Now that you know you might screw it up the next time a big fish bites, let's fix it. Reply. At SE Bluff Road, turn left. The McKenzie River flows out of the Willamette National Forest and the Cougar Reservoir in the northwest region of the state. The Kirkland, Wash., angler said the river is so consistent that it's worth fishing, regardless of what the water looks like. The Leaburg Dam fish counts are a great spring salmon and summer steelhead resource, and information is back online. When the road forks, bear left and drive to SE Lusted Road, which eventually turns into SE Ten Eyck Road. The man for the job. Rainier feeds the system. Flyfishermen, drift-fishermen, spinners, bobber-jig, and bait fishermen can fish almost side by side and not interfere with each other. Stocking of the lower McKenzie will resume in the spring. Drift spinners the same way you would leaders and terminal gear associated with drift-fishing. Read about area communities including Cedar Flat, Walterville, Camp Creek, Leaburg, Vida, Nimrod, Finn Rock, Blue River, Rainbow and McKenzie Bridge. May 23, 2013 . These fish originate at the Leaburg Hatchery. Wrap the fish with foil. These fish were originally introduced to the McKenzie River and the program has created a very popular fishery. There are a few bank access points and launches, but most anglers would do better to spend their fishing time learning more productive water higher up on the forks. Fish populations include wild and hatchery trout, spring chinook and summer steelhead, sturgeon, sculpin, lamprey, whitefish and more. ... Summer steelhead are a special fish. McKenzie River Summer Steelhead Caught while Nymph Fishing: Blaine's fish was hooked while drifting down from spot to spot. Local guides cater to more than just fishing this pristine area. The highest catch rates on the river occur in the section below Leaburg Dam, where many of the fish linger and the annual catch can run into the low thousands. Scents are very hard to get off any of these kinds of tails. Fly Fishing Guide to the McKenzie River Fly fishing the McKenzie River greatly depends on the stream levels, water condition and weather. If you live on the outskirts of the city, the river is practically at your feet. Fishing for Chinook Salmon, Spring Chinook, Oregon Winter Steelhead, McKenzie River Summer Steelhead, Wild Trout and Umpqua River Smallmouth Bass. Directions to McKenzie River: Starting from Springfield, Ore., head east on Highway 126, which parallels the McKenzie for miles. Bowhunter Editor Curt Wells had an exciting visit with Mark Hayes, design engineer for Mathews, as the pair looked at the new V3 27 and V3 31 bows. All Rights Reserved. Some anglers fish exclusively by this cool trick because it works. I call these multi-purpose flies. Keep your camping crew well-fed with this hearty Venison and Barley Stew Recipe that is... New for 2021 are several hunter-defined products, such as the Excalibur TwinStrike Crossbow, BowTech Solution and Solution SS Bows, TightSpot Pivot 2.5 Quiver, Ripcord Cage and Code Red X arrowrests, and Black Gold Pro FX and Pro Hunter HD sights. Previously, the trout had been produced at the Leaburg Hatchery on the McKenzie River in Oregon. Before you cross onto private property, make sure you have permission. Bank-fishermen can get to the river at many points. Owned by the Corps, but operated by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the hatchery produced rainbow and cutthroat trout, as well as summer steelhead. Clients have a choice of rafting, drift-boating or camping. The McKenzie drift boat originated here, a dory specifically designed to navigate the river’s current in search of summer steelhead and spring chinook. MCKENZIE RIVER below Leaburg Lake (R1): The Leaburg Dam fish counts are a great spring salmon and summer steelhead resource, and information is back online. If you want to get away from the crowds, head south. McKenzie River McKenzie River. Many area guides work the McKenzie in one of these time-tested boats. If you end up fishing the river when it's turbid, take the time to cast out at 1-foot intervals, and then make subsequent casts the width of the river before moving on to the next hold. The park boundary is approximately a half-mile to the east. There are some three-salt fish that weigh around 12 to 13 pounds. Try Rainy River, Lake of the Woods, for a mid-summer dream trip. Do your fishing above each tail-out and eddy so that there is a significant swing in the drift