Klamath River Report

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff

Report Date:

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

Keno Dam to Highway 66

Fishing not recommended due to difficult access and extremely cold-water temperatures. Closed to fishing for salmon. The river from Keno Dam downstream to Hwy 66 is open to fishing. Fishing remains very slow. Please remember that the bag limit has changed to one redband rainbow trout per day in the 12- to 15-inch size class. No bait is allowed. Also, the area on the river near the Klamath Sportsman Park downstream to Hwy 66 is closed to public access to restore that area.

Flows are a very high for fishing at 2,560 cfs. Catch-and-release is highly encouraged. Most redband/rainbow are small. 

Hwy 66 Bridge downstream to Springs

Fishing not recommended due to difficult access , very high flows and extremely cold-water temperatures. Closed to salmon fishing. This section of river is open year-round. Access is currently prohibited by KRRC from Hwy 66 to below the old dam site. Fishing not recommended in this section due to difficult access. The Powerhouse Road on the west side of the river will be closed until April 15, 2025. 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 and be very muddy. This section of the river will require a significant hike to the river on the east side.

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 is to protect large redband trout spawners, chinook, coho and steelhead smolts and Chinook salmon, coho salmon and steelhead adults.

Springs to state line with California

Flows are very high. Access will be quite challenging due to snow and ice. Closed to salmon fishing. Water temperatures are warmer this time of year down here due to the springs entering just upriver. Turbidity has increased slightly. Take the road through Dorris to access. This section of river is open year-round. Turbidity can be tracked by visiting the USGS Real Time Klamath River Gage.

Fishing recommended only when turbidity (FNU) is less than 40. The Powerhouse Road on the west side of the river will be closed until April 15, 2025. 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 and will be very muddy.

Patterns and lures that mimic crayfish, golden stoneflies, salmonfly nymphs, salmon eggs and leeches should work well. Blue winged olive mayflies should be hatching soon. Panther Martin spinners can work well down there.

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 is to protect large redband trout spawners, chinook, coho and steelhead smolts, and Chinook salmon, coho salmon and steelhead adults. 

More Reports


OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, March 5th
Hat Rock Pond: Hat Rock Pond is scheduled to be stocked with rainbow trout
McNary Channel Ponds: The McNary ponds are scheduled to be stocked with rainbow trout
Lake Billy Chinook: Anglers report good winter fishing for both kokanee and bull trout
Detroit Reservoir: The reservoir is slowly filling up in preparation for the busy summer recreation season
EE Wilson Angling Pond: Will be stocked this week
Freeway Lake East: The lake will be stocked this week with 500 hatchery trout
Green Peter Reservoir: The water level in the reservoir is slowly increasing as they prepare to fill it before the summer recreation season
Junction City Pond: This pond will be stocked again this week
Santiam River ( North Fork) : The river is currently running at about 3,600 cfs at the gage in Mehama
Santiam River (South Fork): Flows are at 3,100 cfs at the gage in Waterloo
Waverly Lake: Will be stocked this week
Alsea River: This past week the bite has slowed down, but fish are still moving throughout the basin
Kilchis River: The Kilchis River is dropping back into low and clear conditions
Necanicum River:  The Necanicum River is dropping back into low and clear conditions for the weekend
Nehalem River: Winter steelhead fishing on the Nehalem mainstem picked up early this week
Nehalem River- North Fork: Winter steelhead fishing on the North Fork remained good over the weekend
Nestucca River: The Nestucca is in good shape
Salmon River: Winter steelhead has been fair on the Salmon River
Siletz River: Winter steelhead slowed down a bit on the Siletz
Siuslaw River: Winter steelhead is open in the Siuslaw basin
Three Rivers: Three Rivers should have some hatchery steelhead in the system
Trask River: Steelhead fishing on the Trask was slow this weekend despite prime conditions
Wilson River: The Wilson dropped into prime shape last weekend and fishing effort was high
Yaquina River: Hatchery steelhead is open on the Yaquina River
Agate Lake: Agate Lake is now 100 percent full
Applegate Reservoir: Boat access is limited to the low water boat ramp at French Gulch
Applegate River: Steelhead fishing pressure is starting to pick up on the Applegate River
Cooper Creek Reservoir: With warmer weather expected for the weekend fishing should improve
Diamond Lake: Diamond Lake is still frozen over and a few anglers are ice fishing
Emigrant Reservoir: Emigrant is currently 72 percent full
Expo Pond: Trout stocking starts this week
Garrison Lake: With frequent seasonal storms, fishing has been slow
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Howard Prairie is 58 percent full and rising
Hyatt Lake: Hyatt is currently 60 percent full and rising
Illinois River: Flows on the Illinois should be prime this week
Lake Marie: The lake should have some holdover trout and will be stocked in mid-March
Lake Selmac: Should be plenty of trout around for anglers to enjo
Lost Creek Reservoir: Lost Creek offers very good opportunity for spring trout fishing
Rogue River - Middle: Flow in Grants Pass is around 6,500cfs and 45 F
Rogue River- Upper: The release from Lost Creek is around 2,900 cfs
Rogue River- Upper (Above Lost Creek): Area snow is restricting access to some portions of the river
North Umpqua River: Winter steelhead are crossing Winchester Dam in good numbers now
South Umpqua River : Anglers are catching steelhead throughout the river
Willow Lake: Warming weather and inflow have filled the reservoir 100 percent full
Agency Lake: Agency Lake is ice free
Annie Lake: Fishing not recommended fishing remains very slow due to high flows
Campbell Reservoir: Conditions are unknown
Upper Klamath Lake: Fishing has been slow but improving
Link River : Link River is slow fishing with a low population abundance of redband trout
Lost River: The river is high and muddy
North Fork Sprague River: Water temperatures are very cold with high flows
South Fork Sprague River: Access will be challenging due to snow
OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Monday, March 3rd


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