Brand new to salmon/kinda new to steelhead. Need some help!

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HRxPaperStacks
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Hey guys!
My buddy and I live in Keizer and we have the itch. What are some spots along the river (and what river) that is good for salmon/steelhead and when do the runs come in?? Thanks in advance for your help.
 
In Keizer (and there's members here very familiar with the area, and they're helpful folk), you're somewhat limited compared to other locations. Locally, you have little-to-no catch-and-keep opportunity right now. The few steelhead are mainly natives. As spring progresses, there will be opportunity for spring Chinook, although heading further down the Valley will offer more.

Right now, there's steelhead opportunity (when the water drops, anyway) at the coast. Check out the Salmon, Nestucca, or Siletz as your closest choices.

Are you boating or banking it? In the coming weeks, the Portland area has a bunch of chances at spring Chinook, but it's much easier done from a boat, and there's a tough learning curve, and it can be a zoo (not that there isn't plenty of water, but people crowd the hotspots). The coast offers very limited spring Chinook fishing, but it's around the same time as the summer steelhead runs (the numbers of which vary radically every year, sometimes great, sometimes a disaster).

But in the short-term, the coast is your best bet. Nestucca isn't too bad a run from Keizer (22 all the way out).

Hope that helps until the Salem area OFFers can chime in with their expertise.
 
I will be fishing from a bank. I have a jon boat but it only has a 2 HP motor and I am reluctant to take it into a river for obvious reasons haha. I will check out the Nestucca. It has been my dream since I was like 5 to catch a King Salmon and this year I'm making it happen!!
 
Your boat will probably be able to do upper tidewater reaches of the bays in fall, which can be easy fishing for fall nooks -- which won't get started until falls rains, which may or may not happen by September. In spring flows, the 2HP might not cut it.

BTW -- I have 2 (not quite complete) 1949 Johnson Sea Horse 5HPs. Got them at a flea market for a song, with every intention of making a running motor out of them. Got one to fire, but I think a the carb is funky (not positive) and it won't stay running. And since I have nothing to put it on, if any fan of ancient outboards wants them, I'd probably part with them for the few bucksI'm into it ($20, maybe?). Not in any great hurry, so I won't put them in the Sell section yet, but this thread reminded me of them sitting there.
 
Wow really??? I'll talk to my dad. I know a little bit about small engine work. They're 2 strokes, yes?
 
Rotary valve 2 smoke (old school). Told they idle much better than reed valvers.
 
Study the archives of this ODFW site to see when the fish pass at the dam at Oregon City.

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/fish_counts/willamette falls.asp

Then add about a week to the dates and the fish will be swimming right past Keizer. You should also be fishing up the Santiam for Spring Chinook and summer steelhead. That goes on for months during spring and summer.
 

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