The Willamette 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 mile further downstream near St. Helens in Columbia County.

Multnomah Channel also Provides some great Salmon, Sturgeon, and Walleye Fishing.
Be sure to check ODFW web site before fishing on the Willamette River or the Channel. As they open and close it all the time for fishing.

Communities along the main stem include Springfield and Eugene in Lane County; Harrisburg in Linn County; Corvallis in Benton County; Albany in Linn and Benton counties; Salem in Marion County; Newberg in Yamhill County; Oregon City, West Linn, Milwaukie, and Lake Oswego in Clackamas County, and Portland in Multnomah and Washington counties. Significant tributaries from source to mouth include the Middle and Coast forks and the McKenzie, Long Tom, Marys, Calapooia, Santiam, Luckiamute, Yamhill, Molalla, Tualatin, and Clackamas rivers.

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 varies in width from about 330 to 660 feet.

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Willamette River is a post from the best Oregon fishing guide blog we could find, where Marvin writes about Salmon, sturgeon, and Walleye...

With all the rain we have had, the river’s are high and there is a lot of stuff floating in the water.

I have 350 feet of rope with a Columbia River Anchor, at the end of the rope I have an EZ Marine buoy anchor pulley system.

I start around 200 feet or so from were I want my boat to sit, I put the boat in reverse for a second just to make sure we are going backwards, then I let the anchor drop, I put the boat in forward, to slow down dont want to go back real fast, just keep the rope out in front of the boat.

When I get about 20 feet from were I want my boat, I let go of the buoy. I like the buoy to be around 15 feet or so from the bow of my boat, Now tie the rope off and you are ready.

During the day always keep a good eye on the river to make sure there are no tress or logs drifting towards your boat.
Good luck and be safe.

How Marvin’s Guide Service Anchors Safely is a post from the best Oregon fishing guide blog we could find, where Marvin writes about Salmon, sturgeon, and Walleye...

Sturgeon fishing on the Willamette River is starting to pick up. As the weather gets colder on the Columbia River, the fishing on the Willamette River should pick up.

Don’t be afraid to move around a bit to find the Sturgeon.

The best bate has been squid at least for me.
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Portland Oregon Fishing Report 11-30-09 is a post from the best Oregon fishing guide blog we could find, where Marvin writes about Salmon, sturgeon, and Walleye...