Fish Report
Spring Chinook - fishing should be picking up
by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
6-8-2022
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MCKENZIE RIVER below Leaburg Lake (R1):
Spring Chinook - fishing should be picking up, we are starting to see consistent numbers of wild fish (5/night) passing Leaburg Dam.
Summer steelhead - Angler reports and dam video indicate that there are also a fair number of summer steelhead in the system. Much better return than the past 4 years.
Trout - Was last stocked the week of May 25 with 5,173 hatchery rainbow trout. Bait can be used from April 22 – Oct. 31, but beginning Nov. 1, anglers may only use lures and artificial flies.
The Leaburg Dam fish counts are a great spring salmon and summer steelhead resource, and information is back online. Counts are updated by the Corps of Engineers weekly. These resources are most useful to anglers from May – September.
All non-adipose fin-clipped trout must be released unharmed. Check page 46 of the 2021 Sport Fishing Regulations for bait restrictions in the segment you plan to fish. Beginning Nov. 1, anglers may only use lures and artificial flies.
The lower McKenzie River 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 McKenzie.
MCKENZIE RIVER above Leaburg Lake (R2):
Will be stocked this week with 7,439 rainbow trout.
Due to hazard tree removal, the Finn Rock Landing will have periodic closures on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 14 and 15.
All non-adipose fin-clipped trout must be released unharmed. Bait is allowed from Leaburg Dam to Forest Glen Boat Ramp from April 22 – Oct 31.