Fishing is generally best when flows are below 3,000cfs. Flows are currently at around 1,140cfs at the gage in Waterloo. The 2026 Chinook run is arriving in good numbers now and can be found throughout the basin, with more arriving every day. Summer steelhead numbers are starting to pick up and about 4,400 over Willamette Falls so far. More are coming every day, and they can be found throughout the river basin. Fishing for hatchery steelhead is open year-round. The use of bait is now allowed through the end of October.