February 2016 Fishing Report

It's mid February and winter steelhead season is full on!  Our nw rivers are getting a lot of rain this year and that has translated into good fishing conditions on many nw waters.  Right now we have a mix of both hatchery and wild steelhead on many top Oregon rivers like the Wilson, Nestucca, Clackamas and Sandy Rivers.  Smaller waters with decent runs of wild steelhead are showing fish on the Kilches, Trask, Salmonberry, Nehalem among others.

Top producing strategies are sinking tips with spey rods and big flies.  Getting your fly down is key this time of year.  Look for big patterns that have profile and movement for best results.  10' T-11 sink tip is an important tool for the winter fly rodder.  Combine this with a skagit fly line and you are in business.

Water levels have been high but that doesn't mean un-fishable.  Look for softer edges out of the fast water flow.  Sometimes lighter tips and unweighted flies swung into the willows are the recipe for success.

The Clackamas River has produced good results with Barton to Carver being a top section.  On the Sandy the bite was hot lower in the last month but recent surges of high water have fish spread throughout the system.  Coastal waters have seen fish spread through the system for most rivers.  Look for best results lower in the river with low water and anglers tend to do better higher up with high flows.

Expect continued quality fish to arrive in the next 6 weeks.  Prime time is on- don't miss it!

Wet and Wild - Strategies for Oregon's Winter Chrome

Fishing in Oregon during the winter months is not for the faint of heart.  Wind, rain and elements conspire to make it tough and wading some nw rivers is just not for the timid- the payoff however is big chrome wild steelhead that make your heart pound and leave you breathless.

Amazing settings are the hallmark of steelhead lairs and the rivers of Oregon hold nothing back in raw rainforest beauty and awe inspiring vistas.  The veiw from the banks of the nw waters are filled with alders and fir trees, moss covered branches and dripping ferns.  Elk, blacktail deer and various ducks, hawks and bald eagles grace these waters.  Add in the most amazing of sportfish and Oregon's treasures beckon to be added to even the longest bucket list.

Here strategy is key and nothing is more addicting than the inspiring yank on the line with the swung fly approach.  Sure there are many ways to fool these fish but the most difficult and most alluring is the swung fly strategy.  Here the angler plies the water with a fly often 3" long that moves, wiggles and draws the attention of the ghostly chrome predators imitating shrimp, prawns, squid or just something that pisses them off.

The water is cold so sinking the fly during the cold winter months is of utmost importance.  Effective anglers use sinking tip lines made with tungsten to sink the fly.  Lengths of sinking lines loop onto floating fly lines making them easy to cast.  Common length tips are 10-12' long and are rated by sinking speed.  These sink tips are referred to as T-8, T-11, T-14 etc indicating they are tungsten and 8,11, or 14 grains (weight) per foot.

We use a variety of tricks to get these flies deep in the ever changing flows of winter with the cast, swing -step down approach the trademark of the approach.  Changing things up to get the fly deeper as the conditions warrent is the key to success and the intuition of a good guide and coach who can help you massage the fly to depths likely to elicite a strike.  As the water is cold - often 36-40 degrees getting the fly half the depth of the water is essential.

Rob Crandall owner of Water Time Outfitters, Inc. has teamed up with FlyfishTv and is producing a new DVD which will help anglers reach new levels of success during this tricky time of year.  The upcoming DVD - Deep Swing Secrets will be available sometime this fall.

Oregon has a multitude of amazing waters to seach with the swung fly for the elusive and amazing steelhead.  Top producing rivers are:  North Umpqua, Nehalem, Trask, Wilson, Sandy and Clackamas Rivers.  There are many many more rivers that could be added to this list.

To learn the tricks of success and have personalized coaching on your fishing strategy try the WINTER STEELHEAD TUNEUP coming up March 5.

See more about steelhead fly fishing opportunities visit: www.watertimeoutfitters.com

Clackamas River Fishing Report- January 2016

Winter steelhead have been landed in good numbers already this year on the Clackamas.  Fishing has been stronger so far this year than many years past in January.  Most fish are being caught from the mouth of Eagle creek to the mouth of the Clackamas.

Watch water levels on the Clack for best fishing.  Remember that winter storms will muddy the river especially below Deep cr (below Barton) and Clear cr. (near Carver).  Ideal levels on the Clackamas are below 14' - we prefer anything under 13' for best wading.  In the week ahead look for muddy water and high flows.  As the water drops fishing will improve and fish should be spread through the system.

