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.

It is another record run year for coho salmon above Willamette Falls. Total counts of adult coho salmon exceed 51,000. 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 1,300+ adult coho have passed into the upper river, including the Little North Fork Santiam, as of Oct. 29. 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. As of Oct. 31, bait is no longer allowed.