Does Multnomah Channel get blown out?

[Waterfish]

I am thinking of lauching at Scappose Bay Saturday and fishing the northern end of Multnomah Channel. I've fished there in the summer and spring, but not this time of year after heavy rains. With the amount of rain we are getting this week, is it likely to be blown out and full of debris?

[fish_on]

Yes if the Willy is brown the channel is also.

[skeezer]

still good for stugeon ? :whazzup:

[ZaQ]

I fished it yesterday and it was brown, as well as the CR below it. Low visibility, sturgeon fishing is the go to. Might take a look at the Washington side of things........

[Bobby Ray]

Bring marshmallows for the chocolate

[Waterfish]

You guys have convinced me that the fishing will still be good if the river is murky, but I am trying to decide if I want to put up with dodging trees and logs, especially when I am anchored and not always paying attention to whats coming at the boat from upstream. I'll probably sit this one out...

[The Bad Fish]

we caught 1 keeper today. and lost another one to my fishing challenged buddy. blown out dont mean anything when it comes to sturgies..

[BottomFeeder]

Hey Waterfish,


Last year when it flooded we decided to try the MC out of Scappoose Bay. Glad we did, tagged out with these two in about 20 minutes. A 58.5" and a 46". Smelt. Anchor and cast outside of the debris flows (outside of the main current).

[Waterfish]

BottomFeeder, Man, that 58.5" fish is a really nice fat sturgeon. How much does a fish that size weigh? I don't know about fishing when there is a "debris flow." Sounds like you would have to have someone on watch constantly to look upstream for big logs coming at you. I was planning on fishing with my wife and teenage son on Saturday, and I don't think I would want to fish during flood/debris conditions with family on board -- maybe some of my knarly tough old friends would be OK... There are probably only so many days in a winter when the rivers are this blown out and debris filled. I think I will find something productive to do at home and hopefully by the following weekend the rivers will be less hazardous. 5-Cents was just saying in another post about how big trees/logs coming up on your anchor line can sink a boat. As I get older I get more cautious... Always another day to fish!

[BottomFeeder]

Waterfish,


Don't know about the weight. I'de guess high 30s? Don't know how to guesitmate sturgeon. What a monster though, completely cleared the water in the first jump. It was running on an empty tank (nothing in the stomach) looking for smelt. As far as the debris that day, they were mainly to one side as we fishing a corner (hint hint). We always keep a proper lookout flood or not. But that's not to say there were no debris, just that our position was out of the main flow and so were our casts. We definately had our PFDs on that day. Keep your anchor line in the ready mode for dropping out and keep a knife handy in case you have some kind of issue, you should be alright.


-Bottomfeeder

[Waterfish]

BottomFeeder, Thanks for the tips. I know I slack off on always keeping a lookout, especially when flooding and high flows aren't an issue. But you never know when somethings' coming your way.

That big sturgeon you caught has to be bigger than the high 30s. I'm just a beginner sturgeon fisherman but looking at that photo I bet it would be somewhere in the fifties our upper sixty pound range. Have you noticed any difference in the table quality of the bigger ones compared to the smaller keepers?

[5-Cents]

If you are fishing for Sturg there is not such thing as a blown out river... salmon, thats a different story!

[SKP]

I thought, "if you fish it, they will come"?

SKP