Sandy River fish migration
The Sandy River is home to migrating salmon and steelhead virtually year-round. The chart below shows typical migration patterns and the months when runs peak – the best time to schedule a fishing trip on the Sandy.
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Spring chinook
Spring chinook salmon are native to the Sandy River, although in the 1960s the run had diminished to an average of less than 200 fish. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife began releasing Willamette stock spring chinook into the Sandy in 1975, with the first adults returning in 1977. With the decommissioning of Marmot Dam, a new brood stock was created in 2002 using native, wild fish. The conversion to a native stock should be complete by 2007 with the release of 300,000 smolts in the lower river.
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Fall chinook
The Sandy River’s fall chinook spawn in the main stem of the lower river below where Marmot Dam once stood. These fish are in the Sandy from September through January. A substantial number of strays from the Columbia spawn in the Sandy. There are two main stocks: the early returning tule stock and a late bright stock that is in the river from November through January.
Coho salmon
Although there is considerable natural reproduction of coho salmon in the Sandy system, the bulk of the run comes from the Sandy River salmon hatchery located on Cedar Creek. These hatchery coho are the early returning variety, with peak activity in September and October. A late returning stock can arrive as late as February.
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Summer steelhead
Summer steelhead were introduced into the Sandy River from the Washougal River’s Skamania stock in 1975. This is the same stock that is used on the Clackamas River. Most of the fish return to the Sandy River.
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Winter steelhead
There are two stocks of winter steelhead in the Sandy River. An early run stock of hatchery origin is supported by annual stocking. The native winter run arrives from December through March and spawns from March through May. The Marmot Dam decommissioning has also initiated a conversion of this stock in 2001 to a native brood stock. Currently, 160,000 smolts are being released in the lower river.
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Sea-run cutthroat trout
Sea-run cutthroat trout are in the Sandy from September through December.
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