80,000 fish????

CATCH AND EAT · 10-16-2001, 02:49 PM

80,000 fish in the Clackamas system? I think not....yet. Anyone in the know about where all these fish went besides my freezer and the ones that fell to gill nets. What's the scoop.

We had a nice rush of them Thurs-Sat. but it seems that they really are not on the move. Do we actually believe that they are still heading in from the ocean? That is the rumor that I have heard.

Not that I need anymore fish but I sure like catching them. Any news or insight would be appreciated from those in the know. Is there a web site that includes information on Eagle creek or the Clackamas? Thanks

happybrew · 10-16-2001, 04:45 PM

I fished Eagle Creek yesterday, and I could see fresh fish moving into the holes, and then continuing upstream. And there were a lot of them. It could well be that there are 80,000 of them. I could see them moving into the holes, resting a while, then continuing upstream.

happybrew

dawhunt · 10-16-2001, 04:47 PM

I was fishing the Naselle today and comeing back I saw 12 giil net boats in the columbia.I think thats where the silvers are. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] there fishing like 12 hrs a day.
Bob Dawson

BUGLEMAN · 10-16-2001, 06:39 PM

where were you happy?

happybrew · 10-16-2001, 07:28 PM

In the canyon below the hatchery

will_e_fish · 10-17-2001, 06:21 AM

Doesn't seem like they are all in there were motre last year,especially at this time.I have gone to the hatchery and asked where they are, heard they closed the fish ladder door. Friday I saw they moved a lot with the high water. A guy from Eugene with Driftboat,parked up by Eagle Fern park said he was out in the Clack and saw lots but no bitters so went bank fishing to find one. Has anyone else drifted thr clack lately to know let us know where the rest of the 70,000 predicted fish are?

garyk · 10-17-2001, 09:02 AM

Will-e-fish,

I can tell you that last Saturday they were not in the Barton to Carver stretch.

We didn't have even a jack for three rods -- complete zip.

will_e_fish · 10-17-2001, 12:26 PM

Thanks for the info garyk.It just doesnt seem like as many as last year.Wow hard to imagine ODWF being off 50,000 or 60,000. Most discouraging to say the least the fish up near the hatchery red to dark and pretty spent. Well I am not a very good clean up fisherperson, those who say they are good eating have a right to their opinion. I might go once more and hear the "you should have been here yesterday" thing I always hear. Keep me posted. HappyBrew were you at the park looking for fish saying you should have gone trout fishing?

damc · 10-17-2001, 12:34 PM

I drifted barton to carver on sun morning and it was pretty dead. I saw two fish caught in the deep creek hole and those were the only two fish I saw all day (at least they were bright). There were still a lot of fish in the river, but nothing like it was two or three weeks ago when I could see them everywhere under as we drifted.

Has anyone fished the Clack this week? Any suggestions on where to fish friday?

Thanks,

Mike

Johnny Mac · 10-17-2001, 03:34 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by CATCH AND EAT:

I know there must be another wave coming through but when and where?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Maybe this?

click here

Stz ll · 10-17-2001, 04:02 PM

I agree with the theory that the gillnetters are getting a large percentage of the 80,000. [img]images/icons/blush.gif[/img]

Thumper · 10-17-2001, 04:19 PM

What is the temperature of the Clack? StlhdrI over on PP makes a very good point about the NF Lewis. He measured the river below Merwin at 67-69 F, warmer even than the Columbia right now. That is due to rollover of the thermocline in the reservoirs above the dams. Silvers don't bite at that temperature, so all us Lewis fishermen will have to wait til things cool off. Could the Clack be suffering from the same problem??

happybrew · 10-17-2001, 04:28 PM

will_e_fish: I stopped off at Eagle Fern Park to see what was going on there, just looked at the water, then proceeded up to the hatchery area. I didn't say a thing about trout fishing. Did I talk to you?

happybrew

CATCH AND EAT · 10-17-2001, 11:37 PM

Well folks, here it is. Spoke with Craig Foster with ODFW Clackamas branch yesterday afternoon. He's kind of back tracking on the prediction for the fish we are recieving. He said that "they may have been over optimistic for the Clack run". It seems that at this time I know more than ODFW since I fished it and saw the run go by at the speed of light. My guess is that we have seen 20,000 fish maybe. 5,000 for the very first rain a few weeks ago and 15,000 for the last rain last week.

