Klamath River Report

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff

Report Date:

http://www.dfw.state.or.us

Keno Dam to J.C Boyle Reservoir

This section of the river opened Oct. 1. Catch rates are very low as most larger redband trout have moved into or towards their spawning area. Water temperatures have declined to around 43-43 degrees. Flows (549 cfs) are very fishable. 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.

Redband trout this time of year focus on eating forage fish that include fat head minnow, marbled sculpin, tui chub and blue chub. Therefore, flies and lures that mimic minnows will work well. Water velocities are very fast therefore flies and lures will need some weight to get down to the fish. The water is always slightly off color so this is not a place for dry flies.

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

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

This is the best location to fish in the winter. Open all year. Flows are low and stable. Catch rates should be fair. 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 with the exception of the area just above the powerhouse.

Use small flies as fish are small in this section.

Water temperatures in this reach are warmer this time of year due to most springs coming into the river at 50 degrees. 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

Open all year. Currently this section of the river provides the second-best fishing for trout in the Klamath Basin. Flows remain very fishable until around 3 p.m. on most days.

Best fishing is when flows are less than 900 cfs. Flow estimates are available and you can check them at PacifiCorp Weekly Flow Estimates. Fishing can be excellent this time of year if flows are fishable. Blue winged olive mayflies are hatching, which will provide some nice match the hatch dry fly fishing. The mayflies typically hatch from noon until four. Look to the backwater eddies and foam lines for rising fish.

Large attractor flies such and wooly buggers, bead head prince, stimulators, 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 Friday, March 26th, 2021
Ana Reservoir: Ana Reservoir Report
Ana River: Recent fly-fishing reports indicate fishing has been slow
Campbell Reservoir: Warmer weather this weekend might put bass on the bite
Gerber Reservoir: Lake is Ice Free
Upper Klamath Lake: Catch Rates Are Low
Priday Reservoir: Stocked Last Week With 200 Trophy Rainbow Trout
Willow Valley Reservoir: Willow Valley Reservoir Report
Applegate Reservoir: Steelhead Fishing Will be Closed April 1st
Ben Irving Reservoir: Fishing Should Still Be Good
Chetco River: Peak Spawning is Right Around The Corner
Coquille River: Steelhead Fishing is Virtually Done For The Year
Elk River: Anglers Have Been Doing Pretty Well
Emigrant Reservoir: Trout Stocking Has Been Postponed Until April
Fish Lake : Ice Fishing is Probably on Hold This Weekend
Floras Lake: Floras Lake Report
Garrison Lake: Stocked Earlier This Month
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Fishing Has Been Slow
Illinois River: Conditions Are Looking Good
Lost Creek Lake: Reservoir is 64% Full
Rogue River - Middle: Angler Are Picking Up Steelhead on A Regular Basis
Rogue River- Upper: Upper Rogue River Report
Rogue River- Upper (Above Lost Creek): Stocking is Scheduled Just Before Memorial Day
Sixes River: Mostly Clear Conditions Through The End of The Season
Alsea River: Steelhead Fishing Continues To Be Slow
Kilchis River: Fishable But on The Low Side
Necanicum River: LIttle Bump Over The Weekend
Nehalem River: Is Finally in Prime Condition
Nestucca River: Should Be Fishable All Week
Siletz River: Steelhead Fishing Did Improve Some This Week
Siuslaw River: Steelhead Fishing Has Been Slow
Trask River: Nice Bump in Level and Color
Wilson River: Steelhead Fishing Picked up Last Week
Clackamas River: Fishing is Beginning to Pick Up
Dexter Reservoir: Will Be Stocked This Week
Foster Reservoir: Trout Stocking Will Begin Next Week
Sandy River: Sandy River Report
Fall River: Anglers Reporting Good Fishing
Metolius River: Metolius River Report
Grande Ronde River: Grande Ronde Fishing Report
Imnaha River: River Conditions Are Excellent For Steelhead
Wallowa Lake : Anglers Are Starting to Catch Kokanee
Wallowa River: Steelhead Are Moving Upstream
Snake River: Snake River Below Hells Canyon Report
ODFW Recreation Report

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff

Report Date:

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