ABOVE THE FALLS

SLEDDER · 05-01-2001, 12:54 PM

Thanks waterdog, I appreciate the report, wish it were better [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

FishinMission · 05-01-2001, 01:10 PM

Sledder...have you tried immediately above the falls in the Willamette (10th Street) area?? I poked around in that area last year...nobody around....thought I'd look more into that area this year...but got sidetracked in the Columbia. Was wondering if you've fished that area at all. Let me know.

SLEDDER · 05-01-2001, 06:42 PM

Fishinmission, I haven't tried there yet but I am planning on it possibly this weekend near mouth of Tualatin. Went zinging up Molalla looking for fish on finder out of curiosity, ended up getting the boat stuck, WHAT a pain in the back side. Live and learn [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

SLEDDER · 05-01-2001, 11:11 PM

Any word of springers being caught above the falls on Willamette? I was thinking of trying near the mouth of the Yamhill.

WaterDog · 05-01-2001, 11:56 PM

Sledder,
To put it bluntly it sucks! [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] Heard of one fish caught on Saturday and that's it. The moss is making it almost impossible to fish for more than 15 min. I'm still gonna try later this week and weekend but so far it's a bust. One thing tho' is most have given up and the river isnt crowded. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

FishinMission · 05-02-2001, 01:06 PM

I may be in that area tomorrow. Boy...be careful tho!! Read them buoys...and watch the bottom. I'll let you know how it was.

WaterDog · 05-02-2001, 01:12 PM

Hey guys keep me posted too will ya? It's killling me with over 13000 fish over the falls. I'm going to try above Salem this weekend and see if its any better. Should be boating fish every trip!!!! AGHHHHH [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

FishinMission · 05-02-2001, 01:36 PM

For all you Newberg fishery folks.....Thought I'd let y'all know I tried it up in that area last year. Did the anchor thing....and got bored with no results after about 6 hours. I just happen to have had some prawns with me in case I decided to TROLL. To make a long story short...I started trolling in the deeper water above the Newberg ramp...and within 5 minutes had a fish. It definitely pays to try different things. I marked a ton of fish in the deeper water...especially right below where the first group of boats usually is. I hooked the fish in the next stretch right above where the first group of boats usually is. I don't know if there's a name for it..but if you look directly upriver...there's a neat old BIG white farmhouse on the right side overlooking the river. Try Bait...in the deeper water and be on the MOVE!! And I'd like to hear some results if anybody wants to give it a try. Nice people in that area...I might add.

Bait O' Eggs · 05-02-2001, 02:02 PM

Waterdog - why should they bite up there when they wont down here? I fished again this morning, saw a sturgeon caught (while backbouncing) and two summer steelies. Springers dont bite in the morning anywhere near me.

Gonna chase some shad tonight after work. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

FishinMission · 05-02-2001, 02:13 PM

Bait....you answered your own question. If you're down here..they'll surely bite up there!!! Let me know where you're gonna be so I can fish 50 miles away from you!! LOL Lotsa boats at O.C. today...there were none on Monday at 12:30 in the afternoon...I thought they closed the river or something...I couldn't believe my eyes!! Or maybe they knew YOU were there, and they all left!! Just kidding!! When we going again, Bait??

CAGEY · 05-02-2001, 02:27 PM

Well my friends i have been fishing above Newberg now for the last two weeks. We have about 4 takedowns, one in the net and released and one longline release all at the mouth of the Yamhill. There are a ton of fish showing but no action. The river has come up about 14-16 inches in the last couple of days. The water is very dirty and full of moss. I only know of one fish taken last week near the mouth in 6-7 ft. of water. Iam taking some people again tomorrow and iam going to troll the deep water because thats where all the fish are showing. Iam going the spinner and eggs route to see what happens.The Willamette is well known for slow biters.cagey. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

FishinMission · 05-02-2001, 02:31 PM

Cagey...I was using just a red prawn...with a slow roll. A prawn spinner could be a good bet too..or any spinner for that matter. Heck...you could even try a Kwikfish too. Hate that moss stuff!! So you're seeing lots of fish in the deeper water?? That's what I saw last year. Good luck. Tomorrow I'm trying it about a mile or two above the falls..some different tactics. I'll let y'all know what works..if anything.

WaterDog · 05-02-2001, 02:43 PM

Fishinmission � I may try bait for the heck of it but I�ll tell you if you fish the area I do you�ll end up feeding the *********. I wish ODFW had the bounty program up here. I could pay for my boat! Anchor fishing spinners works, trust me. In most years my freezer is full and a few select friends get something fresh for dinner. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Bait � I go for the same reason you go. Close to home, I know the area, and its fishin! [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]
Just not willing to let it go�..

FishinMission · 05-02-2001, 02:49 PM

Waterdog..yeah the ********* will kill your bait when anchored. I didn't have a problem with them when trolling tho. And yes...I know that the spinners work up there...but with all the crud in the water...sounds like they may be useless. Is the water BROWN...or just junked up with the moss and algae?? Don't be afraid to try something different. Sometimes you get goofy looks (I won't go into the looks I get when fishing for the Coho at the mouth of the Clack)...but when I smile back at them folks giving me the goofy looks...there's usually more fish in my boat than theirs. Kinda makes it fun. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Have you tried COPPER blades??

swampy · 05-02-2001, 05:09 PM

FISHED THE WILLAMETTE AT SALEM TODAY ...SAME OLD STORY = LOTS OF MOSS AND GRASS ...NOTHING ON SPINNERS OR PRAWN RIGS ..TOUGH FISHING WHEN YOU ARE ALMOST INSTANTLY FOULED UP WITH MUCK !!! HEARD OF ONE FISH CAUGHT TODAY AND HAD ONE ROLL BEHIND MY SPINNER ...KEPT ME OUT THERE AN EXTRA HOUR ...HAVE SEEN FISH JUMP IN THE DEEPER WATER AND THINKING OF TRYING THAT ...FISHED GREENS BRIDGE TO JEFF. ON SAT FISHED LONG AND HARD FOR ONE STINKIN' TAKE DOWN !!! VERY SLOW ON SAT. SAW ONE RELEASED AND ONE SMALL STEELIE KEPT ...I'M AFRAID I'VE CAUGHT MY LAST SALMON ...THE NEIGHBOR KIDS HAVE STOPPED CALLING ME "SALMON MAN " ITS ALL OVER ...BOAT FOR SALE !!!!

