Running clear and clean the Upper Clackamas river drains the Mt. Hood National Forest and travels through a rich alpine forest. Only 45 minutes from the greater Portland area and 1.5 hours from Salem, this river hosts annual runs of thousands of salmon, steelhead and trout. Another great feature of the Clackamas is its year-round quality fishing. Summer steelhead, fall coho salmon, winter steelhead, and spring chinook are all availalble.
The Clackamas is a great place for
drift boat fishing. You have the option of floating a couple of different
sections depending on the run, and each has lots of room for casting and
drifting. The prime fishing season for steelhead is from December to April. The
winter fish are known for their size and fight. It is entirely possible to land
a 20+ pounder. And, the Clackamas steelhead runs have grown dramatically in the
past few years, evidence of a healthy fishery. In the late 1990's less than 200
fish were counted. Last year, after years of increases, the number reached over
2000! In addition, some hatchery broodstock are found on the Clackamas, usually
from February on.
Summer steelhead show up shortly thereafter. Spring chinook are
running in April, May and June as well, with the fall coho arriving in
September or October. So, regardless of when in the year you want to fish, the
Clackamas is a great choice. With a mixture of dense forest and light
development, easy access to Portland, and great runs of fish, we highly
recommend the Clackamas!
Prices for Clackamas river fishing
are:
Clackamas 1-Day: $475 per boat. All trips include drift boat for
two people; all top-quality gear; professional guide; all meals. Please be sure
to bring foul weather clothing and the appropriate fishing license. Please add
a 6% govt./land use fee to the above prices.
