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Kodiak
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I've been getting a lot of questions about access on the santiam and thought I would post access points here. the first access is on I-5 at the reststop. Below the rest stop is pretty much all private propery and is out of reach without a boat. There are a few good seams here with the majority of the fish being on the move, a decent plunking spot.
The bluffs- Head north on I-5 to exit 238. turn toward Jefferson, turn left on scravel hill road. As you come to the top of the hill there is a steep bank down to the river on the right. This is the bluffs. Most fish are taken here by plunking or the drift in the top of the hole.
Boat ramp- there is a boat ramp behind the grocery store as you cross the bridge. This is possbly one of the best winter steelhead holes on the face of the planet. The fish will be moving through 10 to 15 ft. of the bank during high water. In lower water you are going to get wet for fish. Head upstream to the concrete block and wade across to the center block in the river. This is a deep hole and holds springers and summers. You can bobber egg, jig (whatever) or throw spinners. Cast upstream and get them deep with a little weight. It is also a good smallmouth hole when the water warms up.
Northfork- Greens bridge Take Jefferson-Scio Rd toward Scio. The next hole is greens bridge. A long shallow flat that produces well along the west bank. Don't forget to check around the pillars of the bridge on the upstream side!
Stayton- There is access to the river here at the bridge at stayton. Park on the north side of the river and take the trail upstream. There are several good holes and seams worth working. Since 9-11 there is no foot traffic access to the diversion dam where fish linger and hold waiting to move upstream.
Mehama- The bridge at Mehama can be extreamly productive. There is a boatramp here and the access point where summer steelies get recycled (usually on a thursday starting in late may). On the far side is a slot against a limestone shelf all the way up to where the top of the hole.
John Neal Park- Head into lyons (just across the bridge) Jon Neal park Rd. will be on the right. Some really interesting water, lots of big boulders up near the head of the park.
North Santiam Atate park. North of Mehama On Highway 22. Some good productive water here (one hole here will remind you of the meat hole on Alsea)
Fishermans bend- This section produces a lot of summers and springers both.
Mill city bridge-- The railroad bridge marks the deadline due to prior generations unsportsman like conduct. River reopens above the falls. Hole directly under the bridge is productive plunking for springers, below in the tail out steelies will stack.
Minto/packsaddle-- above gates, well known and productive parks..packsaddle deadline is in the parking lot!
The bluffs- Head north on I-5 to exit 238. turn toward Jefferson, turn left on scravel hill road. As you come to the top of the hill there is a steep bank down to the river on the right. This is the bluffs. Most fish are taken here by plunking or the drift in the top of the hole.
Boat ramp- there is a boat ramp behind the grocery store as you cross the bridge. This is possbly one of the best winter steelhead holes on the face of the planet. The fish will be moving through 10 to 15 ft. of the bank during high water. In lower water you are going to get wet for fish. Head upstream to the concrete block and wade across to the center block in the river. This is a deep hole and holds springers and summers. You can bobber egg, jig (whatever) or throw spinners. Cast upstream and get them deep with a little weight. It is also a good smallmouth hole when the water warms up.
Northfork- Greens bridge Take Jefferson-Scio Rd toward Scio. The next hole is greens bridge. A long shallow flat that produces well along the west bank. Don't forget to check around the pillars of the bridge on the upstream side!
Stayton- There is access to the river here at the bridge at stayton. Park on the north side of the river and take the trail upstream. There are several good holes and seams worth working. Since 9-11 there is no foot traffic access to the diversion dam where fish linger and hold waiting to move upstream.
Mehama- The bridge at Mehama can be extreamly productive. There is a boatramp here and the access point where summer steelies get recycled (usually on a thursday starting in late may). On the far side is a slot against a limestone shelf all the way up to where the top of the hole.
John Neal Park- Head into lyons (just across the bridge) Jon Neal park Rd. will be on the right. Some really interesting water, lots of big boulders up near the head of the park.
North Santiam Atate park. North of Mehama On Highway 22. Some good productive water here (one hole here will remind you of the meat hole on Alsea)
Fishermans bend- This section produces a lot of summers and springers both.
Mill city bridge-- The railroad bridge marks the deadline due to prior generations unsportsman like conduct. River reopens above the falls. Hole directly under the bridge is productive plunking for springers, below in the tail out steelies will stack.
Minto/packsaddle-- above gates, well known and productive parks..packsaddle deadline is in the parking lot!
He was tossing a spinner and everytime he'd get one he'd get pi**ed and would kill them!!! So I had to have a few words with him and educate him about what kind of fish he just had killed. There are some real different breeds of fisherman up by the dam.. haha.