Klamath River Fishing Report

Klamath River - Upper - OR


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
2-16-2023
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Keno Dam to J.C Boyle Reservoir

Forage fish are abundant especially immediately below Keno Dam for the large redband/rainbow to eat. Best methods are mimicking minnows and sculpins with flies and lures.

Flows are low at 502 cfs with water temperatures peaking at 39 degrees. The water is always slightly off color in this reach. Turbidity is stable and is ranging from 12 to 14 FNU.

The redband/rainbow trout population is likely at record low numbers due to drought, very high water temperatures the past three years, and very low flows in their only spawning tributary, Spencer Creek. Catch-and-release is encouraged.

J.C. Boyle Dam to J.C Boyle Powerhouse

Open all year. Flows are low and stable and typically range from 100 cfs at the dam and increase due to springs to around 350 cfs at the Powerhouse. Catch rates should be good for this time of year. Fishing is best below the spring inputs. The gate is now closed that accesses the river along the power canal. Access is available by foot traffic only.

The springs start to discharge into the river approximately half a mile below J.C. Boyle Dam. This section of river requires a hike down steep grade to the river except for the area just above the powerhouse.

Use small flies or lures as redband trout are mostly small (8-10 inches) in this section.

There is good access at the powerhouse. Park and walk upstream. This area is fished hard, but you can hike to get away from the pressure. Hiking or wading upstream is difficult.

Small nymphs such as pheasant tails and prince nymphs work well in this section. Small black Panther Martins or Rooster Tails work well when cast upstream into the deeper pools. 

J.C. Boyle Powerhouse to State Line with California

Fishing remains fair until about 3 p.m. daily when flows increase dramatically. Make sure you have good tires and 4X4. Best fishing is when flows are less than 900 cfs. You can check flow estimates at PacifiCorp Weekly Flow Estimates. Flows will be low all day on Feb.18.

Large attractor flies such and wooly buggers, bead head prince, and rubber leg stoneflies under a strike indicator work best this time of year. Olive and black wooly buggers almost always work well. Black spinners and Panther Martins can also work.

Below the JC Boyle Powerhouse the redband/rainbow trout get slightly larger than the aforementioned reach and average 12 inches but rarely exceed 16 inches. Currently, most redband caught are in the 10- to 14-inch range.





More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Thursday, February 16th, 2023

Umatilla River: The steelhead fishing on the Umatilla has picked up in the past week
Hood River: Winter steelhead fishing on the Hood River continues to be slow
Alsea River: Winter steelhead are throughout the Alsea system
Kilchis River: The Kilchis is back to low and clear conditions
Miami River: The Miami is getting low and clear
Necanicum River: The Necanicum will be low and clear this week
Nehalem River: The lower Nehalem is steelhead green
Nehalem River- North Fork: The North Fork Nehalem is low and clear
Three Rivers: Three Rivers got a push of fish back to the hatchery trap this past week
Salmon River: Winter steelhead are in the Salmon River
Siletz River: Winter steelhead are moving up in the Siletz River
Siuslaw River: Winter steelhead are showing up on the Siuslaw River
Trask River: There are wild steelhead (catch-and-release only) throughout the system
Wilson River: Steelhead fishing on the Wilson was good the end of last week
Yaquina River: Fishing has been challenging the past few weeks but it’s starting to pick up
Chetco River: The Chetco is low and clear
Coos River: The Coos Basin steelhead rivers continue to run low and clear
Coquille River: The Coquille Basin steelhead rivers continue to run fairly low and clear
Elk River: Low and clear
Emigrant Reservoir: Emigrant has filled to 21 percent full
Fish Lake : Fish Lake is filling with the input of various springs and is now at 41 percent full
Rogue River- Lower: Fishing pressure has slowed as flows have dropped
Rogue River - Middle: Current flow is around 1,400 cfs
Rogue River- Upper: Hatchery summer steelhead are still available and being caught
Sixes River: Steelhead are scattered through the river
Winchuck River: Low and clear
John C Boyle Reservoir: The reservoir is ice-free
Upper Klamath Lake: The lake is 2.4 feet below full pool and 61 percent full


2-15-2023
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