River Changes

[Tilla]

Just thought I would mention that there are some changes in the rivers since the last big water. I am pretty sure that some people will be suprised if they don't stop and look.
On the Clack yesterday I stopped before proceeding up the left hand lane between Coffee and Carbody holes. In recent history you approached from the bottom right and moved to the center as you approach the top where that one big boulder hangs out. Yesterday I saw that you should move way over to the far left earlier and you stay way left, beware of some bank issues. On the way down a willow branch tapped a rod in the boat :shocked: . If you stay in the middle towards the top it gets real shallow, my 6 degree 7 ' wide bottom tapped lightly twice and Fishalot swung around in his seat and gave me the "It looks like wet gravel" look. :shocked: Maybe the right lane on the way up is better.
I also saw some water distubance created by what seems to be two higher than normal boulders below the Carver bridge about a mile.
Keep your eyes open.

[Drachir]

At that spot I will usually take the right hand channel. The left one is just too iffy for me. If you take the right channel, stay way right and follow the bank around the corner up into carbody. I ran it a couple of weeks ago and hope the high water hasn't changed it again.

[Lured In]

Tilla....I thought your boat floated over the water! :shocked: :whazzup: :wink:

Maybe if you had "***" boat like mine with a forward windshield you could see better!? :laugh: :grin:

[West Linn Wader]

Speaking of changes. Was at Eagle Creek yesterday after being out of the country for a few weeks. Bonnie Lure pretty muched washed downstream during this last rain - it is amazing!

No fish either.
SF

[Hogmaster]

Speaking of changes, this really gives some perspective on the debris factor. There were tons of trees coming down the Willamette last week. This series of photos shows some pretty dramatic changes in Clackamette Park.

First, 12/8:


http://www.ifish.net/uploads/352909341.jpg


Now, last Saturday:

http://www.ifish.net/uploads/30431331.jpg

Now look today, 2/08:

http://www.ifish.net/uploads/25410938.jpg

The shot is pretty far away, but notice all the deadwood. Those are HUGE trees!! :shocked: :shocked:

It didn't all go down to Astoria...

You can see the big river has dropped nicely, here is one more "action" shot at 9:30 this morning. I haven't seen anyone drop out of the line, but the boats and Blacktop bankies are making the most of this fine morning!

http://www.ifish.net/uploads/36390938.jpg

:cheers:

[ 02-08-2003, 09:52 AM: Message edited by: Hogmaster ]

[Hogmaster]

Just got back from a test drive after some motor work was done on the Willie. Runs SWEEEEEEET!!

When we launched at Clackamette, there were two Clackams County Sheriff sleds that had launched as well as a couple paramedic units waiting. The paramedics told me there was a car in the water off of Clearwater Drive (Above the 205 bridge about 1/2 mile on the Clack). They said there was no evidence anyone was in it but that it sure took a lot of resources to find out. They were not thrilled to be waiting.

When we finished the boat test and took back out they were still there, waiting.

A word of caution about the Clackamette ramp (what's new, right?) Well, after the flood from last week it left about 3-6 inches of really slick mud on the ramp. They probably will hose it off soon, but until then, do not think about launching there without a 4X4 that has low range. I tried to pull out in 4 high and went about three feet. This is a classic reason why all the new "wannabe" SUVs that are full time 4 wheel drives are not really suited for true 4 WD duty. Gave me pause for thought. The old trusty Tahoe paid off again today...

I ended up trimming trees in the back today. While doing so I saw a big seal porposing many times right out back. The salmon must be around! In fact I talked to one of the hogliners (sorry I didn't get your name but noticed he had a couple ifish stickers) who's boat can be barely made out in the picture above. He said they had one good takedown early but no more action.

PS - To the guys in the green wood dory - Did you really think that by harrassing the seal he would go away? Or did you think that you could injure him with your prop? The law enforcers would be obligated to rwrite you up for that and it is a very stiff fine. Personally I don't like them any better than you, but the law is the law! Lots of people observed what you were doing... :hoboy: :hoboy:

The seal is still out there as I write this.

