We are currently gearing up in anticipation of our big Spring/Summer Season here in the Willamette Valley. The "Big Dog" target fish: Spring Chinook and Summer Steelhead. These fish come back from several years foraging out in the Pacific Ocean's fertile pastures by first entering the mighty Columbia and then turn south into the Willamette River. In their quest to spawn, they then nose into their natal stream. For the fortunate folks that live in the southern end of the Willamette Valley near Eugene, Oregon, we can choose from 3 different tributaries, all within a 45 minute drive in order to hook into these feisty beauties: The McKenzie River, the Middle Fork Willamette, or the Santiam. If our summer season echoes our winter run, we should have good numbers of Summer Steelhead to pursue all the way into Fall. We wait with crossed fingers to see how our Spring Chinook run develops. ODFW is projecting a run of 45,000 Chinook. The bulk of these fish are hatchery-raised, released several years back as tiny smolts, and returning as mature salmon, famed as some of the finest table fare around. We also have a wonderful trout fishery on the upper and lower stretches of the gorgeous McKenzie River. There is a mix of Wild Redside Trout which we always release back to the wild, supplanted by bunches of planter trout to insure great action and providing the possibility for a tasty shore lunch. These fish will take both flies and gear with reckless abandon. We welcome beginners and first-time fly-fishers to sample this fun. We have steered many neophyte angler into 20-plus fish days during their first ever outing with a fly rod. It's often that good! We welcome the opportunity to give you some first-time instruction at your request.