Klamath River Fishing Report


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
1-20-2022
Website

Keno Dam to J.C Boyle Reservoir

Fishing is very slow. 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 (510 cfs) are very low. Water temperature is dropping and down to 33 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 small 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

Likely the best option for fishing in the Klamath Basin. Roads will be muddy. Make sure you have good tires and 4X4. Roads might be impassable. 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. Flows look fishable until around 3 p.m. this week. Fishing can be relatively good for this time of year.

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 Thursday, January 20th, 2022
ODFW Recreation Report
Grande Ronde River: Flows on the Grande Ronde River have remained consistent again this week
John Day River: All fishing is now closed in rivers and streams within the John Day Basin
Magone Lake: Magone Lake is no longer accessible
Morgan Lake: Closed for the winter
Umatilla River: There have been a total of 757 steelhead counted at TMFD up to date
Crooked River: The water is low and dirty
Ochoco Reservoir: Water level is extremely low and completely iced over
Prinevile Reservoir: Trout fishing continues to be good near the dam
Walton Lake: The lake is completely iced over
Detroit Reservoir: Currently the reservoir water level is at or near the bottom of Mongold boat ramp
Junction City Pond: The pond will be stocked this week
Santiam River ( North Fork) : River is currently running at 9,000 cfs at the gage in Mehama
Santiam River (South Fork): Currently flows are around 6,100 cfs at the Waterloo gage
Waverly Lake: This lake was stocked in late December
Alsea River: Winter steelhead fishing has slowed down
Kilchis River: The Kilchis will be a little on the low and clear side this weekend
Necanicum River: The Necanicum will be getting a little low by the weekend but will still be fishable
Nehalem River: The lower reach, from Foss down, is still high and off color
Nestucca River: The Nestucca River is in great shape
Siletz River: Winter steelhead fishing has slowed down a bit on the Siletz
Siuslaw River: Winter steelhead has slowed down on the Siuslaw but anglers are catching fish everyday
Wilson River: The Wilson was in prime shape last weekend
Applegate River: As of Wednesday morning, the Wilderville stream gage was reading 650 cfs
Chetco River: Water conditions have returned to almost perfect
Fish Lake : Ice depth was reported at 8-12 inches on Jan. 15
Illinois River: Flows continue to drop but are still very fishable
Lost Creek Lake: Trout fishing should be fair to good
Medco Pond: In general fishing has been slow up here as trout were last stocked in the early summer
Rogue River- Lower: Winter fish are being caught in the Galice and Robertson Bridge areas
Rogue River- Upper: For the week of Jan. 13, 207 new summer steelhead have entered the ladder bringing the year’s total to 3,072 fish
Rogue River- Upper (Above Lost Creek): Expect clear but chilly weather for the weekend, probably a pretty slow bite
Umpqua River: Anglers are catching fish!
Willow Lake: The reservoir is hovering at 54 percent full
Winchuck River: Most streams including the Winchuck have returned to fishable conditions
Ana Reservoir: There have not been any recent fishing reports for rainbow trout
Gerber Reservoir: he reservoir is frozen. Ice thickness is unknown
Upper Klamath Lake: The lake is frozen except near the outlet and a few springs along Hwy 97


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