The clear and cold McKenzie water proved a productive choice last Monday when Hank Surles and his Father-in-Law Bill got a great taste of "McKenzie Magic."  After struggling for just one steehead on our trip last Friday, we were impressed with some fantastic fishing the follwing Monday, landing 4 fresh steelhead and releasing several nice salmon.  The difference between the two days was simple, fishing pressure.  On Friday we absolutely struggled to find a piece of quality steelhead water that wasn't "corked off" with a boat  anchored up on top of the fish.  Monday was the opposite.  We had free reign on open steelhead runs and the fish hadn't spooked from a constant parade of boats.  Admittedly, we did hit a nice variety of fish on flies and lures, and released some hard-fighting salmon in gorgeous conditon on the trip last Friday.  This season's big snowpack has kept river temperatures down, still in the high forties at morning launch.  These cool temperatures have contributed to the excellent physical condition of the newly arriving fish each day.  ODFW informed me yesterday that the Mckenzie and the South Santiam salmon hatcheries have finally just met their minimum goal for returning adult brood stock.  The Middle Fork of the Willamette is apparently still shy of the required number of returned adults for the next batch.  Consequently, I wouldn't hold my breath in anticipation of a late season reversal of the current restriction on salmon retention.