Chinook in the smaller rivers?

[mazulauf]

Hi folks,

this is only my second posting, so forgive me if I seem overly ignorant. I'm pretty new here, and I'm trying to figure out the local fishing scene.

I'm curious about whether/when the Chinook head up the smaller rivers off of the Columbia (Sandy, Clackamas, etc) or the smaller Coast Range rivers (ie Wilson). From what I've read here, nearly all of the action now is happening in the Columbia, where my lightweight gear and lack of boat make it problematic (aside from not liking to fish in a crowd).

I'm probably going to head out to the Sandy or the Clackamas today looking for steelhead, but all those Chinook out there are making me antsy. . .

Assuming they do head up the smaller rivers, do you fish for them using the same general techniques as you would for steelhead?

Thanks for any info. . .

Mike

[Artwo]

Hey maz,
Welcome, the answer to your question is yes the springers go up the Clack and the Sandy. I fish the Sandy allot and both rivers are just now getting started for these fish. I assume you are bank fishing so I would recommend plunking for the springers from the bank. Both rivers have lots of bank opportunities and should be putting out fish on a regular basis. If you go to Fishermans or GI Joes the guys in the sporting goods area could help with what gear you'ld need. As far as the Sandy goes, there are lots of plunking holes up at Oxbow park. I don't fish the Clack to much so you'll have to get some info from someone else for that river. Hope this helps.

JK

[ol tuna skipper]

Since your on the west side, You can try the Trask ans Nehalem and Miami rivers that dump into Tillamook bay. All have decent runs of salmon. The Tillamook hatchery raises and releases about 200,000 smults in these rivers each year and they are expanding that hatchery. Might give it a try pluncking eggs on a bobber in the tidewaters or drifting a glob of eggs upriver.

Good Luck

[MoJet Driver]

Break out another thousand! That cracked me up! images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/shocked.gif images/icons/grin.gif