Where are the Willamette Salmon?

fishchaser · 03-20-2001, 07:54 AM

I want to get out go fishing this week but I haven't heard of any fish in the Willamette to go after. I know it's been slow cause of no rain, but now we had some rain this week, and I hope that someone can get me to the fish. I have my 4 year old nephew with me and want to show him how to catch Salmon.
Can you let me know what's going on, or not on, and where to go?

OR Coast Range · 03-20-2001, 08:13 AM

After the latest sewage spill, they've pushed up under the city. If you want to catch a springer now you have to lift a manhole and drop your herring in (kind of like ice fishing!)

Ramstrong · 03-20-2001, 09:26 AM

I don't know that it's necessarily where's all the fish. I think that it's actually where's all the biters. I don't have comparative #'s for the Willamette, but to this point there are 557 springers over bonneville. The Ten year average to this point is 65. I'd say that's a bit more than normal. I think its the fact that their gullets are crammed with smelt that they aren't hungry. Thank goodness the little things are dying off. Hopefully this water will keep the water temps down, and better the fishing conditions until all the smelt are gone. If so, I think this may turn out to be a pretty good year.

PS, I forgot to post the link for Columbia DART you can run some cool reports from this site.

------------------
-Ryan
www.xprt.net/~ryandsar
ramstrong@hotmail.com

[This message has been edited by Ramstrong (edited 03-20-2001).]

Kenia · 03-20-2001, 09:43 AM

Fishchaser, The best fishing is down below rainer. The salmon are coming, but got barraged by turds and took a break behind a rock!

BigFish · 03-20-2001, 01:35 PM

I was in the channel on Friday seen 5 caught.

Sunday in the channel seen 3 caught before the turds. Thank god for the flood tide [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

FishinMission · 03-20-2001, 01:53 PM

Fishchaser....I"ll be heading out tomorrow after work...about noon. Sit tight....they're coming. I'll be launching at Milwaukie. If you wanna sit in...E-Mail me...and I'll give you a crash course of the Milwaukie area in the Fishin' Mission boat. Remember tho...that 4 year olds don't have alot of patience in a boat after about 10 minutes, but I'd be happy to "dial you in", and show you what I know.

WheresMyBobber · 03-20-2001, 02:19 PM

I fished OC this morning, caught and released an unclipped 15-17 lb chinook, caught and kept a 11-12 lb clipped summer steelhead, and lost another fish I didn't see, probably a steelhead.

Other than that, I saw 4-5 steelhead caught, mostly by guides. There seems to be a lot more summers in than chinook right now, that should change soon unless the run decides to be late this year.

ZaQ · 03-20-2001, 05:01 PM

Turds, your killin me!

Fishin Mission. can I go Sunday?! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Good to the Last Cast · 03-20-2001, 08:35 PM

Turds!! Turds!! were they endangered species listed ones?? Remember only keep the finclipped ones [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] Oh I forgot they;re real plentiful this week they just stocked [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Hottamale1 · 03-21-2001, 04:26 AM

Good to the Last Cast.....

OF COURSE those Brown Trout are fin Clipped!

FishinMission...Let's Hook up. My Boat is IN, near Sellwood, and I'm always up for a "Schooling" in the Milwaukie Area [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

ZaQ...You're invited as well

Scott

FishinMission · 03-21-2001, 09:45 AM

Tamale.....I'm off daily during the week no later than about 1 pm. I'm heading out in the next half hour or so. Plan on being in the Milwaukie area this afternoon and most likely tomorrow afternoon. Look for me between Milwaukie and West Linn in that stretch. The boat says "Fishin'Mission" towards the rear on the sides....silver/white Fish-Rite "barge". Stay tuned for an update when I get in this eve. If ya wanna sit in E-Mail me for my phone #. Later!!

fishchaser · 03-21-2001, 07:48 PM

Thanks Fishin misssion, but it looks like I wont be able to get out this week either. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] I found a major leak in the roof this last weekend and when my husband and neighbor pulled the wall apart we found out that the roof was just holding the walls up, and not keeping the water out. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] SO now I have to wait on the insurance agent to come and inspect my home. Until than I can't get out. Hopefully he will be here on thursday and I can get out and fish on Friday before the next few storms that come in. Thanks anyway.

Ramstrong · 03-22-2001, 03:11 AM

Fish Passage update.
If the DART is correct on Monday 416 Chinook went over Bonneville. I don't see that as being physically possible, but if it is (2 different data sources say so) that puts the year to date #'s until monday at 948. 10 year average for the same period is 77. that's over 10x the ten year average. I think the Columbia is going to be the place to be this year,and with Killertraylor's lower river report I'm getting excited.