Oregon Fishing Reports ยท Willamette Region
The McKenzie runs cold and clear from the Cascades past Blue River and Leaburg, home of the drift boat and wild redside rainbows.
Looking for the latest McKenzie River report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the McKenzie River โ Blue River to Leaburg.
Current flows
Wind forecast
McKenzie River fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The Vida gauge reads around 2,000 cfs and clear.
BWOs on cloudy afternoons. Nymph the seams with small mayflies and caddis pupae.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Blue River to Leaburg, bring: JuJu Baetis #18-20, Parachute Adams #16-20, Pheasant Tail Nymph #14-16, Sparkle Pupa #14-16, Zebra Midge #18-22, RS2 Emerger #18-22, Black Beauty #20-24, Egg #14-16, Squirmy Wormie #12-14, Scud Bomb #14-16.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
McKenzie River details
| Access | Boat ramps and parks along State Highway 126 between Blue River and Leaburg. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 600 to 1,300 ft |
| Nearest town | Blue River, Oregon |
| Best season | Spring through fall |
| Fish | Wild redside rainbow trout, plus hatchery rainbows and salmon |
| Regulations | Wild trout must be released on much of the river. Check the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations and in-season changes before you go. An Oregon angling license is required for anglers 12 and older, plus a combined tag for steelhead and salmon. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 5X tippet |
| Camping | Willamette National Forest campgrounds upstream |
| Kids | Partly. Some easy parks. |
| Good to know | Big, cold, fast water. A drift boat is the best way to fish it. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Cold.
Spring
March browns and caddis.
Summer
Caddis and PMDs.
Fall
BWOs and October caddis.
How to get there
From Eugene, take State Highway 126 east toward Leaburg, Vida and Blue River.