The Middle Fork of the Willamette is flowing at ideal levels for trout and steelhead fishing.
With approx 810 cubic feet per second being released out of Hills Creek dam the Middle Fork near Oakridge is very “wadable” and “boatable”. Salt Creek, Salmon Creek and the North Fork of the Willamette have all settled in terms of run off and the river is in fine shape overall. Trout Fishing has been very good despite some bright and windy conditions of late. Best fly patterns include CDC Green McKenzie Caddis, Parachute Adams, Pale Morning Duns, Little Yellow Stonefly patterns and larger Golden Stone fly patterns. Look for mornings and evenings to produce best on the surface and then go deeper with Jigged Possie Buggers, Flashback Pheasant Tails, Copper Johns and smaller Stonefly Nymphs.
Steelhead numbers in the Willamette River are similar to what we had last year, approx 6600 fish over Willamette Falls at the end of May. While this number is half of the May 2012 count, water conditions on the Willamette are much better this year, allowing anglers to catch more fish to date. From Dexter Dam all the way into “The Town Run” water conditions are low and give boating and wading anglers a chance to give the water “full coverage”. Best flies for the Willamette are Moal Leeches, Reverse Marabou Leech, Versi Tube and Green Butt Silver Hilton.
Get out there and enjoy!
Can you tell me how to get to the middle fork from Portland . I would like to take my 75year old father from CT. He is an avid angler and wants to wade the river. Can you recommend the right places to go?
Thank you
Hi Theresa,
There is some good wading at the campground just upstream from Lookout Point reservoir. Take exit 188 off I5 onto 58, towards Oakridge, and look for the campground on the left just after the reservoir.