SandyRiverFisher
09-29-2001, 06:18 AM
Well, I finally got out of the house yesterday and did a little coho fishing. I started on the Lower Sandy but quickly realized it was going to be a no go. Talked to several anglers who had been at it for hours with no luck. Plenty if silvers rolling out there, and the water is a little milky, but the fish just arent biting. Of course, I didn't show up until 2:00, and I would imagine it would be a much better bet at first light.
Instead of wasting my time on the Sandy I high-tailed it up to Eagle Creek. Lots of cars parked along the One'O'clock rock stretch, so i went up and parked below the park on the road and walked down through the stretch above the first ladder. Plenty of fish around and they are moving. In four hours of fishing I saw three schools of thirty or more fish move past me in shallow water and then splash up into the next hole. Out of one of these schools I pulled a chrome little six pound hatchery hen, on a scented red corkie and yarn.
All in all I would say stay away from Eagle Creek for now. The fish are there, but they really arent biting good. EVERY other fisherman I saw was snagging. In fact, on my way out I stopped to talk to a state bull and give him the heads up to a bunch of snaggers I saw below the park. These guys were not even trying to hide the fact that they were snagging, using 4/0 hooks and double flourescent orange corkies and about a full ounce of lead. I stood there and watched a guy side-swipe a DARK buck and then scrammble to land it as quickly as possible, bonk it with a rock and then stand up to get his picture taken. The hole below these clowns had five or six guys standing elbow to elbow at the waters edge over top of a tiny little hole, all of them rearing back in unison. I talked to one of them who told me I should have been there yesterday, that the same group had landed between 80 and 100 fish from the same spot. I could tell from the dead fish and gut piles that he probably wasn't lying. Oh well, I told the state cop his location too. Hopefully they wont be there next time I go up to fish.
If we ever get some more rain I would say Eagle Creek is a good bet. Try hitting the pocket water if you go. Stay away from the deeper holes and you will still catch fish, but you will avoid the crowds and especially the snaggers.
Instead of wasting my time on the Sandy I high-tailed it up to Eagle Creek. Lots of cars parked along the One'O'clock rock stretch, so i went up and parked below the park on the road and walked down through the stretch above the first ladder. Plenty of fish around and they are moving. In four hours of fishing I saw three schools of thirty or more fish move past me in shallow water and then splash up into the next hole. Out of one of these schools I pulled a chrome little six pound hatchery hen, on a scented red corkie and yarn.
All in all I would say stay away from Eagle Creek for now. The fish are there, but they really arent biting good. EVERY other fisherman I saw was snagging. In fact, on my way out I stopped to talk to a state bull and give him the heads up to a bunch of snaggers I saw below the park. These guys were not even trying to hide the fact that they were snagging, using 4/0 hooks and double flourescent orange corkies and about a full ounce of lead. I stood there and watched a guy side-swipe a DARK buck and then scrammble to land it as quickly as possible, bonk it with a rock and then stand up to get his picture taken. The hole below these clowns had five or six guys standing elbow to elbow at the waters edge over top of a tiny little hole, all of them rearing back in unison. I talked to one of them who told me I should have been there yesterday, that the same group had landed between 80 and 100 fish from the same spot. I could tell from the dead fish and gut piles that he probably wasn't lying. Oh well, I told the state cop his location too. Hopefully they wont be there next time I go up to fish.
If we ever get some more rain I would say Eagle Creek is a good bet. Try hitting the pocket water if you go. Stay away from the deeper holes and you will still catch fish, but you will avoid the crowds and especially the snaggers.