Hoot Owl Regulations in Effect For This River Below Big Cliff Dam

Santiam River ( North Fork) - Stayton, OR


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
7-14-2021
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"Hoot owl” regulations in effect for this river below Big Cliff dam. That means fishing is closed between 2 p.m. and one hour before sunrise. Many public access points along the river are still closed from last year’s wildfires, including Packsaddle and Fisherman’s Bend.  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 1,400 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.




More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, July 14th, 2021

Ana Reservoir: The Reservoir Was Recently Stocked With 4,000 Rainbow Trout
Balm Creek Reservoir: Balm Creek Provides a Good Oppertunity to Escape The Heat
Chewaucan River: The Water Is Already Starting To Approach Summer Flows
Deming Creek: Inaccessible Due to Fire
Duncan Reservoir: Inaccessible Due to Fire
Fish Lake : Fish Lake and Camping Around the Lake is Accessible
Gerber Reservoir: Targeting Yellow Perch is Your Best Bet
Heart Lake: Inaccessible Due to Fire
Holbrook Reservoir: Inaccessible Due to Fire
Lake Of The Woods: Fishing Will Be Fair as Most Stocked Rainbow Trout Will Move to Deeper Water
Lofton Reservoir: Inaccessible Due to Fire
Long Creek Reservoir: Fishing is Not Recommended at This Time Due to the Bootleg Fire in That Area
Phillips Reservoir: Bag Limits and Size Limits For All Species Have Been Lifted From July 15 Through Sept 6
Sprague River: Fishing is Not Recommended at This Time Due to Smoke From the Bootleg Fire
Sycan River: Fishing is Not Recommended at This Time
Thief Valley Reservoir: Bag Limits and Size Limits For All Species Have Been Lifted From July 15 Through Sept 6
Thompson Valley Reservoir: Inaccessible Due to Fire
Wood River: Wood River Fishing Update
John Day River: Flows on The John Day River are Currently Unusually Low For This Time of Year
Agate Lake: Agate Lake is at 36 Percent Capacity
Applegate Reservoir: The Reservoir is 49 Percent Full
Bradley Lake: Bradley Lake Fishing Update
Butterfield Lake: Butterfield Lake Fishing Update
Cooper Creek Reservoir: Anglers Continue to Catch Trout and Other Species During The Hot Weather
Emigrant Reservoir: Bass Fishing Should Be Fair to Good
Fish Lake : Lake Level is 25 Percent Full
Hemlock Lake: Road is Likely Closed Due to Fires
Illinois River: Emergency Regulations Change: Effective July 1
Lake Selmac: The Coming Week Should See a Slight Cool Off at Lake Selmac
Lost Creek Lake: Fishing is Still Good
Medco Pond: Trout Should Still be Available
Rogue River- Lower: Early Success on Chinook
Rogue River - Middle: Emergency Drought Regulations
Rogue River- Upper: The Hatchery Hole is Closed to All Fishing Through July 31
Rogue River- Upper (Above Lost Creek): This is an Excellent Destination to Escape the Heat This Weekend
Tenmile Lakes: Trout Fishing Has Slowed Down With the Warm Water Temperatures
Umpqua River: Chinook Season Closed on July 1
Willow Lake: Trout Fishing at Willow Lake Should Still Be Good
Clackamas River: Summer Steelhead Are Currently Being Caught
Detroit Reservoir: Will Be Stocked Again This Week With 3,800 Hatchery Trout
Eagle Creek: The Creek Remains Too Low and Clear to Offer Much Fishing Opportunity
Foster Reservoir: Will Be Stocked Again in The Fall
Harriett Lake: Lake Harriet is Now Open
North Fork Reservoir: Trout Fishing Has Been Good
Quartzville Creek: Will be Stocked Again This Week
Sandy River: Summer Steelhead Fishing Has Been Fair

ODFW Recreation Report

7-9-2021
Check for emergency fishing regulations ODFW has implemented emergency fishing regulations throughout the state to help protect fish during hot, dry...... Read More