Oregon fishing report – Portland/Metro Fishing Report – With Fall Chinook fishing still weeks away, metro anglers are still focused west, where the Buoy 10 fishery is underway. It’ll be another few weeks before metro anglers see any kind of opportunity for this year’s robust run, the last week of August at the very least.
Clackamas River spring Chinook are degrading although due to the excessive heat this summer, there were a batch of estuary over-summer dwellers so it is possible to still find a rare silver-sided one. Most anglers are focusing on summer steelhead, but catches are slight as few new fish are available. Most anglers are focusing on the upper river, around McIver if they are still pursuing steelhead.
Avid angler Jeff Stoeger reports on the Sandy River; There are still fish to be had. I have a couple of buddies that have caught a few fish this past week. The springers are starting to darken up with double strips and rosy red checks. Most fish are blasting up to the upper river and then waiting to spawn.
This week we will see lots of action on the river due to extreme heat wave again. The temperatures are heading to the hundred area for the next three or four days. You will encounter lots of swimmer and rafters. So, head out early and make sure to take some water with and stay hydrated.
North Coast Fishing Report – The Buoy 10 fishery is underway, and although some coho are starting to show, it’s primarily a Chinook show and they are in! Hopefully you’re seeing our detailed fishing reports via YouTube. If you’re an avid Buoy 10 angler, this is the time to invest in a Steelhead or Chinook Membership to get the detailed FORECAST for the next day’s opportunities.
Central Coast ports continue to produce impressive catches of ocean coho. It’s game on when the weather cooperates. Newport remains the most consistent port, but Pacific City and Depoe Bay are also coming in strong. Garibaldi, for some reason, remains challenging.
Halibut fishing remains unimpressive but rockfishing is holding up for those not distracted by ocean salmon.
The ocean is loaded with soft-shells, better to wait several more weeks before they begin to fill out.
The Nehalem remains fair, despite the fact we’re in peak season here. Tides this week will be telling.
Albacore remain far offshore and anglers remain focused on some great salmon fishing.
Your ocean and Buoy 10 Fishing Report from August 12th, 2021. Click here to see the video report.
Central Oregon Fishing Reports – Contributor Glenn Zinkus reports:
Spring Creeks For The Hot Weather – Metolius Fishing Well. Paulina and Odell Continue to Produce.
We are in the middle of another heat wave, with temperatures in the high 90s and 100s through the region, and a heat advisory through Saturday at 8PM. There is on and off smoke haze in the Cascades and High Desert.
The Central Oregon area will have high temperatures in the upper 90s on Friday and Saturday, 90 on Sunday, and moderating to the low 80s for much of next week.
As a reminder, ODFW established “Hoot Owl” regulations limiting fishing hours on these waters:
Effective July 1 through September 30, all angling for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and trout is closed from 2:00 p.m. to one hour before sunrise in the entire John Day River and all tributaries, for the Umatilla River and all tributaries (but not the river within the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation lands)
River temperatures and the mix of water from Pelton dam remained steady through the week.
Temperatures near the mouth are peaking at about 70 degrees during the afternoons and evenings, much to warm for fishing for salmonids. Low water temperatures near the mouth are lowest in the early morning in the mid 60s – almost always lowering to 66 degrees. Nearer to the dam the temperatures are 56 to 58 degrees and have been steady in this range for two weeks.
The Deschutes in the area from Warm Springs to Trout Creek continues fishing surprisingly well this week. First half of the day up to mid-day, and the evenings have been good on caddis, PMDs and PEDs. Perdigon nymphs are a hot nymph this week.
Upper Deschutes River: The upper Deschutes has been fishing well.
Haystack Reservoir: Fill level is 47 %. Bass fishing is excellent and with these temperatures, is the best species to target.
Crooked River: Crooked River is best fished now in the mornings only, if you must fish it. Fishing up near the dams is best.
Fall River has been stocked with 1000 trophy trout this week. Reports from The Flyfishers Place is that the hatches have been slower.
