Fly-Fishing: Steelhead Location: McKenzie river/ Middle Fork Willamette River Eugene /Springfield area

Best times: April-July and  October- November

Cost $150.00 per person/ per day

Steelhead
Steelhead are available most of the year in Oregon, we have two distinct runs of steelhead and they each have their peak season.

Summer Steelhead begin entering the Willamette system in April and fishing for them is very good through July. I fish for Summer Steelhead on the Santiam, McKenzie and Middle Fork Willamette Rivers. Summer steelhead are very aggressive biters and I fish all different methods for them, including Fly Fishing, Spinner Fishing and Bouncing Bait. Summer Steelhead average 8-12 pounds and are great fighters.

Winter Steelhead begin showing in the coastal rivers in mid December and fishing for them is good through March with January and February being the peak, I fish the Nestucca, Siletz and Siuslaw Rivers on the Oregon coast for winter steelhead. Winter Steelhead are fished for with bait, salmon eggs and sand shrimp, and I usually side drift bobber fish and back bounce for them. The water temp. is usually in the forties so fly fishing is not too productive at this time of year, not saying they can’t be caught on flies but it is difficult. Winter Steelhead average 8-15 pounds with a few pushing the 20 pound mark every year.

Accommodations available  

Trip description: The McKenzie River is tailor made for dry line techniques, with long tailouts and shallow riffles dominating the steelhead water.

Best fishing is late April through July, then again in October and November.

The McKenzie runs gin clear all summer and this creates ideal conditions for sight fishing for steelhead.

Since I have been fishing this river so long I know where the fish like to rest and we can stop in certain places and cast to fish we can see.

It’s very exciting to cast to a steelhead and watch as he eats your fly, Fish on!