Santiam River
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Recent Guide Reports
May 09
Oregon DWR
SANTIAM RIVER (SOUTH FORK): bass, trout, steelhead
Fishing is generally best when flows are below 3,000 cfs. Currently flows are around 7,000 cfs at the Waterloo gauge as of May 7. These conditions are less than ideal but should recover relatively quickly with dry weather expected the rest of this week. Summer steelhead are off to a pretty good start this year with about 3,000 adults having crossed into the upper Willamette River as of May 1. A few of these fish have already arrived in the South Santiam and are being caught by anglers, with more arriving each day.
A few weeks behind are the spring Chinook, but their numbers are expected to rise dramatically in the next couple of weeks. Now that we are beyond April 22, bait restrictions are lifted and anglers can use bait through the end of October. Last updated 5/8/24.
Fishing is generally best when flows are below 3,000 cfs. Currently flows are around 7,000 cfs at the Waterloo gauge as of May 7. These conditions are less than ideal but should recover relatively quickly with dry weather expected the rest of this week. Summer steelhead are off to a pretty good start this year with about 3,000 adults having crossed into the upper Willamette River as of May 1. A few of these fish have already arrived in the South Santiam and are being caught by anglers, with more arriving each day.
A few weeks behind are the spring Chinook, but their numbers are expected to rise dramatically in the next couple of weeks. Now that we are beyond April 22, bait restrictions are lifted and anglers can use bait through the end of October. Last updated 5/8/24.
May 09
Oregon DWR
SANTIAM RIVER (NORTH FORK): steelhead, trout, coho
River levels best for fishing are at or below 3,000 cfs, and the river is currently running at around 6,800 cfs at the gauge in Mehama.
With the arrival of the first summer steelhead and Spring chinook of the season the fishing is beginning to heat up. Summer steelhead have started to enter the river and over 300 have already made it passed the Stayton area. So far, they have counted 3,000 adults passing above Willamette Falls as of May 1.
Spring chinook numbers will begin to increase dramatically in the next couple of weeks but their arrival in the basin is still a few weeks away. About 2,500 have migrated above Willamette Falls so far. Now that we are passed April 22 the bait restrictions on the river have been lifted and bait is again allowed. For the next week or two the lower river will have more fish until the bulk of the run arrives and pushes more fish into the upper sections. Last updated 5/8/24.
There are several large, downed trees in the river creating some dangerous hazards for boaters in the lower river. For more information check out the Oregon State Marine Board website.
River levels best for fishing are at or below 3,000 cfs, and the river is currently running at around 6,800 cfs at the gauge in Mehama.
With the arrival of the first summer steelhead and Spring chinook of the season the fishing is beginning to heat up. Summer steelhead have started to enter the river and over 300 have already made it passed the Stayton area. So far, they have counted 3,000 adults passing above Willamette Falls as of May 1.
Spring chinook numbers will begin to increase dramatically in the next couple of weeks but their arrival in the basin is still a few weeks away. About 2,500 have migrated above Willamette Falls so far. Now that we are passed April 22 the bait restrictions on the river have been lifted and bait is again allowed. For the next week or two the lower river will have more fish until the bulk of the run arrives and pushes more fish into the upper sections. Last updated 5/8/24.
There are several large, downed trees in the river creating some dangerous hazards for boaters in the lower river. For more information check out the Oregon State Marine Board website.
May 09
Oregon DWR
SANTIAM RIVER (NORTH FORK): steelhead, trout, coho
River levels best for fishing are at or below 3,000 cfs, and the river is currently running at around 6,800 cfs at the gauge in Mehama.
With the arrival of the first summer steelhead and Spring chinook of the season the fishing is beginning to heat up. Summer steelhead have started to enter the river and over 300 have already made it passed the Stayton area. So far, they have counted 3,000 adults passing above Willamette Falls as of May 1.
Spring chinook numbers will begin to increase dramatically in the next couple of weeks but their arrival in the basin is still a few weeks away. About 2,500 have migrated above Willamette Falls so far. Now that we are passed April 22 the bait restrictions on the river have been lifted and bait is again allowed. For the next week or two the lower river will have more fish until the bulk of the run arrives and pushes more fish into the upper sections. Last updated 5/8/24.
There are several large, downed trees in the river creating some dangerous hazards for boaters in the lower river. For more information check out the Oregon State Marine Board website.
River levels best for fishing are at or below 3,000 cfs, and the river is currently running at around 6,800 cfs at the gauge in Mehama.
With the arrival of the first summer steelhead and Spring chinook of the season the fishing is beginning to heat up. Summer steelhead have started to enter the river and over 300 have already made it passed the Stayton area. So far, they have counted 3,000 adults passing above Willamette Falls as of May 1.
Spring chinook numbers will begin to increase dramatically in the next couple of weeks but their arrival in the basin is still a few weeks away. About 2,500 have migrated above Willamette Falls so far. Now that we are passed April 22 the bait restrictions on the river have been lifted and bait is again allowed. For the next week or two the lower river will have more fish until the bulk of the run arrives and pushes more fish into the upper sections. Last updated 5/8/24.
There are several large, downed trees in the river creating some dangerous hazards for boaters in the lower river. For more information check out the Oregon State Marine Board website.