Gilbert River

[3d3e]

Have any of you guys ever done any good in here for crappie or Channel cats? What do you use fro crappie up there? and finally do you ever fish Sturgeon lake for craps?

Thanks

[Mr. BrownTrout]

I tried the Gilbert river and Sturg lake once, did not catch anything, sure did look fishy thou. There are also some fairly deep holes on the Gilbert. Overall wished I could have spent more time getting to know that area.

[1pump]

The Gilbert is closed during duck season, except for the pier down by the boat ramp on the east side.
I see a ton of people fishing it in the spring and summer. I've fished it a bunch, but never caught any crappie. Lots of bass, carp, chubs, cats, carp, carp, and more carp.
Mostly a bank show. I don't know why more boats don't work it.
The lakes around there have a lot of fish when the water's high. It used be be a lot easier to fish from the bank before they closed off all the vehicle access. ODFW got tired of picking up everybody's trash.

[Paddlefish]

It's been years, unfortunately, since I've done much fishin' out there, but the Gilbert, near the mouth, always seemed to produce bullhead catfish for us in the summer, along with an occasional undersize sturgeon.

The inland waterways, especially Pete's Slough, were much better for crappies.

You can launch a canoe or kayak in the end of McNary Lake, right near the Gilbert River boat launch, and with careful use of a Sauvie Island Game Management Area map, navigate an almost-ten-mile loop which will take you through the McNary Lakes, Pete's Slough, Sturgeon Lake, and the Gilbert River, ending up at the ramp, just 100 yards from where you started.

June and July are good times, 'cause there's a lot more water when the Columbia's up.

As mentioned earlier, 'most everyplace is closed during the waterfowl hunting season. Re-opens in early spring.

[3d3e]

Can you get into the Mcnarry lakes with a small power boat? Can you get into into petes slough with a small power boat where is it at? Can you go up the gilbert into sturgeon lake and get to these places? and finally where can you get one of those maps you were talking about? Thanks for your time.

Tyler

[1pump]

When the water's high, Little McNary will be up over the road leading to the Gilbert boat ramp. Even when it's not you can still launch a small boat there.
There used to be some footbridges blocking Pete's Slough, but I think the '96 flood wiped them out along with everything else. :depressed:
If you try it in the spring or early summer you might have to do a little "portage" (meaning drag your boat) in between some of the lakes (like Aaron, Big and Little McNary) but it shouldn't be a big deal.
The above is the scenic route if you have time to kill and like a little adventure. If you just want to go out and hit the Gilbert and not screw around use the boat ramp at the mouth and head upriver. Warning- there's lots of deadheads and it's tidal affected, meaning it flows both ways. I wouldn't try it in the dark your first time.
It's about 4 miles to Sturgeon Lake, and once there you can't cross the refuge boundary with your motor running. If the water is high enough you can crank a hard left when you enter the lake and stay outside the refuge signs by following the shoreline on your left until you get to Malarkey Lake, which is about as far as you can go without crossing the refuge.
It's a lot of fun to just go up there and snoop around, and you won't see too many people.And you will most likely hit things underwater, but no biggie if you going slow enough. 10mph speed limit on the lakes, BTW, but nobody really enforces it.
The best maps are the ones that ODFW hands out during duck season at the check stations. I'd send you a copy, but I don't have a scanner. :depressed:
The ODFW headquaters on the island should have them too.
Have fun and good luck!

[Paddlefish]

What? No more footbridges? (I guess it HAS been a few years since I've been out there.) :depressed:

It was a bit of a hassle to either drag a canoe over those floating bridges, or squeeze under the elevated portions at the ends where they rose to meet the shore, but those footbridges were usually the most dependable place to catch crappies.

That's where I learned, in the 60s, to catch crappies. There was a regular crowd, typically, black, wearing overalls, using pretty simple gear, and carrying 5-gallon buckets, which they loaded up with crappies. Either small jigs, a slim strip of crappie filet, or both. Twitch them below a bobber or just "troll" them back and forth below your feet on three feet of line.

Great way for a teenage kid to spend a summer day.

[DF]

Thanks guys>

I will try after water fowkl season.

Tyler

[DF]

just realized my friends moniker was still on

3d3e/TYLER

[DF]

Sounds like a good idea, gee tyler maybe we should stop selling off every little boat that we aquire, I really doubt the alumaweld will do well...