Bank fishing meldrum bar

[Ryan Pultz]

OK I have seen several people fishing sturgeon out of meldrum bar is it worth bank fishing there or is it just shakers. I just got a new bank rod and sense I am working so much I don't have time to run up to the gorge and meldrum is right buy home is it worth fishing there. If so how much lead will I need to keep my bait down 4oz or more I can bet. Any help fishing this area (bait-sent) would be help or any other places in that area that are good for sturgeon would be a big help. Thank you.

[Pete]

Ryan, believe it or not, most guys fishing off of Meldrum Bar are either steelhead or chinook fishing. The bar is a shallow spot in the river that creates a current break where fish seam to hold before passing up into the Clackamas river or further up the Willamette. One of the better sturgeon holes is just below Meldrum Bar. There's a point of rocks on the west side of the river which could get a bank fisher in a position to cast into the 90 foot deep hole. There are often one or two boats there, parked on the current seam. For scents, I'd try several things, but you might be able to beg some dead sandshrimp off one of the steelie fishers or else Marie's Sturgeon Scent or Smelly Jelly Sturgeon Feast would be my choices. And yeah, if the current is moving, you might need as much as 10 ounces to hold.

[Pilar]

Yes, the west side point is the spot. I have fished off Meldrum and done well after the springer bankies clear out in May. You can use a big weight or drive a couple of 16 penny nails through a smaller bank sinker to make it sticky. Tie this on with kite string or something else that will break if you get stuck. Also make your bait as small as possible when fishing in heavy current so it will stay put.

[ 01-21-2002: Message edited by: Pilar ]</p>