Metolius River: The spring-fed Metolius remains a solid summer angling option – one of the best because of the constant, cool water.
North and South Twin Lakes: Josh at Tim’s Fishin Tackle Shop in Lapine reports great fishing! North and South Twin have been recently stocked with trophy rainbows.
Devils Lake, Cascade Lakes Highway: Devils Lake has been stocked in late July with more than 1300 legal size trout. Leech patterns for fly anglers; spinners and spoons for conventional gear should all produce trout.
Suttle Lake: Fishing for kokanees is good right now. Good place to fish in August. Pink and orange jigs near the bottom are the ticket.
Crescent Lake: Crescent Lake will remain very low. Latest report from Cody Herman, at Day One Outdoors (Day One Outdoors), is that Crescent gets lower and the fishing is downright slow.
Prineville Reservoir: Josh Pardee for Tim’s Fishin Tackle Shop in Lapine reports ridiculously good fishing for Crappie in Prineville Reservoir. The reservoir is at 31 % full as of today.
Crane Prairie Reservoir: Bass fishing is still good but slowed down from the red-hot reports of recent weeks.
Odell Lake: Odell remains a constant for kokanee and Mackinaw fishing with good reports all around. There is on and off smoke from the fires near Oakridge, depending upon the winds. It changes constantly right now.
Eastern Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Glenn Zinkus reports bi-weekly.
We are in the middle of another heat wave, with temperatures in the high 90s and 100s through the region, and a heat advisory through Saturday at 8PM. There is on and off smoke haze in the Cascades, High Desert, and Southeast Oregon.
ODFW News Update: In Wallowa County, the bag and size limits will be lifted for the following bodies of water from July 14 through Sept. 30:
• Honeymoon Pond
• Tee Pee Pond
• McGraw Pond
• Salt Creek Summit Pond, and;
• Kinney Lake
In Baker County, the bag and size limits will be lifted for the following bodies of water July 15 through Oct. 10:
• Phillips Reservoir between Mason Dam and Hudspeth Road
• Thief Valley Reservoir, and;
• Powder River between Thief Valley Reservoir and Phillips Reservoir
EXCEPTIONS: Bull Trout and Tiger Muskie must be released unharmed in the water body they are encountered.
Hoot Owl Restrictions: Walla Walla River and Tributaries
• Effective July 1 through September 30, all angling for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and trout is closed from 2:00 p.m. to one hour before sunrise in the Walla Walla River and all tributaries.
Ana Reservoir: LIKELY AFFECTED BY SMOKE FROM THE BOOTLEG FIRE There are reports of good fishing on Ana Reservoir for legal and trophy size trout.
Trolling lures and flies, and bait are taking fish.
Blitzen River: The Blitzen has warmed up with temperatures in the 70s. This is not a good fishing option right now, especially with the current hot weather.
Lofton Reservoir: Affected by the Bootleg fire. Inaccessible.
Lofton is slowing down. Try early morning. Fishing for stocked legal and trophy trout. Spoons are working, as are slow trolled leech flies.
Chewaucan River: Affected and inaccessible due to the Bootleg Fire. The river is too hot to fish. Not even an option.
Krumbo Reservoir: Inaccessible due to the Bootleg Fire. Krumbo is slowing down for trout. Turn on to warmwater species opportunities, such as bass fishing on Krumbo.
Sprague River: Inaccessible. Heavily affected by the Bootleg Fire. Consider this river to be off-limits for the time being.
Williamson River: The upper Williamson is off-limits from the Bootleg Fire and parts of the area have burned, and lower stretches are affected in some areas as well.
Klamath River: Closed between Keno dam and JC Boyle Reservoir. Golden stones are active below JC Boyle dam. Evening caddis activity below JC Boyle.
Owyhee River: Evenings with streamers are the time to hit the Owyhee.
Wallowa Lake: Wallowa Lake was recently stocked with 5400 legal size trout and 180 trophy trout. The lake remains one of the viable fishing options in the heat. The kokanee bite is on and catch rates are good.
