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
Santiam River (South Fork): Fish Will Be Available for Several Months
Willamette River: Mid Willamette River Updates
Alsea River: Alsea River Updates
Kilchis River: Fair to Good Fishing for Cutthroat Trout
Columbia River: Lower Columbia tributaries (Big Cr., Gnat Cr. Klaskanine R.) Updates
Necanicum River: Necanicum River Updates
Nehalem River: Nehalem River Updates
Nestucca River: Open to Fall Chinook Fishing!
Siuslaw River: Fishing Has Been Fair to Good
Three Rivers: Three Rivers Updates
Tillamook Bay: Still Lots of Fresh Fish Coming
Trask River: Trask River Updates
Wilson River: Open to Fall Chinook Fishing!
Yaquina River: Slow Fishing on the Yaquina
Agate Lake: Warmwater Fishing Should Be Good
Applegate Reservoir: Applegate Reservoir Updates
Applegate River: Open for Trout Fishing But NOT Salmon Fishing
Ben Irving Reservoir: Trout May Be Perking Up at Ben Irving
Chetco River: Chetco River is Still Very Low
Cooper Creek Reservoir: Fishing Should Improve for Holdover Trout
Diamond Lake: Good Spot for Trout Fishing!
Emigrant Reservoir: Emigrant Lake Updates
Fish Lake : Fish Lake is slowly filling
Galesville Reservoir: Good Warmwater Fishing at Galesville
Hemlock Lake: Hemlock Lake Updates
Lake Of The Woods: Great Place to Check Out Before Winter!
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Howard Prairie Reservoir Updates
Hyatt Lake: Good Sized Rainbow Trout at Hyatt
Lake Marie: Trout Should Perk Up with Cooler Weather
Lemolo Lake: Cooler weather may be slowing the bite
Lost Creek Lake: Trollers can have very good success at Lost Creek
Plat I Reservoir: Abnormally Warm Weather at Plat I Reservoir
Rogue River - Middle: Coho salmon and summer steelhead are available
Rogue River- Upper: Upper Rogue River Updates
Sixes River: Sixes River Updates
Smith River: Smith River, Umpqua Updates
Umpqua River: Umpqua River 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