Willamette River
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Recent Guide Reports
Jun 28
The Caddis Fly Angling Shop
From: Native Fish Society June 2026
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District, posted a press release on Tuesday outlining its plan for operating Willamette Valley Dams. Immediate actions include a deep drawdown for Detroit Reservoir as well as seasonal drawdowns / water-spills, and fish-weir operations at key facilities to aid in downstream migration, volitional passage, and improve water quality.
Specific, tailored operations include
By drawing down the Willamette River Basin reservoirs, the Corps can return the river to a more natural flow and restore endangered salmon populations. Deep drawdowns allow juvenile fish to migrate more easily by reducing the length of the reservoirs while also allowing the fish to access lower outlets on the dams, avoiding dangerous turbines.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District, posted a press release on Tuesday outlining its plan for operating Willamette Valley Dams. Immediate actions include a deep drawdown for Detroit Reservoir as well as seasonal drawdowns / water-spills, and fish-weir operations at key facilities to aid in downstream migration, volitional passage, and improve water quality.
Specific, tailored operations include
By drawing down the Willamette River Basin reservoirs, the Corps can return the river to a more natural flow and restore endangered salmon populations. Deep drawdowns allow juvenile fish to migrate more easily by reducing the length of the reservoirs while also allowing the fish to access lower outlets on the dams, avoiding dangerous turbines.
This report was written by The Caddis Fly Angling Shop:
http://www.caddisflyshop.com/
(541) 342-7005
(541) 342-7005
Jun 25
Oregon DWR
COAST FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER: Chinook, summer steelhead, trout
Was stocked the week of June 9th with 800 hatchery rainbow trout.
Chinook fishing should be good throughout the month of June.
The river is open to fishing all year for trout, hatchery Chinook salmon, hatchery steelhead and wild steelhead over 24 inches.
Use of bait is allowed April 22 Oct. 31 but beginning Nov. 1 anglers may only use lures and artificial flies. In addition to five hatchery trout, two wild trout may be kept daily. Last updated 6/15/26.
MIDDLE FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER: Trout, steelhead, Chinook
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers refurbished the boat ramp on the south side of the Middle Fork Willamette just below Dexter Dam allowing drift boat and raft access. Chinook fishing should be really good! The hatchery hasn't started collecting fish in the new ladder yet but will start collecting next week. Chinook and summer steelhead fishing should be good June July downstream of Dexter Dam.
A Columbia River Basin Endorsement is required for anglers targeting salmon and steelhead.
The Middle Fork Willamette above Lookout Point and Hills Creek reservoirs are open to fishing using lures and artificial flies. All wild trout must be released upstream of Lookout Point Reservoir. The Middle Fork Willamette River is not stocked with hatchery trout. Last updated 6/15/26.
WILLAMETTE RIVER: Steelhead, spring Chinook, coho salmon, bass, walleye, shad, catch-and-release sturgeon,
From June 15 - 21, anglers in the lower Willamette River harvested an estimated 667 Chinook and released 180 Chinook. Most of the boat effort and Chinook catch was in the area below the St. Johns Bridge. Bank anglers in the Oregon City area reported no salmonid catch.
The water temperature is now over 70 degrees in the Willamette River, and the bite is often in the earliest hours of the day once the water gets this warm. Most of the successful springer anglers are fishing with 360 flashers and spinners or hard plastic "stuffer" baits. Fishing near the head of channel is still productive, but as we approach July the Kelley Point area is improving please observe the deadline boundary with the Columbia when fishing in this area. Target fishing in this area on early mornings and incoming to high tides.
Shad fishing is still good in Oregon City. Last week, an estimated 2,773 shad were kept and 753 were released for 644 anglers, an average of 5.5 shad per angler. You can find them throughout the system, but the best shad fishing occurs in the Oregon City area. Use small spoons and shad darts to target them from a boat or from the bank. Clackamette Park is a productive area to try catching these abundant, hard-fighting fish.
Warmwater fishing is becoming a productive option on the Willamette with the water temperature over 70 degrees. Consider fishing for bass, walleye, and other warmwater species that reside in the Willamette River and Multnomah Channel. Walleye fishing can be especially productive in the lower Multnomah Channel this time of year.
As a reminder, per permanent regulations, sturgeon angling is prohibited from the Lake OswegoOak Grove Railroad Bridge upstream to Willamette Falls from May 1 through August 31.
See Willamette Catch Summaries for more details on spring chinook, steelhead and sturgeon here.
Was stocked the week of June 9th with 800 hatchery rainbow trout.
Chinook fishing should be good throughout the month of June.
