sandy, salmon river question

etacada · 10-12-2003, 12:27 PM

hi, i could not find it in the fishing regs. is the salmon river open to steelhead/salmon fishing? how about above marmot dam? do they let steelhead/salmon pass over the dam? how is the salmon for trout?

thank you,
cb :tongue:

5-Cents · 10-12-2003, 12:38 PM

I am not sure about the salmon and steelhead... I know there used to be awesome flyfishing for summer steelhead in the Salmon River but I think those fish are not allowed to enter now.

There are some very nice trout in the upper sections of the Salmon and Sandy Rivers, some very large wild cutts too!

Riverkeeper · 10-12-2003, 03:42 PM

The guys at the flyshop in welches should know the story on that area. I somehow remember that it is closed to salmon/steelhead fishing.

5-Cents · 10-12-2003, 05:17 PM

The guys at the FlyShop are the biggest zipperlips that ever walked the face of the earth! :shocked: :shocked: I used to frequent that shop all the time and bought tons of stuff and they never gave any "information" that was worth a darn!

Not dissing the shop at all because I think they have a great selection, but they will not tell you nothin!

Riverkeeper · 10-12-2003, 06:01 PM

Shane, I haven't found that the case. I mean, if you ask them where and what to use fishing steelhead on the sandy or deschutes (fisheries that they guide on) they may not tell you much, but I have found them to be pretty forthright, at least some of the staff. I actually had a conversation once with Bachmann about how ODFW was managing wild fish in the Salmon and upper Sandy, and I think I recall him saying that the salmon is not currently open to fishing. Maybe when I walk in there, they take one look at me and think "man, this guy couldn't catch a fish at the rainbow trout farm" and give me tips out of pitty.

Next time up that way, check out the Cascade Streamwatch interpretive area just off of 26. There is a trail along the Salmon that ends at a restoration project where they rebuilt some off channel rearing habitat, complete with an underwater viewing window. Smolt's-eye view of the world.

Navigator · 10-13-2003, 10:02 PM

Just checked the regs. The Sandy and all tributaries above Marmot Dam, including the Salmon River, is closed to steelhead and salmon fishing year-round. The area is open for trout fishing, May 24th through October 31st, catch and release (except Brook Trout - no limit), artificial flies and lures (now, tell me how you differenciate between trout and steelhead fishing

).

The upper Sandy and tribs above Marmot dam is now managed as a wild steelhead and salmon sanctuary (which means when you hook a steelhead while trout fishing you must be in heaven) - no hatchery fish are allowed to pass above Marmot Dam. Very few 'wild' summers pass over - so, I wouldn't expect a lot of steelhead during the "trout" season.

[ 10-13-2003, 11:03 PM: Message edited by: Navigator ]

rpnsteelheadlps · 10-13-2003, 10:45 PM

Thank God they're removing the dam. When my son is my age he'll be able to catch some nice fish up there.

o-mykiss · 10-18-2003, 03:28 PM

I am staying at a cabin tonight near Brightwood very close to the upper Sandy/Salmon River. Is there decent trout fishing up there? If so, is it wide spread throughout, or do I have to scout for the secret/productive spot. I know that the area used to be great for steelhead. Probably still is.