Getting out at Winchester?

Wet_Willy · 07-08-2002, 09:45 AM

I'm probably fishing with a buddy out of Winchester Wed or Thursday this week. The NOAA says 7 and 6ft waves with 5ft swells. I've been advised this isn't good ( I don't speak Big Blue lingo).

What is the fishing like inside the jaws and are there enough nooks to be worth the long drive from Portland down there? I'm a river and bay fisherman and don't spend much time in the ocean.

Thanks,

Bill

Salmon Stryker · 07-08-2002, 01:24 PM

I second Wet Willy's question. I'm halfway thinking of Winchester myself for this weekend but with my 17ft Alumaweld Stryker I'm not sure I wan't to leave the jaws. Was thinking of tossing the crab pots and going after salmon but wondered if they are in the bay yet?

Willy and I would appreciate any input. Thanks. [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

NEUTRON · 07-08-2002, 02:09 PM

You guys might try and e-mail Travis with TH rods as he is a south coast resident. Also, Ramstrong grew up down there.

TH · 07-08-2002, 04:47 PM

I have a nice big boat and still don't like seas over 5ft. The wind is really going to pick up this week, I wont be out!
I dropped my son off at bball camp in CB today and headed up to the coast gaurd look out there on the south side of the bay at Charleston, the ocean got pretty bumpy towards 1pm or so.. lots of fish caught.
I watched 5-9 boats mooch or troll on the bar during the incoming tide, a few fish were caught. That's really what I like to do... when the seas get bigger, (however today was a good day)
There are fish to be caught on the incoming tides at both Winchester Bay and Charleston.

At Winchester Bay I troll 8 oz. drop it down until you hit, (just cut herring)
Here in CB I use #1, divers, just because I like to seak out when the conditions allow (both wil work). I spend 90% of my time here in CB.
With the wind picking up I may head south to GB and fish the Rogue Bay Wednesday.

Good luck, let me know if there is anything I can do.. but be warned, I am a weak stomach ocean fisherman, many people are going out in stuff I am coming in on.

bob b · 07-08-2002, 08:27 PM

Salmon are in the bay, so are the state police, read the regs for silvers. Chinook are legal but not available in numbers east of salmon harbor west boat basin,read the regs.

The channel is along the the south jetty. Can be dangerous,in a stryker exit on a slack enter on a slack or incoming, any wind out of the west can make a rough ride.

TH · 07-09-2002, 06:41 AM

Here is this mornings report... note the "small craft advisory" :smile:
South coast Ocean report

Wet_Willy · 07-09-2002, 08:32 AM

Thanks for all the help Travis. Appreciate the emails. As for fishing inside the bay jaws. I'm guessing that it isn't fantastic but maybe picking up a few isn't out of the question. With the ocean conditions I don't think my buddy will want to cross the bar and I would hate to make that long drive and waste a vacation day for marginal fishing inside the jaws. Would any of you drive down from Portland just to fish inside of the bay at Winchester? Not looking for a sure thing...well I take that back...I am looking for a sure thing.
Thanks,
Bill

07-09-2002, 08:45 AM

I drive from Klamath Falls to fish in Winchester Bay ( :depressed: 4-1/2 to 5 hours :depressed: ) but it is still a bit early. They should start to show up at the end of the month or the first of August. There are plenty of sturgeon in the bay but I don't know if they are being caught.

If you have a river boat go upriver of Scotsburg and fish for smallmouth bass. Keep as many as you can and help the salmon and steelhead smolts :smile: .

[ 07-09-2002, 09:46 AM: Message edited by: Keta ]

Wet_Willy · 07-09-2002, 09:46 AM

Thanks Keta,
I'm throwing in my trout rod and bass was my alternate on the Umpqua if the salmon fishing doesn't pan out.
Bill

TH · 07-09-2002, 10:27 AM

The bay fishing at both places really picks up towards the end of the month, with Aug. being the peak... and then Sept. in the rivers...

I watch several fish being caught from 100 yards inside the bay to the whistler yesterday.. so they are there.

TH · 07-09-2002, 12:06 PM

I also checked out the bar at Charleston onthe south side by the CG look out and lots of boats out there as well.
A few in the bay, but most out by the first can!

