New to Portland

[Ryan808]

Me and my family just moved from California and I'm already iching to go fish. I know its winter and the weather is bad, but where can I go to get my line wet? I fish for LMB, but I understand they can be a little hard to come by this time of year. Can I get some pointers where to find some large/small bass this time of year, I'll be fishing off shore if that'll narrow the options down. Thanks in advance and looking forward to interact with the ifish community.

R/ Ryan

[Wreckless]

Welcome & happy new year!!

This time of year the bass can be hard to come by, by April it can be FUN!

Some salt water bass can be had from the jetties, or look into some steelheading!

Welcome!

[stupenny5]

Originally Posted by Wreckless

Welcome & happy new year!!

This time of year the bass can be hard to come by, by April it can be FUN!

Some salt water bass can be had from the jetties, or look into some steelheading!

Welcome!

Wise advice.

[Ryan808]

Is there anything I can catch in the metro area?

[yfz450guy]

go down to the willamette in and around porland and try for some smallmouth.

[Fishermankev]

Welcome to Oregon!

A good reference book to have in your library is, Fishing in Oregon The Complet Oregon Fishing Guide by Madelynne Sheehan. It lists most, if not all, fishable water bodies in the state. It will tell you where to fish, when to fish, and how to fish. You will find it to be an invaluable source of knowledge that will greatly shorten your learning curve.

http://freshwaterfishing.suite101.co..._near_portland

[Green Eyes]

Don't know if you have kids, family, as there is some youth only ponds in the area for planted trout or a little farther out some lakes are open year round for trout also. A bit cold for bass so be patient and do some exploring on the Willy and other spots till the water warms up. Try some real worms or small plastics worked real slow and who knows you might catch something. Check regs for health warnings before eating anything you keep, but most bass fisherman practice C&R.
It is sort of a tradition to tell a fishing or hunting story here when you first start posting to help us get to know you better. Welcome to ifish and Portland, you will find bass here and lots of tips to help. Just a word of caution, don't be to open about being from California, it's kind of like being from Portland when talking to locals in eastern Oregon, doesn't always go over as a greeting. Hope to see you on the water, as Smallies are my favorite fish to catch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ling killer]

lots of rockfish/rockbass to be cought off they jetty if u can get out of the wind. steelhead are going to be in good as soon as the rivers drop and clear up just a bit

[ExBassGuide]

Welcome to Oregon!
Your best bet for largies is west young man! Go west! The coastal lakes stay warmer in the winter and you could pick up a bass or two IF we get a couple nice days of weather!
If I can ever help just let me know. Or if you would like to go fishing NEXT spring just yell!
Thanks
Roger

[Ryan808]

Thanks for the info and support, I can see I jump into a great forum community. I actually followed the forum for a few weeks before moving up here, looks to me like a knowledgeable and close knit community, something I was looking forward to join.

Something about me: I grew up in Hawaii so fishing is in my blood, but have to say the idea of fishing freashwater fish never caught my fancy till I caught my first LMB tagging along on a camping trip. I have to say that first fish opened the bass flood gates for me. I had been in the Navy for some time and eventually made it back to the west coast here in Oregon. I never really fished due to my schedule, big mistake. I finally got out a few years back and joined the corporate world in San Jose. I am back in Oregon and will take advantage of the great fishery here in Oregon, something I never did when I first got here. I have been fishing down south every weekend for the past 3 years mainy LMB. I enjoy fishing and look for any opportunity to get my line wet. I look forward to your advise and hopefully meeting some of you.

[ExBassGuide]

Ryan
We have some outstanding smallmouth bass fishing in the area too. Last year I landed over 100 smallmouth bassfrom shore. If you need help with location let me know.
Roger

[ling killer]

Originally Posted by Ryan808

Thanks for the info and support, I can see I jump into a great forum community. I actually followed the forum for a few weeks before moving up here, looks to me like a knowledgeable and close knit community, something I was looking forward to join.

Something about me: I grew up in Hawaii so fishing is in my blood, but have to say the idea of fishing freashwater fish never caught my fancy till I caught my first LMB tagging along on a camping trip. I have to say that first fish opened the bass flood gates for me. I had been in the Navy for some time and eventually made it back to the west coast here in Oregon. I never really fished due to my schedule, big mistake. I finally got out a few years back and joined the corporate world in San Jose. I am back in Oregon and will take advantage of the great fishery here in Oregon, something I never did when I first got here. I have been fishing down south every weekend for the past 3 years mainy LMB. I enjoy fishing and look for any opportunity to get my line wet. I look forward to your advise and hopefully meeting some of you.

i see how easily u got addicted to LMB.... mabey you should stay away from steelhead. it will make u sick in the head after your first chromer it's all you'll ever think about

[codeman]

first of all, i would recommend buying a float tube. They are inexpensive. I bought my latest one last year. For the float tube, waders, and flippers Im out 100$. It will greatly increase where you can fish and how many fish you will catch. I fish from it alot in the multnomah channel between Linton and the sauvies island bridge. float that couple of miles and hammer the hunreds of house boats. In spring and summer usually catch 12 to 20 large mouths, 6 to 10 small mouths, and around a hundred various panfish, mostly crappie. Just throw small jigs, every fish loves them. Ive caught largemouth up to 8 pounds off of 1/2 inch jigs on 1/64 oz jig heads with 4 pound line. no need to go huge on your set up, the water is fairly clear and fish very seldom brake off. Later in spring and early summer, if you wanna go on a weekend trip to the east side of the state, ive got a couple of great places. I fish owhyee res in may and catch 400 - 500 crappie a day per person. Then in june, the owhyee river way up above the res is great for smallies. last year me and a buddy caught 750 bass between the 2 of us in 4.5 hours. Nobody else around. catfish all night from our camp. There is GREAT fishing to be had away from crowds if you know where to go. I love making new fishing friends and just pm and we'll set up some trips. I was unemployed pretty much all of 2009. From my float tube and from the bank, I caught 11,244 fresh water fish. You dont have to have a boat to be successful.