[fishing is life]

Tilla, thanks for the report. i just got off the river and i was headed down from carbody to coffee and i took the left going down stream and tapped a couple times too. when i came back up i took the left side and basically hugged the shore and was ok but if it gets much shallower you might not be able to run it. above carver the small island on the left going up to the bend has gotten larger with more gravel. :shocked:

Hogmaster, do you know if anyone can go there and get any of that wood? i have a woodstove i need to feed. :wink:

[Hogmaster]

fil -

Sorry I missed your call! Couldn't have gone as I got wrapped up in chores, but thanks for the thought. Did you do any good besides some minor dredging? :shocked:

As far as your question about the wood, funny you should ask. I was wondering the same thing with my kid who went on the test run with me. You might want to call the Parks Dept at the city of OC on Monday. As we got close to it, we saw that there is just a ton of it in the lower park there as you can kinda tell from the pic. You'd think they would welcome getting rid of it, as it is really in the way right now...

:cheers:

[fishing is life]

Hogmaster, we went one for two today. i am usually happy to get one fish on, lately. had one on hot n tot/shrimp and the one we landed on hot n tot/pink worm. one of the fellas might post a pic of the chromer. sounded slow but not too bad. fishing the afternoon session i like pink worms hoping that others have not been using.

[Hogmaster]

Oh, by the way,

Other river changes I noticed today were on the Willamette just upstream from the logs to the RV campground, where lots of folks plunk. The gentle sloping gravel shore has been significantly cut away, and there is a much sharper drop now. The current flow is stronger in close there now. It may actually help the plunkers, especially if they stay tight in with their casts.

Also, the big gravel shoal just up from the 99 bridge on the Clack has changed some too. Hard to say how it will affect the ramp area current as the Willamette drops, if at all, but there seems to be quite a bit less gravel on both sides of it now...

[fishing is life]

i would like to bring this to the top to make sure others see. i would also would like to see how things go in there for jetboaters as the river drops more. i did see this big v8 boat go up from coffee to carbody using the small channel on the right side of the island. i was wondering if that is the better way now. i cant imagine but the left side of the island heading upstream may get tricky in lower water. please post how things go this week.

[Tilla]

"Apres Vous", FIL. :wink:

[fishing is life]

:grin: , Tilla

[reeldick]

Stopped at the mouth of Eagle Creek Sunday.
Shocking. The entire stretch of Eagle Creek from the bridge to the mouth has washed out. It really makes it look like some great water now.
The peninsula going along the Clack to the mouth of Eagle Creek is about half as wide as it was. Won't take but one or two more high waters to change the mouth of Eagle Creek to a new location.
No fish.

[Bigdog]

TIlla, your completely right I also noticed the change comming down in a drift boat. comming down from carbody going into coffee's take the left shute and hold close to the bank. Me and my buddy were graemlins/icon_argue.gif about wether it changed or not. I'll wait for him to drift it and find out for himself :shocked: and then I'll :laugh: and tell him he's a graemlins/dork.gif LOL.

[Bigdog]

Sorry about the directions I mean the right shute going down hold close to the bank. It almost looked as if the far right side is the new channel through that area. :grin:

[Dragfreedrift]

Wilson has changed in many places too. Holes have filled in a bit w/ gravel making them less attractive to fish. Other spots have developed in to "fishy areas" that did not exist until now.

Fun to explore the river when it changes.


HC

[Drachir]

I agree w/ Bigdog, if going up from Coffee's to carbody, take the right hand channel, and stay close to the bank all the way up and around. If you come out of the top turn too close to mid-chute you might tap, you must stay way right til you are around the corner. Only way through in low water. Ran it last Summer @ 1.4'. :shocked: w/o tapping!!