McKenzie River 

Pacific Northwest

The McKenzie River runs through the heart of the Willamette Valley near Eugene, home to the University of Oregon and alive with fine restaurants, art galleries and performance venues in a healthy small town atmosphere. From the snow-capped peaks of the Cascades, the crystal clear waters of the McKenzie rush toward the valley floor in forty plus miles of scenic and fishable water. Here are the ancestral home waters of the double-end McKenzie drift boat, a craft designed for maneuverability now fished widely throughout the west and the world.

Location:
The McKenzie River flows through Eugene, OR.

Fishing Program:
Our trips utilize world famous McKenzie River drift boats. The boat allows the guide and angler to effectively cover 5-13 miles of river during the day. Covering a variety of water types maximizes the angler's chances for a fine day of fly fishing. The McKenzie is home to rainbows, cutthroat and steelhead. Average size for the rainbows is 10-14 inches with fish up to 20 inches available. While the McKenzie is generally not known for its huge fish, it does offer an opportunity to put up some great numbers for the beginner and expert alike. Trips usually launch around 9:00AM with streamside lunch around 1pm. Take-out is between 5:00PM and 6:00PM.

All fishing on the McKenzie is accessed by driftboat as the river is large and access is limited. Most fishing is done from the boat. The lower McKenzie, from Leaburg to the confluence with the Willamette, is generally lower gradient, running through an ever-changing floodplain riverbed, with long riffles, broad runs, and many complex braided sections. Cottonwoods and Douglas Firs predominate along the riverbank. The lower section is managed as a catch-and-release wild trout fishery for most of its length and is therefore home to healthy populations of redside and cutthroat trout. Primary hatches for this section are the March Brown mayfly, Grannom caddis, golden stonefly, McKenzie green caddis, and October caddis.
The river above Leaburg is characterized by bedrock streambed structure, deep clear waters, and technical whitewater in a steep forested canyon. The best fishing for native redside trout in this section is dependent on snowmelt but generally runs May-June and September-October. Midsummer trout fishing on the upper section of the McKenzie is for hatchery trout. Primary hatches for this section are the McKenzie Green caddis, Green Drake mayfly, Golden stonefly, Grey Drake mayfly, and October caddis.

Accommodations and Meals:
Eugene, Oregon is a vibrant university town. A wide range of options are available for accommodations. In Eugene, The Hilton (541.342.2000) is in a prime downtown location in easy walking distance of galleries, restaurants, and shopping. La Quinta Inn and Suites (541.344.8335) is located next to Alton Baker Park, and is in easy walking distance of the Willamette River trail system and wade-fishing opportunities for summer steelhead.

Restaurant Recommendations in Eugene:
Burrito Boy or Laughing Planet Café (multiple locations in town)
Quick, easy and good Mexican.

Marche
296 East 5th Avenue
541.342.3612
Fresh, seasonal and regional ingredients used in French-style cuisine.

Red Agave Restaurant and Cantina
454 Willamette Street
541.683.2206
Latin-style cuisine utilizing fresh local ingredients.

Sample Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Eugene, OR and overnight.
Days 2-4: Full days of guided fishing
Day 8: Depart Eugene.

Complete Trip Details