First ever trip out of Scappoose

[USS Minnow]

I am heading to Scappoose this weekend to troll some herring and have a few questions. I am a bit of a rookie and am always a little apprehensive about trying someplace new. I was wondering if there are any tips or hazards I should know about the area. I assume I would motor out of the bay and either head up or down the channel for trolling.

Any tips are appreciated
Feel free to PM if necessary.

Thanks,
John

[Taylor's viewpoint]

Just make sure you stay in the channel while leaving the dock area. It gets really shallow fast, outside of the channel.
TV

[SlipKnot]

I wouldn't recommend that trip in the dark the first time.

Please, please make sure that you know how to read the channel markers and stay in the channel. If you don't, you'll be sorry.

Have fun and catch a fish.

SN

[Steelie28]

All of the above plus keep an eye out for deadheads, there have been a few around the past few years that could cause some problems, but they were not in the middle of the channel, more towards the sides. Also, keep an eye out for barges if you are fishing lower in the channel.

Steelie28

[Pete]

In addition to the inanimate constraints, the slough is increasingly popular with kayakers - remember to slow down so you don't swamp anyone. As far as I know, there haven't been any negative interactions between power and paddle boats. It would be nice to keep it that way.

[24 on/ 48 off]

Yup- watch the channel markers as you leave the marina. Also- go as slow as possible while you are near the marina- they get very upset with wakes (good practice anywhere). You can pick up speed once you clear the log deck on your left.

Once you leave the bay and hit the channel, drop your herring! That "intersection" is a great place to hit springers on the troll.

--spud--

[jet]

Up or Down they both work there.

Jet~~~

[timinthegorge]

If you don't have a "river map" or chart of the area, it'd be a good idea to purchase one. When I'm down that way, I always carry my "River Cruising Atlas" and it's come in handy several times...

[Phillip Smesrud]

I don't know why but I think it's worse coming back into the launch from the channel. You're tired from fishing, sun blind and if you're not sharp and if there's no boats around for you to follow in you might end up outside the channel and there are pilings that you will hit that will tear up your motor. It's almost scary there on a real low tide as you see land everywhere. When I go out I'm always careful about going up on a plane until I'm in enough water that the back end doesn't drop down and find a log or rock on the bottom as well. Best bet is to follow someone out and follow someone back in until you get used to this area.

[lost_sailor]

What they said!

Go slow and WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING ... don't be trying to hook up your depth finder to a spare battery, for example. :blush:
It's really a nice facility, good ramp, long dock, but yeah there's some shallow water.

The GREEN markers should be on the RIGHT side of the boat when you're heading out.

You can fish the channel or the Columbia (oh ... can you? check the regs) - look for the boats with bent rods and waving nets!

[5-Cents]

I'll second what everyone else said here. I have launched there about a 1000 times and if its foggy I sometimes still get out of the channel even with a GPS loaded with a chart of the area!

[USS Minnow]

Thank you all so much for your advice.
That's just the information I was looking for.
Now if the weekend will just hurry up and get here I can go catch a fish...

Thanks,
John

[5 Salt]

I like those water proof Columbia River fish maps. Not GPS perfect but good enough for slow safe operations in dark and fog....take a good spot light for dark operation if going it without backlit GPS.

Good hunting and safe days to you

[Phillip Smesrud]

I don't think a river map or GPS is going to help you going in and out of Scapoose bay. On a low tide the sweet spot of the channel is literally about 10 feet wide and if you're outside of this 10 feet it's trouble. I think GPS are only accurate to about 10 feet because of government restrictions on their accuracy. Take 1 minute to look at the map and then WHAM. You hit one of them pilings 6" under the surface of the water. It's almost like going through a mine field there. 5 cent is spot on, no matter how many times you've been there, it's still dangerous. Sometimes on those super low times coming back in I have to tilt the outdrive up to keep from churning up the bottom. Sauvie Island has a better ramp called the gilbert ramp. Takes a spirit guide to find it on sauvies island but it drops you right in the multnomah channel and deeper water. Whoever designed the square instead of slanted trailer parking should have his head examined but the ramp is nice. Sometimes the current on the dock is funny there so keep that in mind when docking or moving away from the dock.

[gpa's-fishin]

Are you going out of scappoose , jonhsons landing or scappoose bay marina. Scappoose, johnsons landing is terrible. No docks next to the launch ramp. Also limited parking. Scappoose bay marina is a good choice. like all the others watch the chanel markes the water is shallow ouside the channel. I would troll right up river from the mouth of scappooose bay as alot of others do,you can troll along way up, or run up and troll down all good water. Watch for the barge, that is a good place to start down. That is by santosh , always good choice. Scappoose (johnsons) landing dont know besides been out of there once and won't got back. Go get them :smile: :smile:

[judyfish99]

Watch your depth finder(or fish finder) ALL THE TIME coming out and coming in!!! It is really easy to miss the channel when it is that narrow...

[rags]

Put in at Gilbert Island boat launch on Sauvies Island. You need a parking permit but great ramp and dock and your right in the thick of the fishing.