Portland/Metro Oregon Fishing Report – Although there are still a few spring Chinook anglers in pursuit of lower river salmon, the fishery is fading fast. Anglers will shift focus to other water bodies, mostly westward, until coho start to show around mid-September. It’s been a good run on the Willamette this spring, it’s time to move on.
Steelhead are still passing Bonneville Dam in better-than-expected numbers. Still, there is little effort targeting this depressed run, but numbers may trigger upstream opportunity, although we’re not aware of any specific announcement.
Clackamas River Oregon Fishing Report – Spring Chinook passage at the North Fork facility has already exceeded last year’s numbers and fishery managers at the Clackamas hatchery are pleased with returns of hatchery fish thus far as well.
Like the Sandy, fishing conditions are challenging however. Low, clear water has fish wary and warm temperatures put most fish in a holding pattern versus having a willingness to bite anyway. Early mornings are yielding some results for mostly steelheaders, springer fishers have largely given up on the river’s returning adults, despite better numbers this year.Sandy River Fishing Report – Avid angler Jeff Stoeger reports, “Hello All. Well summer has decided to show up and the weather forecast for the next 10 days is going to be scorcher of a week. It looks like we will hit the hundred degree mark for at least 3 of the next 10 days and the remaining days will be in mid to upper 90’s. I floated part of the river on Tuesday and made a short trip to miss all the rafters and tubers who showed up around noon.
Trout stocking for much of the valley’s lakes and ponds has ceased for the summer season. Waters are simply too warm to support these cold water fish this time of year.
Find the full report and forecast for Members on the Sandy and the Clackamas from this page here.
Just calling like it is…
The Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association has been doing the heavy lifting for over 25 years. From being on the front lines for Snake River salmon recovery, to advocating for more days on the water for every fishery imaginable, leadership at NSIA has tallied victory over victory for sportfishers without asking for much help from the general sport angler.
The Guide’s Forecast subscribers are showing up more now than ever and we can’t thank you enough! You stepped up to comment on the Murray/Inslee process, finding solutions for farmers and fishers when it comes to recovering Snake River fish, THANK YOU!
Now, can I ask you to support an organization that has largely been overlooked as a leader in sportfishing issues in the Pacific Northwest?
Please, join us on August 19th, in pursuit of fin-clipped fall Chinook and coho, that should be inundating the lower Columbia River in mid-August? The 22nd annual Buoy 10 Challenge is not only a super-fun event, but it’s a benefit fundraiser that helps NSIA continue to fight for the sport angler in every corner of the ring.
Come join us, celebrate our victories and show support for our future, all while hob-nobbing with your fellow sportfishing friends in our community.
REGISTER HERE, and let’s have a great time while ensuring a future for our love of fish and family! Thank you and hope you can come!
North Coast Oregon Fishing Report – Ocean salmon fishing remains all the rage this week, as most coastal ports are providing some opportunity. Ocean weather kept anglers at bay for a good part of the week, catch and effort was down for much of the reporting week.
Garibaldi reported some of the better catches and Pacific City turned on for coho and some nearshore Chinook this week. The ocean out of the mouth of the Columbia has largely been consistent, sometimes easy and early limits, other times guides and anglers have to work a bit harder for limits.
Catch and release sturgeon fishing remains good on the lower Columbia, even as the water warms. Fresh anchovies, either for sturgeon or salmon, remain hard to get and are largely only available on the weekends. Ocean salmon fishers are using a variety of gear behind the 360° flashers, with Spinfish a fan favorite these days.
Halibut opportunity is still plentiful with lots of all-depth and nearshore quota remaining.
Ocean crabs are largely in a soft-shell state. It’ll be several weeks before they start to fill out again.
Folks are getting excited about albacore prospects this weekend. If the weather window persists, there will be a small fleet of boats in pursuit. Reliable reports indicate they’re close enough to make the run.
See the full report and forecast for Members right here.
Central Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Glenn Zinkus reports:
Weather Outlook Across Central and Eastern Oregon:
The region is in the middle of a hot spell that has temperatures consistently in the 100s in most places and mid to high 90s at the Cascades Lake Highway locations. A cooldown will come starting Monday to more seasonable temperatures.
ODFW News – Angling Restrictions
Deschutes River:
The ODFW metric of a minimum of 9,900 wild (unclipped) steelhead through Bonneville was achieved last Sunday, July 24. That means the Lower Deschutes will open to steelhead angling August 15 to September 15.
We will watch to see if the 23,100 wild fish passage by August 31 is achieved that will open the Deschutes for the season.
Lower Deschutes River:
The Lower Deschutes is steady near the dam, with flows of 3580 CFS in Madras and 4460 CFS at Moody. Water access is good.
Temperatures on the lower portions of the river are in the 57 to 59 range at Madras, with PGE having increased the bottom draw from the dam to decrease the temperatures during this hot period, and 68 to 73 degree range near Moody.
Middle Deschutes River: There is a mix of PEDs, PMDs, and some caddis on the river from Bend to Steelhead Falls. Getting a little warm for this river.
Upper Deschutes River: The upper Deschutes from Little Lava to Crane Prairie has been fishing well.
With the hot weather, nymphing and other under the surface methods will take fish. If dry fly fishing, an attractor dry fly pattern will likely raise trout. Think along the lines of a purple haze. Size is likely unimportant during this next week, anything from a #12 to 18. Also traditional renegades and humpies are good.
