DRTIFBOAT WHAT RIVER THIS WEEKEND? WILSON

[Fish Hawk Adventures]

I am thinking of rowing the Wilson this weekend. Is it a easy drift? Where do you put in at and take out at? What is the best method to fish? Any help would be a great from the ifish members.

[FishinMission]

Easiest would be form the Guide Shop down. But you better take your own water!! LOL

[Fish Hawk Adventures]

Is it to low to drift? or do you mean that it will be crowded?

[Fish Hawk Adventures]

Well unfortunatly I have to sit and write this post to all the IFISH members tonight. The majority of the people on this board upset me very much. I have not posted too much on this board so maby that is why most of the members of this board seem hesitant to reply to any of my posts. I first thought that this board was a great place to share information and get to know other people, I hope that will not change. I guess that is only true if you are one of the accepted IFISH members that is in the good crowd. I am a very nice person that is very willing to share my information with others, it may seem that I ask some questions that may indicate that I don't have a clue what I am doing to some of you. However I am trying to learn more about the sport that I was born and raised to love and respect. I am a very good fisherman by the majority of most peoples standards. I catch my fair share of fish, especially springers in the channel. Just ask ******, I used to sit in the same spot he anchors in and spend the night when I was 12 years old. Just line the tip of the island with the cornner of the house and you are in the groove. Now I troll past ****** all the time and see him relaxing by the heater, most of the time with fish in the boat. I am very willing to teach and show others my secrets that have made me sucessful in my home area, but I feel that the willingness to duplicate the process is not there. I just wish that we could be a little more freindly to the guy that you are not familiar with because he may not be a bad guy after all. I hope I did not offend anybody with this post. Also if anybody wants to learn a little about spring chinook let me know.

Talons

Or as most of the guides know me by "The Carhart People" :depressed:

[BUGLEMAN]

Looks like the Wilson is low and slow per the other Wilson post but, at 4.7' it should be easily driftable from the guide shop down. Maybe a little fresh water will stir them up. Good luck and let us know how you did.

[Bubzilla]

Talons,

Sorry that you feel frustrated by the lack of response. As a general rule, I've found this to be a great site with lots of people willling to help. The information you're after is generally not hard to find--heck, Fishing & Hunting News even published maps and how-to's just last month (for about the millionth time!). Maybe that explains the silence? Who knows. I am no expert on the Wilson by any means, but I'll try to help with the basics.

The best drift for beginners is from Mills Bridge Bar (located right behind The Guide Shop on Hwy 6) to Sollie Smith (located immediately upstream of the Wilson Loop Road Bridge). If the water is low, you can also drift from Donaldson Landing downstream to Sollie. Or, you can even drift from Mills Bridge down to Donaldson if you don't want to spend the whole day. Donaldson Bar is located just past Olsen Road (coming from Tillamook) off of Hwy 6. Donaldson is a pay takeout/putin, though.

The drift down from Mills Bridge is about as straight forward as any on the North Coast. It can be hard to navigat around all of the other boats (many of them anchored), though--particulary if you're just getting started on the sticks. Keep in mind that the water at Sollie is pretty swift, and that's the last chance to get out before salt water--no kidding.

Pulling plugs works well (heck, where doesn't it?); drift fishing, particularly in the tailouts, is VERY popular; and, hucking a jig works too. Pretty much standard fare steelhead fishing.

I'd bet the farm that if you announced an open seat or two you could wrangle up a couple more knowledgeable fishing partners for your first Wilson outing. Could be worth a try.

Good luck, and let us know how you do.

[ 12-27-2001: Message edited by: Bubzilla ]</p>

[Jennie@ifish]

I wrote this in one of my columns quite some time ago. Finally found it. Hope it helps a little:

Where would you take a beginning oarsman to learn to drift and read water? Chances are, you would choose the Wilson River, from Mill's Bridge down to Sollie Smith Bridge.
It is a fairly easy, navigable stretch of water, with no serious whitewater challenges. Don't get me wrong, any water can be dangerous, but this is a good place to start learning. Heck, I've even done it!
These days, with so many people buying drift boats, and (trying to) learn to run them, it is obvious that the Wilson attracts new anglers.
In the thick of the winter crowd, let's talk ethics and learn some things that will make angling more enjoyable for everyone, novice and professional angler alike.
If you come upon an angler who is either anchored in a boat, or standing in shallow waters fishing, you have several choices to consider.
Your options, in order of preference, while first reading the water for safety, and then considering the anglers rights would be:
1. If there is adequate room, drift behind the angler standing in the water, or anchored in a drift boat.
2. Drift carefully as closely in front of the angler, avoiding his fishing water as best as possible. Some people won't understand why you are coming so close, so explain as you drift by that you are attempting to not disrupt the water his lures are targeting.
3. If, for safety reasons or to avoid collision, you cannot avoid drifting through his water, try to drift through the passage with little or no oar movement in the water.
On the same premise, if someone is anchored in the water, give adequate berth to their 'first come' rights. Do not anchor directly above or below them. Give enough space so that your lures won't drift into their anchor rope, or theirs into yours.
There are a few instances where boats stack up, for instance, at Duyckes. I would expect that if you are a known guide, or regular, that no one will bother you if you anchor close to another boat here. But if you are new to this area, you may get some sideways glances or worse, if you try to wedge in here. I'd drift on through if it was me alone! This is a good place to practice courteous passage or anchoring!
If a boat is plugging through a hole, do not pull in front to plug, or anchor and drift fish. The first boat maintains the right away here.
You may plug behind them, maintaining an appropriate speed and distance.
Now, top and foremost, let's get to Sollie Smith for the real challenge--the takeout. This is what makes The lower Wilson NOT a beginning run. If you can make it through this gracefully, and without being yelled at, you graduate!
The stretch of water from Mill's bridge at the Guide Shop to Sollie Smith Bridge may be graded for easy navigation, but the takeout can be one of your worst nightmares.
Launching conditions are less than ideal here.
You will encounter a lack of docking space as you approach the takeout. Breathe deeply.
During the busiest times, at the end of the day, it is not uncommon to have 15 to 20 boats stacked up waiting to pull out.
Your best bet, and probably your only option, is to pull up to the brush, lining up with the other boats, on the South side of the river immediately before the launch. There will be boats standing in the current, rowing to maintain there spot in line.
Please do not block the concrete takeout lane with your craft. There is only one lane available for backing trailers.
The water has a fairly heavy current at the takeout. Exercise caution as your boat may try to crash into the piling, or other boats. This does not make friends!
You will find that patience, helpfulness, and courtesy go a long way here, as well as any boat ramp facility.
When you are back in the warmth of your truck, boat safely on your trailer, now is the time to smile. You know that you too, can run a drift boat!