Good river access is available in the lower Clackamas at a number of locations.  Many of the state and county parks on the Clackamas have great access and boat ramps.

To learn about the entire Clackamas River steelhead run check out our upcoming Winter Steelhead Workshops available throughtout the winter.  Winter Steelhead Workshop Info

Drift Boat Rowers Workshop

Do you have a new boat that you are itching to get out on the water?  

Learn to manage your new boat with safety and confidence.  Water Time Outfitters guides and Pro guide Rob Crandall has rowed drift boat for a lifetime and can teach you techniques you need to safely navigate NW waters with your boat.

Learn the basics of drift boat safety, balance and rowing technique with a special 4 hour course specifically designed just for you.  Learn about boat handling, anchoring safely, trailering, launching, loading safety and much more. 

This info packed session is held on the close to Portland, Clackamas River. Learn from our years of rowing and fishing experience.  Save yourself frustration and difficulties and learn from the pros. 

Four hour class session is only $175 for one or two people. 

Call Rob Crandall to schedule your session today: 503-704-6449

Oregon Steelhead- Fish of a Thousand Casts- Winter Spey Addiction

Fly fishing for winter steelhead in Oregon can be a challenge whose reward is often found after a lot of hard work.  Steelhead are often known as the fish of a thousand casts.  Oregon has many rivers that offer excellent steelhead fly fishing through the winter and spring months.

Not far from the city of Portland, Oregon are a number of great rivers.  The Clackamas and Sandy Rivers offer miles of great spey water.  1-1/2 - 2 hours away from Portland there are dozens of rivers along the Oregon coast that offer winter steelhead fishing.  Here we look for the best water conditions on rivers like the Wilson, Trask, Nehalem, Nestucca among others.

For more information on steelhead fishing winter and spring in Oregon visit www.watertimeoutfitters.com The professional team at Water Time Outfitters will help you make the most of your time on the water!

Winter Steelhead Workshop -2016 Schedule

Want to learn how to catch winter steelhead on Oregon Rivers?  Water Time Outfitters offers a special workshop just for you!  These workshops are designed to get walk in fly anglers comfortable with a variety of spots and techniques that will put them into fish on the Oregon's best rivers.

Here is how it works. We start at the crack of 9:00 am at a designated location near the water with coffee and donuts. We’ll review maps that will give you at least a dozen productive steelhead runs that you can drive and walk to, often these are spots we personally fish. With coffee in hand we’ll discuss the maps in detail.

Then when we’ve reached proper caffeine level we’ll grab a bunch of gear and head out to the water.   We will tour the river from the bank bound angler point of view showing you the sweet spots with public access.  On the water we will cover: fishing techniques, fishing strategy, fly selection and more. This is also time to talk about lines, rods and rigging. We’ll have plenty of spey rods and fly lines for you to try out and get a feel for different systems. If you need some basic spey casting lessons there is usually a little time for that as well.

If we actually catch a fish it will be by accident. The purpose of this workshop is to give you the tools you need to find, read, and properly fish good steelhead water the actual fishing will be secondary.

Around 1pm we’ll break for a hungry man’s lunch and then head on to some more spots with steelhead water you’ll want to drool on!

Steelhead Workshop Classes offered in 2016:

January 30th  -Clackamas & Eagle Creek meets at Royal Treatment Fly shop -instructor Rob Crandall

Feb 27th - -Clackamas & Eagle Creek meets at Royal Treatment Fly shop -instructor Rob Crandall

March 19 - Clackamas River meets at Royal Treatment Fly shop- instructor Rob Crandall

Workshop cost is $100 including lunch and is limited to 8 anglers.  Spots fill fast and pre-payment is required to reserve your spot.

Call Rob Crandall to sign up now- for more info 503-704-6449 or to reserve your spot.  Email:  Winter Steelhead Signup Info

Courage and the Sweet Release

The quest for steelhead is just that, a daunting journey that involves cold, nasty weather and a lot of casts, swings and steps through steelhead water looking for the elusive connection with a ghostly creature that is often soo-hard to find.  Steelhead are survivors and they are tough; as juveniles the slow ones are the food source for Osprey, otters, herons and other critters.  The desire to connect with the amazing power of steelhead is a strong draw for many anglers; anglers like Todd.

