Trout Harvest is Now Closed and Will Not Re-open Until May 22

Santiam River ( North Fork) - Stayton, OR


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
5-19-2021
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Some access sites on the North Santiam above and below Detroit Reservoir were impacted by last fall’s wildfire. Some of the more popular sites such as Packsaddle Park and Fishermen’s Bend are still closed until crews can remove hazard trees. 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.  

No recent fishing reports. River levels best for fishing are at or below 3,000 cfs, and the river is currently running at 1,900 cfs at the gage in Mehama. Water clarity is good.  

Fishing for hatchery steelhead is open year-round. A few hundred early summer steelhead have arrived in the upper Willamette and will be making their way into tributaries, including the North Santiam, over the next few weeks. A handful have already reached the Stayton area.  Overall, however, this is shaping up to be a disappointing year for summer steelhead. 

Spring Chinook numbers at Willamette Falls have recently surged, indicating the beginning of the main run. Over 14,000 fish have crossed Willamette Falls 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. About 500 fish have reached the Stayton area but the bulk of the run is still downstream. Forecasts are for a run year about the same as last year or perhaps a bit higher.

Anglers should be aware that trout harvest is now closed and will not re-open until May 22.




More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, May 19th, 2021
Lower Willamette River: Lower Willamette River sturgeon retention season planned for two Saturdays in June
Nestucca River: Sprink Chinook Fishing Is Slow But There Are A Few Fish Being Caught
Trask River: The Trask is Still a Little Slow and Water Conditions are Very Low Above Tidewater
Wilson River: Summer Steelhead Should Be Showing Up This Month
Alton Baker Canoe Canal: Will Be Stocked Again This Week With 1,000 Legal-Size and 200 Pound Size Rainbow Trout
Breitenbush River: The Forest Service Road Up the Breitenbush River is Closed
Coast Fork Willamette River: Will Be Stocked Again This Week With 1,000 Legal-Size Trout
Detroit Reservoir: Will Be Stocked Again This Week With 4,200 Hatchery Trout
Dexter Reservoir: Was Last Stocked The Week of April 12 With 2,000 Pounder-Size Rainbow Trout
EE Wilson Angling Pond: Will Be Stocked Again This Week With About 1,000 Hatchery Trout
Fall Creek: Will Be Stocked This Week With 1,333 Legal-Size Rainbow Trout
Foster Reservoir: Reservoir Water Level Will Slowly Rise Throughout The Spring
Gold Lake: Gold Lake Will Open This Coming Saturday!!
Green Peter Reservoir: Will Be Stocked Again This Week With 7,300 Trout
Junction City Pond: This Pond Will Be Stocked Again This Week With About 1,500 Hatchery Trout
Leaburg Lake: Will Be Stocked Again This Week With 800 Legal-Size Rainbow Trout
McKenzie River: When Boating, Treat This Section of River Like It Is The First Time You Have Been On It
Middle Fork Willamette: Spring Chinook Are Still Coming Upriver
Quartzville Creek: Trout Are Active Year-Round and Anglers Are Allowed to Keep Up to Five Fish Daily
Salmon Creek: Was Last Stocked The Week of May 12 With 1,350 Legal-Size Rainbow Trout

States set additional Columbia River spring Chinook fishing days
Columbia River

5-18-2021
CLACKAMAS, Ore.—Following a run upgrade, fishery managers from Oregon and Washington adopted additional fishing days for recreational spring Chinook salmon...... Read More