North Santiam River Report Feb. 16

[billsan]

February 16, 2004

North Santiam River Report

Medium low river flows again this week still provide good conditions for finding winter steelhead, which are coming upstream in fair to good numbers with a total count of 2670 winter fish above Willamette Falls as of Feb. 3. The count at the Falls has not been updated since then because of staffing shortages, and the newest numbers are scheduled to be posted on Feb. 21. We do know that the North Santiam has something over 30 winter steelhead per mile and a few summer steelhead are also coming upriver, and a few have been caught in the lower river.

Detroit Lake is 70 feet below summer level, and the Lake will fill up as rains continue and snow melts. We’ve got lots of snow, so the filling of the Lake is occurring on schedule, and should be full the first week of May. Until then, the North Santiam River will be artificially low. With the rains and snowmelt, quite a bit of tributary runoff happens, so low levels coming out of Big Cliff become medium levels by the time the river gets to Mehama.

We made a quick recreational fishing trip on Sunday from above Fishermen’s Bend to Mehama in honor of our old Steelhead friend John Hobson, who was born and raised in that section. John passed away in January, but we’ll never forget his devotion to our cause or his friendship. Since his Dad guided there in the early 1900s, his knowledge of the river was exceptional. Our trip started at the slide halfway between Mill City and Fishermen’s Bend. There are two ramps there: one that is bare dirt, and another with timbers. We use the one with bare dirt to avoid the possibility of the boat sliding off the timbers, which would be awkward. Using a good strong rope that is at least 50 feet long will allow the boat to be dropped off the steep bank. We wrap the rope around the trailer so we can feed the line down as the boat drops over the slide. It is easy to do after a couple of practice sessions. The drift down to the Frank Hole is characterized by lots of three foot deep water over a gravel bottom with occasional boulders. Steelhead can, and do, lay anywhere. It pays to fish all the water, and many techniques work well here. Spoons or spinners are efficient, and so are jigs. An occasional wader will work this section with flies. Since steelhead go up Snake and DeFord Creek, several fish are generally around that confluence. Last year, ODFW counted 23 steelhead redds a mile up that creek, so native spawning is happening. Several property owners, including Tom Fencl, are active with the Watershed Council in pursuing improvements that will help both fish spawning and flood control. Steelheaders have cooperated with the Watershed Council on many projects, and North Santiam River Guides have also done lots of work with habitat along the river. There really is a lot of improvement going on, and we still need the mitigation from hatcheries to compensate for the loss of spawning caused by Detroit Lake covering more than half of the historic spawning beds. Fortunately, we have Oregon Anglers working on behalf of hatcheries and budgets. On our trip last Saturday, there was an angler who waded into the middle of the Frank Hole and was fly fishing with a spey rod. We went around the side and only fished the tailout, which was ideal water. Bootleg Bend is the name of the small gravel island at the bottom, and it is just above Fishermen’s Bend. Although a little shallow already, the South channel is easiest to drift. There is a tree in the left channel just above the point where the river meets the highway at the lowest part of Fishermen’s Bend. A high water could wash that tree down into the main salmon fishing hole and boating channel, but it could just stay there for a long time. We need to pay attention to these possibilities. Cherry Creek Rapids is easy at this level. Indian Bend is a great fishing hole, and lower Indian Rapids is best run on the right side. DeWitt Falls can be run either on the left or right side at this level, and many of us prefer the left side, which is clear at even very low flows. DeWitt canyon and Stillwater is about two miles long and has a dozen good steelhead drifts and some great spawning gravel. North Santiam State Park has a deep hole at the upper end, and some yew trees have fallen into the fishing hole. They are not a navigational problem, but they certainly are in the way of a good fishing drift. As the river bends to the right, the gravel bar boat ramp ends in a steep cliff. That is followed by the Warden Hole, and several winter steelhead were caught there in the last week. Guides Island, right below there, should be run on the left side. There is another island, Lower Guides Island, at the bottom of that, and it also should be run on the left side. However, some tree branches have fallen into the boating channel. It is still navigable, but it is tight. There are more than a dozen good fishing places between there and Neal Park, and numerous tricky riffles. Just below the boat ramp at Neal Park, Little River Rapids had some trees wash into the river. They have now washed farther over to the side, so either the left or right side of this rapids may be run. Just below that, the Little North Fork enters from the right side, and there is an excellent fishing hole at that confluence. Steelhead lay there before making up their mind as to which river to ascend. Many ledges between there and Smith Rapids will hold fish. The drift above the Mehama Bridge has always had lots of fish and lots of anglers. We pulled out at the Bridge after a short but delightful trip down the river.

Mehama to Stayton is clear and navigable, but the boat slide at the upper diversion dam at Stayton Island is a challenge. There are some branches on part of the lower slide, but the boats will still slide off if the boats are properly led along with a lining rope. It is important for the boat to slide off the bottom with enough speed that it goes all the way off, rather that stall right under the end of the ramp, where it could fill up with water from the ramp. Practice helps develop good technique here, and it helps to observe experienced boaters handle this operation.

