Steelhead fishing conditions saw further improvement in the last week during the pleasant spring-like temperatures and decent flows. The river is currently fishable. Expect to find a few early summer steelhead around as well as maybe a spring Chinook in the mix. Best success has been in the early morning and later evening hours when the sunlight is off the water. A few spring Chinook have been trapped at PGE’s sorting facility above Estacada; however, those fish have been all wild origin. Steelhead are scattered throughout the river.

The level of the river is now holding up at 11.88ft. at the Estacada Gauge, and is on a steady drop. The color of the river is looking classic “steelhead green” and will only continue to improve for fishing opportunity.

USGS hydrological data for May 29 shows river flows at 1,950cfs water temperature up a several degrees to 52° F, and the gauge at 11.88 ft. All of the readings come from the Estacada gauge near Milo McIver State Park. Hydrologic data and river forecasts can also be accessed on the NOAA/National Weather Service NW River Forecast Center -- NW River Forecast Center.