Fishing is generally best when flows are below 3,000 cfs. Currently flows are at 4,000 cfs at the Waterloo gauge. This basin was mostly untouched by wildfires and is safe to explore. 

About 5,500 summer steelhead crossed Willamette Falls on their way to the upper basin and over 800 of these have made it to the fish ladder below Foster Dam.  Fishing for smallmouth bass can be very good during the warm months below Lebanon.

The entire river is now closed to trout fishing until May 22.