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Oregon Fishing Reports
| Fishing Reports for Oregon. If you have a report for your area send it to us at reports@bobberstop.com. Please put "Fishing Report" in the subject line of your e-mail and please don't forget to include the location. |
** Last Update was made on 3 - 13 - 08 ***
OREGON FISHING REPORTS - LICENSES - REGULATIONS
APPLEGATE RESERVOIR - Trout fishing has been fair. Anglers should try fishing a variety of
depths off of points and tributaries; night crawlers, small spinners, and streamer flies have been
working the best. Few warm water fish are being caught.
BROWNLEE RESERVOIR - Generally fishing has been slow as the water has been very low and
muddy. The boat ramp at Hewitt Park is out of the water but some have been catching a few perch
and catfish if willing to walk. The reservoir is 47 feet below normal. Call Idaho Power Company’s
recording at 1-800-422-3143 to get information on access at recreational sites or visit www.
idahopower.com under the “Rivers and Recreation” heading.
COLUMBIA RIVER - No Report
CRESCENT LAKE - No Report
GREEN PETER RESERVOIR - No Report
HELLS CANYON RESERVOIR - Bank fishing for trout has been good. Approximately 1,000 surplus
steelhead have been released into Hells Canyon Reservoir. These fish are considered trout over 20
inches and only one can be kept per day. No tag is needed if fishing in the reservoir.
KLAMATH RIVER - Angling for wild redband trout is slow. Water temperature has cooled down to
near freezing which will slow catch rates. The Klamath River below JC Boyle Dam to the JC Boyle
Powerhouse is your best opportunity for catching redband trout. Most redband trout in this section
range from 6-12”. Water temperature in this section remains warmer due to the large spring input.
POWDER RIVER - Fishing for rainbow trout is closed from Huntington–Richland road bridge to
Hughes Lane bridge in Baker City. Above Hughes Lane to Phillips Reservoir is open to catch and
release, and use of artificial flies and lures only.
ROGUE RIVER - ROGUE RIVER, LOWER: With low flows and nearing the end of the winter
steelhead run, boat and bank anglers are starting to turn their attention the spring chinook. Anglers
are reminded that there are new regulations in effect for spring chinook on the Rogue River.
ROGUE RIVER, MIDDLE: The flow on March 10 was 2,410 cubic feet per second at Grants Pass.
Fishing has been good in the Grants Pass area and down by Galice. Yarn balls, roe clusters, and
plugs have been working well.
ROGUE RIVER, UPPER: As of March 10, the flow out of William Jess Dam (Lost Creek) was 904
cubic feet per second and the outflow temperature was 41 degrees. 1,711 winter steelhead have
been counted at Gold Ray Dam as of March 6.
Angling continues to improve on the Upper Rogue. Winter steelhead are being caught by drifting
egg patterns, bug and bubbles, and small bugs. Anglers are reminded that even during high water
and turbid conditions along most of the Rogue, conditions are usually good between Big Butte
Creek and Cole Rivers Hatchery where reservoir outflows predominate.
SALMON RIVER - Catch-and-release fishing for wild winter steelhead fishing is slow and ends at
the end of March.
SANDY RIVER - Catch improved over the past weekend with fish being landed throughout the river
up to the mouth of the Salmon. Anglers in the lower river reported more summer steelhead than
winter; we still anticipate winter fish to return through April but effort will shift upstream. Fish caught
in the vicinity of Sandy Hatchery are beginning to get a little color but several nice fish were taken
out in recent days according to Sandy hatchery staff.
There are two unconfirmed reports of spring chinook caught in the lower river below I-84, but we
have not been able to verify either as of early this week. It should be any day, since fish are
beginning to show up in the Willamette system. Be prepared for a springer on the end of the line if
you are fishing the Sandy in coming weeks.
The Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted new sport-fishing regulations for the Sandy River which
move the fishing deadline (or boundary) upstream to the mouth of the Salmon River (near
Brightwood) began Jan. 1, 2008. There are reports of a few wild fish being caught and released in
the newly opened section of river above Marmot Dam. There are few hatchery winter steelhead
available above Cedar Creek, but there is some opportunity for catch and release of wild fish for
those interested in a more remote angling experience. The new area should provide good
opportunity for hatchery spring Chinook that stray past Cedar Creek starting in May and running
through early July. All current fishing regulations in the lower river apply to the newly extended area.
