Yet another N. F. Alsea question

BentMetal · 12-12-2003, 03:00 PM

When reading fishing reports from assorted sources (ifish, other web forums, fishing and hunting news) . . . I read how people will just kill the steelhead in the first few holes below the hatchery. Like a limit of fish in two casts, or guys hooking and landing 9 fish in a day. I've fished the Alsea for years now, and personally have no desire to fish too close to other fishermen if I can help it. But last year I went over and fished one morning in January or late December, right at Clemens park, and didn't see anybody catch a fish, and didn't touch a fish myself. I was there at first light, and nothing. Clemens wasn't even too crowded. That was a typical outing, and so I just headed home.

That night when I got to the Web, I read a report of a fish a cast for several guys who all left with their limit, less than a mile upstream! Discouraging to say the least!

So what's the deal with this? Do the fish just stack up under the hatchery like on the bigger rivers, and are always there? Or do they just recycle the fish an extra short distance?

This maybe a stupid question, but last year to read the report that I did after fishing with no hint of success is almost too much to bear without knowing the reason behind it.

willierower · 12-12-2003, 03:26 PM

Those Alsea hatchery move right through the river to the hatchery without stopping when the water is higher. You most likley hit it on a day when the fish were more into moving then holding. Plus it typical hatchery fish behavior to make a run back to the hatchery without holding anywhere on the way up.

Oregonh2o · 12-12-2003, 03:27 PM

Like any River different sections can be hot at different times. There are instances where nobody is touching a thing up high, and it is hot down below. Also, like any river, the bite turns off and on during the day.

Sometimes you have to be in the right place at the right time.

-B

Oregonh2o · 12-12-2003, 07:35 PM

Removed duplicate post.

-B

[ 12-12-2003, 09:52 PM: Message edited by: Blade ]

steelhead22 · 12-12-2003, 08:35 PM

I'd say the problem your having isn't with the fish. If you only fished at Clemens and then went home, there's your problem. When I fish the NF, I move around. Starting high, then working my way down through the various runs and holes I've found. Hit a spot for a little bit, throw what you've got at 'em, then move. Eventually you'll find a run that has a fish or two in it, and really, that's all you need to chalk that day up in the win column. After you catch a couple out of a hole and it slows down, move again, don't lock yourself in to just that spot because you caught a fish out of it. I think you just didn't put in the miles. I fished it the last two days. We saw fish caught above the hatchery, in the meat hole, below the hatchery, at the bridge, and a Clemens. The fish are there, ya just gotta find one that wants what you're offering.

By the way, fishing was ridiculously slower than I expected. 2 fish in 2 days for me, and that's about all the "takes" I had. Pretty slow, at best.

BentMetal · 12-12-2003, 09:07 PM

Thats a point well taken, and I do tend to go home too early. I don't just fish one hole, I'll fish the whole stretch accessible by Clemens park, but I'll only fish one area of the river in the half day I give myself to fish, and so it is pretty hit or miss. I'll have to change up my tactics in the future. Thanks!

Everybody talks about the "Meat hole," which I take it is the hole right below the hatchery. I've never fished it, but was just curious what makes this so productive? Do the fish stack up here instead of just going on up into the hatchery? I guess that is pretty typical at hatcheries on the bigger rivers like the South Santiam and others, just didn't know if that was the case on the little stream hatcheries.

Twitchs_Tackle · 12-13-2003, 09:00 AM

Its so "productive" because at certain flows, the water braking over the big piece of rock can cause the fish to stack up below.
I'm not saying it always happens, or that everyone does it, but there have been days where a lot of fish that come in, come in tail/side first, snagged in various parts of the body. Many of these fish DON'T make it back to the water.

I ususally can't stand to watch this hole for very long. I get choked out by cig smoke, headaches from the colorful language, and trip on all the garbage and old line.
I have had the locals threaten me in the dark, and watched tehm throw rocks at other anglers that were only walking down to the waters edge to look, not to fish. One guy exclaimed, "if you want to fish here, get here at 2:00(a.m.) with the rest of us". Many fish there literally every day for weeks on end, sleeping in their vehicles.
I would rather fish all day in my bathtub that fish next amongst these kinds of people...

Twitchs_Tackle · 12-13-2003, 09:03 AM

Its so "productive" because at certain flows, the water braking over the big piece of rock can cause the fish to stack up below.
I'm not saying it always happens, or that everyone does it, but there have been days where a lot of fish that come in, come in tail/side first, snagged in various parts of the body. Many of these fish DON'T make it back to the water.

I ususally can't stand to watch this hole for very long. I get choked out by cig smoke, headaches from the colorful language, and trip on all the garbage and old line.
I have had the locals threaten me in the dark, and watched tehm throw rocks at other anglers that were only walking down to the waters edge to look, not to fish. One guy exclaimed, "if you want to fish here, get here at 2:00(a.m.) with the rest of us". Many fish there literally every day for weeks on end, sleeping in their vehicles.
I would rather fish all day in my bathtub that fish next amongst these kinds of people...

FishSniffer · 12-13-2003, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Its so "productive" because at certain flows, the water braking over the big piece of rock can cause the fish to stack up below.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">BentMetal, I'm still looking for my big rock too. Fortunately there are plenty down there.

I second that on the meat hole. Worse than a singles bar in Hollywierd. Gets like that around Lebanon Dam during springer season too.

Greg

Twitchs_Tackle · 12-13-2003, 01:24 PM

Hey Greg, don't forget the Waterloo Falls area....he he