I bought my first tag beginning of last summer and only had fished below foster on the south santiam a few times without any luck. Then I went to fish the Deschutes last summer, but the white river was blown out making the fishing impossible. So I went to the mouth of the John Day River and was casting spinners and caught a hatchery fish! It was 23" and probably 5 pounds but still a keeper. This winter I was able to land 4 fish and put one on my tag. So after the first one it does get easier and the time on the water helps you a lot.