Best Winter Steelhead Fishing Near Portland
Catch Sea Run Rainbow Trout Close to Big City in Oregon
Sep 17, 2009
Starting in late fall and deep into winter, anadromous rainbow trout making their spawning runs back to streams near the Portland metropolitan area swim below huge container ships, beneath soaring bridges and in the shadows of skyscrapers.
But soon enough these steelhead reach rivers that pass through the dense forests of the lower Cascade Mountain Range. Several of these rivers have steelhead runs that can rival those on Oregon's North Coast and Central Coast, including native fish that put on bruising battles before release and hatchery strains that may be harvested for the table.
Many of these rivers also host excellent summer steelhead runs.
Here are the area’s three best winter steelhead rivers.
Clackamas River Offers Best Catch in the Region
The Clack, as it’s often known, is the Portland area’s leading river when it comes to harvest of hatchery winter steelhead, according to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife statistics. Anglers often bring home 2,000 or more hatchery steelhead from the Clackamas in a winter season.
"It's nice and close. People don't have to drive a long way (and) there's lot's of fish in there," said Ed Babikoff of Backeddy Guide Service.
The Clackamas actually has two hatchery stocks, an earlier Eagle Creek-bound stock that peaks in January and February, and a later Clackamas River stock that is best in March and April.
Hatchery fish are released from hatcheries near the mouth of Dog Creek, in two spots near Foster Creek and up on Eagle Creek. The mouths of Eagle Creek, Dog Creek (McIver State Park) and Clear Creek (Carver) are popular when the river is high and off-color. Other bank access spots include High Rocks (Gladstone), Riverside Park (Clackamas) and River Mill Dam.
Boaters can launch at McIver, Feldheimer’s Road and Barton, Carver, Riverside and Clackamette parks.
Babikoff typically finds success for clients by side-drifting from his large jet boat, although a variety of steelheading methods will catch fish on the Clack.
Eagle Creek Great When Big Rivers Run High
Eagle Creek is a tributary of the lower Clackamas River. After a heavy rain, it blows out of shape quickly but also recovers faster than larger rivers. On the flip side, it tends to run too clear for good fishing during prolonged dry periods. It has good bank access but is not a stream for boaters.
The Eagle Creek run is best starting in January and continuing into March as steelhead make their way up to Eagle Creek National Fish Hatchery.
Access points include Bonnie Lure Park off Dowty Road near the mouth, upstream along Eagle Fern Road (including Eagle Fern Park), and a hike into the canyon below the hatchery on Rainbow Road.
Sandy River is One of Portland Area’s Angling Gems
The Sandy River passes close to suburbia yet can feel like utter wilderness. It also puts out more than 1,000 steelhead most years and produced a phenomenal 4,000 fish in the winter of 2001-02. Some great years could be back soon.
"I think we're going to have a real good run" starting in 2009 and probably for several years, said Jack Glass, who grew up fishing the Sandy in the 1960s and now is the river's best-known guide and half of Team Hook Up with son Brandon.
Starting around Christmas and continuing through March, Glass fishes from a drift boat downstream from Oxbow Park or from his jet sled from Dabney Park to the confluence with the Columbia. In lower water, Glass often succeeds with a bobber dangling either a First Bite or Beau Mac brand jig tied (his favorite winter jigs are pink and white marabou with two red beads) or with a pink Berkley PowerBait worm. The pink worms work well dangling from a jig hook or, in higher water, drifted as you would cluster eggs with yarn, which Glass also uses.
Spinners such as the local R & B Lure Company or the widely available Vibrax Blue Fox spinners also produce. A matte silver finish works well, and a brash finish is good for low water, Glass said. Accent colors include black and green. Steelie spoons are another good option.
The Sandy has decent bank access, including at the mouth of Cedar Creek, where fish (and anglers) concentrate near the Sandy Fish Hatchery. Good bank fishing also is available at public parks including Lewis and Clark, Dabney, Oxbow and Dodge.
Each of these parks also has boat access, although Dodge Park – the farthest upstream – is recommended for experts only due to rapids. Anglers can fish from floating crafts downstream from a bit below the ramp at Oxbow. Jet boats are permitted below Dabney.
Three More Winter Steelhead Rivers Close to Portland
Willamette River: Bank anglers often intercept the Clackamas River and Eagle Creek steelhead runs at Meldrum Bar, on the Willamette just below the mouth of the Clackamas in Gladstone. Try plunking a Spin-N-Glo within 15 feet of the bank.
Molalla River: Though no longer stocked with hatchery fish, the Molalla is gaining popularity as a catch-and-release stream for wild winter steelhead.
Hood River: Technically in the Central Zone, this river at the town of the same name isn’t too far from home for Portlanders and is the best Columbia tributary in Oregon east of the Sandy River for winter steelhead. Fish the lower four miles, with good access below Powerdale Dam.
Steelhead Just Beyond Your Backyard in Portland, Oregon
In many places, anglers would have to drive hundreds of miles or hop on a plan to catch a steelhead. In Portland every winter, steelhead are in the neighborhood.
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