Panfish / Perch near Portland

shucknet · 09-03-2009, 04:11 PM

I'm relatively new to the Pacific Northwest. I grew up fishing in Nebraska and Minnesota for walleye, bass, and panfish.

I have some young nephews coming to visit for the long weekend and I'd like to take them out on the boat for some fishing. I fear that salmon fishing will be too crowded (and I have no idea what I'm doing there) and walleye fishing will be too slow (also, don't really know how to find walleye on the Columbia yet). I thought about Kokanee at Merwin or Yale, but again, not really sure what I'm doing and trolling with down riggers isn't a lot of fun for kids.

Do you guys have any recommendations for some fishing where there will be plenty of action, but not necessarily huge fish? The kids are 2-4 years old, so I imagine they aren't too worried about the size. I would love to have a place within an hour or so of Portland where we could get into some bluegill or crappie or perch. It would be even better if they were big enough to get a filet out of so we could have a nice dinner as well.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Ryan

Tar Heel · 09-03-2009, 05:53 PM

I havent been for a few weeks, and it's probably a bit early for the hot late summer/early Fall bite, but the bass fishing on the Willy and Columbia can be fast and furious one the water starts to cool a bit. Maybe others who have actually been fishing can chime in as to whether the fish are really hitting. Once they areI recommend the Bonneville Pool for bass, or with kids that age a trout farm!

lor · 09-03-2009, 08:17 PM

For that age group, I second a trout farm, might cost a few coins, but if its a trip for them, its hard to beat that type of action.

Silver Lake up in Washington can get good in the fall for panfish.
There is also trout, check out Trout Talk forum, seems like lakes in Estacada very having some good catches.
http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=260903

shucknet · 09-03-2009, 08:57 PM

Thanks for the input so far. If they are really excited about fishing I'll look up a trout farm.

If they would like to make it both a boat trip and a fishing trip, I had a friend at work suggest Lake River north of Lake Vancouver.

Someday, though - I'd like to find a good place to reliably catch eatable bluegill and perch around here as it's hard to beat beer-battered panfish fillets.