Earlier this week, a group of guides and shop employees — Eric, Zach, Ethan, and me — headed down south to explore an unfamiliar stretch of the Willamette River in search of bass. As high up in the Willamette system as we intended to fish, we also had trout rods rigged and ready to go — a decision that would prove critical as the day progressed.
With four anglers along for the ride, we caravanned in two boats. This stretch of water is incredibly easy to row, and some of the best water to learn on, but it is very difficult to approach on foot. It was 61 degrees, with heavy cloud cover. Not the greatest weather for bass, but fantastic conditions for an afternoon mayfly hatch.
Our Gear Selection for the Outing
We began our day fishing eight-weight rods like the Redington Big Game, outfitted with Redington Grande Reels and giant streamers. There was a good amount of color in the water, but as we floated below the confluence of the Willamette and McKenzie, the clarity and visibility improved to about two feet. Water temps were in the low 50s, which is not ideal for bass, but we found a few that chased our big flies. We even got a couple of eats, but missed the takes. Our best performing fly was the Swinging D, but we tried everything we could from Leggy Bois to Jerk Changers.
As the weather warmed up, we drifted right into an epic mayfly hatch — primarily March Browns — that turned the surface into a feeding frenzy. It looked like a hot tub with the jets on out there! Out came the five weights, including my trusty Redington EDC, a Beulah Platinum G2, and a G. Loomis NRX-LP, all outfitted with Hatch reels, textured SA floating lines, and nine-foot Rio tapered leaders.
The Epic Trout Fishing
It's hard to communicate just how many trout occupied this stretch of river, but the hatch went for multiple hours, and we caught wild cutties and rainbows alike on every technique we threw at them. They were taking swung flies, dropper nymphs, mayfly dries, and even big chubbies. The fishing was so good, we could hardly bring ourselves to return to the mission at hand: Bass!
By midday, the hatch transitioned to caddis, and while the fish kept rising, we went doggedly back to our big bass bugs and kept throwing streamers. We had a few more eats, but ultimately no bass to hand. At these temperatures, the fish are still not in full pre-spawn mode. The closer water temperatures get to 60 degrees, the faster the fishing will get. Those we did find were in slow moving water, typically right off a bend in the river.
Fishing the Middle Willamette
This water, while it does require a boat, is about as beautiful and trout-friendly as you'll find anywhere in Oregon. In roughly eight miles of water, we didn't see so much as another boat, house, or even a road until we made it to the takeout. The put-in can get a bit colorful, depending on the characters fishing from shore, but once you push off, you're alone and isolated in serene Willamette Valley surroundings. And although it takes a boat to reach the best water, there are plenty of opportunities to get out and fish on foot along the way.
This is a long float, so we recommend bringing a rowing partner to cover a lot of water and take turns fishing on the move. There are amazing places to pull over for lunch, or even a riverside nap! Don't sleep on this section of the Willamette River, or let its reputation as a dirty urban stream around Salem and Portland deter you from enjoying its upper reaches. It is one of the most beautiful stretches of water I have fished in quite some time, and I will certainly be back.