Help a Sandy beginner

SafetyChain · 12-12-2002, 09:18 PM

Ok the river level is between 81/2 and 9. With the forrecast for wind (which did not show up today) would you fish the river tomorow?

Still trying to figure this slime rocket ( I liked that too) fishing stuff. [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

Dan Christopher · 12-12-2002, 09:23 PM

boat or bank, that part of the river??

djb · 12-12-2002, 09:31 PM

I dont think it will fish tomorrow. Its supposed to be off color from my source and it hasnt stopped raining. If it doesnt rain in the mountains overnight it might clear up.

SafetyChain · 12-12-2002, 09:40 PM

tomorrow from bank at Camp Collins

Flatfish · 12-12-2002, 09:52 PM

If you are new to the game, and you can go fishing, then go. It may not be prime conditions, but thats paying you dues. Rivers are only steelhead green a small part of the time. If you want to learn how to catch them, fish whenever you can, unless the river is at flood stage. Pick a home river and learn it well. Develop skills there. Read everything you can get your hands on. Go with a guide( best money you could spend right now)and learn a lotta the basics and small tricks.
It took me a lotta trying to hook the first. Unless you are very lucky, you have some learning to do. The good news is the classroom requires waders.

Go get them.
Mark and the dog.

[ 12-12-2002, 10:53 PM: Message edited by: Flatfish ]

Navigator · 12-12-2002, 09:53 PM

Safetychain -- My near jerk reaction based on the downpour this afternoon would have been what drb said. But I just checked the gauge and it appears that the flow is holding. Rain is not the key to flow on the Sandy - freezing level on Mt. Hood plays more of a factor. I don't know what it is going to be. If it is increasing, then the Sandy will likely color up with even a little rain because of the snotty landslides up high in the drainage.

Ah heck - just go and check it out and post. what you find for the rest of us

I just checked the freezing levels for the north Cascades. It is going to be its lowest tonight (around 5000 feet) and then progressively rise. That means water conditions on the Sandy will just get worse over the next 3 days even if the rain abates (which does not look likely). Go tomorrow morning - will be one of the better times.

Also, here is the Troutdale Airport weather site. Right now the winds seem tame.

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/wrhq...cgi?TTD+Public

[ 12-12-2002, 11:05 PM: Message edited by: Navigator ]

SandySteel · 12-12-2002, 10:25 PM

Gregg
The fact is we all have limited fishing time. Sometimes water is high and off colored. It is likely that the Sandy is in this condition for tomorrow.
One piece of advice I have is to read the "Reel Truth" section of Salmon Trout Steelheader from this month. It focuses on fishing high, off color water.
The main thing is that often when water is high fish are moving and are often pretty agressive. They are also less leader shy. Secondly, their main objective it to stay out of the heavy current.
For tackle the key is to size everything up; hooks, corkies, and egg clusters. Also use brighter colors to get the fish's attention. Lastly, fish close to shore. In heavy flows this is where the steelhead will sit. Keep your cast short and after it swings let it hang down from you rather than retrieving immediately.
So even if it isn't perfect go fish it. You will have more of the river to yourself and have an opportunity to catch a fish.

Ken Drifter · 12-13-2002, 09:35 AM

My two cents.........
Just go. You'll have some fun and learn some stuff too.
Sure it might not be ideal conditions, but you can still go and enjoy the time on the water. Use your darkest oakies. And take along a few black jigs if you got em.
Bright colors will freak out the fish.

fishing is life · 12-13-2002, 10:22 AM

good advice Sandy steel

King Kong · 12-13-2002, 10:27 AM

I am going down to take a look at the river right now. I will let you know what to expect. It really has not rained here at all today. The Sandy usually clears up pretty fast. Report to follow.

ultralight · 12-13-2002, 12:44 PM

That was a lightening quick trip to the river...where was the scouting point at?

Dan Christopher · 12-13-2002, 12:56 PM

I just got back from a badney to l/c drive, it is fishable, a little brown, but fishable,lots of bankiies.I even saw about half the bankies were standing right where the fish will run in this color water. :whazzup: duh, there is no fish out here they say.

:grin:

Firedog · 12-13-2002, 01:05 PM

I also just got back from running to Troutdale for fuel and took a quick look. River is a fishable height, a little more color that I like but fishable if you fish where everyone seems to be standing :smile: any heavy rain at all tonight and it will be questionable for tomorrow. Clack ooks about the same, I was out at Fishermans after the Sandy and the Clack is the same color.

[ 12-13-2002, 02:07 PM: Message edited by: firedog ]

Dan Christopher · 12-13-2002, 01:13 PM

ya, the sandy will definitely not be fishable low tomorrow.exept the oxbow to dabeny,or dodge area.or the clackamas,but i would stay off the the lower sandy. :smile:

brushpuppy · 12-13-2002, 02:22 PM

Sandy was 1.5 vis. with a tea color at Dodge this morning, started to green up at noon but then it started raining again

SafetyChain · 12-13-2002, 02:31 PM

Just got back from a few hours on the river. It is off color but running about the right height. Only saw one other fisher where I was. Only saw a few steelies rolling around. Bank full of spawned chinook though.

Don't matter, fianlly got a wet line!

King Kong · 12-13-2002, 11:25 PM

Ok, I just got back with the scouoting report. The river is brown. If it does not rain hard tonight you could probably fish up around Dodge Park or Revenue. The higher you go the clearer the water will be. The river level looks good but the color is off. We are expwcting some nasty weather tomorrow and will surely blow the river out until Wednesday or so. Shoot me an e-mail with an e-mail wth any questions.