River levels best for fishing are at or below 3,000 cfs, and the river is currently running at around 1,000 cfs at the gage in Mahama. The spring chinook run for the Upper Willamette is complete and at this point all the adults are in their spawning tributaries. Most of these fish are above Stayton, but a few stragglers can be found in downstream sections. The summer steelhead run is also complete for the most part. About 4,500 summer steelhead and over 30,000 spring chinook have passed above Willamette Falls as of July 31. 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.