Launch / River Recommendations for newbie

Anyone have a quick recommendation for a good launch? (although not your secret spot of course!) I have very little experience fishing in the area and would like to troll / drift for something exciting like steelhead or salmon.   I tried the Clackamas and launched at Carver last week but the current was a bit challenging for my Mirage drive.  I've never really fished rivers as I have only fished on the ocean in warmer water.
I am reading that April and May can be really exciting but my trial and error may lead me to miss the spring season… thanks in advance…

 George Rogers park in Lake Oswego is a great spot, but id recommend having a cart. You'll often find another yaker or two trolling the area for salmon. The next 30 days should be bathe peak or the season.

Since you're in Dundee, here's an awesome spot for you to launch:

https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=45.274343,-122.985055&spn=0.010374,0.022724&gl=us&t=h&z=16

However, PLEASE make sure you check to see what the stage of the river is before you head out and if it looks like it's moving a little too quickly, don't risk it.  The river is pretty tame as of right now, but it's on the rise because of these spring storm systems that come through, which can make the river downright ugly.  People die on the Willamette river every year because they underestimate it's power.  Also keep in mind that the water is pretty cold this time of year(51 degrees F and falling right now) so dress in dry gear, like waders and a dry top.  The bass fishing should be picking up this time of year.  Let us know how it goes!

May be heading back out on the Willamette this week for sturgeon, salmon and/or bass. Have a safe and easy free launch spot, if you want to try it PM me.

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the spot Rawkfish pointed you to is the safest in the area at high flows. I stopped there last year when the Willamette was running high and very fast, and it was well protected. That said, 25' away from the launch, it was no longer well protected.

If you are in Dundee, you might try to go from Newberg like these guys did last May . It's on my list.
http://www.oregonfishingforum.com/showthread.php/23528-Spring-chinook-blood-bath

The kayak and canoe launch in Dundee is closed until June 22 according to the sign on the locked gate.