Poor Steelhead and Chinook Returns on The Clackamas

Clackamas River - Estacada, OR (Clackamas County)

Photo Credit: Courtesy of ODFW

by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
7-18-2019
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Fishing is still extremely slow on the Clackamas River due to poor steelhead and Chinook salmon returns. Couple that with low flows, rising temperatures, and clear water, and prospects grow even dimmer.

At current levels, the river is at best a drift or pontoon fishery – with conditions too low to navigate a sled safely. Now would be a good time to brush up on fly-fishing techniques, as long as you keep expectations of catching fish realistically low. For the eternal optimists, perhaps the best option is to start thinking of and planning for the arrival of coho, which should start taking place sometime in September. Best bet for this fishery will be to start around the mouth of Eagle Creek.

USGS hydrological data for July 17 shows river flows at 994 cfs water temperature rising at 62° F, and the gauge at 10.86 ft. All of the readings come from the Estacada gauge near Milo McIver State Park. Hydrologic data and river forecasts can also be accessed on the NOAA/National Weather Service NW River Forecast Center -- NW River Forecast Center





More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Thursday, July 18th, 2019

: Best Fishing Bets for The Weekend
Campbell Reservoir: Crappie Fishing is Slow
Gerber Reservoir: Lake is 86 Percent Full, Crappie Still Available
Klamath River - Lower: Flows Are Stabilizing
Owyhee Reservoir: Rainbows Are Still Possible to Catch
Phillips Reservoir: Trout and Perch Fishing Has Been Good
Pilcher Reservoir: Reservoir is Full Good Numbers of Rainbow and Black Crappie
Rogue River- Upper: Upper Rogue is in Good Shape
Rogue River - Middle: Summer Steelhead Numbers Are Building
Rogue River- Lower: Lower Rogue Has Been Slow for Chinook


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