The river is open to fishing all year for trout, hatchery Chinook salmon, hatchery steelhead and wild steelhead over 24 inches.
Use of bait is allowed April 22 Oct. 31 but beginning Nov. 1 anglers may only use lures and artificial flies. In addition to five hatchery trout, two wild trout may be kept daily. Last updated 6/15/26.
MIDDLE FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER: Trout, steelhead, Chinook
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers refurbished the boat ramp on the south side of the Middle Fork Willamette just below Dexter Dam allowing drift boat and raft access. Chinook fishing should be really good! The hatchery hasn't started collecting fish in the new ladder yet but will start collecting next week. Chinook and summer steelhead fishing should be good June July downstream of Dexter Dam.
A Columbia River Basin Endorsement is required for anglers targeting salmon and steelhead.
The Middle Fork Willamette above Lookout Point and Hills Creek reservoirs are open to fishing using lures and artificial flies. All wild trout must be released upstream of Lookout Point Reservoir. The Middle Fork Willamette River is not stocked with hatchery trout. Last updated 6/15/26.
WILLAMETTE RIVER: Steelhead, spring Chinook, coho salmon, bass, walleye, shad, catch-and-release sturgeon,
From June 15 - 21, anglers in the lower Willamette River harvested an estimated 667 Chinook and released 180 Chinook. Most of the boat effort and Chinook catch was in the area below the St. Johns Bridge. Bank anglers in the Oregon City area reported no salmonid catch.
The water temperature is now over 70 degrees in the Willamette River, and the bite is often in the earliest hours of the day once the water gets this warm. Most of the successful springer anglers are fishing with 360 flashers and spinners or hard plastic "stuffer" baits. Fishing near the head of channel is still productive, but as we approach July the Kelley Point area is improving please observe the deadline boundary with the Columbia when fishing in this area. Target fishing in this area on early mornings and incoming to high tides.
Shad fishing is still good in Oregon City. Last week, an estimated 2,773 shad were kept and 753 were released for 644 anglers, an average of 5.5 shad per angler. You can find them throughout the system, but the best shad fishing occurs in the Oregon City area. Use small spoons and shad darts to target them from a boat or from the bank. Clackamette Park is a productive area to try catching these abundant, hard-fighting fish.
Warmwater fishing is becoming a productive option on the Willamette with the water temperature over 70 degrees. Consider fishing for bass, walleye, and other warmwater species that reside in the Willamette River and Multnomah Channel. Walleye fishing can be especially productive in the lower Multnomah Channel this time of year.
As a reminder, per permanent regulations, sturgeon angling is prohibited from the Lake OswegoOak Grove Railroad Bridge upstream to Willamette Falls from May 1 through August 31.
See Willamette Catch Summaries for more details on spring chinook, steelhead and sturgeon here.
Jun 22
The Caddis Fly Angling Shop
Yellow Sallies are a small, yet important summer bug in the Western US. They are often overlooked as other warm weather stoneflies are much larger like Salmonflies, Skwalas, Gold Stones, Shortwing Stones, Etc. These bugs come in a yellow, more known, variant, and a bright Lime Sally as well that is similar sized. Here in Oregon, the only place Ive seen Lime Sallies in abundance is on the Wood river down south. Regardless of what color the adult is, small sized 14 stonefly nymphs are preparing for emergence and trout are getting keyed in on them this time of year. Here is a simple, but effective Sally pattern that will make a phenomenal dropper under a larger Golden Stonefly for most of the summer. Depending on the type of water you are searching in, you may want to size the bead down a size to a 1/8 or 3.2mm Gold Slotted Tungsten Bead. The adults make a fantastic searching pattern as well, especially on smaller water. If youre a fan of this patterns construction, you certainly could size it up for a Gold Stone to an 8-10, or even bigger #6-8 for Salmonflies.
