The Willamette River flows northward for 183 miles past the cities of Corvallis, Albany, Salem, Oregon City, and Downtown Portland, then it will enter the Columbia River, where it rises in three separate forks in the mountains south and southeast of Eugene, at the southern end of the Willamette Valley.
Formed by the confluence of its Middle and Coast forks near Springfield, the main stem meanders generally north for 187 miles to the Columbia. The river’s two most significant course deviations occur at Newberg, where it turns sharply east, and about 18 miles downriver from Newberg, where it turns north again.
Near its mouth north of downtown Portland, the river splits into two channels that flow around Sauvie Island.The main channel enters the Columbia about 101 miles from the larger stream’s mouth on the Pacific Ocean, and the smaller Multnomah Channel, a tributary, enters the Columbia about 14.5 miles further downstream near St. Helens in Columbia County.
Arising at 438 feet above sea level, the main stem loses 428 feet in elevation between source and mouth, or about 2.3 feet per mile. The gradient is slightly steeper from the source to Albany than from Albany to Oregon City. At Willamette Falls, between West Linn and Oregon City, the river plunges about 40 feet. For the rest of its course, the river is extremely low-gradient and is influenced by Pacific Ocean tidal effects from the Columbia. The main stem of the Willamette River varies in width from about 330 to 660 feet.
What kind of fish are in the Willamette River?
You will find many species of fish, like salmon, sturgeon, steelhead, and walleye. Don’t forget all of the panfish, crappie, bass, and perch.
Panfish like bass and crappie are better in the spring and summer, when the river is warmer. Panfish become more active when the river is warmer.
Spring salmon is probably. one of the most popular and sought after fish, the Willamette River has to offer.
Generally, people and fishing guides like me will start fishing the Willamette River for salmon in late March. We will continue this fishery all the way through the early part of July. Salmon fishing on the Willamette River you are allowed to keep hatchery, salmon only. When fishing the Willamette River, I like to keep an eye on the turbidity. When the turbidity is down six or seven, it is great fishing. However, it is still fishable at 10 and 12. One of the most popular fisheries on the river is spring Chinook salmon fishing, where the most popular months are April and May.
The Willamette River will offer excellent sturgeon fishing year-round; However, most sturgeon fishing is catch and release only. Because sturgeon are bottom feeders, I don’t find that the turbidity affects fishing it like it does salmon.
Panfish, like perch bass, are year-round, However, in the spring and summer, when the river is warmer, will offer better opportunities.
Make sure you check with Oregon Department and Fish and Wildlife’s website to see the current regulations before you go fishing.
Marvin’s guide service would be happy to hook you up for salmon, sturgeon or walleye on the Willamette River Give me a call or simply fill out this form, and I’m happy to call you.
Fishing guide Marvin and his client caught a sturgeon.
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Last Updated on by Marvin