Todd has been fishing with me for several years, always in a chipper mood and asking lots of questions.  He has worked through the fits and starts of spey casting as many anglers have; as I did when I started.  Now quite proficient tossing the fly he can work through a run and not constantly be thinking "about the cast"...

This morning was special, dark clouds threatened as we launched in the pre-dawn gloom of what was about to be a wet day.  Anticipation was high as we anchored the boat at our first stop.  We carefully went through Todds gear selecting the right sink tip and one of the ever productive "Crandall's Steelhead Nitemare" flies.  I tied it on with a Lefty's loop knot and got Todd lined up.  Todd flipped in a sinktips worth of line - all of 10', swung the fly about two seconds and SLAM!  Line screamed off the reel and Todd was fast into a great fish. On the first run it was nearly into the backing in what seemed like a heartbeat.  The #7 weight spey rod was bent in a wild arc and Todd's grin stretched from ear to ear.

Soon a wild steelhead about 10lbs was at hand.  Careful to keep the wild beauty in the water we removed the hook and sent it on it's way.  A valiant battle fought, a wild creature-being wild; what an addicting fish!

The clouds were dark and nasty and dumped more rain but our spirits couldn't be dampened.  I guess that is one thing that I truly respected about Todd and about the nature of steelhead- just don't give up.  Even when life is gloomy and tough he was out there fishing- you see Todd has cancer and he had to be off the river in time today to get radiation treatment later that day.

How blessed I am to be able to experience such great fish on a great river with an amazing person like Todd.

Wishing you smooth water and easy wading,
Rob

Spey Casting Class - Near Portland

Thinking about trying your hand at Spey casting? Want to learn a new cast or try a different line? Take a class! We are offering a special three hour class for the beginner looking for an introduction to Spey casting, or the intermediate caster looking to improve. This class will address the differences between Skagit, Scandi and traditional Spey casting, helping you choose the technique best suited to the way you want to fish. Learn the basics, or improve your casting prowess. 

We will have a few rods and lines to test drive. Students will need personal gear and warm clothes.

This class is limited to 4 students and will be held on Saturday, December 20th, from 9:00 to 12:00 at Barton Park on the Clackamas. Our instructor for this class is Rob Crandall of Water Time Outfitters.

Cost is $65.00 per person. 

Click the link below to book your spot in this class with Royal Treatment Fly Shop:

Spey Casting Class- Book My Spot

Winter Steelhead - Techiques Tune-Up Class

Dial in your game for winter steelhead on the banks of the Clackamas River not far from Portland, Oregon with pro guide Rob Crandall.  Rob reveals the tips, tricks and tactics you need to be more successful with the swung fly this winter.  This three hour session is a jump in and go class getting to the nuts and bolts of swung fly success with personalized attention on your technique.  Only $40.  Spots fill fast, save yours today!  Call Rob 503-704-6449 or email:  Winter Steelhead Tune-Up Class

On water class session is held after our FREE seminar at Royal Treatment Fly Shop in West Linn, OR.  Free seminar starts at 10am - 11:30 on water session will be from 1-4pm.

Class Dates:

Dec 13

Jan 10

Feb 21

Mar 21

See more about Rob Crandall's guided fishing at: www.watertimeoutfitters.com 

Beginning Fly Fishing Class - Clackamas River - Get Started!

Start your fly fishing right with good fundamentals and fun!  This introduction to fly fishing is a great course for the beginner, a gift, or fun for the whole family.  Our instructors love to share their passion of fly fishing with this starter course. Starting in the classroom at Royal Treatment Fly Shop in West Linn you will be introduced to fly fishing theory, knot tying, rigging and fish behavior then we’ll head to our local water.     There we’ll cover beginning fly casting, fly fishing techniques and strategies for trout.  A get started class information packet is included. This class covers: Fly fishing terminology, Fly fishing knots, Proper rigging, Equipment, Fly selection, Fly casting, Entomology and On Water instruction.

Don’t let the mystery of fly fishing keep you from enjoying a great sport.  Let us help you untangle the myths of fly fishing and get started right.  For this 6 hour course rods and reels are provided.  Bring your waders/boots, fishing license, and lunch. Class Fee:  Only $65.00  Class sizes are limited - please reserve your spot in advance.  

This one day session held close to Portland, OR at McIver Park on the ClackamasRiver gets you started.  T

This class covers:

• Fly fishing terminology
• Fly fishing knots
• Proper rigging
• Equipment
• Fly selection
• Fly casting
• Entomology
• On Water Fishing instruction

For this 6 hour course rods and reels are provided.  Bring your waders/boots, fishing license, lunch and park entry fee. 