-Simon
Hook- Ahrex CZ Mini Jig Barbless FW555: Size 14
Bead- Fulling Mill Gold Slotted Tungsten Bead: 5/32 or 3.8mm or 1/8 or 3.2mm
Thread- Fulling Mill Tan Pro Flat Thread: 70D
Tail- Hareline Turkey Biot Quill: Sulphur Orange
Abdomen- Hareline Standard Hollow Tubing: LT Gold Stone
Thorax- Hareline Ice Dub: Gold
Legs- Montana Fly Co. Small Barred Sexi Floss: Yellow
Wing Case- Hareline Cinnamon Tip Turkey Feather
UV Resin- Solarez Bone Dry
UV Torch- Loon Plasma Light
Bobbin- Smhaen Tension Bobbin
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Caddis Fly Angling Shop
Shop Online from all over the World
Caddis Fly Shop
Caddis Fly Shop
168 W 6th Ave
Eugene, or 97401
Phone: (541) 342-7005
Email: [email protected]
-Simon
Hook- Ahrex CZ Mini Jig Barbless FW555: Size 14
Bead- Fulling Mill Gold Slotted Tungsten Bead: 5/32 or 3.8mm or 1/8 or 3.2mm
Thread- Fulling Mill Tan Pro Flat Thread: 70D
Tail- Hareline Turkey Biot Quill: Sulphur Orange
Abdomen- Hareline Standard Hollow Tubing: LT Gold Stone
Thorax- Hareline Ice Dub: Gold
Legs- Montana Fly Co. Small Barred Sexi Floss: Yellow
Wing Case- Hareline Cinnamon Tip Turkey Feather
UV Resin- Solarez Bone Dry
UV Torch- Loon Plasma Light
Bobbin- Smhaen Tension Bobbin
Follow us on Instagram
Caddis Fly Shop: @Caddisflyshop
Oregon Fly Fishing Blog: @OregonFlyFishingBlog
Caddis Fly Travel: @Caddis_Fly_Travel
Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Caddis Fly Angling Shop
Shop Online from all over the World
Caddis Fly Shop
Caddis Fly Shop
168 W 6th Ave
Eugene, or 97401
Phone: (541) 342-7005
Email: [email protected]
This report was written by The Caddis Fly Angling Shop:
http://www.caddisflyshop.com/
(541) 342-7005
(541) 342-7005
Jun 17
Oregon DWR
COAST FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER: Chinook, summer steelhead, trout
Will be stocked the week of June 9th with 800 hatchery rainbow trout.
Chinook fishing should be good throughout the month of June.
The river is open to fishing all year for trout, hatchery Chinook salmon, hatchery steelhead and wild steelhead over 24 inches.
Use of bait is allowed April 22 Oct. 31 but beginning Nov. 1 anglers may only use lures and artificial flies. In addition to five hatchery trout, two wild trout may be kept daily. Last updated 6/15/26.
MIDDLE FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER: Trout, steelhead, Chinook
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers refurbished the boat ramp on the south side of the Middle Fork Willamette just below Dexter Dam allowing drift boat and raft access. Chinook fishing should be really good! The hatchery hasn't started collecting fish in the new ladder yet but will start collecting next week. Chinook and summer steelhead fishing should be good June July downstream of Dexter Dam.
A Columbia River Basin Endorsement is required for anglers targeting salmon and steelhead.
The Middle Fork Willamette above Lookout Point and Hills Creek reservoirs are open to fishing using lures and artificial flies. All wild trout must be released upstream of Lookout Point Reservoir. The Middle Fork Willamette River is not stocked with hatchery trout. Last updated 6/15/26.
WILLAMETTE RIVER: Steelhead, spring Chinook, coho salmon, bass, walleye, shad, catch-and-release sturgeon,
From June 8 - 14, anglers in the lower Willamette River harvested an estimated 627 Chinook. Most of the boat effort and Chinook catch was in the area below the St. Johns Bridge. Bank anglers in the Oregon City area reported no salmonid catch.
The water temperature has warmed to over 65 degrees in the Willamette River, and the bite is often in the earliest hours of the day once the water gets this warm. Most of the successful springer anglers are fishing with 360 flashers and spinners tipped with coonstripe shrimp/prawns or hard plastic "stuffer" baits in the area where the Multnomah Channel and the Willamette Rivers intersect, known as the head of the channel. Chinook are being caught on both sides of the river from the powerlines just upriver from there all the way down to Kelley Point Park in June. Fishing near Kelley Point should improve in late June and July, with the best fishing often associated with high tide. Fishing has overall been slow within the Multnomah Channel and the areas above St. John's Bridge to Willamette Falls, but there are occasional springers being caught.
Shad fishing is still productive but will begin to slow down. An estimated 3,762 shad were kept and 1,168 were released for 1,374 anglers last week, an average of 3.6 shad per angler. You can find them throughout the system, but the best shad fishing occurs in the Oregon City area. Use small spoons and shad darts to target them from a boat or from the bank. Clackamette Park is a productive area to try catching these abundant, hard-fighting fish.
Warmwater fishing is becoming a productive option on the Willamette with water temperature approaching 70 degrees. Consider fishing for bass, walleye, and other warmwater species that reside in the Willamette River and Multnomah Channel. Walleye fishing can be especially productive in the lower Multnomah Channel this time of year.
As a reminder, per permanent regulations, sturgeon angling is prohibited from the Lake OswegoOak Grove Railroad Bridge upstream to Willamette Falls from May 1 through August 31.