[smoky]

Talons:

If you took the time to do a search, you would find exactly what you were looking for.

Same question last week got great responses.
I took the time to tell a guy exactly how to adress the take out on the Wilson.

Wilson is by no means "low" at 4.7. Plenty of water to drift. Ive drifted it at 2.8. (alone 170#).

Go fish it. Its a great drift for a beginner. I did my maiden voyage alone at 3.5.

The fishing is slower than after the floods, but an all day drift should produce at least one or two fish. I landed a 11# sea liced chromer in the lower stretch on Wednesday.

Email me and Ill tell you exactly where to fish.
jeff.whalen@merant.com

[Fish Hawk Adventures]

Great information guys, Thank you for all of your efforts. Now I must ask how dies the shuttle work on the Wilson? And is there any one that wants to go Fishing this weekend in my boat?

[Trollin]

For $9.50 you can buy a shuttle at the Guide Shop be sure to bring an extra set of Keys for your rig. Just tell them you are going from Mills to Sollie your rig will be waiting for you. tight lines

Talons! I am intrigued. What boat? Let's go fishing! I actually got off the anchor and trolled a bit last year myself, but only when I had too. :grin: We may have to camp, now that you gave up "our" spot. Just kidding. LOL. :grin:

Rick

[ 12-28-2001: Message edited by: ****** ]</p>

[Wet_Willy]

Talons,

What will you be drifting in? I'll be out there tomorrow and if you see me in a green diamondback with "wet willy" on the side say hi. If I'm getting into any fish I'll be happy to share what is working.

Bill

[chuck 'n' duck]

I'll be out there as well (along with half of the valley fishermen). I'll be in a 17' dark green painted Willie with an ifish sticker on the back. Give me a holler when you see me.

CnD

[ 12-28-2001: Message edited by: chuck 'n' duck ]</p>

[Fish Hawk Adventures]

Rick,
We stil use the Dory and yes Don (my Father) and me run it. We like the little boat though for Harlo's (Coon Island Moorage. I will never let that dory get out of the family. That boat has been in too many places and is too strong to ever get rid of. It may not be that pretty but I have had it full of water from going thru the surf and had more breakers to go and she always makes it through it. Plus as I always say to everybody Blue Boats Catch MORE fish.

No offense to anybody I hope.

[Fish Hawk Adventures]

Bill,
I have a blue clackacraft 16 magnum. I am not sure where I am going either to th clack or Wilson, or Nehalem. Each one would be a new river to me. I have not found out yet if my fishing partners will be able to make it.

You know it is weird all spring I can always find a boatfull to go after springers, at times I have to have both boats going or tell other sorry got a full boat. But winter seelhead I seem to find that all my friends have other thinks going. WARMER things I think to do.

[sea lice]

I spent the last two days doing my first (and second)drift on the Wilson, and it was very manageable though at times the wind alomst took me to shore. I got good practice oaring behind other boats, everyone was happy and even Buzz Ramsey gave a wave. I took a lot of the advice from members on this site just by reading the posts, nothing wiser than local fishing advice.
You'll do good, just don't go past the Sollie Smith Bridge! :shocked:

[Fish Hawk Adventures]

Rick,
It used to be the 22' Dory blue and white named Osprey, dont use that boat much anymore in the channel. Now I have a 16' lodge series smokercraft beige and blue trim with blue seats. I am always trolling downstream and some times I have my Britanny pup with me. I normally have my carhart coveralls on as well as my crew.
Joe :grin:

Exactly Joe! IFISH, this guy catches springers, big time. Talons, had to let seven of my channel fish go, in a row. Too many fins. That was frustrating. Hopefully the ratio is closer to predictions than last year.

Is Don still using Osprey? I saw her at various places last year. That Dory can scoot.

Rick