As of March 18, flows were around 2,800 1,700 cfs at the Mehama gauge, a significant increase mainly due to snow melt. These moderate flows will likely continue all week. River levels best for fishing are at or below 3,000 cfs.

There is very little to fish for at the moment as most of last year’s summer steelhead are gone. A few new fish are starting to show up at Willamette Falls. So far they have counted 19 summer steelhead migrating over the falls as of March 14, but it will take a few weeks for these fish to show up in the Santiam River. Anglers can expect to see spring Chinook show up at Willamette Falls counts within the next few weeks.

The river is now closed to trout. It will reopen on May 22.