Local River Steelhead Success

[Tanner]

I took my 9 year old son out with me the other day on a local Portland area river. We backtrolled wiggle warts. caught and released 2 native silvers ( Chrome bright covered in sea lice) and 3 native steelhead (all chromers). Had two other fish we lost and missed 5 take downs. After a dismal fall chinook season it sure was nice to connect with some fish.

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There's No Nookie Like Chinookie

[Tanner]

We used a green pirate wart and a copper clad
wart. Oh, Phish.... Wouldn't you like to know. Actually, since I am on ifish and I know you guys will respect my fishing lane, it was the Willamette. Now that I spilled the beans. The fish are there. Every one I caught and saw other boats catching was a native. I usually don't start fishing out there until Thanksgiving, but the water looked so good I started early this year. The one thing I find is that when fishing plugs out there this time of year you get a lot of short strikes. To combat this I take the stock hooks off and put a small barrell swivel on the split rings and then I attach some 1-0 or 2-0 siwash hooks. This accounts for a lot more hookups.
Note: If you put 2-0 siwashes on a standard size wiggle wart it will make it too heavy to
heavy to float. (It actually almost suspends it.). I fished one like that all day and did real well.
By the way speaking of respecting my lane. I spend a lot of time out there this time of year. I will be in a 21' red inboard alumaweld formula-v. If you respect my lane I will respect yours. If you don't, be prepared to get jet washed.

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There's No Nookie Like Chinookie

[Moleman]

Since the Willamette is over 100 miles long, the queston would be above or below the falls? Thanks, but wont be out there, just wondered in case I drive by.

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"TMM"

[Phish_on]

gee, and I only asked for one letter. Thanks for the good news Tanner, December is looking like a good month.

I'll respect your fishing lane so much, I'll probably leave the boat at home. Even if I don't, I'm Politeness Man. Also I assume that any 21' Alumaweld has a loaded .357 on board.

Kidding!
Don't shoot !
eeeek!

[Deleted User]

T, how are the m-bar plunkers doing?

[This message has been edited by RT (edited 11-22-2000).]

[RKB]

We all know that our favorite fishing riveR
always ends in R.

[This message has been edited by RKB (edited 11-22-2000).]

[CtDrifter]

sounds like a lot of fun. What colors were the wiggle warts?
Thanks.
Ct

[Phish_on]

and what was the last letter in the name of the river ?

[Tanner]

RT.
I heard the plunkers are catching a couple. The big blast of hatchery fish has yet to arrive. There has been a couple of hatchery fish caught, but the majority are native silvers and steelhead. I went out for a couple hours last night. We did not do any good, but a very reliable source told me he got 14 to his boat in the Garbage Hole. All Native Silvers. The hatchery fish should be showing up any day.

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There's No Nookie Like Chinookie

[jet]

Tanner

Sorry to pry, but are you using a diver with the plug or are you going directly to the wort or hot shot?(size)?

Jet~~~

[Deleted User]

If you're going in the morning and T doesn't see this in time I will suggest you use straight plugs. Leave the Hot Shots in your box for up the Clack or other smaller clear rivers. Use your metalic silver Wiggle Warts with red or charturse on them. These are great in the tailouts of the Garbage and sandbar holes. If you are fishing in deeper water around there let out a good 75 ft. of thin diameter superbraid line to get these plugs deep without a diver. A couple other good spots are along the 7 to 12' deep runs along Yucca Is. right across from the Clack mouth, and if you can fit in between bankfishers it can be very good just below the mouth of the Clack down to the bulkhead. With short striking silvers around, I suggest taking the 2 stock hooks off and running one hook off the bellyeye with a 4 bead swivel chain to extend it back a ways. Good luck and let us know how it's going. Thanks. - RT