NOTICE: The recreational advisory for the North Santiam River below Big Cliff was lifted over the weekend. The advisory is still in place in Detroit and Big Cliff reservoirs due to cyano-toxins. For more information visit this link.

River levels best for fishing are at or below 3,000 cfs, and the river is currently running at around 1,600 cfs at the gauge in Mehama. These flows should be the norm until the fall rains begin.

Most of the summer steelhead have migrated up into the river and are working their way towards the upper sections of the river where water temperatures are coolest. This year's summer steelhead run is the strongest since 2016 with over 4,700 adults already counted at Stayton. As of Sept. 4, they have counted over 18,500 adults passing above Willamette Falls.

Coho salmon have started to migrate into the Willamette. The last few days have seen several hundred fish passing above Willamette Falls every day, but it will be a few more weeks until they begin to show up in the North Santiam in good numbers.

Fishing for spring Chinook is now closed. Anglers may see spawning or spawned out salmon in the river. Please give these fish enough distance to complete their life cycle. Don't let dogs to eat or chew on salmon carcasses as these contain a toxin that can be lethal to dogs.