Grande Ronde River: Report from Rob at the Joseph Fly Shoppe are that there are active stone flies on the lower portion. Good Bass fishing below Troy. The river has dropped to a nice level.
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome reports:
Wildfire smoke and hot temperatures in the valley are enticing anglers to either head to the coast for some Coho and Chinook fishing or up to the higher lakes. Both are good bets depending on which way the wind is blowing now. This weekend looks to have some favorable wind conditions to get on the ocean and cool cleaner air.
Winchester Bay and the tide water reaches of the Umpqua are producing some good crab catches and 20+ pound Chinook respectively. The Rogue Bay is also having some nice catching days. Further upriver in the middle to upper Rogue, salmon anglers who are battling the heat and smoke are catching a few Chinook up by Gold Hill in the deep holes. Summer Steelhead are present for spinner tossers in “pocket water” but hasn’t been great. Some of the higher elevation lakes are providing nice catches as well as bass in the lower lakes and ponds.
Grants Pass Pro-guide Troy Whitaker of Guide Service (541-761-0015) reports the salmon angling on the Rogue Bay has seen a nice bite mid-week with a mix of mostly Chinook and some jacks and Summer Steelhead mixed in.
Looks like the Southern Oregon coast might get a wind reprieve this weekend allowing boat anglers to get out on the ocean and try for bottom fish and halibut along with salmon fishing (even though salmon out of Brookings Harbor has been slow).
Nearshore halibut season is currently open seven days a week inside the 40-fathom line. Anglers have been picking up nearshore halibut in the Coos Bay/ Winchester Bay area.
Bottom fishing is now restricted to inside the 40-fathom line unless you choose to fish in the offshore longleader fishery. Anglers may also choose to fish the offshore longleader fishery outside of the 40-fathom regulatory line, which is open year-round. The longleader fishery has a daily bag limit of 10 fish made of yellowtail, widow, canary, blue, deacon, redstripe, greenstripe, silvergray, chillipepper, and bocaccio rockfish. No other groundfish are allowed and offshore longleader fishing trips cannot be combined with traditional bottomfish, flatfish or halibut trips. Find information about a longleader setup here. As of July 1, anglers may keep one cabezon (minimum length of 16 inches) as part of their 5 fish general marine fish daily bag limit.
Tony from Tony’s Crab Shack said that Coho fishing out of Winchester Bay is still doing well when ocean conditions provide. The valley heat this week has made for morning fog and temps into the mid 50’s and a flatter ocean. It’s expected to be similar into Sunday.
Striper fishing on the Coquille is still fair above Rocky Point but is winding down.
COOS RIVER BASIN: Boat and bank anglers (on the jetty) are still catching rockfish and an occasional ling cod inside lower Coos Bay. Smaller jigs with a twister tail or 1-ounce jigging spoons have been working to catch rockfish.
Tenmile Lakes– The lake water temperatures has increased to lower 70s where most largemouth bass have moved to their summer locations.
Surf perch- Perch fishing is has slowed but can still produce in the mouths and jetties of the Umpqua and Coquille. Boats targeting these delicious and fun to catch fish are anchoring on the inside of a jetty and dropping down bait.
COQUILLE RIVER BASIN– Striper fishing has improved in the upper end of tidewater all the way downstream to Riverton and are caught in low light conditions or in the dark. There is no size limit or daily bag limit on striped bass.
Umpqua River System- There are bass in most stretches of the river system- smallmouth angling is fantastic now and Stripper angling on the lower main Umpqua is about over. Some Chinook have been caught as more pressure in the lower river has increased.
Jim at Rogue Outdoor Store – Gold Beach, Oregon 541-247-7142 shared, salmon fishing in the Rogue Bay has been going strong last week into this Tuesday where the barometer dipped and slowed the bite. He expects it to pick up any day. Fish into the 30’s were no surprise and Summer Steelhead and 1/2 pounders have been taken up towards Huntly Park.
Middle Rogue –Summer Steelhead are scattered throughout the river as are a few Chinook that have “squeezed” their way up through extreme low water.
