Troutinator
06-06-2002, 02:34 PM
Had a chance to follow one of my favorite guides down the S. Santiam from Foster to the water intake. Since I hadn't been down this stretch, I figured we'd tag along to learn the river. Glad I did as there is a tricky bit called the "ess's" that challenged my skill level. Guessing it was Class III at this flow and level. Nothing else to speak of technically. We had a blast whooping through them.
Dropped in at 8am and fished hard until almost 6pm. Didn't see or talk to one single person with a steelie in the boat. We fished trout and steelie gear alternately depending on water. Caught and released at least 30 steelhead smolt in the 5"-9" range, C&R 4 16"-18" nate 'bows... beautiful fish. the big nates were as follows, 2 on a zugbug, 2 on a hare's ear w/ soft hackle. Had one serious takedown on a 4wt fishing a beadhead prince... it ripped off about 40yds of line, almost to the backing before popping off... a metalhead no doubt...
Fun day, recommend that drift at the 1500-1700 cfs level..
Dropped in at 8am and fished hard until almost 6pm. Didn't see or talk to one single person with a steelie in the boat. We fished trout and steelie gear alternately depending on water. Caught and released at least 30 steelhead smolt in the 5"-9" range, C&R 4 16"-18" nate 'bows... beautiful fish. the big nates were as follows, 2 on a zugbug, 2 on a hare's ear w/ soft hackle. Had one serious takedown on a 4wt fishing a beadhead prince... it ripped off about 40yds of line, almost to the backing before popping off... a metalhead no doubt...
Fun day, recommend that drift at the 1500-1700 cfs level..