Re: Flyfishing Sisters
Here is the latest fishing report from Bill Sanderson, an awesome guide on the North Santiam. His number is 503-897-3301.
North Santiam River Report
We anchored the boat in an excellent drift, and expected to run some
Hot-Shots and live sand shrimp along the ledges below us. However, we
looked to the sides of our drift, and spotted summer steelhead laying beside
the ledges. Having visible steelhead on both sides is a dream come true,
partially. This particular drift is a little above Minto Park, and there
are many such drifts with fish on all sides as well as the middle. We were
able to cast spoons to the fish, and they followed the Little Cleos for as
much as 6 feet. The fish on the South side picked the spoon up in his mouth
and spit it right back out. We saw it.
The 60 degree water temperature last week was a little high, but it is
dropping. The full moon was a little bright, but it is waning. Conditions
will improve until the full moon, which is around Halloween, and the river
may or may not rise around then, depending upon rainfall.
This time of year, there are so many fish above Mehama that I seldom fish
the lower river. The Watershed Council had some probes still in the lower
river, and we made two trips to retrieve them. Stayton to Green*s Bridge
was uneventful, and we saw a few trout and juvenile steelhead and salmon.
Actually, we saw thousands of fry, which will mature in the lower river for
a year or two before going to the ocean. We had to drag the boat through 3
shallow places. The lower trip, from Green*s Bridge to the Willamette at
Buena Vista, was shallower and took longer. We saw several fresh salmon
spawning beds (salmon were still actively using them) below the railroad
bridge, and we guess that they may be Fall Chinook. With the shallow water,
we had 2 drags above Jefferson and 3 drags below that. Most of the river is
extremely peaceful with few rapids and lots of flat water. Several islands
create multiple channels, and it is important to take the deepest route.
Mehama to Stayton has lots of steelhead and few anglers. Some riverbank
reinforcement has been done on the North side of the river across from Trask
Creek, and perhaps that will help the flooding in the Stout Creek area.
Multiple steelhead are in many of the drifts around the powerlines. The
North channel at Stayton Island has much more water than the South, but the
rootwad is still a potential hazard there. At lower Bennett Dam,
modifications have been made to put more water in the Power Canal, and very
little water goes through the fish ladder. The channel between the fish
ladder and the return of the canal overflow is almost dry. If boats use the
North channel, they should be prepared to drag the boats for 50 or 100
yards. Considering the excellent fishing and scenic attributes of this
river section, a little dragging is a small price for admission.
Minto Park is still at the top of the list for good places to fish on the
North Santiam. North Santiam State Park is also premium water. Fishermen*s
Bend will have the boat ramp and day use area open until October 28, but the
camping area closed Oct. 8.
__________________
Bundin er batlaus madur (Bound is boatless man)
- Viking Proverb
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