The “Learn the River” trips will be discussed at the River Guidcs meeting on Feb. 25 at 6:00 p.m. at Nuefeldt’s Diner in Aumsville and also at the Steelheaders meeting on Feb. 18 at 7:00 p.m. at the Salem Library. The first trip is from Green’s Bridge to Buena Vista on March 6.

Lower river trips are most likely to find fresh winter steelhead, and the North Santiam is noted for having large fish.

Bill Sanderson

[FisherJack]

Thanks a lot. Bill. Your reports are always so good and so appreciated.

[GOT2FISH]

As always great report Thanks for the Info.

[RiverDogg]

Great Post! Sounds like a good time to fish the N. Santiam

[billsan]

The North Santiam is always a great place to fish, and there is something desirable about every different condition on the river. Right now there are some excellent fish catching probabliities on the Nestucca and Siletz, and the North Santiam has some good conditions. There are good reasons to fish a variety of places this month, and next month the big fish numbers coming into the Santiam will be even better.

Good luck!

Bill

[salmonidstalker]

thanks for the great posts on the santiam ..they are always very descriptive and helpful...all of us locals appreciate your time

[tag-a-long]

Be careful fishing bait this time of year. I hooked several steelhead smolt between 10 and 13 inches. All released safely. I also hooked into a few really nice fat trout. Since the river is closed to trout retention, they had to go back too. Color was off on Monday due to the rain, but this weekend looks promising!!!!!!

[RiverRogue]

Thanks Bill. Great info. One question though? How did you find out they (ODFW) expect to update counts on 2-21?

[billsan]

I called the phone number for the Willamette Fish count (503 657 2000x399) and listened to the recording. Then I communicated with the biologist for Clackamas region, which administers this matter, and found out that the count will actually be updated a few days prior to that, perhaps the 19th, 20th, or 21st at the latest. It worked out better for one of the staff to take a vacation in February rather than in March, when the counts are higher. Thanks for your interest.

[fishin62]

hello bill, any chages in the hess to greens drift that you know of? thanks. see you on the river.

[fishin62]

thanks bill, looks like the north is going to be a little on the high side for a few days anyway, we will be waiting for your updates to come. i think i will head to the clack.

[chinookie]

The log jam below the Hess drive boat launch is now clear. I ran up though it in my sled this week and have also talked with several driftboats which have come down without a problem. Only one thing worthy of mention, the high bank just below the old log jam is having a vary massive cave in problem and not only is a danger to passing boaters but it is also resposible for coloring up the entire lower North Santiam. On rainy day in particular it can change from 6 feet of visibility to less than a foot visability and then back and is really messing up the fishing.

[RiverRogue]

Bill, I ran my 23' sled from the mouth to just below Greens Bridge last Wednesday before the water dropped. Was a walk in the park.

[billsan]

Rumor has it (the shuttle driver heard it from a bank angler) that the channels are clear from Stayton clear down to the Willamette, and Hess (Shelburn) to GB is within that stretch. I like to have confirmation of things like that before proceeding myself, and I am asking power boaters from the lower river to check it out and let me know so I can post accurate info.

[billsan]

Chinookie and River Rogue ran their power boats from the Willamette up to Shelburn/Hess/BuellMiller, so now we need to hear from someone who has been from Stayton to Shelburn. Although it is probably clear, it would be comforting to hear for sure. NSRGA sponsors the "Learn the River" trip from Green's Bridge to Buena Vista on March 6.

[FishBowl]

So Bill how long is that dfift form Greens to Buena Vista? Also will Lusk shuttle that for us?? I am wanting to learn the drift above Stayton also, is that from Mehema down to Stayton? And when will you do this? I heard you have to go through the diversion dam and was wondering if my 20' Koffler will fit? any help will be appreciated, and thank you for the great detail in your reports.

Tim

P.S. on the 17th got 2 nice natives below greens bridge, chrome bright and mad and he!! :grin:

[ 02-19-2004, 10:44 AM: Message edited by: Crambone ]

[Sublime]

Thanks again, Bill~

always keeping us up to date! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[FisherJack]

Bill,

Where can I get some info on the March 6 "Learn the River" trip? Thanks in advance.

[billsan]

If you want to talk to some of the people who are going to run it, you are welcome to drop in the North Santiam River Guides (mainly amatuer guides) meeting Wed. Feb. 25 at 6:00 p.m. for a no host dinner at Nuefeldt's Diner in Aumsville and discussion about the trips. That is not necessary, and you could just show up at the Plantation in Jefferson for optional breakfast at 7:30 or 8:00 a.m. on March 6, or at Green's Bridge at 9:00 to unload boats. We do our own shuttle, and are in the water about 10:00, and end up at Buena Vista around 3:00. Some people fish fast as we drift down the river, and people do learn where the access points and fishing holes are. These trips show people how to run the river safely and all the logistics. If you want the entire schedule for these trips, send me an e-mail and request it.

[billsan]

The drift from GB to BV is 15 miles: GB-Jeff is 5, Jeff to I-5 is 4, I-5 to BV is 6. We will do very little fishing on the trip, and expect to be in the water at 10 and out at 3. Please send me your name and e-mail address if you want direct communication. I can send you the entire schedule as a file attachment. Thanks.