Another friendly new guy.

Yeah, I'm just another fng in a plastic tub on the water. Picked up a kayak a couple months ago, and so far I've had way too much fun with it. Plenty of bass, a few trout, too many squawfish. Apparently, I don't know how to catch kokanee, and I'm still lookin' for salmon. Anybody seen any springers up the Willamette near the Santiam?

I'm planning on meeting up with you all at ORC this year. Went on a charter out of Depoe a few years ago and loved it. Really looking forward to trying it out from a kayak.

Welcome, several of us in the Independence area.  C_Run knows Kokanee better than most.

Hey thanks Indyflyer. I've seen plenty of paddlers come down the river past me, but none with rods out. I'm in a green Hobie, and I usually run Buena Vista up to Lucky/Santiam (but I'm open to any other suggestions for the area). If you see me, give a shout.

Hey thanks Indyflyer. I've seen plenty of paddlers come down the river past me, but none with rods out. I'm in a green Hobie, and I usually run Buena Vista up to Lucky/Santiam (but I'm open to any other suggestions for the area). If you see me, give a shout.

Hi db. I live in BV but actually have not fished around here much. Just been down the Luckiamute one time to BV and from BV to Independence in a canoe.  Are you able to peddle up to the mouth of the Santiam? I know the current is pretty strong up there. Let me know when you're going some time and I'll at least see you off. I don't know about paddling upstream, though, I guess I should try it once anyway.

C

Hey, C_Run. I do go upriver from BV to the Santiam, but it is a workout. Takes me about 50 minutes to get to the Luckiamute, and the short trip from there to the Santiam takes another 15 minutes as the current, even on the inside of that bend, is quite strong. I won't go if the river is over 8' at Salem; just about killed myself getting in there at 8.25'.

I'm in a Hobie with turbo fins, so I suppose that helps. But I'm also pushing close to 400 pounds between me, boat, and gear. I couldn't say how it would be to paddle it. I was hanging out in the mouth of the Lucky one day and saw a guy and his wife drift by me and head down the Willy to BV, only to see him again twenty minutes later paddling as fast as he could to make it around the bend back into the Lucky. He forgot the keys to the car at BV in the one they parked at the paddlers' launch... So I guess it can be done. He looked pretty haggard, but then I probably do too when I come around there.

I'll probably be making another run in the next couple days.

We're leaving on a trip on Thursday but the wife and I might be paddling the Luckiamute tomorrow. Going to try for bass. Usually, were close to home so keep in touch.

C

I've thought about the paddle from BV to the Santiam also, but that current....

I keep hoping the kayak launch on the Lucky will be upgraded soon it's an easier paddle to the mouth of the Luckiamute and across to the Santiam.   Seems like the Steelhead/Salmon might hold up there long enough to make it worth the trip.

I've paddled the Luckiamute from 99W to BV, long day of slow water with one snag to portage, but that changes yearly.  Paddled BV to Independence once, nice trip until that turn west near Skyline road and direct headwind in the afternoon!

Dan

We scoped the "paddle launch" again yesterday and nothing has been done to it yet. The slick dirt bank drops straight off into deep water so, one slip and you're going to be swimming. However, we have used the bridge to launch and it still looks fine with well-worn trails to the water and shallow ,slow water you can launch off the rip rap pretty easily.

We scoped the "paddle launch" again yesterday and nothing has been done to it yet. The slick dirt bank drops straight off into deep water so, one slip and you're going to be swimming. However, we have used the bridge to launch and it still looks fine with well-worn trails to the water and shallow ,slow water you can launch off the rip rap pretty easily.

Hadn't thought to check the bridge, looks too steep from the road when driving by.  Is the bass bite active early in the day?

South side of the bridge on the west side of the road is not bad. I don't think you could roll a cart all the way down but that's where we launched last year with two people carrying the kayak. Actually it was my wife's tandem inflatable but I see people put in there all the time.

I'm not the one to ask about bass. I lucked out and caught a few last year for the first time. I know there are smallmouth in there and I am not sure what else. We are going to try paddling upstream and see how far we get. I did notice a big log jam below Helmick Park you can see from the road.

I'll have to check out the road launch; the paddle launch was a no go for the Hobie when I looked at it a couple weeks ago.

Haven't been fishing up there since then, but I'd been catching lots of bass, especially around the mouth. I was catching them on Rapala crankbaits (perch and shad patterns) that dove to about 5', all while trolling.

Here's what I was talking about. Dirt trail and the last 10 feet is rip rap.

I went up last week to check out the bass fishing, and it has changed. Didn't get a bite on the crankbaits I'd been trolling. Next time up, I'll take some plastics and spinnerbaits to see if they'll bite.