More Fish Coming Every Day

Santiam River ( North Fork) - Stayton, OR


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
10-23-2024
Website

River levels best for fishing are at or below 3,000 cfs, and the river is currently running at around 1,400 cfs at the gage in Mehama.

Most of the summer steelhead have migrated up into the river and are working their way towards the upper sections of the river where water temperatures are coolest. This year's summer steelhead run was the strongest since 2016 with over 4,800 adults counted at Stayton. Summer steelhead can be active throughout September and October.

It is another record run year for coho salmon above Willamette Falls. Total counts of adult coho salmon exceed 48,000. A fair number of these fish are destined for the North Santiam.

Numbers in the North Santiam are still modest, but more fish are coming every day. Counts at Stayton show that 670+ adult coho have passed into the upper river, including the Little North Fork Santiam, as of Oct. 13. At this early stage in the run, your best bet is in the lower sections of the river where fish are more concentrated. ODFW will be recycling coho in good condition from the Minto facility down to the Mehama boat ramp and into the Little North Fork River to give anglers another chance at them. Bait fishing remains open only for another week or so.

Check out 10 tips for catching coho.

Fishing for spring Chinook is now closed. Anglers may see spawning or spawned out salmon in the river. Please give these fish enough distance to complete their life cycle. Don't let dogs to eat or chew on salmon carcasses as these contain a toxin that can be lethal to dogs.





More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, October 23rd

McKay Reservoir: McKay Reservoir Closed for Fishing
Morgan Lake: Nice Rainbow Trout in Morgan Lake
Umatilla River: Good Numbers of Fish this Fall
Wallowa Lake : Kokanee still available at Wallowa Lake
Crane Prairie Reservoir: Good Trout and Bass Fishing at Crane Prairie
Deschutes River: Deschutes River (mouth to Pelton Dam) Updates
East Lake: Low Water Levels at East Lake
Haystack Reservoir: Haystack Reservoir Updates
Lake Billy Chinook: Reports of Good Fishing
Ochoco Reservoir: Reports of Good Rainbow Trout and Large Fish
Prinevile Reservoir: Fair Fishing at Prinevile Reservoir
Wickiup Reservoir: Productive Fishing at Wickiup
Detroit Reservoir: Water Levels Continue to Drop
Foster Reservoir: Foster Reservoir Updates
Quartzville Creek: Quartzville Creek Updates

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Friday, October 18th

: ODFW Recreation Report
Klamath River - Upper - OR: First salmon since 1912 spotted in Oregon’s Klamath Basin months after dam removal