 steelhead have crossed the falls, and over 7,000 of those have been clipped summer fish. Numbers across the falls are better than they were last year this time. Will we see a better summer run this year?
You can check the Willamette Falls fish counts here. You can check the Willamette River Gauge at Salem here.
Trout stocking
Drought conditions are already impacting Oregon waterways. The Trout Stocking Schedule is subject to change. Check the field notes below or contact the local ODFW office for questions about a specific area.
Scheduled to be stocked May 4-29:
Alton Baker Canal, Blue River, Breitenbush R, Carmen Res, Clear Lake, Detroit Res, EE Wilson Pond, Fall Creek (Willamette River), Foster Res, Green Peter Res, Junction City Pond, Leaburg Lake, McKenzie River 1 and 2 (Above and Below Leaburg Dam), Progress Lake, Quartzville Creek, Salmon Creek, Santiam R, N Fork 2, Silver Creek Res, Small Fry Lake, Smith R Res, Sunnyside Park Pond, Timber Linn Lake, Turner Lake, Waverly Lake, Willamette River, coast fork.
You can check the ODFW trout stocking schedule here.
South Fork Santiam River
Fishing is generally best when flows are below 3,000cfs, with current flows at 1480cfs, following a series of changes in flow. These changes may have led to slower action for spring Chinook, when the river is changing continuously, it can affect the fishing. Fishing guide Matt Halseth of Matt Halseth Guide Service has been fishing the South Fork for a couple weeks, and he reports that it has been typical springer fishing, with good days and poor days mixed in.
He reported getting 4 springers for his clients the day before. He said the fish are spread throughout the river up to Mill City. He has been getting the fish by fishing salmon eggs or hardware. He fishes the eggs mostly below a bobber, but also does some bobber-dogging.
He reports that the fish are nice, and in great shape. He also said they were now getting some summer steelhead, and the numbers of steelhead are climbing. “I have already caught more steelhead this year than I did all of last year,” said Halseth. He is hopeful for a better steelhead year.
You can check the river gage at Waterloo here.
North Fork Santiam River
The river is currently running at 1360cfs, and is expected to stay at that level all week. This system is also seeing a good return of both summer steelhead and spring Chinook. The schools are moving up slowly, but there have been some good days when the springers want to bite. Salmon eggs and hardware are both effective, and the fish are now staging in the many deep holes of the river, from the upper sections down to the mouth. Anglers are getting them on salmon eggs and hardware.
You can check the gauge at Mahama here
Detroit Reservoir
Water levels are currently just below full pool and slowly rising. Mongold State Park boat ramps, the main boat ramp at Detroit Lake State Park, as well as Hoover and Kane’s Marina are all available. When the weather is nice, especially on weekends, the boat ramps can get crowded, so give yourself some extra time to launch.
Kokanee fishing continues to be rated as fair to good, and the fish are growing. They have still been holding fairly shallow, but the early warm temps and the sun this week could push the schools deeper. Trolling kokanee spinners tipped with corn and fished behind a dodger has been the go-to method.
Coast Fork Willamette River
Spring Chinook have moved into the coast fork, and summer steelhead are showing as well. The springers are taking salmon eggs fished below a bobber, while the summer steelhead are taking a wider variety of baits, including salmon eggs, sand shrimp, hardware, and beads.
The river was stocked the week of April 27th and will be stocked again the week of May 18th with 1,000 hatchery rainbow trout. Look for the trout to be looking up for caddis hatches, yellow mayflies, and a few stoneflies.
Sandy and Clackamas River reports by Jeff Stoeger and Bob Rees
Clackamas River Fishing Report – Interest is growing for Clackamas River anglers, with more summer steelhead and spring Chinook showing in the catches.
It’s not surprising that bank anglers are doing better then boaters when it comes to steelhead catches, but it is surprising to see that they’re also catching more spring Chinook then the boaters are. Maybe even more significant, all the Chinook that were reported last week were keeper hatchery fish. This fishery in recent years has typically produced better wild fish catch than hatchery take-home keepers. Maybe the broodstock program is kicking in this year?
On that note, did you see our YouTube with district biologist Ben Walczak? If not, click below, it’s worth the watch if you want to know more about what’s going to change on the Clackamas River fishery.
Sandy River Fishing Report – Avid angler Jeff Stoeger shares the following: The Sandy River is currently running at 9.04 feet with a water temperature of 55.2 degrees. The most recent rain event brought a 9-inch bump, pushing the river to a peak of 9.45 feet. Mt. Hood also received 11 inches of new snow.
