July 4 whats open in oregon?

[DK]

coming down for the week end would like to know in advance what will be open, ocean salmon? bay's? any help will be helpfull thanks dk

[AngleThis]

Summer chinook just opened on the lower Columbia for the first time in 29 years! The counts are fair and the fish huge. Sturgeon is also open (I think). But the river is super high and flowing hard. Clarity is poor and there are almost no beaches to camp on.

The ocean is open (not out of astoria). Weekend before last I came away with a limit of hali (and four releases), two ~30 lb chinook, a 15lb ling, two canaries, and 12 good crab..all in about six hours.

I was going to do the tradional river camping/fireworks thing, but after seeing the river level yesterday, and and the NOAA forcast for the next few days, I'm thinking ocean salmon and bottom fishing is the way to go.

The halibut I got were in under 150 ft of water (largest 42 lbs) and they were everywhere...even attacking trolled salmon gear well above the bottom. There may well be some to be had inside the 30 fathoms limit.

Feel free to email me with any specific questions.

[bigshark]

DK
You can have 2 nooks and 4 jacks until July31.
The water is high from snow melt and the fish are here in the PDX area. It is best in a boat only a few feet from shore. We fish in less than 8 feet of water. These fish are bank runners and like to work close enough to roll and splash IN THE BRUSH that is currently flooded. Fish close in, up against the brush in 5 to 6 feet of water. Water color is unimportant, but water movement is. The faster the water the better. Best bait is eggs. Bring sun screen. This was once the hottest fishery for "families" as plunking on the family boat in warm weather with a big picknick basket was vary popular. The shallow water hooking is great as you know the fish is going to run like hell for deeper water. You could hear wives and kids squeel with glee all over the river. The laughs and stories that come out of this fishery are priceless. Good time are comming back..............enjoy.

[bigshark]

DK
Just a heads up on this fishery(jack&nooks) there will be days when you will bring a lot of steelies to the boat. These are not to be kept.
I don't know how good your fish handling skills are but I know mine are poor so I don't bring them into the boat and I don't put my hands on them. Just take the pliars and unhook them
along side the boat. The old timers 40 years ago claimed these were Wind River steelies but I'm only passing on what they said.

[DK]

i'm going to headed down to yachats so florance and newport are the closest ocean spots to hit, providing the weather is good would like to get into some salmon if at all possible if any one has some ideas would even be willing to take you out if interested let me know, doug

[tailchaser]

All depends on where you're headed really. South Coast is open to Chinook in the ocean as well as bottomfishing. Both are excellent.

tc

[Orca]

DK,

Don't plan on any Halibut. Season is closed outside the 30 fathom line. Someone might possibly get one at Newport off the Lighthouse, but fishing is very slim in this respect.

You should have no problem getting into salmon however. In the ocean, finclipped Coho opens on Sunday the 7th. You can keep 2 Chinook now, and Sunday you can keep 2 clipped Coho or 2 Chinook, or one of each if you please. I assume you have been here before and know you need a harvest tag. A 3-day license comes with a Salmon harvest tag. Also, use no more than 2 barbless hooks, and don't put any bannana's in your lunch

I never hear anything about Florence fishing. I always go out of Newport or Winchester Bay (south of Florence). Newport has the best bar, and Winchester Bay is a solid Chinook port with fish at the Jaws, and/or no more than 3 - 5 miles out.

Two weeks ago, we caught a couple small Chinook and some decent Coho that we released at Winchester. I saw several 30+ lbers being cleaned at the launch. Overall fishing was slow, but it will be getting better and better.

Another 1/2 hr past Winchester and you will be at Coos Bay. I have not yet been there, but plan to try and hook up with tailchaser there later this year.

At Newport, we will go 15 - 16 miles to the RockPile for Chinook/Coho and some ling if time allows. Check some of the other posts here in the Salty Dogs forum for more info. I will be at Newport this weekend. Let me know if you need more help.

http://www.ifish.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=21;t=000083

http://www.ifish.net/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=21;t=000242

http://www.ifish.net/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=21;t=000237

[ 07-02-2002, 07:32 AM: Message edited by: Orca ]

[searay]

Went fishing ot of Florence [Siuslaw] a week ago Sunday. Lots of silvers and enough chinook to limit out by noon. Since then the bar here has been closed due to swell almost continuously.