Portland/Metro Fishing Report – Spring Chinook fishing on the lower Columbia is finally starting to slow down. Passage at Bonneville is tailing off, but there are certainly catchable numbers of spring Chinook still around. The upper river, from Bonneville to the Oregon/Washington border, opened up today, as well as the 28th for two additional days of opportunity. Catches are likely good. More details can be found HERE.
Summer steelhead numbers on the Columbia are trending north of last year, which may be a nice surprise for managers. There was some (relatively) robust catches of steelhead in last week’s creel check from the mainstem.
As predicted, the Willamette took off for Oregon City anglers last weekend, but warming waters and dropping flows has tapered the bite there. Fish are pouring over Willamette Falls to the tune of 1,000+ adults per day. Passage conditions are ideal and fish are headed towards upriver tributaries.
Avid angler Jeff Stoeger reports, “I hope that you had a chance to get out and fish this last week. The report was that there was a lot of boat traffic from Oxbow downriver. There was fish to be had and I heard that there was fish on the move the entire river. Springers are being caught from the mouth to Cedar Creek. Most of the springers are in Oxbow to Dodge reach and the lower river is holding springers in the deep holes. There was good numbers of steelhead caught from Dabney to hatchery with a good mix of summers and natives.
The Clackamas River has come into fine shape but effort remains low for “peak” season on spring Chinook and steelhead. Steelhead anglers scored the best results with 3 keepers tallied for 11 bank rods. Most of the effort has taken place around Dog Creek. Anglers have largely lost confidence in the Clackamas fishery, but with a wild broodstock program on the horizon, hopefully it can return to its once great opportunity.
Check out the upcoming stocking schedule HERE.
Find the full report and forecast for Members on the Sandy and the Clackamas from this page here.
North Coast Fishing Report – Spring Chinook are starting to show in better numbers on Tillamook Bay. It’s off to a much better start than we’ve seen in recent years. The west channel as well as the jaws have been producing best as of late.
Maybe the surprise of the season is the robust ocean Chinook fishing many are experiencing on the north coast this year. These Chinook are likely from California systems, but action is good off of Newport and Garibaldi for 10 to 13 pound “feeder” Chinook. More details in the full-length report.
Trask River anglers are finding some good springer fishing at the Hatchery Hole at first light. It’s a bobber-only reach of the river, but if you’re an early bird, there are quality fish to be caught.
Summer steelhead should be starting to show in fair numbers on the Wilson, Nestucca and Siletz systems, especially if water conditions remain favorable over the weekend.
Halibut fishing out of Newport and Garibaldi is productive too, as well as bottomfishing. Crabbing seems to have slowed a bit this week, but when the ocean is right, there is an abundance of opportunity.
Lower Columbia River keeper sturgeon fishing is off to a mediocre-at-best start, but there are some quality keepers being tagged.
See the full report and forecast for Members right here.
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Central Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Glenn Zinkus reports:
The Memorial Day weekend looks to have below normal temperatures through the long weekend and showers/rain through Sunday. High temperatures through the high desert will be 60 degrees on Friday, and in the low to mid 50s through Monday. Sunday will be the coolest day, with temperatures struggling to make 50 degrees, cooler in the high country.
Weekend temperatures in the Lower Deschutes canyon will be below normal, but this is the hotspot in Central Oregon. Temperatures on Saturday and Sunday will be in the low 60s, mid to high 60s on Monday. Winds pick up on Saturday and Sunday to 10 – 12 mph.
Holiday weekend weather at the high lakes will be cool and wet. There will be showers Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The Sunday showers will be a mix of rain and snow. Highs will be in the 50s on Friday and Saturday, mid- 40s on Sunday before a warmup begins next Tuesday eventually pushing temperatures into the 70s by Wednesday. Winds will be a steady 10 mph on Saturday, 13 mph on Sunday through Tuesday.
Deschutes River: ODFW just announced, “With another low run of summer steelhead forecast, angling closures for steelhead, bass and salmon will be in effect for parts of the Deschutes River this summer starting as early as June 1.
The closures are in keeping with the Deschutes River steelhead fishery framework that fishery managers presented earlier this year due to continued low forecasts for Threatened summer steelhead runs to areas upriver of Bonneville Dam in the Columbia and Snake River Basins.
