In addition to bait fished beneath a float, jigs can also produce on this river. The peaches-and-cream Stuart Steelhead Bullet jig, in 1/8-ounce, has done very well for me over the years. Fish these in faster water, and along shallow, clear seams. These jigs are a good bet when fishing crossover water, where both salmon and steelhead move through.

One day in early June, I back-trolled plugs into a hole without a bite. I pulled over and drift-fished it with no results. Then I tied on the peaches-and-cream jig, and a buddy and I landed four springers in less than 30 minutes. Diversification pays off on this river, period.

Be resourceful and concentrate when fishing the McKenzie. Predict where fish will be and target those zones. The McKenzie is a small stream, and reading the water will allow you to catch more fish. At the same time, it's a clear river, meaning that boat traffic can force fish into different holding zones. If you're behind the crowd on a clear day, try fishing away from the main pathways, since fish will often nudge tighter to ledges, higher in riffles and lower in the deeper holes.

Twenty years ago I would never start fishing the McKenzie until the third week in May, but things have changed in recent years. "In the past two seasons, we've taken limits of fish the last week in April," says Stuart. "It's all just a matter of when they start making their way into the Columbia, then heading up the Willamette, over the Oregon City Falls."

The McKenzie spills into the Willamette River near Eugene. Once the salmon have passed Oregon City, it typically them takes an average of 11 days or so to make their way into the McKenzie, though this can vary depending on a variety of conditions.

Action on the McKenzie has been good into early July, with spurts of fresh fish making their way into the system into early August. Last season, Stuart was catching salmon all the way up to the mid-August closure.

Having fished the McKenzie for over 35 years, I may be a bit partial, for its beauty and the overall experience make this a Blue Ribbon fishery. As if the salmon weren't enough, excellent summer steelhead and world-class rainbow trout action mean there's never a dull moment. Whenever I take someone down the McKenzie for their first time, I'm reminded just how special the river truly is. Not only is the environment captivating, the fishing will keep you coming back again and again.

(Editor's Note: Scott Haugen is the host of Wolf Creek Production's Classic Outdoor Stories on the Men's Channel. Visit www.scotthaugen.com to attain signed copies of his books, including Egg Cures: Proven Recipes & Techniques and Summer Steelhead Fishing Techniques.)