Fish Report

Some access sites on the North Santiam above and below Detroit Reservoir were impacted by last fall’s wildfire. Some of the more popular sites such as Packsaddle Park and Fishermen’s Bend are still closed until crews can remove hazard trees. Anglers can still access the river from Stayton downstream and in a few places above such as the Mehama bridge and North Santiam State Park.

The gate at ODFW’s Green’s Bridge property on the lower North Santiam near Jefferson has been locked. Only anglers with boat trailers will be able to park past the gate, and they must first request a key. Anglers can call ODFW’s Corvallis field office at (541) 757-4186 to get an application form.  

No recent fishing reports. River levels best for fishing are at or below 3,000 cfs, and the river is currently running at 1,500 cfs at the gage in Mehama. Water clarity is good. 

Fishing for hatchery steelhead is open year-round. Around 1,200 summer steelhead have arrived in the upper Willamette as of June 16. So far fewer than 50 have reached the Stayton area indicating that this year’s run is not likely to be strong.

Spring Chinook numbers at Willamette Falls are better but still below average, reaching just over 20,000 fish as of June 16. Chinook that have crossed the Falls are on their way to tributaries upstream, including the Santiam basin. It takes on average about two weeks for a fish to swim from Willamette Falls to the North Santiam. Over 2,000 fish so far have reached the Stayton area. With hot weather in the forecast, anglers should fish either very early in the morning or late in the evening, when fish are more active and less skittish.  

Hatchery trout harvest is now open until Oct. 31, with a limit of 5 per day. Wild trout need to be released unharmed.