Klamath River Report
by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
11-1-2023
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Keno Dam to J.C Boyle Reservoir
This section of the river reopened Oct. 1. Opening day was very slow. Most fish caught were in the 12-inch range. Unprecedented drought decreased redband survival in their spawning tributary Spencer Creek. Fishing remains slow; however, November is typically one of the best months to fish the river.
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 48 degrees, turbidity has dropped to 11 FNU and flows are excellent at 724 cfs.
Please remember no bait and only one redband trout greater than 15 inches. Once you retain your limit of redband trout you must cease fishing for redband trout.
J.C. Boyle Dam to J.C Boyle Powerhouse
Flows typically remain low at about 130 cfs year-round at JC Boyle Dam. Fishing should be good in this section. Open all year. Flows are typically low and stable and typically range from 100 cfs at the dam and increase due to springs to around 350 cfs at the Powerhouse.
Catch rates should be excellent for this time of year. Fishing is best below the spring inputs. The gate is now closed that accesses the river along the power canal. Access is available by foot traffic only.
The springs start to discharge into the river approximately half a 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 when cast upstream into the deeper pools.
J.C. Boyle Powerhouse to State Line with California
Flows will be fishable until around 11 a.m. this week and fishing during this time should be good. 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.
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.
Caddisfly hatches are the primary food item right now especially the large, orange October caddisflies. Twitching or skating caddisflies can work well. Small Crayfish patterns also work ok.
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, November 1st, 2023![](http://media.fishreports.com/logos/ODFW_logo_color.png)
Sixes River: Sixes River low flow angling closure lifts Nov. 1
Grande Ronde River: Steelhead anglers have been successful
Morgan Lake: Morgan Lake Update
Wallowa Lake : Wallowa Lake has been stocked with trout this year
Wallowa River: This fall, anglers have had success catching trout and whitefish in the Wallowa River
Crane Prairie Reservoir: Crane Prairie closed for the season Nov. 1
Deschutes River: Anglers have been reporting good trout fishing lately
Metolius River: The Metolius River continues to fish well Nymphing with stonefly, mayfly or caddisfly nymphs
Ochoco Reservoir: The reservoir is 31 percent full
Odell Lake: Closed for the season Nov. 1
Wickiup Reservoir: Wickiup Reservoir closed for the season Nov. 1
Clackamas River: Fishing for salmon and steelhead has slowed down significantly
Dexter Reservoir: Was last stocked in early October with 2,500 rainbow trout
Gold Lake: Gold Lake fishing is closed for the season
Green Peter Reservoir: The reservoir is effectively off-limits to fishing through at least the end of December
Quartzville Creek: The rains have abated, and the water level has dropped down to around 90 cfs
Sandy River: Fishing for salmon and steelhead has slowed down significantly
Santiam River ( North Fork) : The river is currently running at around 2,000 cfs at the gauge in Mehama
Santiam River (South Fork): Currently flows are around 2,950 cfs at the Waterloo gaug
Kilchis River: The Kilchis will probably blow out this week along with the rest of the North Coast rivers
Miami Lake: The Miami will probably blow out this week along with the rest of the North Coast Rivers
Necanicum River: The Necanicum may blow out at some point this week
Siletz River: The Siletz has remained strong moving into the fall season!
Siuslaw River: Fall Chinook has started to pick up the last few weeks on the Siuslaw river!
Trask River: The Trask is predicted to rise quickly this week with the heavy rains
Wilson River: The Wilson is predicted to rise quickly this week with the heavy rains
Yaquina River: Fall Chinook is open on the Yaquina
Chetco River: Rain this week will most likely blow the river out
Elk River: Rains this week will most likely blow the river out
Rogue River- Lower: Slow rain this week will blow the river out
Sixes River: The low flow angling closure was lifted
Chewaucan River: Colder weather has started to take its toll on the river
Dead Horse Lake: Fishing reports have been good recently
Fourmile Lake: A few lake trout are also showing up in the catch
Gerber Reservoir: Targeting yellow perch continues to be your best bet
Upper Klamath Lake: Hagelstein Park above Highway 97 is now closed
![](http://media.fishreports.com/reports/img-20231030-449a346d.png)
10-26-2023
Western streams close to trout Oct. 31 This is the last weekend to fish for trout in most rivers and streams...... Read More