Yamhill River Question

[FelonFinder]

I just got to Sheridan a couple weeks ago and already someone told me there are smallies in the Yamhill. I'm having a hard time swallowing that, but he was insistent. Anyone heard of smallies in the Yamhill River? Thanks.

[team doyle]

yes, absolutely, there are smallies in the yamhill.
my experience in the yamhill is in the lower couple of miles
just down from the dayton 'ramp'. beware of logs and snags if running.
i've caught a bunch of smalllies in there, mostly small in size.

jeo

yup it's true..... I fish for them out of my kayack.

[dragon67]

Last May I was catching nice smallies up on some of the flats

[flippinbaits]

guys...ive caught lots of smallies at the yamhill and yes most are really small...does anybody know if you drop a float tube in a locks in lafayette, how far it is to the dayton ramp?

[Chug]

Originally Posted by flippinbaits

guys...ive caught lots of smallies at the yamhill and yes most are really small...does anybody know if you drop a float tube in a locks in lafayette, how far it is to the dayton ramp?

Just scrolled the map for it.
2 miles & 4,910 feet.. Roughly... Slack water... in sumer...

[flippinbaits]

thanks chug...and the water would flow that way correct..from lafayette to dayton?

[Chug]

Originally Posted by flippinbaits

thanks chug...and the water would flow that way correct..from lafayette to dayton?

CORRECT.
Lafayette to dayton.. then the mouth of the Yamhill & Willy

[flippinbaits]

thanks chug...i'll have to float it with u some time as i see you are in yamhill co. i caught fish in mac at yamhill and some ones at lock park...should be a fun float when it is cruising so fast

[Shrimp Claw]

My dad lives in Sheridan right on the river and I grew up there as well. There are a few around Sheridan the past few years, the lower on the river you go the more there is. Most are round 8 inches or so but my dad has seen a few females guarding their nests behind his house that looked to be around 3-4lbs and has caught several over two pounds.

[flippinbaits]

yea i've fished a bit at sheridan as well, same result lots of small smallies...i'll just wait till it slows down a bit and start floating everywhere...anybody got n e secret lil ponds to hike to....wanna shoot me a pm with some help

[Paddlefish]

I've caught largemouths all the way from McMinnville to Lafayette, but that was 20 years ago and, as seems to be the trend in the entire Willamette system, the smallmouths are taking over.

Expect to find all of the above in the 5 river miles between Dayton and the Willamette, plus crappies, especially, for some reason, in the fall.

[cavdad45]

The Yamhill River is one of my favorite picks in the summer, usually May-October. The lake has loads of smallmouth, quite a few largemouth, tons of crappie, lots of catfish and carp. All are descendants of the fish escapement from Carlton Lake (which no longer exists.)

Most of the time I launch my jonboat at the Dayton boat ramp and motor up to the locks be careful of the shallow water at the end of the pool as you will chip up your prop. We don't get to drift back because there simply is not enough current for that. It's almost like fishing a long narrow lake, but there is enough current to allow an angler to pick out the best spots and angles to nail a bass.

In the past I have waded upstream of the Locks with water mocassin shoes and shorts. I have not gone more than a mile upstream because their is a huge pool that you can't hike around and even next to the shore the water exceeds five feet deep. Still working on a way to put my jonboat up there and go beyond. Hard to find a reliable partner who will risk life and limb for a bass.

There are bass that exceed five pounds in the water. Caught most of them near the locks and in a few "special" spots along the river.

This year I plan to explore downstream of Dayton to the Willamette, as I have a reliable gas motor not just a MinnKota and two batteries.

[Ingraham]

Originally Posted by cavdad45

Hard to find a reliable partner who will risk life and limb for a bass.

I don't know about risking life but I think many of us are down with risking limb for a good adventure!

[Mongo74]

Stay away from the Yamhill no fish, dangerous, man eating nutria a complete waste of time.

[Damon]

I've also fished that strech of the Yamhill a number of times over the past years. I've fished more from the boat launch down to the mouth more than towards the locks. It always seems like such a LONG way to the mouth because I typically motor pretty slowly because of all the underwater structure. But it can be a blast for the warm water fish. There is a deep hole not that far down from the ramp that I've had good luck with, but it can be tough to find!