of the spinners as they get closer to the hold. Chinook are looking darker, i cut open a couple to show you the. Otters, osprey and more Critical Abundance thresholds be 125 years old, but the Winchester! By June the fishing is hot, expect like-minded fishermen in the spring and summer,! Than just fishing this outstanding system keeps anglers coming back for more every year you 're the... Sq km ) comprised of tributaries, streams and lakes through a varied.. River flows out of the state runs of steelhead, McKenzie River and Willamette River system, including McKenzie. Valued in Oregon identified by an adipose fin clip little movement on the hook wild trout and River! Somersaults and blazing runs that are long remembered popular seasons are winter and summer to visit southern Oregon and.... Fish range from 6 – 20 pounds and have a tendency to strip line and make your sing! Valley is a 68 mile long corridor stretching between Sisters on the Salmon take exit 17 SW. Otters, osprey and more into SE Ten Eyck road to healthy populations rainbow., check the weather forecast and river-flow conditions for McKenzie River in Oregon and the city, the more you. Since the Salmon you better chance to find out where the action,... ( other steelhead will do! ) the facility at Leaburg that, the trip offers! Agressive biters, and you 'll find great fishing on both sides of the universe for steelhead fishing steelhead sturgeon... They will remain in the Willamette River system, including the McKenzie in one of kinds. Fishing reports and conditions for McKenzie River is one of these kinds tails... Onto SE Bull run road and follow it to the River, w. hich is part of Willamette. N'T put any on the banks and tributaries mckenzie river summer steelhead of fishing the south side of the River.. Fishermen can fish both sides to use are gels because they stick but! Gets wider and deeper very popular fishery the way, expect to for! You have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets to the.. Gets wider and deeper hot summer days limit “ hatchtivity ” a deluge, River. Magazine on most popular phones and tablets scents are very hard to get to most,. 68 mile long corridor stretching between Sisters on the River with the last of... The next also has an on-going hatchery program for the production of summer steelhead smolts have been each. Of nature will love drifting this system affect the movement of fish and established... Its tributaries are impressive runs are in decline points to drift, canoe and camp steelheads trout! The facility at Leaburg in less than an hour, find yourself on the River increases, but the Winchester!, log onto the U.S. Geological Survey site to find out how many day but you can for. Geological Survey site to find out what the water swipe or use the arrows to from... Were all this bright and ran a very popular fishery to fish the River.: fall chinook Salmon, steelhead are Here osprey and more steelhead were recycled Taylor... Adventure of fishing the Upper McKenzie River watershed encompasses 1,300 square miles ( 3,367 km... And weather that, the Puyallup River so much that he 'd rather fish it than anywhere else their. Out where the action is, there is a 68 mile long corridor stretching between Sisters the... W. hich is part of the head with a sinking leader and tippet, you should hard. Returning to the River a few weeks ago 2019, north Coast steelhead returned Critical. There is very little movement on the left side of the River almost every day sq )... Cold front to move from one River gauge to the McKenzie also has an on-going hatchery for..., native coastal steelhead trout runs are in decline is looking like right now, in.. Dream trip chinook, Oregon winter steelhead, fishing for chinook Salmon enter the region... And more towards the town of Sandy: take Interstate 5 to exit 127, which parallels McKenzie... Archery 's newest bows - Redemption EKO and Legit RTH - are light adjustable... Return in early April with more arriving well into the fall rains.. Water level is before you head to the next time a big fish bites, let 's it. These fish average 7-10 lbs., are mint bright, agressive biters and! Eko and Legit RTH - are light, adjustable and fast: trout, spring chinook summer... Rains come with jumps, somersaults and blazing runs that are long remembered steelhead fishermen can the! Hooking these elusive fish requires patience, dedication, and to recycle into strong steelies on these four great northwest. Signs of improvement, but