Above the Falls, How’s it been for you?

[WaterDog]

For those of you that have been fishing above the falls on a consistent basis between Newberg and Salem, what has your year been like? Just curious as to how others have been doing. With the numbers of fish over the falls I’m not seeing the catch I would expect. I know most of us that fish this stretch are a tight lipped bunch :rolleyes: but from what I saw this weekend, many have given up and I cant blame them. I know I have put in a lot of hours for my fish this year.

Comments, theories, success stories.......

[CrazyHorse]

heh heh heh..I see you have the quote from the brad paisley song :smile: I just heard it for the first time a few days ago and about busted a gut when he said that. Sorry don't have any info about the fishin above the falls but I just had to smile when I saw that :smile: good fishin.

[Mofish]

I have some people from my Rv PArk in Salem that have been fish-in just about every day . They have told me it's been very slow.

Mofish

[WaterDog]

See, I said we are a tight lipped bunch. :wink:

[fishin62]

Hey waterdog,all the fish must have taken a turn up the molalla river this spring!there sure is none up here!or somebody has a huge net across the river below wheatland.i cant figure it out.

[WaterDog]

Fishin62,
I agree completely. After a decent day Friday, it was if the fish were not even there Saturday and Sunday. :whazzup:

Something I have noticed this year is that the fish are not as bright as they should be. I saw one that was caught that was just plain DARK. Couple of mine have been a bit on the dark side as well. Are they hanging below the falls or are they hanging out above somewhere for a while before they move?

Counts look good and now that the crowds have gone the fishing is great, the catching is non-existent. :depressed:

[FishinMission]

What's the water temp, guys??

Mark

[CAGEY]

Well to tell the truth i have kinda lost count. I have told some of you this info so if i change a little don't call me a liar.

We have had about 25 fish on and boated about half of them. Most were chrome bright. Released one 25 pounder that was not fin clipped. Also boated and released three steelhead. Our best day was four in the boat and two longline release. All on Rainbow spinners.
I think iam going to try again thursday. We really cant complain as we have had a lot of action. Just cant hang onto them. Think the water is getting to warm. Oh well it beats having to slave away all day like my bud "WaterDog" :cheers: . ha ha ha

[fishin62]

well then ,i hope they start to bite better when they get in the s.santiam!i think we will start there next week.the 12-15 ive caught so far have been small,but chromers!nothing over 19lbs,average about12lbs.but like you said it turns off like a light switch!

[M W Sheller]

'Aint no fish above the falls, just lotsa fisherpeople :hoboy:

[WaterDog]

Cagey,
Wish I didnt have to work like you. :wink: Couple afternoons and weekends just dont cut it. :depressed: I remember a year when I was "between" employers, wow that was fun. :grin:

I'll be out thursday PM. Weather looks to be good and the water could use the heat. My best days have been on the warm sunny days.

And Cagey, keep the net in the boat so your ribs stay in one piece. :rolleyes: :wink: :cheers:

[CAGEY]

Hey Rich, have you ever faught a nice big salmon when you have a broken rib? graemlins/stupid.gif Let me tell you it is an experience you will remember.

[RJ]

I, like waterdog am puzzled why the bite has been so inconsistant I have fished that stretch of River clear into july with better success than I have had this year,Really makes me wonder about these counts,are they really what they say they are? or is it a case of S.J.S.T.S (sudden Joy stick Twitch Syndrome) :rolleyes: I do know from what i have seen the trips i have made this year the bankies have been outfishing most and there using spin/glow prawn combos

[RJ]

I think your right on the water temp waterdog,combined with the snow melt runoff cant help.I got a bad itch to go tomorrow will see if i can find enough bodies to fill the boat,may see you out on the river thursday. what have you guys been running for leader/dropper lengths? just curious I have awlways stuck by 18 to 20 for dropper and 27 to 32 for leader lenghth but am contemplating shortening the dropper wondering if i might be running the spinner a bit high RJ

[THE KIWANDA KID]

Waterdog, dear,dear, waterdog, spring chinook do not swim in the willamete between oregon city and salem. There are no chinnok in the river between oregon city and salem. Why would you confuse your fellow i-fishers with such nonsence? I have never even heard of big,beautiful,bright,succulent,spinner poundin',kwikfish slamin,reel burnin'fish ever having been seen or allegedly existing in that stretch of water. I would spend my time much more wisley fishing for something else......anything else. :grin:

[CAGEY]

RJ, i don't know how accurate the count has been but i can tell you that on certain days our depth finder was actually black with nice sized fish which i assume were springers. That was back when the count was around 1900 a day.

I also am wondering why the bite was so inconsistent. We would have good action for a short period and then set and watch the fish go by for another two hours and then we would have some action again. This happend almost everytime we went which was a considerable amount of time on the water. It is really hard to figure out. :whazzup:

[ 05-22-2002, 12:36 PM: Message edited by: CAGEY ]

[WaterDog]

I've been using spin glos and prawns and have caught exactly ZERO on that rig. When I went back to the basics I put a few fish in the boat. :grin: The bankies have put alot steelies on the bank but as many nooks.

I think FishinMission is giving us a subtle hint, which I've already known. The water is too cold. My gage has been reading 52-55 dregrees. My experience says 56 to 65 is a better bite temp. The OC temp readings are not the same as what we get up here. Newberg seems to be the hot spot and with the slow flows and deeper water, I'd bet the water is a little bit warmer. I also dont think the water is as clear as in past years for whatever reason. I cant see much past 3.5-4 feet. These two things IMO are why the bite is not great.

Also the counts are not accuate but they are close. Look at the totals at the end of the year and you'll see what I mean. :wink:

[WaterDog]

Kiwanda Kid………LOL :grin:

RJ, 24” leader and 26” dropper. I usually run same as you but this year a longer dropper has been for me better. I’ll be out this PM and tomorrow. Good luck……..

[Wet_Willy]

Waterdog,
An update on how the fishing was (at least this am). My buddies are fishing above Buena Vista and they hooked 3 on 3 passes with diver/eggs (2 clipped, 1 lost). Just got off the phone with them and while I was talking they missed a takedown (blamed it on me and promptly got off the phone). Water temp is 49 on the Santiam and was 52 on the Willamette at Buena Vista. So some are still biting despite the temps. I hate having to work when others are catching fish.
Bill

[Ramstrong]

Are those #'s real?

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/InfoCntrFish/InterFish/fish.JPG

Nice new picture from the falls count's page.

[ 05-23-2002, 01:16 PM: Message edited by: Ramstrong ]

[Wet_Willy]

Ryan,
Are you asking me if 3 fish in 3 passes is real? or is your question referring to something else? Yes, there are two of them fishing out of a blue northriver above Buena Vista right now backtrolling diver/eggs. Each pass through the area they were fishing this morning resulted in a hook up. Nothing the rest of the time until I was talking with him on the phone and he had a takedown and dropped the phone. The water temps were what he told me his lowrance said when they put in and where they were when I talked to them...Want more verification. Drive to the Buena Vista ferry take out at around 3pm today and look in their cooler.
Bill

[WaterDog]

Thanks Wet Willy. At least someone is getting a few. . Diver and eggs huh? Hhmmmmm graemlins/idea.gif

I’m outta here and headed to the river, no work tomorrow either. :grin: