Fishing is still extremely slow on the Clackamas River due to poor steelhead and Chinook salmon returns. Couple that with low flows, rising temperatures, and clear water, and prospects grow even dimmer.

At current levels, the river is at best a drift or pontoon fishery – with conditions too low to navigate a sled safely. Now would be a good time to brush up on fly-fishing techniques, as long as you keep expectations of catching fish realistically low. For the eternal optimists, perhaps the best option is to start thinking of and planning for the arrival of coho, which should start taking place sometime in September. Best bet for this fishery will be to start around the mouth of Eagle Creek.

USGS hydrological data for July 17 shows river flows at 994 cfs water temperature rising at 62° F, and the gauge at 10.86 ft. All of the readings come from the Estacada gauge near Milo McIver State Park. Hydrologic data and river forecasts can also be accessed on the NOAA/National Weather Service NW River Forecast Center -- NW River Forecast Center