Willamette River
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Sep 17
Oregon DWR
COAST FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER: Chinook, summer steelhead, trout
Was last stocked the week of July 27 with 800 hatchery rainbow trout.
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 9/15/26.
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.
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 8/24/26.
WILLAMETTE RIVER: Steelhead, spring Chinook, coho salmon, bass, walleye, shad, catch-and-release sturgeon
There isn't much salmonid opportunity in the Willamette River in late August, but there will be coho abundance increasing in the system beginning in September. Late September and October are great times to target coho, especially above Willamette Falls. Willamette River is about 75 degrees now, so warmwater fishing is a good option for the rest of the summer. Consider fishing for bass, walleye, and other warmwater species that reside in the Willamette River and Multnomah Channel. The section from Buena Vista up to Peoria is especially good for Walleye. These fish are generally found in deeper water near the bottom during the day so getting your nightcrawler deep is key.
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 last stocked the week of July 27 with 800 hatchery rainbow trout.
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 9/15/26.
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.
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 8/24/26.
WILLAMETTE RIVER: Steelhead, spring Chinook, coho salmon, bass, walleye, shad, catch-and-release sturgeon
There isn't much salmonid opportunity in the Willamette River in late August, but there will be coho abundance increasing in the system beginning in September. Late September and October are great times to target coho, especially above Willamette Falls. Willamette River is about 75 degrees now, so warmwater fishing is a good option for the rest of the summer. Consider fishing for bass, walleye, and other warmwater species that reside in the Willamette River and Multnomah Channel. The section from Buena Vista up to Peoria is especially good for Walleye. These fish are generally found in deeper water near the bottom during the day so getting your nightcrawler deep is key.
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.
Sep 11
The Caddis Fly Angling Shop
Starling is an underutilized feather in the fly tying world. It is an absolutely phenomenal choice for smaller offerings that require a soft hackle collar. Starling feathers are made of soft barbules that pulsate much like partridge or grouse, but has a darker solid color. The beauty of starling is that all of the feathers are pressed for smaller flies. Grouse and partridge skins have feathers sized 8-20, while starling skins are more in the 14-24 range.
It is one of my favorite materials for soft hackles, jigs, even stillborn emergers when the pattern requires a dark collar. One of my favorite color combinations of all time is orange and olive. It is a fantastic combination that doesnt have too much contrast, and can fool picky and reckless fish alike.
I like to fish this pattern when there are baetis species and caddis emerging, these hatches typically accompany each other in the spring and fall. The fly and bead can certainly be sized up or down depending on your needs. I also fish this fly in a few other colors including purple and black with the same orange wire. This fly serves as a fantastic template and colors can be swapped easily to mimic different insects. Theyre quick and painless to tie, whip some up and hit the river, cooler temps are coming!
-Simon
Recipe
Hook- Ahrex CZ Mini Jig FW555: Size 14, 16***, 18
Bead- Fulling Mill Slotted Copper Tungsten Bead: 1/8 or 3.2mm*** or 5/32 or 3.8mm
Thread- Fulling Mill Olive*** Purple, or Black Pro Flat Thread: 70 Denier (New)
Hot Tag- Hareline Fluoro Fibre: Flourescent Orange
Abdomen- Fulling Mill Olive*** or Purple Pro Flat Thread: 70 Denier (New) & Uni Small Soft Wire: Orange
Thorax- Hareline Peacock Herl
Collar- Hareline Starling Skin
UV Resin- Solarez Bone Dry
UV Torch- Loon Plasma Light
Bobbin- Stonfo Steeltech Bobbin
Vise- Renzetti Master & Deluxe Streamer Base
***Denotes Size/Color used in the tutorial, additional suggestions are listed
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Caddis Fly Shop
Caddis Fly Shop
168 W 6th Ave
Eugene, or 97401
Phone: (541) 342-7005
Email: [email protected]
It is one of my favorite materials for soft hackles, jigs, even stillborn emergers when the pattern requires a dark collar. One of my favorite color combinations of all time is orange and olive. It is a fantastic combination that doesnt have too much contrast, and can fool picky and reckless fish alike.
I like to fish this pattern when there are baetis species and caddis emerging, these hatches typically accompany each other in the spring and fall. The fly and bead can certainly be sized up or down depending on your needs. I also fish this fly in a few other colors including purple and black with the same orange wire. This fly serves as a fantastic template and colors can be swapped easily to mimic different insects. Theyre quick and painless to tie, whip some up and hit the river, cooler temps are coming!
-Simon
Recipe
Hook- Ahrex CZ Mini Jig FW555: Size 14, 16***, 18
Bead- Fulling Mill Slotted Copper Tungsten Bead: 1/8 or 3.2mm*** or 5/32 or 3.8mm
Thread- Fulling Mill Olive*** Purple, or Black Pro Flat Thread: 70 Denier (New)
Hot Tag- Hareline Fluoro Fibre: Flourescent Orange
Abdomen- Fulling Mill Olive*** or Purple Pro Flat Thread: 70 Denier (New) & Uni Small Soft Wire: Orange
Thorax- Hareline Peacock Herl
Collar- Hareline Starling Skin
UV Resin- Solarez Bone Dry
UV Torch- Loon Plasma Light
Bobbin- Stonfo Steeltech Bobbin
Vise- Renzetti Master & Deluxe Streamer Base
***Denotes Size/Color used in the tutorial, additional suggestions are listed
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