Clackamas River 

Pacific Northwest

The Clackamas River begins as a high alpine stream in the Northern Oregon Cascade Mountains before it descends over eighty miles to the west where it eventually meets the tidally influenced Willamette River in Oregon City. Known locally as the Clack, it drains the forests, springs and snowmelt of the western Cascadian ridgeline between Mt Hood and Mt Jefferson. The source of its most northern fork is less than ten miles from the house guide Jeff Hickman grew up in. This cold, clear, nutrient-rich water is perfect habitat for many fish species, both resident and anadromous.

Location:
The Clackamas River is located 25 miles southeast of Portland, OR.

Fishing Program:
The Clackamas River’s water from the mouth upstream to River Mill Dam near Estacada is where all of its anadromous fishing takes place. This section of river provides an abundance of awesome year-round opportunities for the steelhead angler. Its waters beg for flies swung on two-handed rods and chrome fish are present twelve months out of the year to intercept your flies and stretch your backing.

Fishing the lower Clack, you will wade in the green water and swing flies through the river’s countless ledgy slots, boulder strewn runs and broad tailouts. Jeff prefers to use his 20ft jet boat to get from spot to spot. The jet boat gives him maximum flexibility to adjust and adapt to changing conditions and the ability to stay in the fish and not waste time floating between spots. The Clack’s bounty is no secret. Don’t expect to be the only boat on the water, though with the flexibility of the jet boat you can usually find solitude and be at the right spot at the right time to connect with the river’s awesome ocean bright fish. The fact that there are others on the water factors into choice of fishing techniques. First thing in the morning with good water conditions you may fish a bigger fly on a light sink tip over a broad tail out to rested fish. When you pull into another run later in the day, Jeff assumes that you are not the first person to fish that spot and switch to a smaller fly with a larger sink-tip and concentrate your efforts on the deepest slot of the run.

Taking into consideration all of the factors on the river greatly increases the odds of finding fish on a swung fly. Luckily for us, Clack fish are very aggressive to the fly, and if your efforts are concentrated in the right places, you are often rewarded.

Accommodations and Meals:
Recommended Hotels:
Best Western Sandy Inn
37465 Highway 26
Sandy, Oregon 97055-7207
503.668.7100

Courtyard Portland Southeast
9300 SE Sunnybrook Blvd.
Clackamas, Oregon 97015
503.652.2900

Complete Trip Details