Fishing has been hit or miss, depending on who you talk to. The upper river still holds some late-winter steelhead from Cedar Creek down to Dodge Park. Springer chinook are also present, holding primarily in the deeper holes throughout the system.
Summer steelhead runs are spread across the river system. Late-winter fish are making their return trip back to the ocean.
Two watercraft hazards are worth noting for anyone planning to float. A drift boat and a kayak both sank and remain just upstream of Camp Angelos. Plan your float accordingly and wear your PFD.
With warmer weather approaching, expect increased recreational traffic on the river. Rafters, inner tubers, and sunbathers will be filling the banks. Consider heading out early to beat the crowds.
North & Central Coast Fishing Report by Bob Rees
We’re still in shoulder season for salmon and steelhead on the north and central coast, but anglers can find each species in Freshwater and Chinook in the salt, although catches are sparse in both locations.
It’s really time for halibut and bottomfish, and when weather permits, and fishing has been good. Newport remains the best port for halibut, and pro guide Rob Gerlitz (503-812-4950) has been bucking the mediocre port reports, taking great numbers of lingcod and big sea bass, along with decent crabbing out of Garibaldi. He may have a few seats open this weekend so give him a call and ask for the TGF rate, you won’t regret it!
Tides are softening and by Labor Day, lower Tillamook Bay and the Nestucca estuary may see its first good push of spring Chinook for anglers to fish for. Trolled herring near the bottom, close to low slack or during the 2nd half of outgoing, should produce some opportunities for those that may go there. These are high quality fish that are worth the effort.
Trout anglers may be excited for the May 22nd opener for most coastal systems. Bait is allowed on some streams, but artificial lures and flies only on others. Be sure to check regulations carefully if you plan on participating in this fishery.
Razor clam digging was excellent on the last tide series, but the series is on the back end and won’t get good again until later in the month.
Much more on the site for Chinook Members:
- Buzz Ramsey’s latest post – Last Day Columbia Report, What’s Next.Unlock the simple bobber trick seasoned anglers use to dial in depth and hook more spring Chinook right now. Chinook Members can read Buzz’s post HERE.
- Bill Monroe’s latest post – Fish stories on the fly. A veteran fly angler’s wildest stories come to life in this tribute to the most optimistic fishers on the water. 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: Hewescraft History. Learn the history of this NW manufacturer and the functionality of these boats in our NW fisheries. You can read his 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.
Central-Eastern Oregon Fishing Report by Terry Otto (from last week)
Lake fishing very good. Columbia walleye still biting, and spring Chinook opens Friday. Big bug hatches happening right now on rivers.
Best bets for weekend fishing
- Anglers that have been able to get on the water at Lava and Little Lava Lakes report excelling early season trout fishing for large holdover trout.
- North and South Twin Lakes were recently stocked in late April with both legal and trophy rainbow trout.
- Wickiup Reservoir is 84% full and anglers report abundant kokanee in the 11-12″ range this year.
- Recent ODFW sampling indicate good numbers of 17-22″ holdover rainbow trout at Antelope Flat Reservoir
- 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.
- Fall River was recently stocked, and anglers report excellent nymphing opportunities near the hatchery and the headwaters.
Lake Access
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, Little 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.
Seasonal Road Closures
Deschutes County announced an opening date of 8AM on Friday May 7th for the Cascade Lakes Highway and Paulina Lake Road (Forest Service Road 21).
Columbia River springers
The states got together this past Tuesday, and after downsizing the upriver spring Chinook run size, they were still able to add some retention days. Anglers can fish from the Columbia River mouth up to the Washington/Oregon border for spring Chinook from Friday, May 15, through Sunday, May 17, and from Saturday, May 23, to Monday, May 25.
Columbia River walleye
The folks at the Gorge Outfitters Supply in Rufus report that the walleye bite continues to be hot, with no sign of slowing down. The fish are now hungry and feeding hard to recover from the spawn. The action is best in 12 to 30 feet of water over rocky reefs or gravel bottoms. Trolling worm harnesses downstream has been the go-to method.
Lower Deschutes River
Amy Hazel of the Deschutes Angler Fly Shop in Maupinreports that the fishing has been very good, but the hatches are coming off earlier than usual, responding to the warmer than usual temps for this time of year. She said the salmonfly hatch is mostly over in the Maupin area, but that they will continue to hatch in upper reaches of the river.
