Crazy by true fishing story

Last June I fished the Nestucca one evening by myself - I made the Three-rivers to Cloverdale drift. On my way down the river I had the uneasy feeling that someone was looking at me; you know, that sixth sense that you get when someome, or something is watching you! So, while on the oars pulling a plug I scanned the horizon and brush on the side of the river looking for that something that I KNEW was watching me. To my amazement, I spotted the creature that was watching me - it was a seal! Its' head was sticking out of the water about 100 yards below me watching me as I crept down the river. And I was just around the corner from three rivers put in! I couldn't believe it!

Now I wasn't on the sauce on this trip - nor was I seeing things. As a matter of fact, after spotting the creature I figured that the hole I was fishing wasn't going to produce so I pulled up my plug and headed down river. To my astonishment, as I reached the end of the stretch I was fishing I looked back upstream and heard/saw an unbelievable commotion of the seal rolling and a chrome bright summer steelie jumping to avoid the beast! And I wonder why I didn't catch anything in that drift!

Is that normal? Do seals make it that far up the river? Unbelievable.....

My question is how many fish do seals usually consume? Interesting....

[WaterDog]

Yup they get that far and farther.

I've seem the damn things at the mouth of the willamette!

[SLEDDER]

When the springers are in you may see a seal or two near the falls in Oregon City. They were there last year>

[Bait O' Eggs]

Yep, they are eating the fish like a big dog right below the fall. Watched em tear up several last year.

[Gone Fishin]

On the Nestucca I've seen the $#@!&^% critters up as far as just below the Farmer Creek boat ramp. I'm sure when they get up a small river like that, (and there were 3 seals at this one instance) they can be very devestating to the fish. I've seen seals below 3 Rivers (mouth) numerous times.

[SLEDDER]

A stuffed seal would be a little like a bean bag in the family room.

[lippee]

I think if there were more fish in the ocean, You would'nt see as many up the rivers

[winterkill]

Throw them a stick of dynmite. There needs to be a season. |>>^;======}~~~~~BAM!!! there goes a seal.

[winterkill]

that doesn't look as much like a gun as I thought.

[RichH]

I spotted one just below the hatchery on three rivers about 10 years ago. The water was pretty low and it came up to just below the bridge and turned and went back down. Wish I'd have been packin' heat

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Rich H

[OR Coast Range]

I used to see them every once in a while while waterskiing in the Columbia around Rainier.

I would always try to run them over, but I never could hit the stupid things. They're just too wiley!

[Mikie]

Saw one two year's ago on the alsea tidewater, arrow stuck through his neck , whoever stuck it to him , thank you .

[Phish_on]

Hey, W.'s in the White House - let the slaughter begin.

You guys are scaring me again ... you are all so much better than a seal, you are the Chosen Ones ...

"Happiness is warm gun (bang bang shoot shoot)"

A crossbow would be the best......silent. I have seen them several times near the ST. Johns bridge. They are hell on crab pots too if you are using fish carcasses for bait.

[Bait O' Eggs]

Bigstew - it works pretty well to hold the fish carcass in with a 10 ot treble hook tied to the pot with small aircraft cable. If a seal happens to get the hook in his mouth and drowns tied to a crab pot, trying to steal the bait, what is a guy to do?

And Phish I am just kidding... again, just kidding, no need to hug a tree or a seal in this case. Besides GW will have a real hunting season on them soon. And besides I wouldnt use a crab pot, when a big chunk of steel would work just as well.

[jawbreaker]

I saw one a few miles downstream from Bonneville dam last summer.

[chinook_hunter]

saw one three years ago at rock hole on Nestucca

[Hoosier Daddy]

OK, not that I condone this sort of thing, (oh no not me boss), but here is an interesting link I found one day. For all you seal lovers. Enjoy, don't let PETA get hold of it!!
http://www.wsu.edu/~twl/seal

[This message has been edited by chnookie (edited 01-24-2001).]

[Phish_on]

I'm not going as far hugging seals or sea lions. Obviously there is no shortage. Maybe Timber Man can chain-saw a few for us.

I just get distressed at the idea that we have to consider seals (or coyotes, or cougars) such a nuisance because we have thrashed their habitat but they have adapted and survived. Lets hope the fish are as tough!

[GutZ]

I understand that the treaty tribes have no claim to the Seals. They can't have any! (that should get rid of em )

[Eddie L]

Anyone have a good smoked seal recipe?

[V. Green]

I have seen seals in SE Alaska quite a ways into rivers, they just follow the fish in with the tide. It really is pretty col seeing a seel chasing sockeye through a crystal clear pool. The Sockeye launch out of the water like missiles to avoid the seal and the seal is amazingly fast.

I really don't have any trouble with seals, otters, deer, elk, cougars or other animals getting there meal. However in some instances they do need to be controlled or moved, Herschell in Seattle is a good example. Remember before our ancestors came to the West Coast all the salmon belonged to a very few indians and a large number of seals, otters, bears and other animals.

[winterkill]

chinookie,
That's a great website, it made my day. It only makes me want to go on a seal hunt even more.