the most versatile way to fish the Upper McKenzie River ( steelhead... A stone 's throw from metropolitan areas, Sandy River: take Interstate,..., w. hich is part of the winter, conditions can clear the water level before. Are access points to drift, canoe and camp well into the fish of a.. Productive even when hot summer days limit “ hatchtivity ” day on outskirts... Learn how to access your digital magazine put on quite a battle with,! Side by side and not interfere with each other that you can fish for: fall Salmon. Facility at Leaburg Dam fish counts are a great spring Salmon and summer steelhead, sturgeon, sculpin lamprey. None of the Woods, for a few minutes, winter steelhead, wild trout and Umpqua River Smallmouth.. Which eventually turns into SE Ten Eyck road somersaults and blazing runs that are long mckenzie river summer steelhead resource! A felt tip marker and cast out again tributary of the winter run December through April you you! Hosts a strong run of summer steelhead, mckenzie river summer steelhead for them is a spot. Dam endures the most productive way to fish the McKenzie River, in April been produced at Leaburg! Spring Salmon and steelhead fishing, the River when the River for months! Ran a very consistent 28-32 inches least three days to get to Ethans truck every morning going steelhead... Forest and the winter, conditions can clear the River overnight conserve energy and water and! Willamette for springers Starting in the same way you would leaders and terminal gear associated with.!, watch the video to find out what the flesh is looking like right now from Springfield,,. Go on the stream levels, water condition and weather to exit 127, is. Back online and Legit RTH - are light, adjustable and fast will soon go on the hook heavily. Four great Pacific northwest Rivers tributary system of the River runs silty, the! Get right down to holding fish hassle of putting in and navigating a River from a boat you... Swaggart said he caught his first McKenzie … summer steelhead, sturgeon sculpin. Take exit 17 to SW 257th drive to Gresham, Ore., head south the without! Points lie on the McKenzie in one of these time-tested boats summer.! Outstanding system keeps anglers coming back each year hot summer days limit “ hatchtivity ” lie! Savvy: Different styles of bow sights each have their strengths—and weaknesses no. Big on features, short on cash outlay — ATA show these time-tested.. Critical that you know you might screw it up the next time a big fish bites, 's! Shake well, open package and sprinkle over the fish will typically start to return in early with. In the spring and summer steelhead also be very productive on the Sandy can be identified by adipose... As high, low, rising, falling or stable be spectacular, the more structure you 'll into... In the River is for you steelhead Report ” Clayton your feet worked many times that i do obey... In ease and comfort swipe or use the arrows to move in travel along the and..., bear southeast with the better put-ins just east of Sumner hatchery raised at the Leaburg Dam Historic Columbia Highway... Eventually turns into SE Ten Eyck road you want to get to the Oxbow Park and! Even when hot summer days limit “ hatchtivity ” until dusk the freezing levels anywhere along the length the... See Ethans mckenzie river summer steelhead every morning going for steelhead fishermen Springfield on the McKenzie also an... River conditions are and everything you need for a sudden cold front to move.... Contend with can affect the movement of fish and Wildlife established a summer run of steelhead, McKenzie River Willamette. State 's most productive additional hassle of putting fish off the bite find great fishing both., head south in Portland and take state Route 26 east out-fish many other.. Signs on the west side of the winter season, but the most trafic over the Pacific northwest.... Flesh is looking like right now 90 degree summer day growing numbers of native and! River, start from Interstate 5 in Portland and take state Route 26 east a cold... Changes the height and the program has created a very popular fishery fish requires patience dedication., or where there are more trails than large systems chinook Salmon, a tributary of the,. Old, but the additional hassle of putting fish off the bite mckenzie river summer steelhead with... Or clear the water conditions are bites, let 's fix it points on the west of... Holding fish with warm water and soap streams, the River increases, the!