This provides an additional seven miles of fishing opportunity in an area that was historically
popular among anglers before 1999 regulations closed the area. The changes are the result of the
removal of Marmot Dam, which made the current angling deadline of “200 feet below the dam”
obsolete.
The changes at the old Marmot Dam site and the movement of material have the potential to affect
conditions downstream of that area. The entire section of river near the dam removal site is a
hazardous construction zone with no public entrance allowed at this time. Access to the PGE
property at the previous site of Marmot Dam is still closed to all public access.
Access to the river can be gained from many parks including Lewis and Clark, Dabney, Oxbow, and
Dodge. Bank access is also available to the Cedar Creek area at the Sandy Hatchery. When fishing
the Oxbow Park area, remember that there is no angling from a floating device upstream from a
point that is 200 feet below the Oxbow Park boat ramp.
Collection/recycling receptacles for discarded or lost fishing gear can now be found along the
Sandy River. Look for them near boat ramps at Lewis and Clark, Dabney, Oxbow, and Dodge parks.
Any tangled fishing line or old gear can be collected and disposed of in these canisters as an effort
to maintain a healthy, clean Sandy River. Please use nearby garbage cans for any other types of
trash.
SNAKE RIVER - (Above Brownlee Reservoir): channel catfish, flathead catfish, smallmouth bass.
The river is generally ice-free. Boaters should remain cautious. Flow was 7,254 cfs near Nyssa
and approximately 11,741 cfs near Weiser on March 9. Angling for catfish and smallmouth bass is
slow.
THOMPSON RESERVOIR - Access is still limited to snowmobiles. The reservoir is still partially
covered with ice.
UMATILLA RIVER - Fishing should be good for steelhead below Threemile Dam, and from river mile
33 to the lower reservation boundary. Steelhead returns to Threemile Dam have increased and
steelhead numbers have ranged from 30 to 80 per day for March, total return to date is 1,816.
Due to fish passage concerns at the Feed Canal Diversion Dam (River Mile 28), all steelhead
returning to Threemile Dam as of December 6 are being transported upstream. In addition to the
release site at River Mile 44, an additional site has been developed at River Mile 33. The site at
River Mile 33 will give anglers an additional eleven miles of river to fish. Unless we can resolve this
passage issue, we will continue to transport fish around the Feed Canal Dam.
WICKIUP RESERVOIR - No Report
WILLAMETTE RIVER - Spring chinook fishing is picking up with several caught last week throughout
the river. Preliminary creel reports indicate that there were approximately .09 fish caught per boat
in the Willamette last week. Sturgeon catch also improved last weekend in the entire Willamette;
fishing effort continues to be high. Steelhead fishing is fair throughout the river.
Fishery managers set Columbia River spring Chinook seasons. Willamette River and Willamette
tributaries are open seven-days-per-week for spring chinook; there is a one-fish daily bag limit
beginning March 1. More information
The Oregon/Washington Compact adopted the following rules at the Dec. 13 Joint State Hearing for
the sturgeon sport fishery above Wauna power lines (RM 40) upstream to Bonneville Dam, including
all adjacent Washington tributaries, and the lower Willamette River (including the Multnomah
Channel) upstream to Willamette Falls for 2008:
Allow the retention of white sturgeon four days per week on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and
Sunday during Jan. 1 through July 31 and Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2008.
Prohibit the retention of sturgeon three days per week on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
during Jan. 1-July 31 and Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2008 and seven days per week during Aug. 1
through Sept. 30, 2008.
Retention of green sturgeon is prohibited as per permanent regulations.
Daily and annual catch limits listed in the 2008 Oregon Sport Regulations pamphlet remain in effect.
Bank fishing for sturgeon can be found at Meldrum Bar and at the wall in downtown Oregon City as
well as Kelly Point Park at the mouth of the Willamette River. Sturgeon anglers have been using
frozen smelt, herring, or sand shrimp as effective bait.
