Klamath River Fishing Report

Klamath River - Upper - OR


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
6-6-2023
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Keno Dam to J.C Boyle Reservoir

Fishing is slow. Flows are 1170 cfs. Fishing is slow but should improve slowly. Incredible numbers of mayflies and caddisflies are hatching. Pheasant tails and caddis pupae imitations can match these hatches.  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.

Water temperatures peaking at 70 degrees. The water is always slightly off color in this reach. Turbidity is stable and is ranging from 5 to 8 FNU. This might be the clearest this reach of river gets.

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

Salmonflies and golden stoneflies are hatching. Flows are low at 130 cfs at JC Boyle Dam. Fishing should be good in this section. Open all year. Flows are typically 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

Salmonflies and Golden stoneflies are hatching. Flows are around 1630 cfs for most daylight hours. Fishing will be slow. Flows will be high during all daylight hours this week. 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.

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 Tuesday, June 6th, 2023
Umatilla River: Anglers have found success through Pendleton, as well as in the upper headwaters
Hood River: Lots of report of spring Chinook caught in the Hood River this week
Ochoco Reservoir: The reservoir is 72 percent full
Prinevile Reservoir: Prineville Reservoir at 99 percent full
Wickiup Reservoir: Anglers report good kokanee and bass fishing
Blue River Reservoir: The reservoir level has increased greatly in the past two weeks
Gold Lake: Road and the gate remains closed
Henry Hagg Lake: Henry Hagg Lake Fishing Report
McKenzie River: Chinook fishing should be heating up on the McKenzie
Sandy River: Bright summer steelhead have made it all the way to the hatchery
Santiam River ( North Fork) : River is currently running at around 1,300 cfs at the gauge in Mehama
Santiam River ( North Fork) Above Detroit Lake: Flows are currently around 840 cfs where it flows into Detroit Reservoir and dropping
Santiam River (South Fork): Currently flows are around 2,200 cfs at the Waterloo gauge
Trillium Lake: Trout stocking in Trillium has been underway
Alsea River: Alsea River Report
Necanicum River: Cutthroat should be available in most locations
Nestucca River: Spring Chinook fishing is fair on the Nestucca River
Salmon River: Check out the sea run cutthroat fishery in the area
Siletz River: Going into the weekend the Siletz will be your best bet for any early summer steelhead
Siuslaw River: Check out trout in the Siuslaw this weekend!
Yaquina River: Yaquina River Fishing Report
Lake Marie: Trout fishing at Lake Marie is good
John C Boyle Reservoir: There are abundant brown bullhead catfish
Upper Klamath Lake: Fishing continues to improve and has been fair all over the lake


6-4-2023
Open all year. If you can find crappie then fishing should be good. Targeting yellow perch continues to be your best...... Read More