What's up at Willamette Falls?

[blackdog]

After inheriting a new sled this past winter, I have been dying to get it in the water on the lower santiam and willamette, but I keep checking the counts at the falls and I know I will have to keep waiting. What's the deal? Bonneville had over 27,000 springers go over yesterday and all Willamette falls can muster is 81? Are they usually this late in going over or is the water height/clarity/temperature holding them back some place? Guess I will have to keep to catching steelhead on the South until the springers really start coming.

[RichH]

Seems to me that in years past they did'nt start moving over in good numbers until the first week or two of May. Must be water temp related somehow.

[jawbreaker]

The low water might also be a factor. The water might be to low to run a sled this year on the Santiam. It might be a drift show. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] JB

[FishinMission]

I started watching the movement versus water temp last year. When the water hit 52 degrees...the fish stormed over the falls. My finder had the water temp in that area today at 50.2 degrees. So it shouldn't be too long, and they'll be on their way.

[Hookset]

FishinMission's got ir right. The magic number is 52 degrees. The salmon never really get into the santiam in numbers until May, so it's still early. Just another note on the Santiam. From my estimates, the best fishing is not low on the main river, but higher up on the South or North forks. For some reason the springers just don't bite well on the lower river. Some steelhead yes, but springers no.

Good luck when they get here.

hook

[willierower]

As Im typeing this the South Santiam is waaaaaaay high.
As for springers. I know of about 1/2 dozen that have been caught in the south. Not too much going on.
I like to fish the Santiam system about 10 days after the daily count at Willamette hits between 500 and 100 fish. If you wait 10 days after the first day a large group of fish moves over the falls, You are almost garunteed to find fish.

[blackdog]

Tuesday April 17, 562 fish over the falls. I guess I had better plan on taking Friday the 27th off from work. Hopefully they will have the water shut off some by then. With the lack of snow in the Cascades, I wouldn't think they would keep it running very high for long.