UMPQUA RIVER System– Surf perch fishing in Winchester Bay is fair at best. Trollers in the lower reaches of tide water are catching some nice Chinook in the 20+ pound range lately (according to Anna Alisa from Salmon Harbor Tackle). Bass fishing throughout the Umpqua basin is great.
North Umpqua River, tributaries, closed to all angling.
SW Washington Fishing Update by Terry Otto
Salmon still biting in the ocean, but high-water temps are an issue. Buoy 10 off to a good start, with better tides next week, and a few Chinook showing in Vancouver-area hog lines on the Columbia River.
Vancouver Metro Area
A few early Chinook are being taken in Vancouver area hog lines, with most falling for wobblers fished on anchor, but the small bite is off and on. Some days the fish show, and others they don’t. Wait a couple weeks, and the bite will improve greatly. The local tribs are still fishing very slow for steelhead, while anglers await better times with the coming fall fish.
High country trout lakes are only fair at best, and have slowed down in recent weeks, while warm water fisheries are excellent everywhere. Catfish, bass and panfish are biting well in lakes and the Columbia, with the only slow spot being Washougal Reef walleye.
Lewis and Washougal Rivers Fishing Report—It is starting to sound like a broken record, but the Lewis is still fishing very slow for steelhead, and there are very few anglers giving it a whirl. With so few steelhead in the river a pattern is hard to develop, and right now anglers have as good a chance of stumbling onto an early fall salmon as they do a summer steelhead. During the latest WDFW creel survey, 15 bank rods had no catch, while three boats/six rods kept only one steelhead. With patterns hard to develop, anglers are fishing bobbers with eggs, jigs, or beads, and pulling plugs near the town of Woodland, and from the golf course up to the hatchery. Bank fishing has been mostly at the hatchery and the Hole in the Wall.
No changes in the Washougal, with the water still low and dangerously warm. There are few, if any, fish in the system, and fewer anglers trying for them. If there have been any recent catches, or if anyone has established a pattern, they are keeping quiet. But, river conditions are not conducive.
Merwin and Yale Lakes Fishing Report—Both lakes are fishing fair to good for kokanee, and the most successful anglers are fishing from 20 to 60 feet of water, trolling kokanee flashers and hootchies tipped with corn. However, at times the bite has been inconsistent, and the fish hard to pattern. That has been the case this entire season, and some anglers believe the incessant pressure from the fishing fleet may be driving the kokes to act skittishly. Anglers are finding the schools fairly high in the water column until the sun rises, and then they are moving deeper.
Longview Area
Cowlitz and Kalama Rivers Fishing Report—The summer steelhead action has slowed in the Cowlitz River, but it is still the best bet for summer fish. Catches have been dropping ever since the water was raised a couple weeks ago, and then dropped. The best bite has been for angler’s bobber-dogging the first few miles below Blue Creek. Bank anglers continue to fish drifted gear or bobber presentations near the mouth of the creek.
Last week, Tacoma Power employees recovered 66 spring Chinook adults, 11 spring Chinook jacks, 96 spring Chinook mini jacks, 58 summer-run steelhead adults, and 25 cutthroat trout during five days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.
The Kalama is fishing terribly slow, and the latest creel had five anglers with no catch. The river is now low and clear, and the weir is in place just below the Modrow Bridge. Few fresh fish will pass the weir until high water makes it possible. A few salmon could be entering the lower river soon, but with the flows so low, they will probably not move up the river far, and there have not been any salmon recorded yet.
Columbia River Gorge
Drano Lake Fishing Report—Fishing slowed just a little at Drano this week. The latest creel survey found three bank rods releasing one steelhead. 29 boats/66 rods kept eight Chinook, two jacks and released seven steelhead. Trolling with 360 flashers has been the go-to method. No report as yet on the best baits. Bonneville Dam counts are rising, so the lake should start to fish better in a week or two. Remember that steelhead are off-limits this year in Drano and the Wind River.
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