The Lower Deschutes is steady at 3940 CFS in Madras and 5300 CFS at Moody. Water access is good, with summer-like flows along the Warm Springs stretch.
Temperatures on the lower portions of the river are in the 53 to 55 range at Madras and 58 to 61 degree range near Moody.
Salmon flies are on and off. Yesterday was a great day in Warm Springs. They’ve been active and flying around during the last couple of warm days, but hunkering down in the vegetation during the frequent cool, cloudy and sometimes wet days during this salmon fly season. When the air is cooler and it’s overcast, nymphs are still a way to go.
Lake Billy Chinook:
Kokes, from all the reports, are being caught. Effective colors include purple, pink, orange and brass.
There has been some exceptional bull trout fishing in LBC in recent days, look to the Metolius Arm.
Crooked River: Water levels are now in and around 245 CFS, and continues to be colored up.
The Mother’s Day caddis has been going this month – with Jeff Perin from The Flyfisher’s Place recommending a soft hacke, as well as caddis pupa patterns.
Fall River: Caddis have been active, as well as some PMD, midge, and Green Drake activity. Jeff Perin says “bring your green drakes to Fall River”. But, also bring your terrestrial box to Fall River.
Fall River was stocked during the week of May 9 with 1000 trophy trout, and will be stocked again in June.
The entire stretch up the Metolius, including the section above Allingham Bridge is open.
PMDs are going, but continue to hatch in spurts because of on and off cold weather in this region. Green drakes are starting to get going at times, and will only become more consistent. I don’t expect to see a lot of green drake activity this holiday weekend, with cool temperatures and some rain. However, the fish are starting to key in on the big drakes, even if the hatch is not full on. Jeff Perin from The Fly Fishers Place reports seeing some drakes at 3:30 or thereabouts in the afternoon earlier this week.
Prineville Reservoir: Josh Pardee report that Prineville reservoir is fishing well for rainbows, and the bass are starting to get active during late April. It is not possible to launch a large boat, but a kayak or pontoon will work well. Josh also says the fish are aggressive – hard hitting.
East Lake: East is ice-free. Ramps are in at the resort and at Hot Springs. Parking on the weekend could be difficult because of snow in the parking lots.
Check out Glenn’s detailed reports and forecasts right here for Oregon Members!
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome reports:
For the Rogue valley, it looks to be a better opportunity for anglers needing to wet a line to hit the mid to upper Rogue for Springers or even better, take some left over BBQ and take the boat up to Lost Creek for some excellent trout fishing.
Weather is going to put a hamper on getting out on the ocean after Friday… maybe Monday🤞 If you’re at the coast, then try any of the coastal lakes that have been stocked with lots of trout or find a nice spot on the beach and try for surf perch. Lower Rogue springer fishing is an option too but take your rain gear. Winchester and Charleston has been good for crabbing and surf perch fishing as well.
If you’re inland, any of the lakes and ponds will provide a good time to enjoy friends and family while able to catch a fish with the kids.
The marine forecast for the long Memorial weekend is good for Friday and then gonna be blustery until at least Sunday or Monday. Out of Brookings, the early part of the week saw limits of bottom fish and excellent Ling cod catches as well as a few halibut. From Brookings up to Winchester bay, the bottom fishing has been nothing short of “great” especially when the ocean is calm. Next week after the upcoming front leaves, it should be good again.
Ocean salmon fishing out of Brookings-Harbor is set!! It opens June 18th with hatchery coho only and Chinook “Kings” June 25th and will run through Aug. 21. Limit will be 2 salmon a person (coho-hatchery only and Chinook (wild or hatchery).
Andy mentioned that the Chetco is now open for trout fishing….. Sea run Cutthroat that is. They do get some in there and can be caught tossing cast masters or Rooster tails in the deeper pools and reeling in across a faster seam.
Jim at Rogue Outdoor Store – Gold Beach, Oregon 541-247-7142 reports Spring Chinook catches have been slower after a nice shot of fish the prior couple weeks brought high hopes of a good season. Last weekend there were jet boat races which closed off a good portion of fishing water for boats, leaving bank anglers the majority. The river condition is decent and there’s some fish caught. Jim’s optimistic that this weekend’s storm front will provide another big shot of water and fresh fish to make it excellent again by end of next week. It’s not looking pretty for the weekend, but it might provide some surprising catches since pressure was down last weekend.
