Oregon Fishing Reports ยท Willamette Region
Below Detroit and Big Cliff dams, the North Santiam runs past Mill City and Stayton, a steelhead and salmon river east of Salem.
Looking for the latest North Santiam River report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the North Santiam River.
Current flows
Wind forecast
North Santiam River fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The Mehama gauge reads around 1,500 cfs.
Summer steelhead are spread through the river, and winter steelhead come next.
Load your fly box
Before you head to North Santiam, bring: Egg #8-12, Woolly Bugger #4-6, Pat', s Rubber Legs #6-8, Zebra Midge #18-22, RS2 Emerger #18-22, JuJu Baetis #18-22, Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-20, Black Beauty #20-24, Squirmy Wormie #12-14, Scud Bomb #14-16.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
North Santiam River details
| Access | Parks and access points around Mill City, Lyons, Mehama and Stayton. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 400 to 900 ft |
| Nearest town | Stayton, Oregon |
| Best season | Year-round |
| Fish | Steelhead, salmon and trout |
| Regulations | Steelhead and salmon rules change often in season. Check the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations and in-season changes before you go. An Oregon angling license is required for anglers 12 and older, plus a combined tag for steelhead and salmon. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 2X to 3X tippet |
| Camping | North Santiam State Recreation Area |
| Kids | Partly. |
| Good to know | Dam releases affect flows. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Winter steelhead.
Spring
Spring Chinook.
Summer
Summer steelhead.
Fall
Late summer steelhead.
How to get there
From Salem, take State Highway 22 east to Stayton and Mill City.