See Willamette Catch Summaries for more details on spring chinook, steelhead and sturgeon here.
Will be stocked the week of June 9th with 800 hatchery rainbow trout.
Chinook fishing should be good throughout the month of June.
The river is open to fishing all year for trout, hatchery Chinook salmon, hatchery steelhead and wild steelhead over 24 inches.
Use of bait is allowed April 22 Oct. 31 but beginning Nov. 1 anglers may only use lures and artificial flies. In addition to five hatchery trout, two wild trout may be kept daily. Last updated 6/15/26.
MIDDLE FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER: Trout, steelhead, Chinook
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers refurbished the boat ramp on the south side of the Middle Fork Willamette just below Dexter Dam allowing drift boat and raft access. Chinook fishing should be really good! The hatchery hasn't started collecting fish in the new ladder yet but will start collecting next week. Chinook and summer steelhead fishing should be good June July downstream of Dexter Dam.
A Columbia River Basin Endorsement is required for anglers targeting salmon and steelhead.
The Middle Fork Willamette above Lookout Point and Hills Creek reservoirs are open to fishing using lures and artificial flies. All wild trout must be released upstream of Lookout Point Reservoir. The Middle Fork Willamette River is not stocked with hatchery trout. Last updated 6/15/26.
WILLAMETTE RIVER: Steelhead, spring Chinook, coho salmon, bass, walleye, shad, catch-and-release sturgeon,
From June 8 - 14, anglers in the lower Willamette River harvested an estimated 627 Chinook. Most of the boat effort and Chinook catch was in the area below the St. Johns Bridge. Bank anglers in the Oregon City area reported no salmonid catch.
The water temperature has warmed to over 65 degrees in the Willamette River, and the bite is often in the earliest hours of the day once the water gets this warm. Most of the successful springer anglers are fishing with 360 flashers and spinners tipped with coonstripe shrimp/prawns or hard plastic "stuffer" baits in the area where the Multnomah Channel and the Willamette Rivers intersect, known as the head of the channel. Chinook are being caught on both sides of the river from the powerlines just upriver from there all the way down to Kelley Point Park in June. Fishing near Kelley Point should improve in late June and July, with the best fishing often associated with high tide. Fishing has overall been slow within the Multnomah Channel and the areas above St. John's Bridge to Willamette Falls, but there are occasional springers being caught.
Shad fishing is still productive but will begin to slow down. An estimated 3,762 shad were kept and 1,168 were released for 1,374 anglers last week, an average of 3.6 shad per angler. You can find them throughout the system, but the best shad fishing occurs in the Oregon City area. Use small spoons and shad darts to target them from a boat or from the bank. Clackamette Park is a productive area to try catching these abundant, hard-fighting fish.
Warmwater fishing is becoming a productive option on the Willamette with water temperature approaching 70 degrees. Consider fishing for bass, walleye, and other warmwater species that reside in the Willamette River and Multnomah Channel. Walleye fishing can be especially productive in the lower Multnomah Channel this time of year.
As a reminder, per permanent regulations, sturgeon angling is prohibited from the Lake OswegoOak Grove Railroad Bridge upstream to Willamette Falls from May 1 through August 31.
See Willamette Catch Summaries for more details on spring chinook, steelhead and sturgeon here.
Jun 11
Oregon DWR
COAST FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER: Chinook, summer steelhead, trout
Will be stocked the second week of June with 800 hatchery rainbow trout.
Chinook fishing should be good throughout the month of June.
The river is open to fishing all year for trout, hatchery Chinook salmon, hatchery steelhead and wild steelhead over 24 inches.
Use of bait is allowed April 22 Oct. 31 but beginning Nov. 1 anglers may only use lures and artificial flies. In addition to five hatchery trout, two wild trout may be kept daily. Last updated 6/9/26.
MIDDLE FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER: Trout, steelhead, Chinook
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers refurbished the boat ramp on the south side of the Middle Fork Willamette just below Dexter Dam allowing drift boat and raft access. Chinook fishing should get started in mid-May and Chinook and summer steelhead fishing should be good June July downstream of Dexter Dam.
A Columbia River Basin Endorsement is required for anglers targeting salmon and steelhead.
The Middle Fork Willamette above Lookout Point and Hills Creek reservoirs are open to fishing using lures and artificial flies. All wild trout must be released upstream of Lookout Point Reservoir. The Middle Fork Willamette River is not stocked with hatchery trout. Last updated 6/1/26.
