Springers on the Siuslaw or Lake Creek?

[kong]

I have been displaced from my usual haunts like the Sandy R and the Lower Columbia to Eugene due to full time activation with the Marine Reserves. The question I have is: are there springers that go up the Siuslaw or Lake Creek? I heard rumors that Lake Creek is a good fishery. I hear that the middle fork of the Willamette heats up around Memorial day for springers as well. I want to fish now and not wait until the end of May though! I have a drift boat and a 14 ft. Alaskan to use and would like to know of good drifts to fish for salmon and steelhead while I am down here for up to a year! How I miss my morning fish trips before work!!

[WillFish]

Sorry, Kong, no springers to speak of in the Siuslaw system. I've heard rumors of a few in the past, but certainly not enough to fish for.

Plus, it's closed for chinooks from Dec. 31 to May 24.

[ROGUE35]

fish the siuslaw from whittaker creek to wildcat . its an easy float or you can bank it

[ROGUE35]

my bad you can only fish for steel . whittaker cr. to wildcat is an easy float or you can bank it

[GutshotApe]

Kong - Back in the 1850s the Siuslaw system had very extensive log jams....some running for miles. These jams had deep, shady, cool water underneath in the summer and there were spring chinook runs in both Lake Cr and the Siuslaw that used this habitat to hold until spawning. But, now, the jams are all gone....and so are the springers....although I think a few strays are caught now & then.

You'll be able to fish for springers in the Willamette, the Mckenzie and the MiddleFork before work.....but you won't catch any until early May at the soonest. June is the best month. The best fishing in recent years is high on the middle fork below Dexter Dam and around Pengra Landing.

[BillK]

Kong, you might want to take up fly fishing as the lower McKenzie River has some excellent fly fishing for native trout in the coming months. Also the South Santiam by Sweet Home is only a short drive if you take the back roads.

BillK