Klamath River Report

Klamath River - Upper - OR


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
5-15-2024
Website

Keno Dam downstream to Hwy 66

The fishery below Keno Dam has been slow due to extended drought in the past. We encourage catch and release in this fishery and handling fish carefully. Fishing should improve in the next week or so as May is one of the best months to fish this area. Expect blizzard hatches of mayflies and caddisflies.‌

Tungsten bead headed pheasant tails and tungsten bead head caddis pupae will work well this time of year. Bait fish imitations and leech patterns also work well. The Rebel Craw crankbait is also very effective. No bait allowed!‌

Fishing not recommended in the old JC Boyle Reservoir riverbed 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.‌

Access is very challenging. The road into Keno 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 substantially to 60 and flows increased to 715 cfs. Turbidity has decreased to 12-20 FNU.‌

Check KlamatKeno Reach flows.‌

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, coho and steelhead smolts and Chinook salmon, coho salmon and steelhead adults.

Springs to state line with California

The Frain Ranch section is fishable. Turbidity is well within fishable levels. 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. ‌

The river should be quite fishable unless lots of water is released at Link River dam. Currently, turbidity is low at 9-14 FNU. 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. Mother's Day Caddis and other caddis species are hatching. Fishing is improving with warmer weather, reduced flows and hatches of salmonflies and golden stoneflies in the near future. Patterns and lures that mimic crayfish and salmonflies should work well. Panther Martin spinner can work well down there. Dry flies that mimic caddisflies or mayflies hatching can also work well. Large yellow and orange stimulators should produce when the stoneflies start hatching. ‌

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, May 15th
Umatilla River: The spring Chinook fishery on the Umatilla River is open currently
Crane Prairie Reservoir: The reservoir 88 percent full
Crooked River: The USBOR continues flood control operations from Bowman Dam
East Lake: Paulina Lake Road with access to East Lake is scheduled to reopen for the year
Fall River: Fly-anglers continue to report productive and consistent spring fishing
Hood River: The peak of spring Chinook fishing on the Hood will be around Memorial Day
Hosmer Lake: The Cascade Lakes Highway is scheduled to reopen May 21 at 8 a.m.
Laurance Lake: Laurance Lake is open for the season
Odell Lake: Odell Lake Fishing Report
Clackamas River: Winter steelhead can currently be found throughout the system
Detroit Reservoir: Recent rains have filled the reservoir almost to the top
Foster Reservoir: Anglers report good success in the two arms of the reservoir, as well as the shoreline in between
Green Peter Reservoir: The water level in Green Peter continues to rise
Santiam River ( North Fork) : River is currently running at around 6,300 cfs at the gauge in Mehama
Santiam River (South Fork): Currently flows are around 3,600 cfs at the Waterloo gauge
Nestucca River: Some fish being caught both in the Bay and in the lower river
Three Rivers: Three Rivers could have a spring Chinook or summer steelhead showing up anytime now
Diamond Lake: Anglers targeting brown trout have been doing fantastic lately
Emigrant Reservoir: Emigrant is 80 percent full and continues to fill
Fish Lake : Fish Lake is 66 percent full and there is open water for bank and boat fishing
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Howard Prairie is 55 percent full
Hyatt Lake: Hyatt is currently 61 percent full
Lost Creek Lake: Trollers have had good early spring success at Lost Creek
Rogue River- Upper (Above Lost Creek): Spring chinook fishing has been good
Rogue River - Middle: Winter steelhead are still around in the middle Rogue
Rogue River- Upper: Winter steelhead are present in the upper Rogue
Rogue River- Upper (Above Lost Creek): The Rogue above Lost Creek is open for fishing but flows are a high right now
Umpqua River: The mainstem water conditions are looking good
Emigrant Reservoir: 2 lb. Bass
Ana Reservoir: The reservoir is full and all boats can launch at the ramp
Gerber Reservoir: The reservoir remains 44 percent full
Heart Lake: Fishing this past week has been excellent
Upper Klamath Lake: Redband trout are showing up in the normal hot spots in the lake

ODFW Recreation Report

5-10-2024
Includes updates to fishing, crabbing and clamming, hunting and wildlife viewing   Apply for controlled hunt tags by May 15‌ Earlier is better!...... Read More