Whats an easy drift on the North Santiam?

[fish forever]

What is a good day drift for a novice/intermediate drift boat driver? (preferably one that has summers this time of year)

put in/take outs, river obstacles, obstructions, good/bad ramps, other stuff to look out for would be appreciated. I'm comfortable with easier white water, but am new to the river and still working on stick skills (I found the S. Santiam plenty tame)

BTW - CnD and Blackdog - thanks for the S. Santiam info. Had a nice float on the fourth 2 hookups, one broke off one didnt stick. Lots of trout and Lotsa people. I'm looking to develop some more options a little closer to home - hence the N. Fork.

[Salmonator]

Greens bridge to Jefferson would probably be your easiest, Stayton to Shelburn maybe the next easiest. Avoid the Shelburn to Greens bridge run until you get comfortable with the sticks. I haven't floated much water higher up, but I think there are a few tame runs above Stayton. I'm sure somebody else will harp up here.. Joe

[backlash]

FF, my advice would be to go with someone who's rowed it before. The N.Santiam above Stayton is an obsticle course, there is'nt a lot of technicle whitewater but there is a lot of mine fields. When it drops to about 2.8 you're going to bang. However, having said this it's a dynamite summer steelhead river, and definatley worth learning. The run from Fishermans Bend to Mehama has tons of great holding water. I have'nt floated it in a couple of years, sorry I can't be of more help.

[Deleted User]

Hey ff, please excuse some sillyness mixed in with some advice, I'm having "an evening" images/icons/grin.gif . ... First of all I can tell you are a novice because you said "driftboat driver" - it's rower - and they're all summers in the summer images/icons/wink.gif (just goofin around with ya). Actually you got good advice already, but I would emphasize not to driftboat the runs above Stayton until you are very good on the oars. The run from Packsaddle Park down to Fishermen's Bend is particularly a challenging but fun driftboat run. I haven't done it for a few years but used to run it semi-regularly. When the water is lower you might be scraping chine on a few boulders. And there are some holes with pretty strong hydraulics; especially "Spencer's Hole". That's where people gather to watch the guys that don't have the double oar pivot down strong so they can keep the hydraulic twist from turning the boat sideways and getting broached. If you excellerate and hit it hard and double pivot strong to counter it, then it is a fun driftboat rapids. More people like it with rafts though. BTW, rafting would be a good way to learn some difficult river sections before rowing driftboats down them. ... Have fun - should be a lot of fish in there now; and lots of good holding water for them as FB to Mehema section has.

RT

[willierower]

Greens Bridge to Jefferson. Its very mellow and has some really good steelhead water. I did really well on that stretch earlier this year.
I havent done from Stayton to Shelburn yet. I have a friend who does it. He says it is easy.

[fish forever]

yep I'm a begginer and proud of it images/icons/smile.gif Just looking to get some time on the water, learn some new holes, and catch some fish. Sounds like stretch below Stayton is the best place to start.

I've heard that stretch has some good braids and sweepers. Any Channel's and turns to watch out for?

How has the lower section been fishing?

[NEUTRON]

Stayton to Shelburn no problem but below
Shelburn there is one spot that merits caution and prior knowledge of where you want to be (braiding). Good luck and have fun. The N. Fork has some fun white water up higher so scout it out and go for it as you get more experienced. As Hendrix said, are you experienced?

[santiamflyguy]

The drift from Mehama to Stayton is fairly easy as well. There are the slides at the dams, though, and you'd benefit from having someone who's done it before along with you. I personally think that this has some of the best water on the river; additionally, it has the least pressure due to a lack of road access.

However, if you're planning to drift the N. Santiam, I'd wait a few days. Lately, the bite has been off because of the full moon and hot days. It should be getting better this next week or so, and the river is running a constant 1200cfs out of Big Cliff so you shouldn't have to worry about it dropping too much. I talked to an ODFW employee today; he said of the 35-40 bank fishermen he had talked to, he heard of 5 hooked and 0, yes zero, landed. Not exactly a stellar day :P.

[santiamflyguy]

The fishing I was talking about was on the upper river. I'd guess the lower will be good after the moon changes, since there's still something like 250-300 fish per day coming over Willamette Falls.

Edit.
If you're in the upper canyon, be sure to stop at Packsaddle park, if not to fish, at least to walk up above the closure deadline and look at literally hundreds of salmon and steelhead below the dam. It's a really good lesson in where fish hold in the tailouts of a pool, lol.

[ 07-06-2001: Message edited by: santiamflyguy ]