just curious...

[shutterfish]

...when does bass season start around here? This is my first winter out here (I am in corvallis) on the west coast and I have been having fun steelhead fishing but I am looking forward to some bass ponds... when can I start getting out in my kayak and getting the spring bass? Thanks

[viigfish]

The season is open all year almost everywhere. I have caught them in February on many occaisions. Get out there and give it a try!!

[Chris61182]

Since you're in Corvallis you're in luck! The Willamette between the HWY 20 bridge in Albany to HWY99 bridge in Harrisburg is open year round. Just be careful soft plastics are considered bait and are not allowed until April 28th.

Most other streams are open for bass anytime they're open for trout, which is going to be either May 26th or April 28th depending on the specific body of water. Additionally lakes are open year round unless otherwise specified.

[kc1]

There's no "season", you can fish them all year. Get ready though, the best time to get a big pre-spawn lmb is coming very soon (weather permitting). After a few days of stable weather, when the water temp. hits the mid-50 degree mark (usually early to mid March on my favorite ponds near Salem), the bite is on!

[shutterfish]

thanks guys- I'll start getting ready. I need to find some ponds River fishing I can do from the shore but I would rather be on a pond or small lake in my kayak. If anyone knows of some nice ponds- the shallower the better for my knowledge- I'd love te hear about them. Thanks!

Andrew

[Chris61182]

Originally Posted by shutterfish

thanks guys- I'll start getting ready. I need to find some ponds River fishing I can do from the shore but I would rather be on a pond or small lake in my kayak. If anyone knows of some nice ponds- the shallower the better for my knowledge- I'd love te hear about them. Thanks!

Andrew

If you're looking for ponds, E.E. Wilson is a short drive north on 99W. You'll have to pack your kayak in the 1/2 mile walk from the parking lot to the pond but after that it's a pretty nice little place, being as small as it is there's minimal wind and next to no waves.

There are supposedly a few ponds in north Albany but I've never fished them. There are also the Big Creek Reservoirs in Newport, the one time I've been there they looked suitable, and once summer comes and the weeds fill in, fishing by boat would seem to be the best method. There is also Olalla lake near Toledo, it might be worth a look if you're already heading to Newport, I've yet to fish it but plan to sometime in the next month or two.

But for the most part it's rivers and flood control reservoirs around these parts. That is unless anyone else is willing to share the location of some other ponds? :-)

[XPO]

Originally Posted by shutterfish

...when does bass season start around here? This is my first winter out here (I am in corvallis) on the west coast and I have been having fun steelhead fishing but I am looking forward to some bass ponds... when can I start getting out in my kayak and getting the spring bass? Thanks

Go to the ODF&W web page and look up warm water fishing in Oregon. You will find a county by county list of all the popular locations near you and around the state, big and little. You can also go to Boat Escape to find locations, launches, etc. Around your area, there is a nice one just east of town on the way to I-5 on the south side of the highway. You might also put in the Willamette and explore the sloughs between and Albany. Those are sweet & shallow, often with tons of cover and loads of wildlife to watch.

[shutterfish]

thanks guys- that gives me a lot to work with I am looking forward to discovering some nice spots.

By the way, I did fish olalla (oullala? I don't remember how to spell it ) lake a few times this summer and didn't do great. I know there's some good fish in there though. I caught a few trout on powerbait and a few little bass on plastics, but not much. It wasn't the kind of lake I am used to fishing- when there is deep water I get clueless I am used to Massachusettes ponds/lakes which usally are 300-700 acres and generally 3-6 feet deep with 10 and 20 foot pockets... lilly pads, weeds, stumps. Anyway, it'll be something to get used to.

[Chris61182]

Originally Posted by shutterfish

By the way, I did fish olalla (oullala? I don't remember how to spell it ) lake a few times this summer and didn't do great. I know there's some good fish in there though. I caught a few trout on powerbait and a few little bass on plastics, but not much. It wasn't the kind of lake I am used to fishing- when there is deep water I get clueless I am used to Massachusettes ponds/lakes which usally are 300-700 acres and generally 3-6 feet deep with 10 and 20 foot pockets... lilly pads, weeds, stumps. Anyway, it'll be something to get used to.

From the description of what you are used to I would definitely recommend Newport's Big Creek Reservoirs. Another place that might peak your curiosity is Fern Ridge down by Eugene. It is absolutely enormous surface area wise but quite shallow and the entire south shore sounds a lot like what you described as being accustom to. Unfortunately at the moment the south shore is a mile or more from where it should be, hopefully they'll start letting it fill back up soon.

[viigfish]

There are many old side channels on the Willamette that hold bass and most other warm water gamefish.

[LiveToFish]

Like PPO recommended, the ODFW site will have a list of warmwater fisheries in your area. Another handy thing to have is a book titled 'Fishing in Oregon.' It lists all the bodies of water by zones. Along with how to reach them, what fish are present, and how to fish for them. I have one and I love it. It has highliter all over the inside of it and I'll put notes in it with extra information I have gathered from experiences. It really is a great book to have if your new to the area.
ANDY