WILLAMETTE LOCKJAW THEORY

SLEDDER · 05-04-2001, 01:13 PM

Theories are like excuses everybody has one. Here is mine. If you are in a nasty enviroment, fumes, smoke ect. and you start feeling a little squeemish, do you want to eat, I know I don't. Willamette is very polluted so is the Columbia. I was just curious as to why there are so many fish,and so few being caught. Am I totally out there or do you think there may be something to the theory. [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

jawbreaker · 05-04-2001, 01:38 PM

If your right about your theory, I don't think I would want to eat one. There is no doubt that the Willamette "superfund" river is very poluted. Thats one of the reasons why I avoid that fishery. However, Its been poluted for many years and I doubt that is the reason for the lockjaw. The water level and the current is likely the cause of the dilemna. Changing tactics would be a good idea. Light line on your leaders, low water tactics etc...It sounds like the current is so slow that bobber fishing jigs and or bait in the deepest hole you can find would be something to try. Good luck. JB

SLEDDER · 05-04-2001, 01:43 PM

You are probably right, I just needed something to blame for lack of fish in freezer. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

swampy · 05-04-2001, 02:57 PM

that's a thought sledder ...here is mine ...these fish grew up in ideal conditions with an abundance of feed ..they never had do develop an aggressive additude to survive ...now fat and happy they have but one thing on their mind and it ain't eating .....plus the water was too cold and now it is too warm and the biters were taken in the columbia and there is too much gunk in the water and the nets took their toll and and and ???!!!???

FishinMission · 05-04-2001, 02:58 PM

I have to think it's primarily the water level..being low. I knew with the low water this would be a very different year. Haven't fished the Willamette much this year(Been too good in the Columbia)...just starting...but I'm looking at very different techniques, and areas. My friends have been hooking fish in the Lake Oswego area on prawns...but they're trolling and covering the water. Same story tho...almost all have one fin too many! Personally...I think the finclippers at the hatchery were doing something else on the days they were supposed to be clipping!! My 2 cents worth!!

WaterDog · 05-04-2001, 03:17 PM

It's a gov't conspricy!!!

They have isolated the feeding/strike gene and "turned it off" and are cloneing these fish in the hatcheries. I'm calling Mulder and see if he can look into it. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Danged ol' aliens!

boater · 05-04-2001, 03:22 PM

troll faster, 4 to 5 mph, they need somthing to **** them off, it works for me....(parrot magnum)

FishinMission · 05-04-2001, 03:31 PM

Boater...Shhhh...don't tell anybody...but that's how I slay the Coho!! Haven't tried it down here for the springers tho!!

[ 05-04-2001: Message edited by: FishinMission ]

boater · 05-04-2001, 03:37 PM

ok, i`l delete it

05-04-2001, 05:02 PM

CALIFORNIANs Fault! Could not resist.
Just kidding. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

CAGEY · 05-04-2001, 06:44 PM

You guys are all wrong....Clinton did it. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

David Johnson · 05-04-2001, 07:06 PM

It's just the water conditions, if they improve the fishing will too.

Also, Willamette fish have never bit as well as some other strains of fish. Maybe the only ones that make it through the river to the hatchery are the ones that are "non biters" that are not agressive feeders.

Pete · 05-04-2001, 07:12 PM

I'm surprised no one has said anything about water temperature. Seems like it's colder than usual for this time of year.

rags · 05-05-2001, 03:53 AM

I think it is the water conditions. It has been pretty good lately. You need to put in your time and fish the tide changes. After the good rain we had early last week the bite was great on Wednesday. Fished it three days and got 8 fish.

FishinMission · 05-05-2001, 05:08 AM

Hey Rags...of the eight..how many were clipped??

rags · 05-06-2001, 09:29 AM

Of the eight fish 5 were keepers. On another issue. I had a chance to observe several guides working the Willamette last week when on vacation. Of all the guides David Johnson has the most class. Most of the guides were almost rude working in front of the hoglines and getting very close. When you get on the river before daylight and a guide shows up at 8:00 and starts fishing in front of you a few choice words start. David worked the outside portion of the river and I am sure catches just as many fish or more. If I was going to hire a guide there would be no doubt who it would be.