WILLAMETTE RIVER: Catch-and-release sturgeon, steelhead, spring Chinook, coho salmon, bass, walleye, shad
From June 1 June 7, anglers in the lower Willamette River harvested an estimated 589 Chinook. Most of the boat effort and Chinook catch was in the area below the St. Johns Bridge. Bank anglers in the Oregon City area reported no salmonid catch.
The water temperature has warmed to over 65 degrees in the Willamette River, and the bite is often in the earliest hours of the day once the water gets this warm. Most of the successful springer anglers are fishing with 360 flashers and spinners tipped with coonstripe shrimp/prawns or hard plastic "stuffer" baits in the area where the Multnomah Channel and the Willamette Rivers intersect, known as the head of the channel. Chinook are also often found on both sides of the river from the powerlines just upriver from there all the way down to Kelley Point Park in June. Fishing has overall been slow within the Multnomah Channel and the areas above St. John's Bridge to Willamette Falls, but there are occasional springers being caught.
Shad fishing has been great and should continue to be productive well into June. An estimated 3,771 shad were kept and 1,025 were released for 1,102 anglers last week, an average of over 4 shad per angler. You can find them throughout the system, but the best shad fishing occurs in the Oregon City area. Use small spoons and shad darts to target them from a boat or from the bank. Clackamette Park is a productive area to try catching these abundant, hard-fighting fish.
Warmwater fishing starts to become a productive option on the Willamette during times of warm water and low flows. As summer approaches, consider fishing for bass, walleye, and other warmwater species that reside in the Willamette River.
As a reminder, per permanent regulations, sturgeon angling is prohibited from the Lake OswegoOak Grove Railroad Bridge upstream to Willamette Falls from May 1 through August 31.
See Willamette Catch Summaries for more details on spring chinook, steelhead and sturgeon here.
Will be stocked the second week of June with 800 hatchery rainbow trout.
Chinook fishing should be good throughout the month of June.
The river is open to fishing all year for trout, hatchery Chinook salmon, hatchery steelhead and wild steelhead over 24 inches.
Use of bait is allowed April 22 Oct. 31 but beginning Nov. 1 anglers may only use lures and artificial flies. In addition to five hatchery trout, two wild trout may be kept daily. Last updated 6/9/26.
MIDDLE FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER: Trout, steelhead, Chinook
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers refurbished the boat ramp on the south side of the Middle Fork Willamette just below Dexter Dam allowing drift boat and raft access. Chinook fishing should get started in mid-May and Chinook and summer steelhead fishing should be good June July downstream of Dexter Dam.
A Columbia River Basin Endorsement is required for anglers targeting salmon and steelhead.
The Middle Fork Willamette above Lookout Point and Hills Creek reservoirs are open to fishing using lures and artificial flies. All wild trout must be released upstream of Lookout Point Reservoir. The Middle Fork Willamette River is not stocked with hatchery trout. Last updated 6/1/26.
WILLAMETTE RIVER: Catch-and-release sturgeon, steelhead, spring Chinook, coho salmon, bass, walleye, shad
From June 1 June 7, anglers in the lower Willamette River harvested an estimated 589 Chinook. Most of the boat effort and Chinook catch was in the area below the St. Johns Bridge. Bank anglers in the Oregon City area reported no salmonid catch.
The water temperature has warmed to over 65 degrees in the Willamette River, and the bite is often in the earliest hours of the day once the water gets this warm. Most of the successful springer anglers are fishing with 360 flashers and spinners tipped with coonstripe shrimp/prawns or hard plastic "stuffer" baits in the area where the Multnomah Channel and the Willamette Rivers intersect, known as the head of the channel. Chinook are also often found on both sides of the river from the powerlines just upriver from there all the way down to Kelley Point Park in June. Fishing has overall been slow within the Multnomah Channel and the areas above St. John's Bridge to Willamette Falls, but there are occasional springers being caught.
Shad fishing has been great and should continue to be productive well into June. An estimated 3,771 shad were kept and 1,025 were released for 1,102 anglers last week, an average of over 4 shad per angler. You can find them throughout the system, but the best shad fishing occurs in the Oregon City area. Use small spoons and shad darts to target them from a boat or from the bank. Clackamette Park is a productive area to try catching these abundant, hard-fighting fish.
Warmwater fishing starts to become a productive option on the Willamette during times of warm water and low flows. As summer approaches, consider fishing for bass, walleye, and other warmwater species that reside in the Willamette River.
As a reminder, per permanent regulations, sturgeon angling is prohibited from the Lake OswegoOak Grove Railroad Bridge upstream to Willamette Falls from May 1 through August 31.
See Willamette Catch Summaries for more details on spring chinook, steelhead and sturgeon here.