Does anyone have any reports that differ from this concept? I know that they are still catching a few at bouy 10 area but not that many. Nets? Native nets? I know I did not catch all of them. Maybe it's David Johnson's fault since he caught the heck out of them this summer.

[img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

I know there must be another wave coming through but when and where?

will_e_fish · 10-18-2001, 03:39 AM

Happybrew from your post it sounded like we might have been in the general area of each other and the only person that I got to ask about where the fish were said "he should have gone trout fishing". Sorry dont take offense but I thought of you later when I read your post of being there. It would have made my day knowing I crossed paths with someone from IFish.
Thumper gee I was sorta thinking I should have gone to the Lewis. The B run not there as well? The Lewis R is warmer than Eagle Creek Next time I will record temps to make sure.
I sure would like to see some fresh fish somewhere. I got that fever,I am addicted and I am dreaming of silver fins filling the rivers. Late arriving silvers sounds good to me. I like fishing when everyone else is hunting.
OK back to reality just wanted to catch a couple more nice ones before winter. Also know a 6 year old that needs to get a chance at one or see some. He is more obbsesed than me.

livininthezoo · 10-18-2001, 05:47 AM

I fished Eagle Creek from the bridge to the mouth on Tues and didn't see a single fish. The other guys I talked to didn't either. Did anyone read the article about the Eagle Creek hatchery in Wed's Oregonian metro section? Interesting.

happybrew · 10-18-2001, 08:30 PM

Fished Eagle Creek again today. Not as many hookups, and the fish didn't seem to be on the move anymore. I did land and release a very nice buck with an intact adipose fin, and took home a couple of fish. None of the fish seemed to have a lot of fight in them today, unlike Monday when they took off like rockets and were doing cartwheels all over the place. I wonder why.

One thing I did notice on Monday was that it is very important to change gear often if you're not getting bit. I'd either get hits or have fish follow my gear for about ten minutes, then lose interest. As soon as I switched to a different lure or a different color, they'd show interest again.

Today, however, they didn't seem very interested in much at all. Quite frankly, I'm surprised I limited, and the fish didn't put up much of a fight. But I guess that's better than getting skunked.

happybrew

will_e_fish · 10-19-2001, 10:38 AM

I was there again as well and I have to admit to being addicted. Trying to find fish bright enough to bite. None up by the hatchery and none in the lower creek. I keep thinking there is a hole or stretch I haven't seen that they must be. I got limited by red snappers all on different offerings. Green corkie and yarn because I had it pre-tied, purle yarn because I had succes with it before, silver spinner because that is all I had. Flies weren't working they dodged everything else. The red snappers had red to pale orange meat and is smoking out pretty good. That difference that was dicussed in a thread the other day 2 fish looking identical but one having paler meat. Tasted good but not ocean red fresh.I found the same lack of fight the one on the spinnwer came in easiest I looked it over good to see if it had been snagged before and no apparent wounds. Just not much more besides a little back and forth in the pool. After pulling them in so much easier made me suspicous and checked them over real well before taking them. There are a few biters still there just not puting up much fight acrobatics, although losing a few that spit the hook head shaking and not a solid hookup. Next trip will be to Sandy or coast rivers. As most of the fish are red and getting real dark. That satellite tracking thing has me feeling opptomistic about more comming in late since the numbers arent here like last year.

Filet-O-Fish · 10-19-2001, 07:13 PM

Does any have the article on Eagle creek hatchery that was in Wednesdays Oregonian?

thanks in advance

John

Point-of-Sale Clerk · 10-19-2001, 08:36 PM

The article in question may be found at the following link:
http://www.oregonlive.com/metrosouth...0120555398.xml

*** Clerk

Filet-O-Fish · 10-20-2001, 03:54 PM

Thank You [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]