Report By: ODFW
OREGON FISHING REPORTS - LICENSES - REGULATIONS
APPLEGATE RESERVOIR - Trout fishing has been fair. Anglers should try fishing a variety of
depths off of points and tributaries; night crawlers, small spinners, and streamer flies have been
working the best. Few warm water fish are being caught.
BROWNLEE RESERVOIR - Generally fishing has been slow as the water has been very low and
muddy. The boat ramp at Hewitt Park is out of the water but some have been catching a few perch
and catfish if willing to walk. The reservoir is 47 feet below normal. Call Idaho Power Company’s
recording at 1-800-422-3143 to get information on access at recreational sites or visit www.
idahopower.com under the “Rivers and Recreation” heading.
COLUMBIA RIVER - No Report
CRESCENT LAKE - No Report
GREEN PETER RESERVOIR - No Report
HELLS CANYON RESERVOIR - Bank fishing for trout has been good. Approximately 1,000 surplus
steelhead have been released into Hells Canyon Reservoir. These fish are considered trout over 20
inches and only one can be kept per day. No tag is needed if fishing in the reservoir.
KLAMATH RIVER - Angling for wild redband trout is slow. Water temperature has cooled down to
near freezing which will slow catch rates. The Klamath River below JC Boyle Dam to the JC Boyle
Powerhouse is your best opportunity for catching redband trout. Most redband trout in this section
range from 6-12”. Water temperature in this section remains warmer due to the large spring input.
POWDER RIVER - Fishing for rainbow trout is closed from Huntington–Richland road bridge to
Hughes Lane bridge in Baker City. Above Hughes Lane to Phillips Reservoir is open to catch and
release, and use of artificial flies and lures only.
ROGUE RIVER - ROGUE RIVER, LOWER: With low flows and nearing the end of the winter
steelhead run, boat and bank anglers are starting to turn their attention the spring chinook. Anglers
are reminded that there are new regulations in effect for spring chinook on the Rogue River.
ROGUE RIVER, MIDDLE: The flow on March 10 was 2,410 cubic feet per second at Grants Pass.
Fishing has been good in the Grants Pass area and down by Galice. Yarn balls, roe clusters, and
plugs have been working well.
ROGUE RIVER, UPPER: As of March 10, the flow out of William Jess Dam (Lost Creek) was 904
cubic feet per second and the outflow temperature was 41 degrees. 1,711 winter steelhead have
been counted at Gold Ray Dam as of March 6.
Angling continues to improve on the Upper Rogue. Winter steelhead are being caught by drifting
egg patterns, bug and bubbles, and small bugs. Anglers are reminded that even during high water
and turbid conditions along most of the Rogue, conditions are usually good between Big Butte
Creek and Cole Rivers Hatchery where reservoir outflows predominate.
SALMON RIVER - Catch-and-release fishing for wild winter steelhead fishing is slow and ends at
the end of March.
SANDY RIVER - Catch improved over the past weekend with fish being landed throughout the river
up to the mouth of the Salmon. Anglers in the lower river reported more summer steelhead than
winter; we still anticipate winter fish to return through April but effort will shift upstream. Fish caught
in the vicinity of Sandy Hatchery are beginning to get a little color but several nice fish were taken
out in recent days according to Sandy hatchery staff.
There are two unconfirmed reports of spring chinook caught in the lower river below I-84, but we
have not been able to verify either as of early this week. It should be any day, since fish are
beginning to show up in the Willamette system. Be prepared for a springer on the end of the line if
you are fishing the Sandy in coming weeks.
The Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted new sport-fishing regulations for the Sandy River which
move the fishing deadline (or boundary) upstream to the mouth of the Salmon River (near
Brightwood) began Jan. 1, 2008. There are reports of a few wild fish being caught and released in
the newly opened section of river above Marmot Dam. There are few hatchery winter steelhead
available above Cedar Creek, but there is some opportunity for catch and release of wild fish for
those interested in a more remote angling experience. The new area should provide good
opportunity for hatchery spring Chinook that stray past Cedar Creek starting in May and running
through early July. All current fishing regulations in the lower river apply to the newly extended area.