This special class is only being held: Jun 27, Jun 30, July 11, Aug 19, Aug 22, Sept 26

Class Fee:  Only $65.00

Class sizes are limited please reserve your spot in advance.  
                        Call 503-704-6449  Email:  Clackamas Fly Class

Clackamas Steelhead Late April

We've got a taste of summer weather this week for our spey anglers swinging flies on the Clackamas river. Temperatures in the 80's have us breaking out of the t-shirts, ditching the long underwear/winter clothing mindset and reaching for the sunscrean.   Meanwhile summer steelhead are showing up on the Clackamas River near Portland, Oregon.  Water flows have been good if not on a bit on the high side.  This weeks flows have been on the drop with water levels at 13'8" on monday and dropping to 13'3" by wednesday.

On the Clackamas we use a jet boat to move from spot to spot where we wade through great steelhead wader using the cast, swing, step approach.  Water temps are rising but still the best success has been with sinking tip lines.  Common sink tips at T-8, T-11 and T-14.  Skagit fly lines and big flies combine with these sink tips to produce an easy to cast presentation that steelhead love.

Grabs are often very aggressive and explosive takes followed by line blistering runs are common for the hatchery based summer steelhead on the Clackamas.  Some of these fish fight so hard and are so fast they are litterally unlandable!  For more information on fishing the Clackamas River on the fly contact guide Rob Crandall or visit our website at: www.watertimeoutfitters.com

Clackamas River Summer Steelhead

Spring Chinook caught on the swung fly

Clackamas River Report Feb 11, 2014

The Clackamas River has been due for a big dose of rain as many rivers in Oregon and California have so far this winter experienced near drought conditions; that changed this past week with a week full of snow, rain and ice!  Winter weather returned with a venegance to the Clackamas valley and the nearby city of Portland, Oregon.  Both wild and hatchery steelhead swim the waters of the Clackamas and February is usually a get started month for the Clack.  This month more numbers of wild and hatchery broodstock fish enter the system building into March and April.  Here is a recent graph of the water level and forecast for the rest of the week.

Once the Clackamas hits 14' it is often unfishable.  As it rises towards flood level it reaches the "action phase" this is where things start moving.  For the Clack the action phase is at 18.0' it is forecast to hit that on friday.  We may see some new gravel bars and new spots to fish!

See more info on fishing the Clackamas River at:  www.watertimeoutfitters.com 

Water Time Outfitters 2013 Highlights of the Year

It has been a great year with fantastic clients like you!  We just wanted to thank you for your participation in our 2013 season with Water Time Outfitters.  It has been busy with some amazing highlights.  We are glad that you could be a part of it.  We look forward to spending time on the water with you in 2014.  Here are a few of the many highlights from the year.

The first one of the day.

The BIG ONE!

Clive Furrows of San Diego with several amazing wild fish from one exceptional day on the N. Oregon coast.  After many years fishing BC and around the world Clive landed his biggest steelhead ever on a #7 weight spey rod.  By the measurements this fish         easily went 23.3lbs. Congrats Clive!

Congrats to Adam Straw who landed his first steelhead on the fly rod this year on the Clackamas River.  He was swinging a marabou spey pattern with a sink tip and hooked two in one morning.  Adam had that smile on his face for at least a week!

Jim Drew (photo to right) snuck this dandy chromer out of the run right behind a fly fishing legend.  He did it so non-chalantly that I had to give him mega credit.  His friend and fly fishing guru wanted Jim’s fly after the dust settled from the camera shutters. 

New guide in training- my son Tanner at the tiller on the jet sled.  Oh yeah, he landed a steelhead that day too!

Happy New Year!

 Fly fishing for shad in June was a definite highlight- what a blast!  We did ½ day trips morning and evening for shad and averaged 40 hook ups each 4 hours.  We had many doubles, saw huge sturgeon jump right in front of us and even caught some dandy smallmouth bass. 

 Tanner Crandall got in on the action and hauled in this whopper shad. (Left)




Jon Hill worked over the shad pretty good but was surprised when he brought in this red eyed devil- a      hard fighting Smallmouth Bass.

Deschutes River Trout fishing was good this year.  We had so much fun!  A favorite trip was hanging out in one camp for three days.  There were so many caddis in July- the word blizzard comes close to describing it!

