For all intents and purposes spring Chinook and summer steelhead fishing on the lower Willamette is done for the year. Willamette Falls spring Chinook counts are tracking to be the lowest in more than 10 years. Through June 28, only 3,560 had moved upstream compared to the 10-year average of 32,869 for the same period. Summer steelhead counts are also near record lows. Through June 28, only 3,560 had moved upstream as compared to the 10-year average of 12,614. The summer steelhead count over the past 10 years has been highly variable, though, ranging from a low of 1,603 in 2017 to a high of 21,614 for the period.

Warmwater fishing is probably the best option for anglers in the lower Willamette at this time, Multnomah Channel and surrounding sloughs during the spring and on into the summer. Look for warmwater species around bridges, pilings, wing dams, and other structures, which can be good spots to find walleye, crappie, and bass, which are plentiful in the Willamette.

Further upstream, the section between Albany and Harrisburg is open year-round for trout fishing, which can be very good when flows are cooperating.