River levels best for fishing are at or below 3,000 cfs, and the river is currently running at around 3,650 cfs at the gage in Mahama. The coho run is now complete with the majority of the fish now spawning in their tributaries and no longer accessible to anglers. There are a few holdover summer steelhead, however. A bobber and jig set-up or drifting a cluster of eggs is the usual technique, but spin casting with lures or swinging large streamer flies through the pools can also work.

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