Don Lewis and Henry M. had a productive trip on the lower D. this year in early September.  Don commented: “What is wrong, I can’t get this one in”… that’s because it’s a big strong steelie in it’s prime Don!

Jeff Evershed hit it just right this fall on the lower Deschutes; one of those rare days when it is overcast and a bit rainy.  We stopped counting after he had 10 hookups on steelhead.  Fish were rolling everywhere! 

  

An epic morning on the Deschutes(right), we watched 30 bighorn sheep across the river, had deer 15 yards away and landed this dandy steelhead and lost one the first stop of the day!

Thanks again for all the wonderful days on the water this year.  There are so many, many more stories and pics that are also highlights.  

All the very best to you and yours for 2014!

From the Crew at Water Time Outfitters: Rob Crandall, Gil Muhleman, Marty Smith and Kenny Kiley  

Swung Fly Steelhead Mysteries- Free Seminars

Ever feel like winter steelhead are a mythical creature?  Come join us for a FREE seminar exploring the mysteries of swung fly steelhead.  We'll discuss fly pattern selection, the right gear, your approach and hopefully discern the missing pieces in your approach.

Come join us at the Royal Treatment Fly Shop finding the "missing pieces" of swung fly steelhead fishing!

Dec 14, 2014    10:00 - 11:30 Am

See the video trailer for this info packet seminar:  http://vimeo.com/81014079

2014 Seminar Dates:
Jan 11
Feb 15
Mar 15

The Perfect Christmas Gift for the New Angler

            This Steelhead Fly Fishing Workshop is a sure hit for the angler on your list!

If you are new to Steelhead fly fishing or new to Oregon, Water Time Outfitters offers the perfect Christmas gift that is so superbly unique it will definitely be a Christmas highlight - we call it our Winter Steelhead Workshops.  We offer our workshops through the prime fishing season on several of our favorite Oregon rivers.  Most locations are close to Portland or with-in a two hour drive.  These classes offer something for anglers of all levels but most of all it's the where-to-go info on the hot spots that everybody loves!  Get something memorable for the fisher person in your life this season with this one-of-a-kind workshop.

How it works:  We meet on a weekend at a convenient location near the water with coffee and donuts. We’ll review maps that will give you at least a dozen productive steelhead runs that you can drive and walk to often these are spots we personally fish. With coffee in hand we’ll discuss the maps in detail as well as run timing, river topography, ideal water levels, fish behavior and favorite fly patterns.

Then when we’ve reached proper caffeine level we’ll grab a bunch of gear and head out to the water.   We will tour the river from the bank-bound-angler point of view showing you the sweet spots with public access.  On the water we will cover: fishing techniques, fishing strategy, reading water and more. This is also time to talk about lines, rods and rigging. We’ll have plenty of spey rods and nearly 20 fly lines for you to try out and get a feel for different systems. We will have plenty of spey rods and switch rods for you to try out.

If we actually catch a fish it will be by accident. The purpose of this workshop is to give you the tools you need to find, read, and properly fish good steelhead water the actual fishing will be secondary.

Around 1pm we’ll break for a hungry man’s lunch and and then head on to some more spots with steelhead water you’ll want to drool on!

Classes are offered on our favorite rivers with great fishing not far from Portland:  

Steelhead Workshop Classes offered in 2014:

January 18th  -Clackamas & Eagle Creek meets at Royal Treatment Fly shop -instructor Rob   Crandall 

January 18th - North Coast Class- Trask, Wilson, Kilches meets in Tillamook, OR - instructor Gil Muhleman

February 22nd - Clackamas & Eagle Creek meets at Royal Treatment Fly shop- instructor Rob Crandall

March 22 - Clackamas & Eagle Creek meets at Royal Treatment Fly shop - instructor Rob Crandall

Workshop cost is only $100 including a hot lunch and is limited to 8 anglers. Spots fill fast, pre-payment required to hold your spot.

Call Rob Crandall 503-704-6449 to reserve your spot.

See more about our company at www.watertimeoutfitters.com 

Other great gift ideas from Water Time Outfitters:  WTO T-shirts, Wall Calendars and Gifts

Clackamas River 2013 Update - Wild Run Steelhead Struggle

The run of wild winter/spring Steelhead returning to the upper Clackamas basin is struggling to recover despite the sanctuary of the entire upper Clackamas River basin above NF dam.  The total fish returning above NF dam as counted by PGE (Portland General Electric) who manages the fish trap facility at NF dam was only 868 steelhead for the 2013 run.  A poor return by most comparisons.  Last year, 2012 the run was a meager 1,249 fish. 