[ling killer]

+1 for the float tube idea, i got one too their very versatile


codeman, u make any big money during the pine season? next year were gonna take a trip to st. helens for some mashitake pines

[jomp1981]

Just wanted to chime in on the float tube idea. Float tubes are great but if you can afford it a nice pontoon boat will open up more oppurtunities than you can imagine. I bought a 10 ft model with a standing platform and small cargo deck on the back. Use it for everything from trout in high lakes to bass in local ponds to steelhead in coastal rivers. Just remember you get what you pay for. Check out Dave Scadden boats. Have 2 and love them. Good Luck!

[codeman]

been living of the government dime all year. Not many prospects to recently. Trying to get on with 911 (bout half way through the loooong process) and have an interview in portland on tues. Hope something works out, almost outta of unemployment. For covering lots of water quickly, or fighting current to get somewhere, the pontoon boat would be great. I think in windy conditions though, it would be tough to fish from the pontoon because you would have to oar constantly. With a float tube, you use your legs to power so your arms are ALWAYS free to fish. That being said, i would love to have a pontoon boat to float some rivers. However, i only have a car at the moment, and mt float tube fits right in my trunk mostly inflated. Not sure how i would transport a pontoon boat short of taking it completely apart all the time. Do they come apart for transport easily?

[Ryan808]

Im looking in to some pontoons right now, I had a ODC toon that I now regret giving up. If anyone has has or knows someone with a toon let me know, I'll ge glad to buy it.

This is a great forum, thanks again for the welcome.

[boblag]

Welcome aboard!
There's not much in the way of bass fishing here from late November through January. Check some of the old posts and you'll see where and when it starts to kick in.

[1bigfish]

Welcome Ryan808.

This time of year there is just not a lot going on as far as bass fishing. Come March people will really start hitting the water again and you should have no trouble finding someone to take you around and show you some good places to fish.

My advice to you is take ExBassGuide (Roger) up on his offer go out fishing with him in the spring. He has some spots right in downtown Portland that you can fish from shore for smallies.

My second bit of advice if you haven't fish for smallies give them a go. I grew up fishing LMB in Kentucky, but after moving to the NorthWest I have been hooked on smallies.

As for the people talking about steelhead and saltwater, well they just don't understand that to a bass junky those fish are just no subsitute for the real thing. Just the same way we don't understand there addiction.

[Spade]

Originally Posted by 1bigfish

As for the people talking about steelhead and saltwater, well they just don't understand that to a bass junky those fish are just no subsitute for the real thing. Just the same way we don't understand there addiction.

No kidding! I'm on the winter steelhead hunt because the bass fishing has died off but for sure I miss bass fishing....I hate going longer than an hour without a tug on the line.

Originally Posted by Ryan808

I am back in Oregon and will take advantage of the great fishery here in Oregon, something I never did when I first got here. I have been fishing down south every weekend for the past 3 years mainy LMB. I enjoy fishing and look for any opportunity to get my line wet. I look forward to your advise and hopefully meeting some of you.

Here's some advise...get your family into hobbies and stuff ASAP. When I moved up here 2 years ago from Orange County, I got into the fishing scene but my wife had trouble adjusting....it's critical that your wife/kids find things to do as well otherwise you won't be fishing nearly as often as you wish.

[boblag]

Originally Posted by Spade

Here's some advise...get your family into hobbies and stuff ASAP. When I moved up here 2 years ago from Orange County, I got into the fishing scene but my wife had trouble adjusting....it's critical that your wife/kids find things to do as well otherwise you won't be fishing nearly as often as you wish.

Now that's some good advice.

[1bigfish]

Originally Posted by Spade

Here's some advise...get your family into hobbies and stuff ASAP. When I moved up here 2 years ago from Orange County, I got into the fishing scene but my wife had trouble adjusting....it's critical that your wife/kids find things to do as well otherwise you won't be fishing nearly as often as you wish.

Best advice on this website.

[Ryan808]

I'll definately go for smallies, I already have plans for building some rods just for that purpose.

Roger, when the time comes I will have to take you up on that offer.

[hunter9]

Originally Posted by ExBassGuide

Ryan
We have some outstanding smallmouth bass fishing in the area too. Last year I landed over 100 smallmouth bassfrom shore. If you need help with location let me know.
Roger

Hey let me in on the location too Rodger....

[willie brian]

you need to go catch a couple steelehead and you wont be thinking about bass any more

[ExBassGuide]

Originally Posted by willie brian

you need to go catch a couple steelehead and you wont be thinking about bass any more

Ya frozen guides a ton of rain and a line of fishermen as long as the eye can see. Sounds like fun? I will stick with the bass!
Roger

[Green Eyes]

Originally Posted by willie brian

you need to go catch a couple steelehead and you wont be thinking about bass any more

Oh and don't forget to bring your own rock to steelhead fish from, can you say crowds, and then there is the break-in problems at most local salmon steelhead fishing hole parking spots. And your cell phone to turn in the flossers and snaggers. I used to be an avid steelheader, but find the solitude and fast bite and great fight of smallies much more family oriented.