Sturgeon on the Willamette

Newbieone · 11-07-2001, 04:21 PM

As the name implies, I am new to fishing in Oregon. Are there any spots on the Willamette to catch sturgeon from my boat on the stretch from downtown PDX up to the falls at Ore. City or is it not worth the effort? Appreciate you folks having this forum!

marko · 11-07-2001, 05:08 PM

There are plenty of good sturgeon holes on the Willamette. I wouldn't eat a fish that lives in the Willamette, however. Good spots can be found anywhere in the stretch you mentioned. Look for holes just like you would in the Columbia. Be ready to move on short notice. The river is low and barges have the right-of-way. :depressed:

Pete · 11-07-2001, 05:17 PM

Welcome, Newbie! Part of the fun of sturgeoning in the Willamette is seeing a different perspective of the city. There are sturgeon holes all through the river, from the confluence with the Columbia at Kelley Point up to the falls at Oregon City. Your results will improve as we move into winter, but there are fish around most of the time. Use a depthfinder to find the deep holes and be ready to battle a titan!

Fishing Eddie · 11-08-2001, 05:41 AM

NEWBIE, TRY SOME SHALLOW WATER GATOR FISHING ALSO, I LIKE TO FISH RIGHT ACROSS FROM MELDRUM BAR IN ABOUT 20' TO 40' DEEP USE YOUR SALMON ROD IT'S A BLAST. IF YOU GO UP BY THE MILL [DOWNTOWN OREGON CITY] BE CAREFUL AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO CUT THERE HOOK, VERY VERY SNAGGY :depressed: HOPE THIS HELPS SOME.

WheresMyBobber · 11-08-2001, 08:33 AM

I don't sturgeon fish so I don't know the holes, but I was down at Sportcraft Marina a couple days ago and say a guy land a nice keeper right under the I205 bridge. He hooked it upstream near the mill I believe and drifted down while fighting it.

But as someone else said, I wouldn't eat a sturgeon from the Willamette. Who knows what they've been feeding on. :shocked:

TheRogue · 11-08-2001, 09:22 AM

The Willamette fish move in and out of the Columbia, generally speaking. Many of these people who say "don't eat the fish" would happily munch on one from Kelly Point (mouth of Will) or just downstream. Don't let that deter you. However, if we get that horrid rainstorm (anything over .001 inches) make sure you wash anything you catch below Portland, as the raw sewer will be sure to flow!!

kyle

Newbieone · 11-08-2001, 05:01 PM

Thank you all for the great info. I did get out today and after reading all the good info. from other posts, went slightly down from the Willamette on the Columbia by Kelley Point Park. I was using that pickled squid and some herring I had and had only one hit. Another boat adjacent caught several shakers, obviously there is more to this then just throwing out bait! I think I will pick up some smelt to try. Thanks again.

Biteme · 11-10-2001, 07:54 AM

The willamette is actually for me anyway a better keeper sturgeon fishery than the columbia in the kelly point t6 area. I usually dont start running trips in the willamette until jan or so. While there are sturgeon in it all year it fishes better when the rains start and the water temp comes down. When the columbia is running cold say around 38 degrees the willamette will generally be a little warmer say 41-44 degrees, when this happens those columbia fish move into the lower willamette and keeper action can be great. In the willamette the fish seem to suspend up off the bottom a bit at times and this allows you to actually see them if you have a quality depth finder. In the columbia they usually stay tight to the bottom so alot of times you will catch alot of fish without marking them on the finder but in most cases on the willamette if you dont see some fish at or near the bottom they arent there and you need to move until you find them, the exception to this is when you are fishing shallow flats with or areas that are routes for moving fish and then this is a waiting game. If I am fishing the deeper holes I rely on my electronics heavily, and for the flats I just wait for them to come thru and when they do they travel in packs and several keepers in a short period of time is usually what happens followed by alot of waiting for the next bunch to move thru. On bait forget the herring but dont forget the smelt wrapped with squid. Some secret sauces of several different varieties can also make your day. And one of the posts above mentioned the raw sewage this is a concern if we are having flooding conditions, if that happens head for the columbia. Oh and as far as eating the fish out of the willamette those are the same fish that are in the columbia they do move around alot.web page

Newbieone · 11-11-2001, 05:39 PM

Hey, thanks a lot for the great info Biteme- I really appreciate it. I did go back to Kelley Point the next day with my 13 year old son and he caught a 38" and a 41" sturgeon (all on squid) and he is now hooked on fishing for sturgeon! What a blast. I caught a 37" myself and the fish did a tail walk that rivaled any Steelie I have caught! I will look for good holes on the Willamette and thanks again for your help. Hope to see you on the river some time!

Tagster · 11-12-2001, 07:46 AM

Was planning on fishing the Columbia on Saturday, until I read this thread...Ended up fishing in front of the Ram's Head in L.O. in the morning...nice 65' hole in front of the amphitheatre...nothing happening, though...moved up to Meldrum Bar and released one keeper, 45", and 5 shakers in about 2 1/2 hours...

How nice is it to have this quality fishery so close to home!!!

Thanks for the Meldrum Bar tip, Fishing Eddie..

Tag