Estuary Sturgeon, incoming or outgoing...

TheRogue · 06-18-2001, 02:06 PM

minus tide; heavy flood, or little water movement??

There's some pretty extreme minus tides this coming weekend, more than -1.5 feet, with some corresponding large high tides. How does this seem to correspond with the sturgeon fishing?? Other than there being more crap thrashing up and down the river. Looking at going this weekend.

T.R.

Salmonator · 06-18-2001, 02:42 PM

I've hammered fish at any of the tides you mentioned at different spots. I think the best time to go estuary fishing right now is any time you can get over there! Ok, I have heard that a hard running outgoing tide is the favorite of most but don't let it keep you from going on any other tide... Joe

Bobber Down · 06-18-2001, 04:29 PM

The Rogue, I agree fully with Salmonator about getting out fishing when you can, and also fishing the outgoing. You can pick up fish on both parts of the tide although. I like the outgoing better ( less or no bullheads ), but then again I live down here. So it's easy for me to go when I want to. Good luck to ya!

Fishing it's a tuff thing, but I have to provide food for the family.

Bobber Down · 06-18-2001, 04:31 PM

The Rogue, I agree fully with Salmonator about getting out fishing when you can, and also fishing the outgoing. You can pick up fish on both parts of the tide although. I like the outgoing better ( less or no bullheads ), but then again I live down here. So it's easy for me to go when I want to. Good luck to ya!

Fishing it's a tuff thing, but I have to provide food for the family.

Up-4-Air · 06-18-2001, 08:16 PM

I asked a guide if he only had three hours to fish, what three hours during the tide would he prefer. He said he would fish when the current was the strongest on an outgoing tide. That's partly because of crabs and bullheads but also because there is generally a fair bite on outgoing. I've had pretty good luck during outgoing too. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

TheRogue · 06-18-2001, 08:23 PM

Thanx, all. The times I've been down there, it seems that the outgoing is the best tide as well. And, of course, the prevailing west wind makes a hard running current desirable as well, so you don't play spin-the-boat around the anchor line.

T.R.

Killertraylor · 06-19-2001, 08:30 AM

The ebb is generally the best, but we cought a lot of fish on the flood this last weekend. Be careful with afternoon ebb tides down there if the NW wind is howling - be ready to take some waves over the bow. The river stays pretty navigable on the flood with the NW wind blowing.

Pilar · 06-19-2001, 08:35 AM

The outgoing is good. Usually sturgeon fishing on Desdemona shoal is something I do while I wait for the bar to lay down. There's a spot I hit that is a deeper channel in some really shallow mud. The fish seem to move through at the tide change. It seems that the fish happen right at low slack. The down side is that crabs, bullheads and sculpins happen then too.

The one charter I tried out of Ilwaco (Coho Charters) did real good on the hard ebb tide. We limited the boat in about an hour.

Nothing beats a 5 footer in 10 foot of water. They jump!

Pitch Pocket · 06-20-2001, 07:35 AM

If you don't fish all conditions, ebb, flood and slack, you'll miss some great opportunities. Around Desdemona, fish the edges of the main channel on the flood, the chutes coming off the flats on the ebb. At the slack, fish right under your boat and hold the rod. I've limited my boat in all tides. Go early because the wind WILL blow towards afternoon.

With the severe run out this weekend, I'd try the chutes and find the current where you can fish no more than 6-8 oz of lead. Any more than that and the current is too fast. Keep your leaders SHORT. Sit your bait right on top of the weight.

With the weather this weekend, I'd consider going to central Oregon for some Kokanee fishing. It's real good right now and the fish are fat. "The best tasting animal on the planet". That anonymous quote is not far from the truth.

[ 06-20-2001: Message edited by: SjP ]