Alsea Rookie Needs Help

moman · 02-11-2002, 02:13 PM

I'm looking forward to a 3-day weekend in Newport and thought I'd crab the bay as well as drift the Alsea. My impression of the Yaquina, although I might be wrong, is that my time's best spent on the Alsea. I undersatnd that the Alsea float is up high, is pretty easy to moderate in difficulty and is commonly plugged. I'd appreciate any advice on put-ins / take-outs, do's and don'ts, big snags and whether my thoughts on the Yaquina are correct. I presume that this time of years means hatchery and natives (not to worry the locals, I'll go with a single siwash). Since its a multi-family trip w/ kids, a couple half-day floats, if there is one, might be the easiest for me to get on.

Artwo · 02-11-2002, 03:36 PM

moman,
I hope you enjoy your vacation and its been so long ago that I can't help with the Alsea drifts and I've never crabbed in Yaquina but if I were you I would fish the Siletz if I were staying in Newport........should be some good fish around this time of year.

JK

moman · 02-11-2002, 03:58 PM

Artwo, good point, until I looked at a map a few minutes ago, I didn't realize that there were so many ramps on the Siletz that are really just north of Toledo. I'm in the same boat though, pun intended, I'd be a Siletz rookie too. Got an idea I can run with?

Artwo · 02-11-2002, 08:29 PM

moman,
There are quite a few difts available on the Siletz as you saw. The town drift is a good one for a half day shot with some real good water for plugging. My favorite is from the second bridge down to Morgan park, it also has some good plug water as well as some good boomdogging (or drift fishing)spots as well. You can arrange a shuttle at the gas station/store in the town of Siletz also. Do a search on Siletz, there's been some good info lately. Hope this helps out some, there are others on this board that know a great deal more about this river than I do so hopefully they'll help out as wel.

Have fun,
JK

DC · 02-12-2002, 07:37 PM

Considering where the water level is today and the projected drop by Friday or Saturday, I would expect that your best drift on the Siletz would be from Twin Bridges to the town of Siletz. The boat ramp for the takeout is just above the bridge. That drift usually fishes best between 4 and 5 feet. If the water level is between 5 and 6 feet and you are good on the oars, the Moonshine to Twin Bridges is your best float. It is a long one, but a really fine piece of water with many types of fishing offered. It is also very popular. That is the bad news. Good luck.