Snake River- Below Hells Canyon Reservoir

Bass fishing can be excellent in Hells Canyon during the summer

by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
8-23-2023
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Fishing for Chinook salmon opened Aug. 18per permanent regulations (ODFW 2023 Fishing Regulations pg. 70). Anglers need to remember that barbless hooks must be used when fishing for salmon or steelhead on the Snake River.‌

Sturgeon fishing can be good in the Snake River downstream of Hells Canyon Dam. Anglers must use barbless hooks to fish for sturgeon, and sturgeon may not be retained in the Snake River. All sturgeon must be released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water.‌

Bass fishing can be excellent in Hells Canyon during the summer. Plastic jigs and diving lures can be great ways to catch bass in Hells Canyon. They also can be caught on flies including on the surface.‌

Anglers should carefully watch flows during the summer as they can change by over 10,000 cubic feet per second daily as dam operators respond to daily power demands. This can change not only where good fishing areas are but can also affect river levels and navigability.

More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports

for Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023

Chewaucan River: The river went from 25cfs to 130cfs overnight recently due to rainstorms
Holbrook Reservoir: Fishing has been fairly slow at this reservoir
Upper Klamath Lake: The lake is 3.6 feet below full pool and 45 percent full
Krumbo Reservoir: Access to the reservoir is currently closed for constructio
Lofton Reservoir: The water is still low and the boat ramp is roughly 20 feet from the boat launch
Agate Lake: Agate Reservoir is 37 percent full
Applegate Reservoir: Fishing for warmwater fish should be the focus for Applegate anglers
Applegate River: The release from the dam is averaging 300 cfs
Ben Irving Reservoir: We have reports of decent bass being caught towards the head of the reservoir
Cooper Creek Reservoir: Anglers after trout should be targeting early hours near sunrise
Diamond Lake: Catch rates for rainbow trout at Diamond Lake have picked up a bit
Emigrant Reservoir: Emigrant is 27 percent full, dropping five feet since last week
Expo Pond: Fishing for bass and panfish is good
Fish Lake : Fish Lake is 44 percent full
Galesville Reservoir: No recent reports from Galesville but bass fishing should still be good
Hemlock Lake: Poor air quality from distant fires
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Howard Prairie is at 38 percent full and dropping
Hyatt Lake: Hyatt is 43 percent full and dropping
Lemolo Lake: Mixed results from recent reports
Lost Creek Lake: Smallmouth bass fishing is good
Rogue River- Upper: The release from Lost Creek Reservoir is 1825 cfs and temperature is 56F
Umpqua River: Chinook fishing has started pick up in the lower river
South Umpqua River : Smallmouth bass fishing on the South remains great
Kilchis River: Cutthroat are available throughout the river
Nehalem River: Fishing remains fair with a few fish being caught daily
Trask River: Cutthroat trout are throughout the Trask River
Wilson River: The Wilson is low and clear right now
Oxbow Reservoir: Fishing for bass and catfish has been good recently
Hells Canyon Reservoir: Fishing for bass and catfish has been good

Wild coho fishing regulations for coastal rivers posted More rivers can support wild coho harvest as populations improve

8-18-2023
SALEM, Ore.—Wild coho fishing regulations in rivers along Oregon's coast were posted online at MyODFW.com today. See regulations at the Recreation Report /...... Read More