Clack

[wwjetboater]

Has anyone been doing anything on the Clack I was thinking of fishing that this weekend but haven't heard anything but its cristal clear.

[clacksteel]

Haven't heard much, but a group of Clack Fly Fishers are planning on boating it on Saturday. I think we are doing McIver (lower?) to Barton.

[wwjetboater]

Im thinking Ill be between riverside and barton myself

[Billy Tillamook]

I've been going out for an hour or so everyday for the last 10 days and I haven't touched a fish.

[fish stalker]

I hit the lower Clack this morning below the 205 bridge. It was so cold my line froze to rod eyes in less than 20 minutes! One sled went upriver with two guys and besides the half dozen ducks I woke up I was all by myself. No bumps, nibbles, half hits, feels, shakes, line pulls, squat nada... Very cold fingers. Water was very, very clear.

[slinkey]

Fish On 44,

You deserved a 15lb fish this morning! When the guides ice up you're in pretty uncomfortable conditions. Thanks for the report!

[flapbreaker]

I went out on the upper clack with a buddy on Sunday and caught a nice 11# steelie. Caught it within the first 20 minutes back bouncing but didn't get anything else all day. Noone else seemed to be getting anything. We did see fish in the water though.

[Fly Fanatic]

What do you mean by "upper clackamas"?

[steelsidedrifter]

There are plenty of fish in the clack if you know were to find them. Fish the deeper pools, not the steelhead water. I bet you end up with a couple. We have been having 3/4 fish days below carver, 2 ,3 times a week. Our best day this year was 6, but we found a pod and got 4 out of it. Most of our fish are at the head of pools to the middle.

[flapbreaker]

What do you mean by "upper clackamas"?

Umm I meant upstream of the downstream part. Just kidding. I really don't know what I meant by that. I'm not an expert on the clackamas. We were between riverside and mcgiver. Not sure what part that is I guess. Maybe it's the lower part

[Boat Monkey]

I think most people consider above the dam "upper Clackamas" though I doubt there is a true definition written in stone..

[DOUGS]

We hit the clack on sunday evening at carver. 5 guys in the boat, 4 hrs, 1 fish, low water. Seems like its going to be a slow year this year.

[Catch 22]

Above the dam is the "Upper Clack". However, many sled owners call above Carver the Upper. Perspective I guess.

This is a slow year? These fish are not Big Creek strain and never will be again. It's a little early to tell what the run's gonna be like. However, it will be low and clear unless we get some rain here and snow in the mountains.

[DRUNK COWBOY]

I have never drifted the clack with my Drifter. Does anyone have any suggestions or could anyone tell me if there is any tricky water? We are going to launch from Barton and go to the mouth.

Should I bring my Kicker motor or row the holes with diver and bait?

Thank's in advance

[R Jackson]

That might be kind of a long drift at this water level. You might try Carver to Riverside if you've never drifted it before. I'd leave the kicker at home and probably skip the diver 'n bait, but that's up to you.

[cutt plug]

Barton the the mouth would be a long day. I recommend either Barton to Carver or Carver to Riverside.

If you go Barton to Carver go right at the first split. (I went left last Saturday and it was skinny).

Everything else is pretty readable.

Good luck and let us know how you do.

[Amahnee]

Leave the kicker home.

[Catch 22]

Carver to Riverside is a good drift and would be great with a kicker. Barton to Carver isn't technical by any means but is probably a little more dificult and has less water to backtroll. Barton to the mouth is a VERY long drift and would not give much time if any to fish.
I would probably suggest try the two stretches in the order above and see what you like. Above Barton is probably my favorite, but I like the drift show. The fish are all down low still anyway so Carver down is most likely your best bet anyway.
Have a good time!!

[Fly Fanatic]

When I think "upper clack" I think above N. Fork reservior. I have actually seen steelhead up there, but never this time of year.

I might have to hit the Clackamas below Carver as I am 0 for 3 between Barton and McIver this year.

[Amahnee]

Barton to the mouth is a VERY long drift and would not give much time if any to fish.

Uh hmmm....Sidedrifting maybe?

[andy-ap emerger]

Yo DC,
The float from Feldheimers to Barton is a relatively easy float. No major rapids. BUT..In low water (such as now 11.7) I wouldn't recommend it. It seems to me that this stretch is most frightening in lower water, not higher water. There are stretches of skinny water that can easily stop you in your tracks, forcing you to hop out in brisk, fast moving water & dislodge your boat. Those momments are typically when things can go wrong. I personally like to float that stretch of the clack at 12.0 to 15.0.
I just traded my aluminum boat in for a Clackacraft to help in these lower water periods. Obviously you know that an aluminum boat sticks to rocks a bit more than a glass boat.
PM me if you need more info.


Best of luck & let us know how you do.



AP

[stevo]

We drifted lower mciver to Barton last Saturday, river was very skinny. We took a good wallop by going right below Bonnie Lure (Eagle Creek) and stopped cold on the riffle at Barton, stay left in both of these places. Also the chute below Feldheimers is pretty narrow, and steep and fast, take it just right of center and keep the nose pointed river left, unless you want your hair power combed!
Good luck.
OH BTW we did not touch a single fish, jigs, W/ and W/out sandshrimp and pink-worms, drift gear and D&B.

[FastAction]

Thanks Stevo That is the report I have been wanting all Winter... I used to take any chute I wanted in my clackacraft.. now with the aluminum, I must go where the river wants me to!

[fish stalker]

I just fished below Bonnie / Eagle Creek, crossed over to the island, fished the slot with jig and bobber, corky, eggs, all the way around the back side, crossed again to fish the big lower hole, nothing. I even tossed spinners and spoons. Came back up on the inside of the island and didn't see one fish for my efforts. Very low, very clear.

[Sir Fishalot]

There are plenty of fish in the clack if you know were to find them. Fish the deeper pools, not the steelhead water. I bet you end up with a couple. We have been having 3/4 fish days below carver, 2 ,3 times a week. Our best day this year was 6, but we found a pod and got 4 out of it. Most of our fish are at the head of pools to the middle.

What technique are you guys using to fish these deeper pools?

[FastAction]

WOW the river must be REALLY low if you crossed..

Darn.. this is starting to suck!

[pescado mucho]

I have been hitting the Clack from Carver to Riverside. This drift takes 2-3 hours in the current water state, without anchoring. Not one fish have I seen. But, I am a newbie to the river. Its only my 5th time ever ont he Clackamas.

If you see a white Lavro with an ifish sticker on the back starboard side, its me foolin' around and learning to row.

[FastAction]

have you been bangin in any spots?

[slinkey]

Is there any decent bank fishing at Feldheimer's (sp.?)? I've fished Barton, but no further up.

[boyd]

Hooked into a native this morning, right at light. Bobber fishing w/ black and purple jig. Did not land it. Water is way to clear. After sun was up I got out of there.
Nice bright fish!

[DRUNK COWBOY]

Thank you all for the replies!
We will bring all our low water fishing tactics and leave the motor at home.

One more question, Some people are saying go right on the first split past Barton and another post said go left....Which one is best during low water?

[Premo]

Go right. Much more water on that side. Coming out of that channel at the bottom of the island will be skinny. You should not have any problems in a driftboat except for a little bump now and then. Let us know how you do. That wind was brutal today.