Wild steelhead have many different life histories and spawn in different sections of the Clackamas basin.  Perhaps more fish spawned lower in the river drainage this year and were not counted.  The upper Clackamas basin continues to struggle with meager fish returns as management and conservation groups squabble about studies and what they mean.  Meanwhile, wild fish numbers stagger along with 2,000 or less fish most years in the upper basin.

Clackamas River Steelhead - Guided Jet Boat Trips

Guided Jet Boat Steelhead Trips – Clackamas River

On the Clackamas River we target winter, spring and summer steelhead just minutes from the Portland airport. Long runs, choppy riffles and sweet hidey holes are everywhere on the Clackamas if you know where to look. With perfect water for the swung fly, chrome fish arriving daily and a mountain view the Clack is the perfect choice for the spey rod angler. Variety and options abound on the Clackamas. With the speed and versatility of the jet boat we can cover many different sections of the river often without other anglers; during low water times the drift boat comes in handy.

We fish the Clackamas from February through June.

Guided jet boat trips cover the best waters of the river, timing our fishing locations to optimize our results. Full day trips may cover many miles or just a few depending on where the fish are; the mobility of the jet boats helps us "stay in the fish". Hot riverside meals are served with your full day of fishing with the jet boat.

Make the most of your time on the water, come fish with Rob Crandall on his home river. Rob grew up on the banks of the Clackamas and has been guiding it since 1992. He knows the river intimately and loves to introduce anglers to the hardy steelhead of the Clack.

Guided Jet Boat Trips -	One angler (w/lunch)	$400
	Two anglers (w/lunch)	$495
	Three anglers (w/lunch)	$650
Jet Boat Half Day Special -	One angler	$175
	Two anglers	$300
	Three anglers	$375

Book your trip now - call to reserve your spot or more details: 503-704-6449  see our website: www.watertimeoutfitters.com  

Beginning Fly Fishing Class - July 27

Start your fly fishing right with good fundamentals and fun!  This introduction to fly fishing is a great course for the beginner, a gift, or fun for the whole family.  A professional guide of 20 years Gil Muhleman shares his love of fly fishing instructing this starter course.

This one day session starts in the classroom at Royal Treatment Fly Shop in West Linn.  After our introduction to fly fishing, knot tying, rigging and fish behavior we’ll head to our local water.     There we’ll cover beginning fly casting, fly fishing techniques and strategies for trout.  A get started class information packet is included.

This class covers:

•             Fly fishing terminology                                             

•             Fly fishing knots

•             Proper rigging

•             Equipment

•             Fly selection

•             Fly casting

•             Entomology

•             On Water instruction

Don’t let the mystery of fly fishing keep you from enjoying a great sport.  Let us help you untangle the myths of fly fishing and get started right. 

For this 8 hour course rods and reels are provided.  Bring your waders/boots, fishing license, and lunch. This special class is being held:  July 27th, 2013.

Class Fee:  Only $65.00

Class sizes are limited - please reserve your spot in advance.  Call Rob at 503-704-6449 or book your spot by calling Royal Treatment Fly shop at: 503-850-4397.  

See more about what we offer at:  www.watertimeoutfitters.com   

Clackamas River ODFW Survey and Fish Run Report

Clackamas River: The Clackamas River is one of those rivers where it is possible to catch hatchery salmon and steelhead almost every month of the year. Fishing for winter steelhead will begin to slow down moving into May.
Summer run steelhead will begin to increase in numbers through spring, and based on Willamette Falls counts anglers should prepare for a good return of summer steelhead to the Clackamas. The catch rates for summers were already on the increase the first week of April. The combination of good coho returns to the Clackamas and Willamette system the past couple of years, along with good winter and summer steelhead numbers to date at Willamette Falls, bodes well for anglers fishing the Clackamas from May through November.

Reports of spring chinook in the Clackamas are limited and anglers shouldn’t expect to see these fish in greater numbers until mid to late May depending on water conditions. With chinook passage over Willamette Falls increasing these fish will begin to move in as water in the Willamette slowly warms from the late winter cool down.

