Molalla River Salmon?

[RvW]

I have not fished since January and need to. Just moved to Mulino on 213 a stones throw from the Molalla river and dont know a thing about it..
Is there a springer run? Steelhead? anyone know?
The water has looked so inviting with its perfect conditions the last dozen times I have driven by. Anyone know this river?

Thanks in advance.

[Penobscot]

It was once considered the finest river in Oregon, from what I hear, until the hatchery closed,now there are only a few fish that come through.

[Land Shark]

I first lived in Molalla over 30 years ago and I was told then that the river had been unbelievably good for salmon and steelhead. I was also told that logging almost down to the rivers edge pretty much destroyed the runs, not sure the reason just what I was told .

[etacada]

anybody fished this river in the last few years? I herd their are still some decent fish that run up it.

[blacktail]

It's all natives now except for the occasional hatchery stray. Nothing spectacular anymore.

Poor logging practices in the past, too much water drawn out for irrigation and no more hatchery plants.

Mike

[willametteriveroutlaw]

They get a pretty good run of nates in the winter. Nothing spectacular, but the guys who know it get them pretty good.

[hawgcatcher]

It is sad that this river has been allowed to loose it's former great fishing. I can remember when I was only 12 that my first trip up above the logging bridge roads on a Boy Scout Camp out. I saw fisherman with some beautiful Steelhead and Many fish moving through the holes.

Through the years, I fished the river and took some nice fish that were real fighters. It was a river close to roads that provided many families access to great fishing.

My partner and I gave a trip to a young neighbor of thirteen. He had never fished before for steelies. We went up above Fryer Park. This young man caught one 13 pounds. A beautiful fish. He was so proud and rightly so. He has gone on to become another devoted fisherman. I have lost track of him since he grew up, but I am thankful that we started him on his way.

I wonder if there is any way, a new fishery could be started in the Beautiful Mollalla?

[Drakeblake]

The Molalla would be a great river for them to release hatchery fish in again. It’s nice and long and offers tons of public access all the way up into the upper stretches of the river. Hopefully some day they will get a hatchery going on that river again but with the way things are going it might be just wishful thinking.

-blake

[BUGLEMAN]

Can you say Broodstock?

[PayDay]

Native steelhead and some native or stray springers. No hatchery fish anymore, so it's pretty much catch and release only. The run from Mulino at Wagon Wheel (across from Arrowhead Golf Course) to Canby Park is a good drift. I haven't done it for years, but I know guys do when the nates are in.

Cliff

[etacada]

I'd like to check the river out. I'm fairly new to drift boating, is it a hard river to drift? Any suggested drifts? :shrug:

thax
graemlins/dork.gif cb

[Haftafish]

I hear boats used to sink or get into trouble all the time on the Mollala River. Apparently it is full of log jams and other debris that can ruin your day and your gear not to mention threaten your life. A guy I know that quit drifting it almost sunk his boat numerous times and he was fairly experienced. Stay safe. :smile:

[ 04-23-2003, 07:41 AM: Message edited by: Haftafish ]

[SteelieSteve]

Y'all should check the archives as there have been many threads about the Mollala. There is no planted fish. Some native returns in the early spring. I've never heard of a springer caught in it. I caught my first Steelhead in the Mo in 1978 above the town of Mollala. There are many good rivers to fish that give you a chance at a keeper so why waste your time on this one.

[NEUTRON]

Yep...many threads and a lot of horse poop.
all I will say is do some research with odfw, I have heard otherwise. It's a great river to run a driftboat, just use a little caution and expect
changes after high water. Other than that, stay off MY river :grin: .

[Best Fishes]

I have drifted many times between HWY 213 & Hwy 211. This is a nice drift that is not very difficult. The stream is small and logs do sometimes pile up in places. I would not drift the river immediately after a major storm due to logs.
The Molala is still decent for natives in the winter. Most of the property is private property and a number of fishermen have permission to lauch on private land and do get into some nice drifts.

Best Fishes

[Gus Orviston]

Can you say ZIPPERLIP? :blush:

[ 04-23-2003, 09:33 AM: Message edited by: Gus Orviston ]

[Tagster]

:smile:

[ 04-23-2003, 09:46 AM: Message edited by: Tagster ]

[dirtyCut]

I know of an older gent, swears by it. I've heard of him bringin' home some meat...... zipper?

KC

[Gus Orviston]

Thanks! I wasn't sure if the ZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz I was hearing here was the singing of reels with Spring Steelies and Springers, Just plain old "Zzzzzipperlipping" , or just altruistic ifish members jumping in to keep you from fishing the Mollala and wasting your time :whazzup: .

Things that make you go, Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm, :grin:

gus

[MasterCaster]

I have only fished it twice but my first trip there was about 3 years ago in June. I was fishing for c&r steelhead when something took my spoon like a freight train and went under a ledge. I fought this fish for about 10 mins before I knew what it was and it turned out to be about an #18 clipped springer. I wasnt sure If you could keep a salmon at all in there as I was just going to be releasing steelhead so it went back on its merry way. I also managed to hook and lose 3 steelhead. The water was fairly low and I saw alot of fish as I wandered up and down the river. I may have to go back and check it out again soon.

Jon :smile: :grin: :smile:

[Bigdog]

:grin: The Mollala. I grew up on that river up in the Neck of the woods. No fish :grin:

[Brine]

I've heard that the first springers over the falls tend to head up the Molalla. Makes since that summers and springers would nose up into the Molalla to get out of the Newberg Pool. I think somebody needs to start a STEP Program and give the river a boost.

[BUGLEMAN]

Maybe that is where those stolen smolt went. Something definatly needs to be done to augment and boost these runs.

[R Jackson]

I saw some guides drifting it in March... if that tells you anything.