Tuesday, August 11, 2026  |  Oregon's Outdoor Journal
Category

Fishing

98 articles

Willamette River Summer Smallmouth Bass: Wade and Float Tactics from Corvallis to Salem

Willamette River Summer Smallmouth Bass: Wade and Float Tactics from Corvallis to Salem

The Willamette's mainstem runs clear and warm by July, and the smallmouth bass fishing between Corvallis and Salem reaches its annual peak. Here's how to find fish, what to throw, and the best access points for wading or floating this underrated Oregon river.

By HFR Staff  · July 29, 2026
Upper Klamath Lake Summer Fishing: Kokanee Salmon, Rainbow Trout, and the Agency Lake Connection

Upper Klamath Lake Summer Fishing: Kokanee Salmon, Rainbow Trout, and the Agency Lake Connection

Oregon's largest natural lake holds trophy rainbows and kokanee salmon all summer long. Here's where to launch, what to run, and how to put fish in the box at Upper Klamath and Agency Lake.

By HFR Staff  · July 28, 2026
Sauvie Island Summer Bass and Panfish: The Metro-Area Fishing Paradise 15 Minutes from Portland

Sauvie Island Summer Bass and Panfish: The Metro-Area Fishing Paradise 15 Minutes from Portland

You don't need to drive four hours into the backcountry to catch fish in Oregon. Sauvie Island's sloughs, lakes, and Columbia River backwaters hold largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish all summer long — and they're less than 15 miles from downtown Portland.

By HFR Staff  · July 27, 2026
Lower Deschutes River Smallmouth Bass: July Peak Season from Macks Canyon to the Columbia

Lower Deschutes River Smallmouth Bass: July Peak Season from Macks Canyon to the Columbia

July is the pinnacle of the Lower Deschutes smallmouth bass season. Here's how to fish the 25-mile roadless canyon between Macks Canyon and Heritage Landing — one of Oregon's most rewarding summer float trips.

By HFR Staff  · July 26, 2026
North Santiam River Summer Steelhead: A Wade Angler's Guide to Oregon's Western Cascades Wild Fish

North Santiam River Summer Steelhead: A Wade Angler's Guide to Oregon's Western Cascades Wild Fish

The North Santiam holds a run of wild summer steelhead that most anglers drive right past on the way to more famous rivers. Here's how to find and catch them.

By HFR Staff  · July 25, 2026
Rogue River Estuary Chinook at Gold Beach: Summer Salmon Tactics for Oregon's Best-Kept July Secret

Rogue River Estuary Chinook at Gold Beach: Summer Salmon Tactics for Oregon's Best-Kept July Secret

Every July, the Rogue River estuary at Gold Beach produces chrome-bright Chinook salmon from 15 to 35+ pounds with far less pressure than the Columbia or Willamette. Here's how to fish it.

By HFR Staff  · July 24, 2026
Pine Hollow Reservoir: Summer Largemouth Bass and Crappie Fishing in Oregon's Wasco County Foothills

Pine Hollow Reservoir: Summer Largemouth Bass and Crappie Fishing in Oregon's Wasco County Foothills

Pine Hollow Reservoir sits at 1,700 feet in Oregon's Wasco County, offering consistent largemouth bass and crappie fishing with minimal pressure. Here's how to target both species during the summer months.

By HFR Staff  · July 23, 2026
Owyhee Lake Fishing Guide: Largemouth Bass, Crappie, and Catfish in Oregon's Largest Desert Reservoir

Owyhee Lake Fishing Guide: Largemouth Bass, Crappie, and Catfish in Oregon's Largest Desert Reservoir

Owyhee Lake stretches 53 miles through one of Oregon's most remote desert canyons, hiding world-class largemouth bass, black crappie, and channel catfish. Here's your complete summer fishing guide.

By HFR Staff  · July 22, 2026
Nestucca River Fall Chinook Salmon: A Complete Guide to Oregon's North Coast Gem

Nestucca River Fall Chinook Salmon: A Complete Guide to Oregon's North Coast Gem

The Nestucca River delivers one of Oregon's most consistent fall Chinook runs, yet most anglers sleep on it in favor of busier systems. Here's what you need to know before the September opener.

By HFR Staff  · July 21, 2026
Nehalem River Fall Chinook Salmon: Oregon's Premier North Coast River

Nehalem River Fall Chinook Salmon: Oregon's Premier North Coast River

The Nehalem River delivers some of the best fall Chinook fishing on the Oregon coast. Here's everything you need to know — run timing, access points, tackle, and tactics for the season ahead.

By HFR Staff  · July 20, 2026
Lake Simtustus: Summer Trout and Smallmouth Bass Below Pelton Dam

Lake Simtustus: Summer Trout and Smallmouth Bass Below Pelton Dam

Tucked below the Pelton Dam on the Deschutes River, Lake Simtustus is one of Central Oregon's most overlooked warm-weather fisheries — offering big rainbow trout, chunky smallmouth bass, and light boat traffic all summer long.

By HFR Staff  · July 19, 2026
Oregon's Northern Pike Minnow Reward Program: Get Paid to Fish the Columbia and Snake Rivers

Oregon's Northern Pike Minnow Reward Program: Get Paid to Fish the Columbia and Snake Rivers

Oregon and Washington pay cash rewards for every Northern Pike Minnow you catch on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Here's how the program works, where to fish, and how to maximize your summer catch.

By HFR Staff  · July 18, 2026