ODFW began their creel program on the Willamette last month although the season effort has been somewhat light river-wide, impacted by the mentioned less-than-ideal conditions and the fact the Columbia has attracted attention when open. Angler checks over the past Friday-Saturday-Sunday period indicate very little catch or effort thanks to wet and windy weather. The lower river/Multnomah Channel section checked 2 fish kept for 33 boats, the middle river Portland harbor area had 0 fish for 13 boats, while the upper river Milwaukie/Oregon City stretch logged 0 chinook for 9 boats.

The passage numbers at the Willamette Falls fish ladder indicate winter steelhead counts through April 15

USGS hydrological data for the Willamette River on April 16 had flows of 41,800 cfs, the water temperature down at 48°F, and visibility poor at 1.0.

The Middle Fork Willamette River is open to bait below Dexter Dam only. Reminder: Restrictions from Dexter Dam to appoximately 700 ft downstream to the markers: No angling from the north shore, from a floating device, or while wading (pg 44 in regulations). This river reach is open to retention of adipose fin-clipped salmon and steelhead and non-adipose fin-clipped steelhead greater than 24-inches long. A Columbia River Basin Endorsement is required for anglers targeting salmon and steelhead in the Middle Fork Willamette below Dexter Dam.