Upper Rogue- Spring Chinook fishing is picking up slightly for both bank and boat anglers. Though not hot yet, more and more fish are being caught as goes along with the angling pressure and approaching June. Bank anglers are picking up fish around the Casey Park and McGregor fishing access areas to a bit further downstream. Drift boat anglers are using sardine/ anchovy and or tuna wrapped Mag Lips or Kwikfish, or back bounding roe in the deeper holes.
Rogue River, above Lost Creek Reservoir– Trout fishing has been sporadic as the weather has been. There will be lots of stocked trout available and many, if not all campsites will be open for Memorial weekend. Expect it to be cooler with possible rain. The flow is strong and cold and anglers working the pocket water with fly’s, small spinners and spoons should catch fish as it will get better when it warms up more later next week.
UMPQUA RIVER Main– Spring Chinook catches are sporadic and fair at best. Again weather and water conditions have kept Springer catches “fair” at best. No wild harvest of spring Chinook is allowed in 2022 (jacks or adults). Weather conditions for the upcoming long weekend looks better for trout fishing in the many lakes and ponds that have been stocked well.
North Umpqua – Summer run steelhead and a few spring Chinook have been caught in the lower part of the river. Weather and water conditions have been sporadic and catches have only been fair. Another shot of water flow coming up should improve both salmon and steelhead catches.Jeff’s detailed report, multiple lake updates, and forecast in this week’s version for Members!
Jeff’s detailed report, multiple lake updates, and forecast in this week’s version for Members!
Introducing Ian Carter, TGF’s newest contributor for SW Washington anglers! Thanks for joining Team TGF Ian! Subscribers, please provide Ian feedback after you read his entire report!
SW Washington by Ian Carter
It’s the Memorial Day weekend and time to make fishing plans. Hopefully this report will help in your decision making. Warm water fisheries are starting to fire on all cylinders, Chinook are still available on both the Columbia and select tributaries, with Summer Steelhead showing in the mix. Kokanee is on fire at Merwin.
REMINDER, please verify the regulations before fishing any body of water
Each week I’ll give you my own BEST BET and what I will be doing. This weekend I can’t decide between either plunking on a Columbia Beach or hitting Merwin. I’m leaning towards the Columbia as there’s a good outgoing tide during the morning hours. Plus, there’s only so many days left on the Columbia in the short term and great fishing at Merwin is available most of the time.
Lewis Report
The flow rate continues to be almost double the median averages. Most recent value reported at the time of writing is 6,000 CFS. The gauge level at Ariel is 4.5ft. Creel checks by WDFW from their most recent report indicated that 29 bank rods kept two Chinook, one jack and released one Chinook. 1 boat/1 rod had no catch.
John Thompson of Sportsman’s Warehouse in Vancouver reported that he has heard of a couple early summer steelhead in the box already. The stream flow data can be found here: USGS-North Fork Lewis
Kalama Report
Forecasted to have 2,000 returning chinook the opportunities exist from the lower river up to Prichard access area. Creel checks by WDFW revealed 38 bank rods kept four Chinook and released one steelhead. Thirteen boats/30 rods kept 14 Chinook and one jack. The guys up at Bob’s Sporting Goods noted that in addition to Chinook a few summer steelhead are around.
Cowlitz Report
Creel checks by WDFW showed Cowlitz River I-5 Bridge downstream – Six bank rods kept one steelhead and released one Chinook and one steelhead. Cowlitz River above the I-5 Bridge – Eight bank rods released one steelhead. Last week, Tacoma Power employees recovered 248 spring Chinook adults, 41 spring Chinook jacks, 34 summer-run steelhead adults, and 26 winter-run steelhead adults over five days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator. Early summer steelhead are beginning to show according to John Thompson of Sportsman’s Warehouse in Vancouver. As a reminder, the Cowlitz is closed for Chinook as of 5/1/22, even though the WDFW creel survey indicates otherwise. Flow and height data can be found at: USGS-CowlitzSW Washington Members have access to the Columbia River reports as well. Find these reports here.
Find all the SW Washington reports for SW Washington Members right here.
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