Every September, the Clackamas River transforms. The salmon are running, the maples are turning gold, and Portland's best urban fishery is at its absolute peak.
There's a stretch of the Clackamas River just 20 minutes from downtown Portland where, every September, something remarkable happens. The fall Chinook salmon arrive from the Pacific, pushing upstream through the Columbia and into the Clackamas on their final journey. The river that spent the summer as a quiet recreational waterway suddenly pulses with life.
I've been chasing fall Chinook on the Clackamas for most of my twelve years in the PNW. It's a fishery that rewards patience and local knowledge — the fish move in waves, and timing matters enormously.
Reading the River
The Clackamas Chinook run typically peaks in late September and early October, though fish begin entering the river as early as August. The best fishing is usually on the incoming tide, when fresh fish push upriver on the surge.
The key lies are predictable: deep pools below riffles, the inside bends of major curves, and any place where a tributary enters the main river. Salmon rest in these spots, gathering energy for the upstream push.
The Gear
For Clackamas Chinook, I fish a 10-foot 9-weight fly rod with a full-sink line, or a medium-heavy spinning setup with 30-pound braid and a fluorocarbon leader. Flies that work: large egg patterns, pink and chartreuse Glo-Bugs, and weighted streamers in orange and pink. For conventional gear, cured salmon eggs under a float, or a Kwikfish lure with sardine wrap.
A September Morning
The morning I'm thinking of, the river was running slightly off-color from overnight rain — perfect conditions. I was fishing a deep pool at the base of a riffle, watching my float drift through the seam between fast and slow water.
The float went down hard. The fish ran immediately, taking me into my backing before I could get downstream. It was a wild Chinook, maybe 25 pounds, and it fought like nothing I've hooked on this river. After 40 minutes, I brought it to the bank — a perfect wild fall Chinook, adipose fin intact. Back it went.
Access Points
The Clackamas has excellent public access throughout its lower reaches. Barton Park, Carver Park, and McIver State Park all offer good bank fishing opportunities. The river is also popular with drift boat anglers, particularly during the peak Chinook run.
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Born in Portland and raised in McMinnville, Oregon, Allan has been fishing for most of his life — from the rivers of the Willamette Valley to the Oregon coast, Cabo San Lucas, and the California Pacific. His oldest brother Steven runs a sports fishing business in Oregon. This blog is his way of sharing what he's learned.