Klamath River Fishing Report

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff

Report Date:

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

Keno Dam to J.C Boyle Reservoir

Regulations will change Jan. 1, 2024 to a bag limit of one redband-rainbow trout per day in the 12 to 15-inch size class. This regulation is to protect large redband trout spawners, and chinook and steelhead smolts and adults. The river will be closed from June 15 to Oct. 1 from Keno Dam to the Highway 66 Bridge downstream.‌

Redband-rainbow trout are primarily feeding on minnow and sculpins this time of year. Mimicking minnows with flies and lures will produce the best results. There is also very abundant crayfish, mayflies, caddisflies and leeches. No bait allowed!‌

Access is very challenging. The road into the dam is very bad. A high clearance vehicle is recommended. There are other points of access that require a long hike to the river.‌

The river is difficult wading. Anglers who wade should have studded wading boots, wading belt, wading staff, polarized glasses and maybe a helmet and shin guards. The bottom is very slick and bedrock ledges can drop off quickly. Visibility is also poor. ‌

Water temperature has dropped to 38 degrees, turbidity has increased to 13 FNU and flows are low at 603 cfs. ‌

Please remember no bait and only one redband trout greater than 15 inches. Regulations will change Jan. 1, 2024 to a bag limit of one redband-rainbow trout per day in the 12 to 15-inch size class. This is to protect large Redband Trout spawners, chinook and steelhead smolts and adults. Once you retain your limit of redband trout you must cease fishing for redband trout. L

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

The Powerhouse Road on the west side of the river will be closed all year. Access to the Klamath River will be available from the Topsy Grade Road or traveling through Dorris. The Topsy Grade Road can have large potholes where vehicles can get stuck. This section of the river will require a significant hike to the river on the east side. ‌

Regulations will change January 1, 2024 to a bag limit of one redband rainbow trout per day in the 12 to 15-inch size class. This is to protect large redband trout spawners, chinook and steelhead smolts and adults. Flows typically remain low at about 130 cfs year-round at JC Boyle Dam.

J.C. Boyle Powerhouse to State Line with California

The Powerhouse Road on the west side of the river will be closed all year. Access to the Klamath River will be available from the Topsy Grade Road or traveling through Dorris. The Topsy Grade Road can have large potholes where vehicles can get stuck. This section of the river will require a significant hike to the river on the east side. ‌

Regulations will change Jan. 1, 2024 to a bag limit of one redband-rainbow trout per day in the 12 to 15-inch size class. This regulation is to protect large redband trout spawners, and chinook and steelhead smolts and adults. ‌

Flows will be fishable until around 12 p.m. this week and fishing during this time should be excellent. 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. Wednesdays are typically the best day to fish as flows are low until later in the day. ‌

Large attractor flies such and wooly buggers, bead head prince nymphs, 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. So do small crayfish patterns.‌

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, January 3rd
: Sturgeon retention closed in Bonneville, The Dalles pools after Jan. 3
Grande Ronde River: Grande Ronde River Report
Wallowa Lake : Wallowa Lake Report
Wallowa River: Steelhead fishing should pick up throughout the winter on the Wallowa River
Crooked River: The Crooked continues to fish well this winter
Hood River: Winter steelhead are starting to show up in the Hood River
Detroit Reservoir: Water is again being released out of Detroit to maximize storage for the winter
Foster Reservoir: Currently the reservoir water looks unusually turbid
Santiam River ( North Fork) : North Fork Santiam River Fishing Report
Santiam River (South Fork): Currently flows are around 1,300 cfs at the Waterloo gauge as of Jan. 3
Walter Wirth Lake: Walter Wirth Lake Report
Kilchis River: There should be a few winter steelhead showing up in the Kilchis
Miami River: Access is limited on the Miami
Necanicum River: The Necanicum River should have hatchery steelhead throughout the fishery and wild fish showing up this month as well
Nehalem River: The only opportunity on the mainstem Nehalem will be wild winter steelhead
Nehalem River- North Fork: The North Fork Nehalem has hatchery steelhead throughout the fishery
Nestucca River: The best fishing will likely still be in the lower mainstem
Three Rivers: Three Rivers should have hatchery steelhead showing up
Trask River: There are fish in the Trask and more should be showing up as the winter progresses
Wilson River: Fishing on the Wilson should just keep improving as the season goes on
Ben Irving Reservoir: No recent reports from Ben Irving
Chetco River: River conditions have been excellent
Coos River: Steelhead fishing has been good in the Coos Basin rivers
Coquille River: Steelhead anglers have been catching hatchery winter steelhead
Diamond Lake: Some near shore ice may be present on some days
Lake Marie: Still no recent reports from anglers at Lake Marie
Lemolo Lake: No recent reports and snow may limit access
Plat I Reservoir: Conditions remain the same at Plat I
Rogue River- Lower: Very few boat anglers, but bank fishing pressure has picked up
Sixes River: Anglers are reminded that anglers fishing for steelhead in the Sixes are required to have the new wild steelhead validations
Umpqua River: Some winter steelhead have been being caught from Elkton to River Forks
North Umpqua River: Some steelhead have been spotted moving up the North Umpqua
South Umpqua River : Winter steelhead have started moving into the South Umpqua
Ana Reservoir: This reservoir does not ice over in winter and is a good place to catch rainbow trout and hybrid bass
Gerber Reservoir: The reservoir is likely starting to freeze
John C Boyle Reservoir: Large goldfish up 12 inches are also abundant but rarely caught
Lake Of The Woods: The lake is ice free but is starting to freeze
Phillips Reservoir: If colder weather returns, the ice may begin to thicken
Pilcher Reservoir: Ice conditions may not be suitable for fishing because of the mild weather this winter
Thief Valley Reservoir: Thief Valley Reservoir currently is about 75 percent full and should slowly fill through the winter
Unity Reservoir: Recently, folks have had some good fishing from the bank at Unity Reservoir
McCloud River: There has been some good midge and Blue Wing Olive hatches
Recreational bottomfish change for 2024; anglers reminded cabezon harvest begins July 1

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff

Report Date:

NEWPORT, Ore – Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, ODFW reminds recreational bottomfish anglers that: The recreational offshore longleader harvest limit increases to......

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