Afternoon winds may force them off??? We'll see?

Salmon Stryker · 07-09-2002, 12:07 PM

Thanks for the info everyone. I'll be looking for your report Wet Willy as I may head down there Friday night and spend the weekend. Can't make up my mind between Columbia steelhead or Winchester crab and Salmon. I'm not used to having any time off in July so I'm not sure what to do. :whazzup: If I only had a bigger boat I'd be out on the big drink.

Silverado · 07-09-2002, 12:16 PM

Th is right, I forgot to add that the wind was starting to pick up around 11:30.
RB

Wet_Willy · 07-09-2002, 01:44 PM

Sorry Salmon Stryker, the trip has been bumped back to Monday with the ocean conditions. My buddy wants to get out on the ocean for the action, and so do I. Don't want to be limited to staying inside the bay. So, we are hoping conditions improve over the weekend. Eventually I'll report how it was, just waiting it out.
Thanks guys,
Bill

TH · 07-09-2002, 03:24 PM

Hey Bill that's my next scheduled trip too.. maybe we'll see you out there... having July off is very nice.. the only thing that would be better is to have Sept. off. :smile: Beggers cant be choosers...

Bill I'll be in the big green open willie predator.. if conditions allow.

Wet_Willy · 07-09-2002, 11:41 PM

I'm headed down Wednesday night so whatever happens I'll post it. May even take some digital pics for those that haven't been down there to see what it is like...Thanks for the info guys. I catch a lot of steelhead but this ocean fishing thing is all new to me...

Bill

Silverado · 07-09-2002, 11:57 PM

WW,
Went down and checked out windy bay a couple hours ago. From the lighthouse my son and I counted 109 boats just outside the jetties, all sizes of boats. The bar was as flat as I've seen it. Lots of boats coming and going, none fishing the bay itself.
About 50 or so crab pot buoys in half moon bay, I think alot of the crabs are still soft though?
RB

Salmon Stryker · 07-10-2002, 07:27 AM

That sounds like a good decision Willy. I have to go this weekend or not at all but I called and booked a 4 hour charter ($60) so I will at least be able to get out Saturday am. Hoping they can get me into a salmon or two. I'll be back at the dock at 10:30 so that will give me time to crab later in the day. If people aren't catching chinook in the bay I may run up the river Sunday and try for some of those famous smallies. If the ocean is flat, I'll head out there.
I don't know if you will be around a PC Monday AM but I'll post the results of my trip first thing when I get to work on Monday. Around 6:30 am. No digital camera so you guys will just have to believe me!
Thanks again to everyone for the helpful information. I appreciate it. Love your site Jennie.

TH · 07-10-2002, 11:59 PM

I checked the Charleston Bar today and it was bumpy to say the least.

Spoke to a friend twho is a true salty dog, he fished today.. 8 straight days with a 3 person limit.. anyway he said it was big out there.. and he fishes in anything! He had 4 chinook an two coho, released 3 other coho and a jack.
I spoke to him at his house about 11:00am.

The wind is picking up now..

Scaup · 07-14-2002, 05:17 AM

You probably made a good choice to wait until Monday. I wouldn't drive all the way to Winchester Bay from Portland to fish inside this time of year. Also, the dredge was working on Friday and that usually screws up the fishing inside the jetties.

I've fished there for almost 30 years. I fished out of Winchester Bay Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday because it was my only chance to go this year. The bar was closed each day until it smoothed down on the incoming tide around 9:30-10:30 (depending on the day). The ocean got progressively rougher each day and Friday was as rough a conditions as I have fished in. Not dangerous, but it made the fishing a lot of work. We have an 18 foot Hewes Craft Sea Runner.

The fishing was excellent. We limited each day (2 people) in about 3 hours, primarily catching Chinook and releasing most of the Silvers unless they were good sized. We landed 3 Chinook over 20 pounds, with the largest being 25.

We were trolling cut herring with a green hoochie behind a flasher and a diver in 60-120 feet of water south of the Whistle Bouy. The fish were down around 20 feet.

Good Luck.