Klamath River Fishing Report

Klamath River - Upper - OR


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
3-30-2022
Website

Keno Dam to J.C Boyle Reservoir

Fishing is very slow. Most redbands are moving to spawning tributaries. Remember bait is not allowed and only one fish over 15 inches can be harvested per day. Also, remember that once you retain your one redband/rainbow trout limit you must stop fishing for redband/rainbow trout.

Flows (611 cfs) are low. Water temperature is increasing to 52 degrees. Large trout in this reach feed on the many fat head minnows and chub coming down from above Keno Dam. Few trout over 18 inches are being caught this fall. Flies and lures that mimic these minnows will be successful. Remember the Klamath River eats your fishing gear. Jig style hooks, heavy line and single barbless hooks can reduce the likelihood of losing a lot of gear.

This section of the river is very challenging fishing with white water and treacherous wading. The river is loaded with boulders and drop offs. ODFW recommends a wading staff, wading belt, excellent wading boots with studs, and maybe even a helmet and shin guards!

Public access is difficult, but you can drive a horrendous road to immediately below Keno Dam. All other sites require a significant hike to the river.

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 around 350 cfs at the Powerhouse. Catch rates should be good for this time of year. Fishing is best below the spring inputs. The springs start to discharge into the river approximately one 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 cast upstream into the deeper pools.

J.C. Boyle Powerhouse to State Line with California

Remains the best option for fishing in the Klamath Basin. Roads will be muddy. 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. You can also call the flow line at 1-800-547-1501.  Best fishing will be from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. this week. Fishing can be relatively good for this time of year.

Look for blue winged olive mayflies hatching. They typically hatch from 12-4 p.m. Fishing small pheasant tails size 16-18 can be productive. Switching to dry flies can be productive as well. Look for rising fishing along the back eddy foam lines. 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 Wednesday, March 30th, 2022

Umatilla River: The flows in the Umatilla have come up in the last week
Wallowa Lake : The ice is gone from Wallowa Lake
Wallowa River: Steelhead are moving throughout the Wallowa River now
Willow Creek Reservoir: There is no ice on Willow Creek and the boat ramp is accessible
Pine Hollow Reservoir: Stocked Recently
Carmen Reservoir: Latest estimates for when access and fish stocking will resume are now 2024
Foster Reservoir: Will be stocked this week
Hills Creek Reservoir: Hills Creek Reservoir was last stocked the week of March 14
Santiam River ( North Fork) : No recent fishing reports
Santiam River (South Fork): Currently flows are around 2,100 cfs at the Waterloo gauge
Walling Pond: The pond will be stocked this week
Waverly Lake: This lake will be stocked this week
Kilchis River: The Kilchis River is getting very low and clear
Necanicum River: The Necanicum River closes to fishing on April 1
Nehalem River: The Nehalem mainstem is in good shape
Nestucca River: The Nestucca is getting a little on the low side
Trask River: The Trask is very low and clear
Wilson River: The Wilson is low and clear
Applegate Reservoir: Applegate received its first stocking of 5,000 legal rainbow trout last week
Applegate River: Trout and steelhead season close Thursday, March 31
Cooper Creek Reservoir: Cooper was stocked last week
Coquille River: The winter steelhead fishing season is still officially open, but the run is basically done for the season
Diamond Lake: People were still ice-fishing at Diamond
Empire Lake Lower: Excess hatchery steelhead from the Millicoma Hatchery were stocked into Middle Empire Lake
Galesville Reservoir: ODFW recently stocked the lake with LOTS of trout
Illinois River: The river will be closed to fishing from April 1 through May 21
Lemolo Lake: Lemolo is starting to fill
Lost Creek Lake: Lost Creek received 15,000 legal rainbow trout in mid-March
Rogue River - Middle: Trout fishing is closed on the Rogue between April 1 and May 21
Rogue River- Upper: Hatchery Hole is closed to ALL fishing from April 1 through July 31
Rogue River- Upper (Above Lost Creek): Expect pretty slow fishing
Umpqua River: Umpqua River Fishing Report
Blitzen River: Fishing has been slow on the Blitzen
Bully Creek Reservoir: Trout fishing should be good
Chickahominy Reservoir: Chickahominy Reservoir is now dry
Gerber Reservoir: Targeting yellow perch continues to be your best bet
John C Boyle Reservoir: Fishing is slow but warmwater fish should be moving into the shallows
Upper Klamath Lake: Fishing is very slow but will improve in April


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