“We are seeing a lot of bugs here since the last time I talked with you,” said Hazel. “The salmonfly hatch is pretty much over, but the golden stones are out, and the trout are keying in on those. We have lots of yellow Sallys, and pale evening duns.” She remarked that the river is busy, and will probably stay that way for a while, as the spring bugs keep hatching.
You can check the river gauge at Moody Rapids here.
Little Lava Lake
This lake is amongst the best of them right now, with most days seeing a good dry fly session with callibaetis, beetles and ants. Also, a midge tip line and nymphs can find success. This week saw a fair but short mayfly hatch, and a lot of traveling sedge (caddis) are hatching.
Balanced Leeches and Red Ice Cream Cones were also proactive for this week.
Paulina Lake
It was good this week with Brown Balanced Leech/Orange bead and Vampire Leech/Chartreuse bead. Expect to see flying ants there this week, because Tuesday is going to be very hot. Water temps is low 40’s.
Southeastern Oregon
Best bets for weekend fishing
- Access to Fourmile Lake is closed due to bad road conditions.
- Best fishing for wild, native trout in the Klamath Basin will be the Klamath River.
- The Wood River below Weed Road is fishing well for Brown Trout.
- Lake of the Woods was stocked this week with trophy Rainbow Trout
- Miller Lake was stocked with Trophy Rainbow Trout this week
- Crappie fishing in Owhyee Reservoir has been good.
- Bank fishing for rainbow trout has been good at Ana Reservoir.
- The Cascade Ramp at Hyatt is open. This year at Howard Prairie, the Grizzly, Willow Point and Klum Landing ramps will be available for the first time in many years.
Trout stocking
April 22- May 8:
Lake of the Woods, Miller Lake, Bully Creek Res, Running Y Pond, Highway 203 Pond, Fourmile Lake.
May 11- May 22:
Holbrook Res, Poison Creek Res, Lofton Res, Duncan Res, Yellow Jacket Lake, Taylor Green Pond, Thompson Valley Reservoir.
Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods was stocked with trophy and legal rainbow trout last week . For recent fishing updates call the Lake of the Woods resort at 1-866-201-4194 (option 4). Largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing is picking up. Best fishing for largemouth is along the lily pads on the northeast side of the lake.
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome
As we roll into the long Memorial Weekend, a heartfelt thank‑you goes out to all present and past military service men and women. Those who gave everything will always be remembered and honored. For those looking to enjoy the three‑day weekend on the water, you’ll have no shortage of opportunities. Rivers and streams that have been closed to trout fishing reopen Friday, and lake conditions are about as good as they’re going to get.
Lakes & Ponds —
My Best Bet The lakes and ponds are absolutely loaded with stocked and holdover trout right now. Water levels won’t get any higher, so this is prime time to take advantage. My top picks for the weekend: Lost Creek Lake — still my favorite, and last weekend I caught some beautiful fish here (see main photo). Applegate, Galesville, Diamond, Hyatt, and Howard Prairie — all solid for trout.
Lake Selmac — best shot at big largemouth bass and plenty of panfish.
Emigrant Lake & the Expo Pond — don’t overlook these; both hold strong numbers of panfish.
Rivers Trout season reopens Friday, and that alone will get a lot of folks out.
Lower Rogue River — slow for springers as most have already pushed upriver toward spawning grounds. Still, an early summer steelhead surprise is always possible.
Upper Rogue (Dodge Park to Casey Park) — my pick for springers. Counts have bumped up recently, and there are still steelhead and trout around for those wanting to swing flies.
Mid Rogue — Boatnik festivities will be in full swing in Grants Pass, and Monday’s boat races will limit access in some stretches. With temps pushing into the 90s on Sunday, expect heavy rafting traffic (I’ll be floating too). If you’re fishing, I’d work from Hog Creek down. A few steelhead or Chinook might be around, but keep expectations modest.
Umpqua System
The springer run is essentially wrapped up — low, clear water has made things tough. However:
Striper fishing has been good on the lower Umpqua. Smallmouth bass are active and multiplying throughout the system.
Ocean
The ocean is a bit of a wild card this weekend. Wind speeds don’t look terrible, but the wind chop is sizable, so conditions will vary by day and by port. If you can get out, there’s still an excellent opportunity for: Lingcod Rockfish Chinook