“Hoot owl” regulations have been rescinded below Big Cliff dam. That means fishing is again open all day for the entire river as far as the mainstem Santiam River near Jefferson.  Tributaries such as Little North Fork still have “hoot owl” restrictions in place. Many public access points along the river are still closed from last year’s wildfires, including Packsaddle and Fisherman’s Bend, and all recreation areas along the Little North Fork. Anglers can still access the river from Stayton downstream and in a few places above such as the Mehama bridge and North Santiam State Park.

The gate at ODFW’s Green’s Bridge property on the lower North Santiam near Jefferson has been locked. Only anglers with boat trailers will be able to park past the gate, and they must first request a key. Anglers can call ODFW’s Corvallis field office at (541) 757-4186 to get an application form.  

No recent fishing reports. River levels best for fishing are at or below 3,000 cfs, and the river is currently running at 1,300 cfs at the gage in Mehama. Water clarity is good. 

Fishing for hatchery steelhead is open year-round. Around 1,400 summer steelhead have arrived in the upper Willamette as of July 1. So far fewer than 60 have reached the Stayton area indicating that this year’s run is not likely to be strong. 

Spring Chinook numbers at Willamette Falls are better but still below average, reaching just over 25,000 fish as of July 1. Chinook that have crossed the Falls are on their way to tributaries upstream, including the Santiam basin. It takes on average about two weeks for a fish to swim from Willamette Falls to the North Santiam. Over 2,600 fish so far have reached the Stayton area. With hot weather in the forecast, anglers should fish either very early in the morning or late in the evening, when fish are more active and less skittish.  

Hatchery trout harvest is now open until Oct. 31, with a limit of 5 per day. Wild trout need to be released unharmed