Though still not "RED HOT", fishing on the McKenzie River just east of Eugene, Oregon is picking up.

Sporadic hot bites have been reported throughout the week, with the morning bite way out-producing the afternoon and evening fishing.

 The Mckenzie, South Santiam, and Middle Fork Willamette are all above comfortable drifting levels, but south valley fishermen are happy to note the increase in monitored numbers of salmon and steelhead moving through Willamette Falls.

Memorial Day provided an wonderful opportunity to jump over and run a relaxing trip on the South Santiam River at Sweet Home. The company was great, the weather fatastic, and the fishing was excellent. Our worries that elevated water releases from Foster Dam on Sunday and Monday would shut down the fishing, turned out to be unfounded. We found good biters inspite of high, off-color water conditions. Though the fish showed a preference for bait, we witnessed the power of plastic with violent grabs on the Kwikfish and the Hot Shot. All the fish were under 20lbs but in wonderful condition.