Fishing Report: Rainbows at Alton Baker, steelhead on the McKenzie

by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Here are a few local highlights from the June 23, 2022 Fishing Report for the Willamette Zone.

• The Alton Baker Canoe Canal will be stocked again this week with 900 rainbow trout. The canoe canal is open to fishing all year, all along its two-mile length—from Day Island Road in Eugene to Aspen Street in Springfield. Directly behind Kowloon Restaurant is a good spot, as is the four-acre pond at the midpoint of the canal.
• The McKenzie River below Leaburg Dam is seeing the best return of summer steelhead in four years, and conditions for spring Chinook look good. (The Leaburg Dam fish counts are a great spring salmon and summer steelhead resource.)
• Fishing conditions on the upstream section of the Willamette between Albany and Harrisburg are getting better and better for both trout and smallmouth bass.
• Trout fishing has been good at Detroit Reservoir.
• Chinook are arriving in good numbers in the South Santiam. Once flows drop a bit, salmon anglers should be ready to hit the water.

To be stocked this week

Alton Baker Canal, Silver Creek Reservoir, Salmon Creek, Leaburg Lake, Estacada Lake, McKenzie River (both above and below Leaburg Dam), Detroit Reservoir, Blue River, Trillium Lake, Coast Fork Willamette River, North Fork Reservoir, Henry Hagg Lake.

Check for in-season regulation changes

Starting April 16, anglers above Willamette Falls are able to use the two-rod endorsement based on in-season passage results.

About the Willamette Zone

Abundant rainfall feeds the massive Willamette River watershed, tamed by a system of reservoirs that are stocked annually with hundreds of thousands of rainbow trout. Some of these reservoirs also grow trophy-size largemouth and smallmouth bass, as well as bluegill, brown bullhead and crappies. Smaller lakes and ponds nearer the valley floor provide springtime trout fishing close to home. Salmon and steelhead navigate the Willamette River and its tributaries, many of which are also home to rainbow and cutthroat trout.

For more information

In addition to the Fishing Report, recreation reports are also available for Crabbing and Clamming, Big Game Hunting, Game Bird Hunting, and Wildlife Viewing. For more, see https://myodfw.com.