Report: Upper Willy 8/30

[Hunt'nFish]

Well my weekend plans fell through...so I hit the river w/ the dog.
Fishing was kinda off keel for a fall morning.
Fished the normal fall pattern (tubes/hogs down deep on main river reefs and ledges) and really wasn't getting bit.
Moved near shore and got bit better but still not that great.
Moved to a crank and small spinnerbait...again pretty hit'n miss.
Managed a little shy of 2 dozen fish...all pretty small really.
Kinda dissappointed. These spots ALWAYS have fish on them this time of year.
It was almost like they'd been fished out or something.
I hope that isn't it and it was just an off day.
Hunt'nFish

[treyman97223]

can we have a geography lesson ?....what do most you define as the line between "upper willy" and lower willy? wilsonville?

whats new mike? when is duck season..Im ready to start haulin gear!

[fishlipper]

Lower Willy is below the Oregon City Falls. Upper Willy is above the Falls.


can we have a geography lesson ?....what do most you define as the line between "upper willy" and lower willy? wilsonville?

whats new mike? when is duck season..Im ready to start haulin gear!

[KStock]

Mike,
Thanks for the report. Ryan (MXRacer) and I got out Saturday as well (Boone Bridge) and did much worse than you... 10 fish all morning and a total dink fest! We were talking about the same point you brought up... that lately some of our most productive spots just aren't producing like they used to (compared to same time last year and/or earlier this year). We're curious how much this has to do with our own pressure we've been apply by fishing some of these spots 2-3 times per month. We've tried different baits for a different look... but nothing seems to be working. Any thoughts?
Also, now that the water temp is cooling, have you found that the Smallies generally move more shallow from their deeper summer holds back to the flats (like they do in the spring) to fatten up before heading back to deeper winter shelves, etc.? Thanks to any advice anyone can offer.

[treyman97223]

Mike,
Thanks for the report. Ryan (MXRacer) and I got out Saturday as well (Boone Bridge) and did much worse than you... 10 fish all morning and a total dink fest! We were talking about the same point you brought up... that lately some of our most productive spots just aren't producing like they used to (compared to same time last year and/or earlier this year). We're curious how much this has to do with our own pressure we've been apply by fishing some of these spots 2-3 times per month. We've tried different baits for a different look... but nothing seems to be working. Any thoughts?
Also, now that the water temp is cooling, have you found that the Smallies generally move more shallow from their deeper summer holds back to the flats (like they do in the spring) to fatten up before heading back to deeper winter shelves, etc.? Thanks to any advice anyone can offer.


Im not sure what a dink is...But I managed 8 "keepers" monday with two over 15" that day..had two dogs and girfriend on-board..I only used 4" senkos..."mardi gras" color drop shot, and purple texas rigged....touched quite a few fish , but the drop shot is new to me so I miss more than I should....I was alos fishing in 20-30 feet of water....the fog was amazing huh?!

[MXRacer105]

Im not sure what a dink is...But I managed 8 "keepers" monday with two over 15" that day..had two dogs and girfriend on-board..I only used 4" senkos..."mardi gras" color drop shot, and purple texas rigged....touched quite a few fish , but the drop shot is new to me so I miss more than I should....I was alos fishing in 20-30 feet of water....the fog was amazing huh?!

Yeah that fog was dense.... I did much better on Monday than Kurt and I did on Sunday (and we only fished till 930am) but still no fish over 2lbs.... and with the fog as I was fishing closer to the launch than I normally do.

Sunday was tough, Kurt and I could not find the fish where they had been the last couple of weeks. The water had dropped a bit before last weekend to, I am sure that played a part in it....

[arkansasbasser]

I had two dogs and girfriend on-board..touched quite a few fish , but the drop shot is new to me so I miss more than I should....

Distractions, distractions, distractions.

[Hunt'nFish]

whats new mike? when is duck season..Im ready to start haulin gear!
Need to put a little red meat in the freezer before I start thinking about waterfowl.....but soon.

Glad to hear others are struggling as well. I thought maybe it was just me or something.
With salmon season open, I probably won't hit the bass again until later in the month.
Went out for URB's yesterday and man did the bite suck...3 fish for about 20-25 rods.
Good luck out there,
Hunt'nFish

[treyman97223]

Lower Willy is below the Oregon City Falls. Upper Willy is above the Falls.

This makes my report in july titled "middle willy " a bit confusing. ;)