Klamath River Fishing Report

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff

Report Date:

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

Keno Dam downstream to Hwy 66

Fishing not recommended in the old reservoir bed as getting to the river is nearly impossible in most areas due to very deep sediments. Access to the old Topsy Reservoir bed is also prohibited by KRRC currently. ‌

Regulations changed 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, 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 spawning this time of year. Some hatches of small mayflies are occurring. 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 increased to 50 and flows have increased to 1010 cfs. Turbidity has decreased slightly to around 17.5 to 23 FNU.‌

Check Klamath River Keno Reach flows. Expect flows to increase considerably.‌

Once you retain your limit of redband-rainbow trout you must stop fishing for redband-rainbow trout.

Hwy 66 Bridge downstream to Springs

This section of river is open year-round. Access is currently prohibited by KRRC from Hwy 66 to the dam. Removal of JC Boyle Dam has begun. Fishing not recommended in this section due to difficult access. 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 is to protect large redband trout spawners, chinook and steelhead smolts and adults. Last updated

Springs to state line with California

The Frain Ranch section should be fishable. Take the road through Dorris to access. Flows should increase considerably in the near future. This section of river is open year-round. Turbidity can be tracked by visiting the USGS Real Time Klamath River Gage. Turbidity increases with work at JC Boyle Dam. Instream work has lessened and will end by April 15.‌

After this point the river should be quite fishable unless large amounts of water are released at Link River dam. Fishing only recommended when Turbidity (FNU) is less than 40. 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. ‌

On some days there should be good hatches of blue winged olive mayflies‌

Click here for Klamath River flow and turbidity.

Regulations changed on 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, Chinook salmon smolts and adults, and steelhead smolts and adults.

More Reports


OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, April 3rd
Agate Lake: Redband trout are moving around
Campbell Reservoir: Catch rates for largemouth bass should be improving
Fourmile Lake: The Lake is blocked by snow and is currently 33 percent full
Gerber Reservoir:  The reservoir is 41 percent full
Upper Klamath Lake: Fishing from shore at Howard Bay and Shoalwater Bay is improving slightly
Lake Of The Woods: The lake is open water
Phillips Reservoir: Phillips held a good bit of water over winter and is now over half full
Pilcher Reservoir: Both reservoirs should fill throughout the spring
Thief Valley Reservoir: Over winter and throughout the spring, fishing has been good at times
Unity Reservoir: Unity Reservoir can be one of the most consistent trout fisheries in eastern Oregon
Applegate Reservoir: The reservoir is high enough now that Copper Boat Ramp is usable along with French Gulch
Arizona Pond: ODFW placed aquatic weed mats in the pond so anglers will see buoys indicating their presence
Ben Irving Reservoir: This should be a good time to fish Ben Irving
Cooper Creek Reservoir: No recent reports, but there should be some good trout fishing now
Coquille River: There are still a few hatchery and wild steelhead in the North Fork Coquille and South Fork
Diamond Lake: No recent reports from Diamond Lake. Ice conditions were decent for the past couple of weeks
Emigrant Reservoir: Emigrant is 53 percent full
Empire Lake Lower: Trophy trout were stocked in mid-March into Lower and Middle Empire lakes
Expo Pond: Fishing for warmwater fish should start picking up this weekend
Galesville Reservoir: No direct reports from anglers, but stories that some of the trophy trout have been being caught
Lake Marie: Lake Marie was recently stocked
Lake Selmac: Selmac will be stocked again this week
Lemolo Lake: Conditions remain the same for Lemolo
Lost Creek Lake: The Takelma and Stewart boat ramps are available for access by trailered boats
Rogue River - Middle: There are currently great conditions in the middle Rogue for fishing
Rogue River- Upper: Winter steelhead continue to move into the upper Rogue
Umpqua River: The mainstem has decent water conditions this week
North Umpqua River: Steelhead season is winding down quickly
South Umpqua River : Steelhead runs have slowed quickly this past week
Willow Lake: Willow is now 100 percent full
Alsea River: The Alsea River has been fair the past few weeks
Kilchis River: The Kilchis is getting low and clear but is still fishable
Nehalem River: The Nehalem has good catch-and-release opportunities for wild steelhead
Nehalem River- North Fork: The North Fork is getting low and clear
Nestucca River: The Nestucca River is in great condition for steelhead angling
Salmon River: The Salmon River is now closed for steelhead
Siletz River: The Siletz has been remaining fair and steady throughout March
Siuslaw River: The Siuslaw is now closed for steelhead
Three Rivers: Three Rivers should be fishable throughout the week
Trask River: The Trask River is in good shape for steelhead angling
Wilson River: The Wilson is getting a little low and clear
Yaquina River: Steelhead fishery is now closed on the Big Elk
Clackamas River: Winter steelhead can currently be found throughout the system
EE Wilson Angling Pond: The pond is stocked with trout from February through May
Foster Reservoir: The reservoir water level is near low pool
Green Peter Reservoir:  The reservoir is usually stocked with trout in the spring
Junction City Pond: This pond has reopened to the public
Sandy River: Winter steelhead can currently be found throughout the system
Santiam River ( North Fork) : Fishing is slow this time of year
Santiam River (South Fork): Currently flows are around 2,850 cfs at the Waterloo gauge
Walter Wirth Lake: Stocked this week
Willamette River: Willamette River Report
Crooked River: The Crooked continues to fish well this spring
Fall River: Fly-anglers continue to report productive and consistent spring fishing in the Fall River
Haystack Reservoir: Haystack is currently at 75 percent full
Hood River: Conditions are looking really good for steelhead fishing on the Hood River
Ochoco Reservoir: The reservoir is 86 percent full
Prinevile Reservoir: Prineville Reservoir at 97 percent full
South Twin Lake: Roads to the Twin Lakes are not plowed and anglers may encounter snow
Fish tanker truck accident results in loss of some spring Chinook smolts

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff

Report Date:

LA GRANDE, Ore. – On March 29 near Lookingglass Hatchery in northeast Oregon, a fish tanker truck was involved in an......

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