Sandy report - hatchery

blacktail · 03-07-2004, 04:44 PM

Fished the Sandy today (Sunday) below the hatchery from about 10:30am - 4:00pm.

Met Yarndog right as we were both getting ready to cross. Fished a little behind the island, but it was really crowded on the creek side. It almost looked like Silver season in a few spots.
I saw quite a few fish caught - a mix of a couple natives and some hatchery fish that were mostly turning color.

I ended up hooking three and landing two hatchery fish. Both were in okay shape, but a little dark for me, so they went back. Took all fish on Amerman cured eggs, small corkies and yarn.

Yarndog was a nice guy. Hope to meet up with him again sometime.

Mike

yarndog2003 · 03-07-2004, 05:00 PM

Thank you for those kind words. Was a pleasure to meet you as well Mike. I hope to meet up with you again.

I ended up going 1 for 4. You are right about the fish turning color. That is why my fish went back too. I have been spoiled with the fish I have been catching down there.

Ryan Pultz · 03-07-2004, 05:16 PM

I got a nice native buck on the lower sandy this afternoon it was a great fish came clear out of the water at least three times. I sure love winter metal heads

Baitboy45 · 03-09-2004, 07:56 AM

Thanks for the report

greenbuttskunk · 03-09-2004, 08:08 AM

good job mike!

Bryan · 03-09-2004, 09:44 AM

There is a reason why Cedar Creek looks like it's Silver season. I have been fishing for Winter Steelhead in that area most of my life. I can tell you from years of personal experience until last year you could expect to be the only person fishing below Cedar Creek this time of year! If you were to see a person or two it would be a very busy day.

The basic question of, "Why does Cedar Creek look like Silver seaon in March" needs to be addressed. One reason is that until last year the hatchery fish came back very early. Now with the advent of broodstock fish on the Sandy the hatchery fish come back later. Granted that should make this time of year busier. But NEVER in the history of Winter Steelhead fishing in that area has Winter season been this crowded.

The only other factor I can find that has changed is the amount of attention and publicity it has received. The lines of communication have become much more effective at delivering its message. One glowing report after another is going to influence a great many fishermen (and fisherwomen

).

I have to wonder if you're not "killing the goose the laid the golden egg." Perhaps if your posts were not as exact with location and were not so detailed with success you might not be combat fishing. I have been fishing most of the season in the area and I too read the posts about the Sandy. I notice that when Cedar Creek receives a lot of attention here it starts to look more like Silver Season than Winter season.

I guess there would be an easy way to fix that issue. What do you guys think?
bryan

[ 03-09-2004, 10:48 AM: Message edited by: Bryan ]

Fishalot · 03-09-2004, 12:51 PM

Bryan when you get your number of posts up and have shared when and where the bite is hot I will pay more attention to your posts :grin:
I am some what joking, however this topic has been over done and there is nothing you can add to it

.

Cell phones and [img]graemlins/program.gif[/img]

Fishalot :smile:

Grandpa Lynn · 03-09-2004, 01:29 PM

I was at Cedar Creek yesterday afternoon. Saw maybe 6-7 cars parked. That's hardly like Coho season, where they would have been parked all the way up the drive in. Maybe it was more over the weekend. Don't know cause I wasn't there.

I would agree that it's getting harder and harder to find a river where a) there are fish available, b) no one is fishing for them. and c) it's withing driving distance from Portland. Let face it, we live in populated area! I for one am thankful that there ARE fish available, and they ARE within a reasonable distance of Portland.

For whatever it's worth, it wasn't what I would call particularly hot action. Hooked and landed one, in about 4 hours of fishing. Saw only 1 other fish on the bank, when I got there.

Grandpa

blacktail · 03-09-2004, 01:40 PM

Bryan,

You have beat this same horse to death in many of your posts.

I have been fishing that area for close to 25 years, and have pretty much resigned myself to the fact that it is no longer a "zipperlip". I have noticed it getting progressively more crowded there over the last several years.

It's pretty obvious that you can look at any river system with a hatchery run and figure out that fishing near the hatchery is a pretty good bet to run into some fish.

Mike

drhall99 · 03-09-2004, 03:20 PM

Blacktail,

I'm am personally against posting reports that include location. Not trying to say anyone should or shouldn't, it's just my opinion. You have to admit that posting a positive report on a board like ifish (with 5000+ members and who even knows how many lurkers) will bring them running. For better or worse, that's the way it is. I haven't ever asked anyone to stop posting reports and I never will. It's a choice that every fisherman has to make for themselves. Now if you want advice on gear, technique, boats or anything else fishing related, I will do what I can to help. I also have been known to reply to specific requests for a report by email only. Again, this is just a personal choice.

jmo
Doug

choppers · 03-09-2004, 03:40 PM

Times are changing and if you don't change with it then you'll be more likely to think like the guys 20 years ago when grandpa wasn't even a grandpa. Have a nice day fishing guys.

Spinhead · 03-09-2004, 08:51 PM

d99, I agree. Even though sometimes I ask for "where" info 'cause I'm from the "other" side of the state, I don't expect an answer, I expect to put in my time learning where. If I get a hint or a pointer, BONUS! Divulging too much information may deprive an aspiring steelheader of the opportunity to LEARN, like the masters did. To paraphrase Bill Luch in his little book, "how, anytime, where, never!"

ChuckDog · 03-09-2004, 11:52 PM

I'd say the damage is already done. Unless the internet completely disappears or you move to Alaska, it will only get worse and worse. More people, more discussion boards, more trash, global warming, tell this friend and they tell that friend. Resistance is futile. Wouldn't cha like to be a lurker too! People who don't catch fish very often (also called IFISH MEMBERS) looooove to share every Kodak moment with everyone along the way! Remember the good ol' days Pa? Don't get me wrong; the fishing / pictures / stories / are great...now if you could only find some stretch to fish without 20 other guys dredging the slot (this actually could work to your advantage; I hear they're casting for extras right down where you fish for Braveheart 2; another one of those 5 men deep charge lines scenes, except in neoprenes). Take a number...Oh! Oh! Get ready! It's almost your turn to cast!!! But does it really matter? If it got sooo bad would you really quit logging on and reading the posts day in and day out, seeing where other are catching fish and maybe, just maybe go to where you read about? If there's any truth to the 90/10 rule (which I really believe there is) DOES IT REALLY MATTER?

Hardware · 03-10-2004, 06:32 AM

quit fishing cedar creek many years ago for the crowded issue. (besides, i liked it when you could drive down there!!)

But I do have to admit, it is strange since the advent of cell phones and computers that there are continual new faces to the few remaining local "secret" spots. I will ask them who they know that fishes there and they always mention they heard on the computer.

But it's like that just about everywhere now... One of the bad things about living in the people's republic of portland. I just try to keep a positive outlook and catch a few fish.

In the past, even my good buddies wouldn't tell me where they were catching fish unless I went with them. It was a fun tight lippedness. Attitudes have really changed since then.