CAGEY · 05-02-2001, 05:51 PM

A couple of weeks ago all the fish were in water 5-7 ft deep and now i find 98% in water between 17 and 30 ft. Fishmission i think you will find that most of the fishermen in that area are very friendly and if you want to anchor beside them just be polite and ask and you will get a smile and a go ahead. The big white house is an excellent choice for trolling. I have a guy coming all the way from Baltimore on May 8 for a days fishing so i better find something, bullhead, carp,bass, anything ha ha.Good luck to all and if your in the area look for me, 16' Sylvan forty horse Evinrude.Cagey. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Fishhead · 05-02-2001, 09:50 PM

I see alot of you talking about deeper water and alot of gunk on your lines. I was wondering if the current there is slow enough to try using a bobber with an egg and shrimp combo? Then consentrate on the spots where you mark alot of fish. Just a suggestion and my two pennies worth........Fishhead Vic [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

WaterDog · 05-03-2001, 06:18 AM

Fishinmission,
Oh yeah the copper is great on steelies when the sun is out! Prior to the last rain the water conditions were excellent! visabilty about 5 feet, had that nice deep green color to it, temp around 54. You could even see the clumps of algae go by. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] I have found some spots where the inside rod is out of the moss flow but my experience has been the fish are closed mouthed with so much crap in the water.

Cagey fishing the deeper holes is worth a shot. May try pulling some mag warts, kwikfish, alvins around and see what happens. Bobbers might work also. At this point I'm gonna pull out all the tricks and techniques I know. Besides, I got a new boat to break in! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

RJ · 05-03-2001, 09:43 AM

fished above wheatland ferry yesterday.nothing for my boat spent most of my time looking for and fishing spots that would shear this nasty ol' muck away from my spinners very disappointing it was but on a brighter note my dad did boat one across the river from me later in the day I cruised by him and he held up four fingers.I think he was just messin with my mind.one thing I learned long ago from fishing the umpqua and rogue when the moss was running was to snap a rubber band or 2 up your main line 3 to 4 feet the collection will start there first and allow your gear to work a little longer.I might go again tomorrow waiting on a phone call. RJ

RJ · 05-03-2001, 07:53 PM

did anyone fish from san salvador to weatland ferry today? if so is the moss any better I see the river is dropping just wondering if the muck was getting better.

CAGEY · 05-04-2001, 10:29 AM

The water was down yesterday and cleaned up a lot but those buggers still have lock jaw. did not try to troll yesterday, no fish showing in deep water. Moss still real bad, hardlyworth the gas. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

RJ · 05-04-2001, 07:32 PM

talked to my dad this evening he just got back from spending 3 days at weatland hooked 5 landed 3 moss real bad seemed to him to be even worse today. hooked every fish on half and half vibrolites.nickel ,copper.I guess just keep cleaning the moss off and keep sticking it back out.RJ

05-07-2001, 12:17 PM

Me too RJ. It really helps. Was nice, even if I "had" to sit next to Keith and an Alumaweld, deal with work and the fish still have lockjaw!! What a sunny day though. Nothin' after you left Keith, except for a busy boatramp. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Son of an Okie · 05-07-2001, 11:27 PM

I want to thank RJ for the rubber band tip, it helps a lot! Still have to check once in awhile, but most of the moss hangs on the rubber band. This may keep me from assaulting the oversize sturgeon for an extra week or two! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Fished Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with Saturday being the only productive day. Two to the boat, both with too many feathers on their backs. It was fun watching the 10-year-old son fight a 20 pounder again though! Sunday found one hook-up for about 10 seconds before the hooks popped free. What a nice three days to be on the river!

RJ · 05-08-2001, 07:25 AM

your all welcome on the rubber band tip its no cure-all but it helps. I would like to fish thursday if i thought things might change for the better if anyone has a good report the following couple days please let me know the only conflict might be the halibut fishin.

Son of an Okie · 05-10-2001, 01:42 PM

Managed to put a clipped springer in the boat this morning about 11 o'clock, an 18 pound hen. Ate a gold hammerback blade with chartruse beads. Only bite we got all morning. The moss is getting worse, even with the rubber band it's a check every 15 minutes show. Left the river at noon, saw two other fish caught, both steelhead. One was a keeper, don't know about the other one for sure, but after the 5th jump..... [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] probably not.

[ 05-10-2001: Message edited by: Son of an Okie ]

WaterDog · 05-10-2001, 01:54 PM

I spent a couple of hours last night backtrolling a diver and eggs to no avail. Did manage to boat 5 lbs of moss though. Saw several fish roll and jump.

Son of an Okie · 05-12-2001, 06:36 PM

Well, I think we're pretty much done in the Newberg area. The moss was so bad today that I don't think I was ever really fishing, even with the rubber bands. On to Tillamook Bay and the gorge now! It was nice to fish close to home while it lasted. [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

RJ · 05-12-2001, 07:39 PM

dad came back empty handed as well saw a ton of fish said u could shut motor off and drift down river and see salmon scattering along the bottom moss was unbearable its a shame just goes to show how important those winter flushes can do for a river.looks like we are done as well.RJ