Fishing is generally best when flows are below 3,000cfs. Flows are currently at around 850 cfs at the gage in Waterloo. The 2026 Chinook run is mostly complete, but it has been fairly strong. Most adults are above Waterloo and are concentrating between Pleasant Valley boat ramp and Wiley Creek. The hatchery chinook fishery closes on August 31. The summer steelhead run turned out better than average this year. About 9,400 steelhead adults have been counting at Willamette Falls so far. They can be found throughout the river basin, with most fish concentrated in the upper 8 miles below Foster Dam. Fishing for hatchery steelhead is open year-round. The use of bait is now allowed through the end of October.