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I used to love fishing silvers on the Clackamas back in the early '90's.
In the last few years that's changed. I didn't even try for them last year. The year before, with a record run, it was hard to buy a bite. Everyone I've talked to has had the same expereince.
Maybe this year will be different. Maybe with the cooler weather and the little bit of rain we've had it will change. The only explanation we can come up with for them not biting is too warm of water, but I'm sure it hasn't been any lower or warmer or dryer these last few years than it was back in "the day" when we would catch 10 or 12 coho every morning.
Well, here's were class begins:
First of all one of the best ways to catch them is to not jump the gun and fish for them too early. So many people go when the fish aren't even in the river and then wonder why they aren't catching any. If the silvers are in usually they will show themselves.
I used to get all excited and waste a bunch of gas going after them when they weren't in yet, then I figured out they never really got thick until after about the 14 of September. Sure, some will be around by the end of August but more will be in later.
And they would show up then rain or shine, it's more about length of day and hormone levels in the fish than it is the water condtions. The Clackamas is big enough they will come up it no mater what.
My favorite way of catching the Clackamas silvers was to drift fish for them with a red corkie and eggs. They loved good eggs and seamed to have a preference for red. We also used diver and bait with a five foot leader, a red corkie or matalic spin glo and eggs. I remember times when we'd even have fish whack our eggs as we were reeling them in, right off the surface.
We also casted spinners for them. I used home made spinners similar to the Metric Spinner. Chrome with some red nail polish on the blade when it was sunny and and brass when it was overcast.
Recently I have heard of people on several rivers casting and retreiving Wiggle Warts/Brads Wiglers for them on. I have friends that say that's the only way they caught fish last year.
Sometimes a bait of eggs drifted under a bobber in the real slow spots will also work well.
Look for the silvers in the deeper holes in the morning and then they will usually mover into the broken water as the light gets brighter.
Like I said, if they are around they will show themselves.
I have seen a lot of them moving in the tailouts but never have caught them then.
Another tip, if you are fishing over a bunch of rolling fish and can't get them to bite, move and find some fresher fish that are more willing. I've spent way too many hours trying to catch fish that wont bite when I could have been covering water and hooking up.
I hope some of this helps, have fun.
In the last few years that's changed. I didn't even try for them last year. The year before, with a record run, it was hard to buy a bite. Everyone I've talked to has had the same expereince.
Maybe this year will be different. Maybe with the cooler weather and the little bit of rain we've had it will change. The only explanation we can come up with for them not biting is too warm of water, but I'm sure it hasn't been any lower or warmer or dryer these last few years than it was back in "the day" when we would catch 10 or 12 coho every morning.
Well, here's were class begins:
First of all one of the best ways to catch them is to not jump the gun and fish for them too early. So many people go when the fish aren't even in the river and then wonder why they aren't catching any. If the silvers are in usually they will show themselves.
I used to get all excited and waste a bunch of gas going after them when they weren't in yet, then I figured out they never really got thick until after about the 14 of September. Sure, some will be around by the end of August but more will be in later.
And they would show up then rain or shine, it's more about length of day and hormone levels in the fish than it is the water condtions. The Clackamas is big enough they will come up it no mater what.
My favorite way of catching the Clackamas silvers was to drift fish for them with a red corkie and eggs. They loved good eggs and seamed to have a preference for red. We also used diver and bait with a five foot leader, a red corkie or matalic spin glo and eggs. I remember times when we'd even have fish whack our eggs as we were reeling them in, right off the surface.
We also casted spinners for them. I used home made spinners similar to the Metric Spinner. Chrome with some red nail polish on the blade when it was sunny and and brass when it was overcast.
Recently I have heard of people on several rivers casting and retreiving Wiggle Warts/Brads Wiglers for them on. I have friends that say that's the only way they caught fish last year.
Sometimes a bait of eggs drifted under a bobber in the real slow spots will also work well.
Look for the silvers in the deeper holes in the morning and then they will usually mover into the broken water as the light gets brighter.
Like I said, if they are around they will show themselves.
I have seen a lot of them moving in the tailouts but never have caught them then.
Another tip, if you are fishing over a bunch of rolling fish and can't get them to bite, move and find some fresher fish that are more willing. I've spent way too many hours trying to catch fish that wont bite when I could have been covering water and hooking up.
I hope some of this helps, have fun.