This provides an additional seven miles of fishing opportunity in an area that was historically
popular among anglers before 1999 regulations closed the area. The changes are the result of the
removal of Marmot Dam, which made the current angling deadline of “200 feet below the dam”
obsolete.
The changes at the old Marmot Dam site and the movement of material have the potential to affect
conditions downstream of that area. The entire section of river near the dam removal site is a
hazardous construction zone with no public entrance allowed at this time. Access to the PGE
property at the previous site of Marmot Dam is still closed to all public access.
Access to the river can be gained from many parks including Lewis and Clark, Dabney, Oxbow, and
Dodge. Bank access is also available to the Cedar Creek area at the Sandy Hatchery. When fishing
the Oxbow Park area, remember that there is no angling from a floating device upstream from a
point that is 200 feet below the Oxbow Park boat ramp.
Collection/recycling receptacles for discarded or lost fishing gear can now be found along the
Sandy River. Look for them near boat ramps at Lewis and Clark, Dabney, Oxbow, and Dodge parks.
Any tangled fishing line or old gear can be collected and disposed of in these canisters as an effort
to maintain a healthy, clean Sandy River. Please use nearby garbage cans for any other types of
trash.
SNAKE RIVER - (Above Brownlee Reservoir): channel catfish, flathead catfish, smallmouth bass.
The river is generally ice-free. Boaters should remain cautious. Flow was 7,254 cfs near Nyssa
and approximately 11,741 cfs near Weiser on March 9. Angling for catfish and smallmouth bass is
slow.
THOMPSON RESERVOIR - Access is still limited to snowmobiles. The reservoir is still partially
covered with ice.
UMATILLA RIVER - Fishing should be good for steelhead below Threemile Dam, and from river mile
33 to the lower reservation boundary. Steelhead returns to Threemile Dam have increased and
steelhead numbers have ranged from 30 to 80 per day for March, total return to date is 1,816.
Due to fish passage concerns at the Feed Canal Diversion Dam (River Mile 28), all steelhead
returning to Threemile Dam as of December 6 are being transported upstream. In addition to the
release site at River Mile 44, an additional site has been developed at River Mile 33. The site at
River Mile 33 will give anglers an additional eleven miles of river to fish. Unless we can resolve this
passage issue, we will continue to transport fish around the Feed Canal Dam.
WICKIUP RESERVOIR - No Report
WILLAMETTE RIVER - Spring chinook fishing is picking up with several caught last week throughout
the river. Preliminary creel reports indicate that there were approximately .09 fish caught per boat
in the Willamette last week. Sturgeon catch also improved last weekend in the entire Willamette;
fishing effort continues to be high. Steelhead fishing is fair throughout the river.
Fishery managers set Columbia River spring Chinook seasons. Willamette River and Willamette
tributaries are open seven-days-per-week for spring chinook; there is a one-fish daily bag limit
beginning March 1. More information
The Oregon/Washington Compact adopted the following rules at the Dec. 13 Joint State Hearing for
the sturgeon sport fishery above Wauna power lines (RM 40) upstream to Bonneville Dam, including
all adjacent Washington tributaries, and the lower Willamette River (including the Multnomah
Channel) upstream to Willamette Falls for 2008:
Allow the retention of white sturgeon four days per week on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and
Sunday during Jan. 1 through July 31 and Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2008.
Prohibit the retention of sturgeon three days per week on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
during Jan. 1-July 31 and Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2008 and seven days per week during Aug. 1
through Sept. 30, 2008.
Retention of green sturgeon is prohibited as per permanent regulations.
Daily and annual catch limits listed in the 2008 Oregon Sport Regulations pamphlet remain in effect.
Bank fishing for sturgeon can be found at Meldrum Bar and at the wall in downtown Oregon City as
well as Kelly Point Park at the mouth of the Willamette River. Sturgeon anglers have been using
frozen smelt, herring, or sand shrimp as effective bait.
Report By: ODFW
