Willamette Report - 3/14/2005

Striper Club · 03-15-2005, 08:30 AM

Fished on the upper river from 9am to 6pm with Bucketmouth. We were using 3-4 inch senko-style stickbaits (Roger would be happy) and putting around riffles, seams and ledges. Colors: pumpkinseed and watermellon--with the biggest smallie taking a 3" Senko in chartreuse. Styles: Dropshot, splitshot. Between the two of us, we landed and released 30 bass, 3 ********* and a number of salmon and steelhead smolt(smolt were EVERYWHERE!). Most fish were caught in 5-15 feet of water.

4 of the 30 bass were largemouth, with a 3lb, 17 inch fish and a 2 pounder in the mix. Most of the smallies were in the 1-2lb range with a few 3lb fish and one 4lb'er that was just a hair under 18 inches. All of the bass were perky and fought very hard for this time of year, which was quite a nice surprise.

All in all, a 30 bass pre-spawn day was a real treat!

Oh and the water temp ranged from 54-56!

- Rich

Fishfeet · 03-15-2005, 08:37 AM

Right on!!

Looks like a perfect day!

Thanx for the report!

Have yet to catch a largie outta there.

But the smallies are a heckova lot of fun.

Good pix! Keep sending. Ff

ExBassGuide · 03-15-2005, 09:32 AM

YOU TWO ARE GREAT FISHERMEN!!!!! NICE PHOTOS TOOOO!!!! thanks Roger

Striper Club · 03-15-2005, 10:14 AM

That was actually my first largemouth out of the Willie. The ones caught were caught in the same places as we caught the smallies. There were no fish to be had around wood structure or backwater areas.

Underwater ledges and dropoffs are the name of the game now.

I REALLY look forward to throwing spinnerbaits and my favorite Zara Spook as things continue to warm up.

Now that bass season is underway, I think it about time I added to my current 1-rod collection.

My spinning reel is squeeky!

I think I will strip the 50lb tuffline off of my Curado and make it my bass casting reel until next Fall Chinook season at least....

dawrestler · 03-15-2005, 12:51 PM

nice fish

Damon · 03-15-2005, 01:28 PM

Holy crap! I was sitting here thinking about fishing the Yamhill near the Willamette. Now I have to! That smalley looks huge! Congratulations! Now I have to go give it a shot!

Fishfeet · 03-15-2005, 03:37 PM

I magine the Yamhill is pretty shallow right now.

Be careful, it used to be real shallow just up from the confluence with the Willy during the summer months. Didja know there is a sunken sternwheeler up there a ways? I haven`t seen it but the boss says the stacks are still visible. My boss works closely with the histerical society here and picks up alot of neat info like that. Ff

Striper Club · 03-18-2005, 12:42 AM

0

Wannabe · 03-18-2005, 08:01 AM

Awesome pic's...thanks for sharing.
The ol willy has been good to me too...but nothing over three yet.
Tight Lines
&lt

))><

shalom · 03-18-2005, 11:06 AM

Wanabee ;
It is great to see you make a post . It has been awhile and i do enjoy them .

Sublime · 03-21-2005, 07:20 PM

That last pic is great! what a hawg!

Nice job!

reelbigfish72 · 03-21-2005, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Didja know there is a sunken sternwheeler up there a ways?

Do you have any idea where? I've ran that river a bunch and never seen it. Just curious.

Fishfeet · 03-22-2005, 07:14 AM

Da boss says its just below Dayton on the right as yer going up stream. Haven`t seen it meself but wouldn`t mind scopin` it out. Might even be a few fishies hangin` out around it!

Good luck up there & watch out for shallow water! From the looks of the Willy it might be REAL shallow up that far.

Ff

shalom · 03-22-2005, 09:15 AM

I saw the Willamette yesterday 3-21-05 as i crossed it on my way to Junction City and was shocked at how low it really is . It is one thing to hear about how low it is , and it is a completely different thing to see it in pearson . I went to Junction City and met a fellow ifisher , CHOPPIN who i bought a class 5 trailer hitch from . He when the extra mile and took my old hitch off and put the new one on . What a great guy . If anyone comes across him say hello for me .Thank you Choppin !!!!!

Fishfeet · 03-22-2005, 09:45 AM

Yeah mon!

I was eating lunch down at Rogers landing in Newberg last week and couldn`t beleive how low it was! :shocked: Hadn`t seen it in a few weeks! WOW I think a couple of my favorite smallie holes are probably clear outta water by now! :whazzup: We`re gonna hafta start hangin` out with Volforeen to find some new spots in these conditions!

Ff