South Santiam inquiry

[fish forever]

looking for some information for a float this weekend - havent been down it before.

What is a good novice/intermediate full day float (~8-10 hours while fishing)?
What shape are the ramps in?
Any obstacles to avoid?

What techniques are productive this time of year?

thanks in advance.

[chuck 'n' duck]

Fish Forever:

The drift I would recommend is Foster Dam to Pleasant Valley. Both ramps are very good, with the takeout being a bit steep. (you may want 4 wheel drive as it can be a bit slick) This drift is relatively easy. It is pretty short (approx. 3-4 miles) However, if you really work the water, you can easily spend most of the day on this drift. I would recommend fishing for steelhead with drift gear (corky and yarn w/ shrimp, eggs or prawn meat), spinners, or bobber and jig. Fish for springers with diver and eggs/shrimp or bobber and eggs/shrimp. Make sure that you spend lots of time on the first 1/2 mile of the drift. There are alot of fish concentrated in this area.

Post anymore questions that you may have and I will be happy to answer them.

Good Luck,

CnD

[fish forever]

CnD,
how much further is the next takeout from Pleasant Valley and what sort of shape is it in?
is Foster to the next ramp down from pleasant valley a reasonable days drift?

Who would you use for shuttles on this stretch?

thanks for the info,

[blackdog]

The next take out below Pleasant Valley is Jack's Place, which could be tough to find if you have never used it before. This stretch alone can be a good day's drift with good water for both steelhead and chinook. There is one piece of water that has a good-sized drop than can be real b***h if the water is not at the right height. Sweet Home Shuttle (541-367-7087) or Debbie (541-367-8081) are two shuttles that have worked in the past.

[chuck 'n' duck]

FF:

Jack's is a primative dirt ramp. Just like blackdog said, it is not an easy ramp to find. It is tucked away in the brush to the north side of the river. For shuttle, I sometimes use Debbie ($10) or another guy (forget his name) at 541-367-1930 ($7).

CnD

[Sean]

CnD, anything in that section that would keep a novice boater off the water? How about one in an 8' pontoon boat?

[chuck 'n' duck]

Sean:

I have not drifted from PV to Jacks. I sometimes put in at Jacks and drift to Waterloo. From what I understand, the PV to Jacks drift is pretty simple. However, Willierower, Salmonator, Blackdog or some other local ifishers may want to confirm this. I think you should be okay on the upper drift with your pontoon boat. There is a church camp on the upper drift that kids launch canoes from and do the drift to Pleasant Valley. The water is way down from the level it was at on Flotilla II, so the big rollers that everybody was talking about are much tamer now.

CnD

[Salmonator]

I've only done PV to Jacks a few times, but what I remember is fairly tame water that gets skinny in a few spots in low water. I think that the dam to PV run is more challenging for a beginner.. Joe