SANTIAM RIVER (NORTH FORK):

As of April 17, flows were around 10,000 cfs at the Mehama gauge, making this river practically unfishable. These high flows will slowly begin to recede through the rest of the week. River levels best for fishing are at or below 3,000 cfs.

This year’s returning crop of summer steelhead and spring Chinook are starting to arrive at Willamette Falls, but it will take a couple of weeks for the bulk of these fish to make into the Santiam basin. So far they have counted 317 summer steelhead and 127 spring Chinook migrating over the Falls as of April 15. Their numbers in the river will increase significantly starting next month. 

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

SANTIAM RIVER (NORTH FORK) above DETROIT:

This section of the river is open year-round for trout. It was stocked the week of July 30 with 3,000 legal-size trout. Most of these trout can be found from Marion Forks down to the mouth and are fairly well distributed. It will be some time before flows drop down far enough for fishing to be productive.

Anglers may keep up to five trout per day. This section of river is closed to salmon fishing.