n. santiam

[Sean]

New to flyfishing for steelhead... Any decent first stops I should consider?

[santiamflyguy]

if there was an icon for two thumbs up, it'd get that right now. fished the last two mornings...yesterday brought five fish to the surface, hooked two, and landed one in about four hours... this morning, didn't get on the river until 9am, fished until 11. three hooked, two landed. let's just say that the santiam is the place to be this time of year; get out there before the morning clouds burn off, and fish ledges, pockets, other steelhead hidey holes. Small lures, flies, nothing too flashy.

everyone's probably too busy chasing salmon at buoy 10 to bother with piddly little steelhead, but i don't mind images/icons/smile.gif. more room on the river for the rest of us!

[santiamflyguy]

if you're looking for good fly water on the santiams, at least this time of the year, the farther upriver the better. the n. santiam has been good from mehama all the way up to packsaddle park. minto park has some especially good fly water, as does packsaddle. fishermen's bend is also a good bet. there are other nice spots, but we keep them closely guarded images/icons/smile.gif.

if you're looking for the s. santiam, wiley creek park is hot this time of year, just walk down past all the 'flossers' to the tailout of the first large pool. there's a ton of fish in there.

hope this helps. if you're looking for more general locations, the lower 20mi of the Deschutes, the entire N. Umpqua, and parts of the McKenzie should be good right now.

[SailCat]

http://www.ifish.net/ubb/icons/icon14.gif http://www.ifish.net/ubb/icons/icon14.gif http://www.ifish.net/ubb/icons/icon14.gif September 1st the limit will go to three hatchery steelhead per day on the Santiam.

~MT

[searun]

3 Fish!!! Wow! images/icons/smile.gif
Is that for both the North and South Santiams?

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searun

[Snapshot]

SFG" I used to chase the summer fish up the Clack., gave up but still remember the surge. Have not fished the Santiams, can we use bait like or is it all fly waters in both North and South. Evening fishing ok there?

[SailCat]

snapshot-

You're good to go with bait on the Santiam, but the requisite hook restriction (#1 or larger) is standard now statewide in rivers where bait can be used.

Mornings will be best and cloud cover will stretch the early A.M. bite.

The North Santiam has steelhead in every slot, pool and off every ledge below the whitewater stretches from the Packsaddle area downstream. The bite is still only fair but is improving. Sand shrimp and Hot Shots have accounted for the most fish although fly anglers have also fared well.

searun- I dunno about the South or lower rivers ... the three-fish limit will be in effect on the North Fork for sure. When if you find out about the rest of the river, post it ... I'll do the same if I find out!

~MT

[Smily]

Is there a good drift and shuttle service?
Is the water high enough? Sounds exciting to have a whole bunch of fish like that to stack up.

images/icons/smile.gif Smily images/icons/smile.gif

[NEUTRON]

Smily, Bob Lusk is the guy for shuttles. Do a search to find his #. The river at Mehamma is running 2.7 (very skinny water (low). Don't try this area without someone with prior knowledge unless you are confident with the oars. Read MT's post closely, bite is fair and should improve. The north is a very neat stream, just not sure you want to check it out in August with your driftboat.

[santiamflyguy]

i'm still not sure if i agree with you guys on the bite being 'just fair', but i'll let you go this time.

talked to an odfw guy yesterday, said they're seeing upwards of 300 fish per mile on average in the first five miles below packsaddle dam.

i think it's running at 2.6 right now, actually. you'll hit bottom on almost every drift on the river, the possible exception being some of the real short easy ones between N. Santiam park and Mehama bridge.

I second that call for Bob Lusk for shuttles.