River levels best for fishing are at or below 3,000 cfs, and the river is currently running at around 1,040 cfs at the gage in Mahama. Both the summer steelhead and spring chinook runs are starting to slow down. About 4,500 summer steelhead and nearly 30,000 spring chinook have passed above Willamette Falls as of July 13. Many of these fish have already arrived in the North Santiam basin with more arriving every day. A bobber and jig set-up or drifting a cluster of salmon eggs is the usual technique, but flies and spinning lures will work as well, depending on flow conditions.

There are several large, downed trees in the river creating some dangerous hazards for boaters in the lower river. For more information check out the Oregon State Marine Board website.

Fishing for steelhead is open year-round, but the use of bait is not allowed between Nov. 1 and April 21.