Umpqua @ the mouth

[otter]

Hi all,
Would anyone be willing to provide any information on sturgeon,
or any other fishing opportunities in this area? I will be there the first
weekend in May.
Thank you for any and all help.

[WildHawg]

Howdy Otter,
It's not an ideal time of year, but there are sturgeon, both white's and green's. I can't remember the bouy #'s (15?) but just below the 101 bridge, maybe a half mile, on the south side are a series of wing dams in about 15-20 feet of water at high tide. Try there, or....go upstream from 101 bridge to the area adjacent Dean Creek Elk refuge and fish the deeper water. There is some real big gators in the Umpqua if you hit 'em right. Sand shrimp in nylon stockings or bags of some sort is the best bait (lots of mudcats). Mud Shrimp work well also. Pile perch are spawning up around the mouth of the Smith River in the pilings there at high tide. Crabbing should be pretty fair too. Try the area opposite the boat basin (north shore)at Winchester, Crab Harbor (about a half mile downstream on the south side).
Good luck.

[ 04-22-2001: Message edited by: WildHawg ]

[otter]

Hey Hawg,
Thanks for the info. I have never fished for pile perch, how is it done?

[WildHawg]

They really only bite well for about 2 hours, right before high tide. Just take a steelhead type rod, and rig the line with lead on the bottom, then, about 18 inches up, use an inexpensive 3 way swivel and tie a size 2/4 worm hook to the swivel off the side with heavy line (like 20/25 lb maxima), about 6/8 inches long. The stiffer line helps keep it from tangling with your mainline. Cast near the pilings in the "Big Bend" area, and wait for a bite. They are scrappy, and some can weigh as much as 2 1/2 to 3 lbs! Average probably a pound. Go to Winchester Bay and talk to Dennis at Winchester Bay Market, or better yet, talk to the "Old Man of the Sea" himself, Vern at the Stockade Market (on right as you turn left into the first boat basin). Good Luck.