River levels best for fishing are at or below 3,000 cfs, and the river is currently running at about 3,500 cfs at the gage in Mehama. A few dozen summer steelhead have passed up above Willamette Falls so far, but the run is still in its very early stages. It will be a few more weeks before they arrive in good numbers in the basin.

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