Anybody fishing N. Santiam?

[Hammernfish]

I have family visiting from far off places and was hoping to take them for a drift. Coast rivers are all so low I wasn't sure if it was worth the drive. I live in Salem and have drifted the North during the summer. Are there any fish to be caught this time of year? I don't hear much about the fishing this time of year. I'll probably fish there on Monday. If nothing else it should be a beautiful float.

[Salmonator]

probably a few late summers around, and slim to none as far as native winters go since they've only counted 250 fish over willamette falls so far.

[Deleted User]

Hammernfish send me an e mail and I can give you a little information. Not a lot of fish yet, just a few.

[Wally02]

web page (http://www.localfishermannews.com/n_santiam_report.htm)

This should be helpful

[Hammernfish]

Thanks for the info. Wally02, I saved your web page. Chinookie, I'm interested in any info you have, but I can't get the ifish e-mail section to work . Thanks again, we're shoving off tomorrow around 7am. Still not 100% on where to put in. I have to appear before the grand jury at 4pm(probably in fishing gear) because my car got stolen out of my driveway. Lucky for me, the Einstein that took it forgot to turn on the headlights at 3am.

[King13fisher]

Thanks for the web site guys...didn't know about it. Looks like a pretty good site.

[Vandal]

I gave it a shot yesterday...drifted the lower river...had no luck. Probably should have been further upstream and trying for summers...mostly was just killing time doing what the voices in my head say to do ..."go drift, catch fish" :wink:

[I'mgonnamiss'er]

Drifted the lower-middle section yesterday. 4 guys, 2 boats. Hooked and landed 3 natives, all in the 9-11# range. One with color and two chromer's. Talked to one other boat, they got 2 summers but didn't get the details. I believe the ODFW fish count is deceiving. It appears that all steelhead counted after 1 Nov are counted as a winter fish, and all before as a summer fish. Since the count started there are 32K+ steelhead over the falls. Got our first native about 6-weeks ago.

[NEUTRON]

Good report IGMH....32k, that is a sweet #.
You are right on as far as their counts, each season at a certain time, they just consider them as one type.

[Hammernfish]

I fished the N Santiam on 12/2.. We hooked 5 and landed 3. One hatchery hen and two unclipped bucks. The two we lost both broke 10lb leader. 2 were hooked on bobber and jig, 3 hooked drifting eggs. It was a great day on the river. My brother-in-law now wants to move to Oregon just to fish the N. Santiam. The river is very low(like August) so expect to drag the boat in a few spots.. Great day, I can't wait to go again.

[Salmon Stryker]

Nice job on the fish Hammer! By any chance are you a retired fire fighter? If so I think you and my uncle are good friends.

Wally, thanks for the link! I just got a driftboat and really need to learn how to fish the santiam. It's so close and seems to hold a lot of fish. I may try to hook up on a couple of those "learn the river outings". Does anyone know what it costs?