Euronymphing is especially hot right now – PT brown perdigons are great.
Streamers can be super effective on the big fish.
Haystack Reservoir: No recent reports. Was stocked earlier in the year and dropping now.
Lake Billy Chinook: Smallmouth are going strong – but no new reports since the heatwave began.
Crooked River: The Crooked River continues fishing well. Fish up the first few miles below the dam for the best opportunities and cooler water in this heat wave.
Note that the Crooked is currently scheduled to go to a reduced flow of 10 CFS next month. The US Bureau of Reclamation Office phone number is 541-389-6541. You can call to opine that 10 CFS will kill the fishery.
Fall River: Fishing well, but highly popular. With the summer heat, the spring fed Fall River is a good option for cooler water. Nymphing and streamers around Horse Shoe Bend, the Hatchery and the Falls is good.
There are multiple reports of anglers doing well on micro-leeches. So bring streamers and microleeches and fish these near the banks.
And yet there is a lot more for Members. Check out Glenn’s detailed reports and forecasts right here for Chinook and Steelhead Members both!
SW Oregon Fishing Report – Contributor Jeff Rome reports:
The ocean outlook for the weekend is a bit windy all over the Oregon coast. If there’s any chance, it would be early in the morning for a quick bottom fish run. Otherwise the ocean has been producing good numbers of bottom/ rock fish, halibut, ling cod, salmon and some crabbages (out of Winchester) .The salmon bite slowed down a bit this week but should pick up again after the weekend winds keep most boats off for a few days. Bottom fish have been good from Brookings to Newport to Winchester Bay. The coho bite continues from Brookings to Winchester Bay. Trolling herring in the top 15′ of water at 90–120-foot depth has been the norm.
If you’re at the coast near Gold Beach and it’s too windy to be on the ocean, I’d give some time trolling around the dredge for some nice Chinook that are lingering around.
It’s July doldrums and this week’s report is very similar to last weeks. New highlights include the Lewis finally kicking out a few fish. Plus, early morning Kokanee fishing on Merwin is worth the trip. Chinook counts on the Cowlitz made a jump.
REMINDER, please verify the regulations before fishing any body of water
Lewis Report
Looks like some good Steelhead fishing is beginning to materialize. I visited the Cedar Creek launch on Monday morning around 10:00am. There were 7 trailers in the lot. Three drift and four power. Fishing pressure is increasing for both bank and boat. The river is super skinny right now, so please use extreme caution and courtesy. WDFW creel checks showed seven bank rods kept one steelhead. One boat/1 rod kept one Chinook and released one.
The gauge level at Ariel has lowered even more to 2.1ft. and holding. Water flow is mostly steady and is currently 1,640cfs. It is just about even with the median. NOAA’s gauge in Woodland is 9.5ft.
The stream flow data can be found here: USGS-North Fork Lewis.
Kalama Report
Korey at Bob’s Sporting Goods is on vacation this week and he wasn’t available to give us a Kalama report. I will take a run up there for next week’s report. There should be some action beginning to take place in the canyon.
Cowlitz Report
Flows are still low, and it’s most definitely affected fishing success. Currently the river is running at 3,200cfs. Fishing seems to be slowing down quite a bit on the Cowlitz, still bobber dogging and pulling plugs says Dave with Dave’s Guide Service cell: (360) 201-9313
WDFW angler check data reported that Cowlitz River I-5 Br downstream – Six bank rods kept four steelhead. Cowlitz River Above the I-5 Br – 10 bank rods kept one steelhead and released one jack. 33 boats/105 rods kept 123 steelhead and released one Chinook.
Chinook counts are saw a big increase this past week. Steelhead counts were up by 20% from the previous week. Last week, Tacoma Power employees recovered 450 spring Chinook adults, 86 spring Chinook jacks, 778 spring Chinook mini-jacks, 535 summer-run steelhead adults, and five cutthroat trout over five days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator. It’s interesting to start watching the Cutthroat number as the summer progresses. (Harvest trout, as they were called when I was a kid) They are an easily overlooked fall fish.
Columbia Gorge and Tributaries
The tributaries continue to have little to report right now. WDFW reported nothing for the Wind, Drano, and Klickitat. Chinook counts at Bonneville have dropped to the daily 500 range, which is still substantial. Steelhead are coming in good numbers and remaining consistent.
Reservoir Report
All three Lewis River reservoirs continue to fish decent. The wake boat crowd can make fishing a little more testing as the day progresses. Mayfield Reservoir received 3,020 rainbow on July 19, 2022
Columbia Summary
Fishing for steelhead is still going strong for plunkers on beaches near river mouths. Martin Bar had some success this week. This would also offer some explanation for the improvement of fishing in the Lewis. This area below, out of the Willow Grove boat launch continues to offer good Steelhead fishing. There are also some deeper areas where you can target Chinook.
Coastal
Jetty and surf perch fishing continue to produce good catches. Depending on your jetty, some Chinook are also being taken. On a calm seas day this can be fun for the kids.
High lakes fishing is excellent. If you like to hike and fish, it’s worth the effort. Pack a tent and stay a couple of nights. It’s a nice get away from the heat in the valley.
None of the local trout lakes have been stocked lately. Lacamas is producing some good bluegill fishing and makes for a nice evening out with the kids. Easy bobber and worm fishing. You may even catch a Largemouth bass or a Bullhead catfish.
Please contact me by email or text with any questions or comments.
BrokerIan
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