[flippinbaits]

Originally Posted by Mongo74

Stay away from the Yamhill no fish, dangerous, man eating nutria a complete waste of time.

you honestly dont really know how to fish then...you can throw a crappie jig all day, or gitsit and catch 25+ fish...plus if you cant catch those...go for the LM, crappie, or catfish there. don't knock the river unless you've really tried it.

[northriver1]

Originally Posted by flippinbaits

you honestly dont really know how to fish then...you can throw a crappie jig all day, or gitsit and catch 25+ fish...plus if you cant catch those...go for the LM, crappie, or catfish there. don't knock the river unless you've really tried it.

I think M74 was making a joke. One would have to read between the lines to figure that one out.

[catfishman89]

Is the river at the dayton boat ramp safe for a small raft. I have never been there and don't know much about what the current is like.

[flippinbaits]

Originally Posted by catfishman89

Is the river at the dayton boat ramp safe for a small raft. I have never been there and don't know much about what the current is like.

yes it is...great for a pontoon boat...and sorry for calling the fellow ifisher out...neglected to see the smiley face...my apologies. but as mush as the yamhil is not pretty, it produces a decent smally fishery.

[Tar Heel]

An example of a river that cannot handle alot of pressure from guys not releasing large fish. Please, practice C&R fishing for large fish on small streams!

[Chug]

Originally Posted by Tar heel

An example of a river that cannot handle alot of pressure from guys not releasing large fish. Please, practice C&R fishing for large fish on small streams!

Yep, I agree. that river can fished out in one summer. Starting to see more fishing on that river, an stringers full of fish.

What kind of raft.. not the cheap style used in swiming pools?.

Current this time of year.. has not bad of current. summer time.. slack water

[raptorschild]

Originally Posted by flippinbaits

yes it is...great for a pontoon boat...and sorry for calling the fellow ifisher out...neglected to see the smiley face...my apologies. but as mush as the yamhil is not pretty, it produces a decent smally fishery.

Really? the smiley face gave it away? Are you sure it wasnt the comment about man eating Nutria????

[Mongo74]

OK so I guess the cat is out of the bag, the Yamhill isa good fishery. I must agree that catch & release is the right thing to do on the lower river. The upper parts could stand to have some of the small ones taken. I have caught lots of nice fish on the Y over the years. Still heed my warning about the nutria.......you never know....

[zipper]

People EAT fish from this river? Not this guy. Not knowing what flows into it. Nope, not me. C&R only. zip

[dragon67]

I am under the same thoughts as you about eating fish from the yamhill, I don't think I would, but I do like catching them there.

[cavdad45]

I can't think of any river that I would eat a fish from anymore. I am aslo a diehard CPR bass angler.

[1bigfish]

Originally Posted by cavdad45

I can't think of any river that I would eat a fish from anymore. I am aslo a diehard CPR bass angler.

I haven't seen the CPR in awhile, but now that you say it I guess there are more of us that CPR then C&R.

[MXRacer105]

Originally Posted by 1bigfish

I haven't seen the CPR in awhile, but now that you say it I guess there are more of us that CPR then C&R.

How are you going to brag without the "P" portion... without that, the fish gets bigger and bigger everyday!!!

I guess a good rule of thumb is CPR the big ones, and CRAPWTS (catch, release, add pound when telling story) for the small ones....

[Cask of '43]

What about the Columbia? Walleye and perch are great eating... how far would you go up river before you felt it was safe to eat them?

[cavdad45]

Originally Posted by MXRacer105

How are you going to brag without the "P" portion... without that, the fish gets bigger and bigger everyday!!!

I guess a good rule of thumb is CPR the big ones, and CRAPWTS (catch, release, add pound when telling story) for the small ones....

CRAPWTS!!!! I love it!

[1bigfish]

Originally Posted by Cask of '43

What about the Columbia? Walleye and perch are great eating... how far would you go up river before you felt it was safe to eat them?

Personally I feel pretty safe eating them above I-205. But I also only eat fish(any fish) about 10 times a year.

[Tar Heel]

Merc levels are pretty high in most Oregon bass, I guess, even Col R. ? In the Yamhill, Wilamette you get some bonus organics and a little extra pesticide to boot. However, I'd like to see them tested next to your average store bought.

[FelonFinder]

You gotta die some day.