Anglers should anticipate a change in how spring chinook move through the lower Clackamas now that the acclimation ponds have been operating for over three years. The Clackamas has three acclimation ponds in the lower river designed to increase sport fishing harvest, and these management tools seem to be working. These sites are located along the Clackamas River and on Eagle Creek with the intention of slowing fish migration and holding the chinook in the lower river longer. The returning Clackamas River fish can be identified by an adipose fin/left maxillary fin clip while the Eagle Creek returners can be identified by an adipose fin/right maxillary fin clip. ODFW biologists welcome any reports of anglers catching these chinook as they continue to evaluate the success of this program.

If you are out on the Clackamas River this spring you might see ODFW crews working a research project on spring chinook, mainly from Barton down to Gladstone. These crews will be doing radio telemetry research on hatchery springers from May through late June. The fish will be caught by hook and line or nets, then tagged and released unharmed. Anglers who happen to catch one of these fish will be able to identify it by the wire tag hanging out of its mouth and all tagged fish must be released unharmed. ODFW would appreciate any information about the catch or the tag; they can call the number found printed on the tag or contact District Biologist Todd Alsbury at 971-673-6011.

Clackamas River Recreation Corridor

If you are visiting the Portland area, fishing the Clackamas River or are just up for some exploring the Clackamas River corridor has a lot to offer.  Following HWY 224 to Estacada the opportunities for outdoor excitement billow around you with plenty of options.  Parks along the Clackamas River such as Barton Park, McIver Park and others offer plenty of outdoor rec ideas.  The drive up 224 can be stunning as you enter the upper river canyon; wildlife viewing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, hiking, photography and fishing options are nearly endless just minutes from Portland.

Along the lower Clackamas River at Baron park you might meet with friends to play a game of softball, run the dog or go fishing.  Pickniking options abound at Barton and McIver Park.  McIver Park which is farther up river and closer to the town of Estacada offers fishing access, camping and a popular Frisbe Golf course.

Barton Park has some great fishing opportunities for Steelhead, Chinook and coho.

Driving through the small town of Estacada one cannot help but stop at one of the unique coffee shops for some java or one of our favorites- the Harmony Bakery.  Established in 1984 this bakery has enormous donuts that will make your mouth water while oogling them through the glass before you even order. Homemade breads and great breakfasts are also found here.

Harmony Bakery is found on 221 SW Wade St Estacada, OR 97023 (503) 630-6857

You will also want to stop by the Fearless Brewing on your way back.  Great beer, burgers and a cool local make this a sure bet to fill the hungry on your way home from your Clackamas corridor adventure.

Headed up river east, past Estacada on Hwy 224 you will soon enter the Mt. Hood National Forest.  Check for details on what you may need for a forest park pass.  Hunting, hiking, fishing and more are natural fits for the Mt Hood National forest.  Located twenty miles east of the city of Portland, Oregon, and the northern Willamette River valley, the Mt. Hood National Forest extends south from the strikingly beautiful Columbia River Gorge across more than sixty miles of forested mountains, lakes and streams to Olallie Scenic Area, a high lake basin under the slopes of Mt. Jefferson and encompasses the entire upper reaches of the Clackamas River.

Hiking along the upper Clackamas in Spring

Trilliums line the trail in shady forested areas

The bloom of a salmon berry bush

The upper Clackamas in April can have a good volume of water from snow melt.

Lush vegetation is common along Clackamas corridor trails

Wild steelhead are and important and precious resource in the Clackamas basin

 and must be released unharmed.

Fish Creek is a wild fish sanctuary on the upper Clackamas

Hiking, fishing, hunting and whitewater sports are all found in the Upper Clackamas River corridor.  This area is a key spawning zone for wild steelhead and salmon.  One of the last remaining late arriving wild coho runs in the entire Columbia basin has it's strong hold in the upper Clackamas watershed.  Important care must be given when fishing the upper watershed of the Clackamas; wild juvenile salmon and steelhead call this place home for several years before they go to sea.  Carefully release these fish and check your regulations carefully before you fish, many sections of the upper Clackamas are closed to fishing.  Lakes such as: Harriet Lake, Ollalie Lake, Timothy Lake, and Trillium lake offer great fishing for planted and holdover rainbow trout, some browns, and the elusive brook trout.  

For great fishing options on the Clackamas river contact a local, professional fishing guide.  We recommend Rob Crandall of Water Time Outfitters.  Rob grew up on the banks of the Clackamas and can help you find your next adventure.  See more about great fishing options at: www.watertimeoutfitters.com