It’s a fishing day

McKenzie River fishing conditions · Oregon

Now until 5 pmRainbow trout

The bite peaks at 94. Water is 49°, inside their 45–68° range, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 94 for rainbow trout, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Rainbow trout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 941 pm
  2. 94
  3. 94
  4. 924 pm
  5. 84
  6. 92
  7. 927 pm
  8. 92
  9. 84
  10. 8110 pm
  11. 74
  12. 74Sun
  13. 741 am
  14. 74
  15. 82
  16. 894 am
  17. 89
  18. 89
  19. 927 am
  20. 92
  21. 84
  22. 8410 am
  23. 84
  24. 82
  25. 821 pm
  26. 82
  27. 82
  28. 824 pm
  29. 82
  30. 82
  31. 927 pm
  32. 92
  33. 92
  34. 9210 pm
  35. 92
  36. 92Mon
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
49°F

Rainbow trout range 45–68°

Wind
3 mph

From the southwest

Flow
2,000 cfs

steady · -1% in 24 h

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:52 pm

Sky
Partly Sunny

No rain expected

Air
64°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Oregon regulations for these waters.

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

94GoNow until 5 pm

Water

49°
35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Rainbow trout is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Inside rainbow trout's active range. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Open all year: 5 hatchery trout a day, no minimum length. Wild trout, including brook trout, must be released.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · McKenzie River, Leaburg Dam to Forest Glen boat ramp

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Year-round, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on rainbow trout

Chinook Salmon

Chinook salmon

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

–Not scoredNo targeting

No targetingClosed to targeting. Release any you hook at once.

Water

49°
32°42–58° · ideal 50°68°

Why

Right in chinook salmon's ideal range. Chinook salmon is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 15–150 ft down.

Keep

no harvest

Closed to targeting. Release any you hook at once. Closed to salmon above Leaburg Dam; hatchery chinook may be kept all year in the main stem below the dam.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · McKenzie River, Leaburg Dam to Forest Glen boat ramp

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on chinook salmon

The water

  • Water temperature49°F
  • River2,000 cfs · steady · -1% in 24 h
  • Barometer29.99 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:52 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:55 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:20 pm–4:20 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:10 pm–12:10 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:10 am–7:10 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

Oregon ODFW report, undated

Names chinook salmon, rainbow trout, which people fish for here. It covers the whole state, so it may not describe these waters.

Read it at Oregon ODFW

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

The clear, fast river east of Eugene that gave the McKenzie drift boat its name — wild and stocked rainbow trout plus spring chinook in a classic Cascade freestone setting. Live USGS flow and temperature near Vida.

Leaburg Dam to Forest Glen: open all year for 5 hatchery trout a day (wild trout released), hatchery steelhead and wild steelhead over 24". Salmon are closed above Leaburg Dam; hatchery spring chinook may be kept all year in the main stem below the dam.

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Umpqua River (Elkton)65 mi · OregonBest now until 9 pm
100Go
Yachats State Recreation Area82 mi · OregonBest now until 2 pmBeach Hazards StatementHigh Surf Advisory
77Worth the trip
Deschutes River (Maupin)99 mi · OregonBest tonight 9 pm to tomorrow 4 pm
100Go
Pacific City Beach (Cape Kiwanda)104 mi · OregonBest tomorrow 11 am–1 pmHigh Surf WarningBeach Hazards StatementHigh Wind Warning
55Marginal
Nehalem Bay State Park129 mi · OregonBest tomorrow 11 am–1 pmStorm WarningHazardous Seas Warning
55Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at McKenzie River?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at McKenzie River you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at McKenzie River?

McKenzie River is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at McKenzie River?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at McKenzie River against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does McKenzie River have?

McKenzie River has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Leaburg Dam to Forest Glen: open all year for 5 hatchery trout a day (wild trout released), hatchery steelhead and wild steelhead over 24". Salmon are closed above Leaburg Dam; hatchery spring chinook may be kept all year in the main stem below the dam.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at McKenzie River?

state agency regulations apply at McKenzie River. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is McKenzie River tidal water?

No. McKenzie River is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.