Fishing is generally best when flows are below 3,000 cfs. Currently they are at 4,200 at the Waterloo gage, a significant increase as Green Peter Reservoir is drawn down. High flows are likely to persist throughout the fall and into December. The deep drawdown will cause the river to get turbid and will likely put off all fishing until they begin to fill the reservoir up again in late December.

This year's memorable summer steelhead run is mostly complete, but fish will be in the river and available for several more months. Approximately 18,800 hatchery steelhead have crossed Willamette Falls so far this year and most of them are now in their home rivers. Over 3,000 of these fish have already been counted at Foster Dam.