The Willamette has receded to more fishable, albeit muddy, conditions after a couple weeks of precipitation. Still, there isn’t much happening at Willamette Falls in the way of fish passage. The coho and fall Chinook are done, and winter steelhead are just beginning to make an appearance. Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is still an option on the lower Willamette and can be productive this time of year. The ODFW fishing dock on the river below the old West Linn Police Station is a good prospect for those who want to try catch-and-release sturgeon fishing from the bank.
Warmwater fishing can also be a viable alternative in the lower Willamette, Multnomah Channel and surrounding sloughs. Successful warmwater anglers tend to fish around bridges, pilings, wing dams, and other structures, which can be good spots to find warmwater fish.
Hydrological data for the Willamette at Willamette Falls on Dec 24 showed flows at 41,000 cfs, the water temperature at 42° F, and visibility at less than a foot. Salmon boats in the Oregon City area indicate some fishing effort there.