65k release is actually not too many considering only 1-5% return rate an average. People with a lot of experience of the river usually start catching steel at the end of the fall run around thanksgiving and most of the earlier fish are usually wild fish which means they get released. Theyre a...
Call the hatchery and press 1 for the weekly trout stocking schedule. they'll tell you the locations and what days they'll be doing it. usually its been Wednesdays around 10 or 11. Thats when I would go for best action, they are out of there pretty quick little spinners work great too...
Sorry, wasn't very detailed in my post I wasn't just talking willy at the falls area I was just talking about springers being caught in general in all rivers. And don't read the falls counts as 100% accurate!!! lol
dont take my word for it, just what I have been told by fellow anglers... Just trying to help people avoid trouble if that is the case. better safe than sorry :)
Classic big game angler question! Hahaha in the prime of our current winter steel run and already going after the next run!haha and we have all done it. There actually have already been a couple springers caught though here and there but its def way early still. End of may and June is prime time...
Just remember if fishing middle fork Willamette and McKenzie, leaders have to be under 5-6 feet (can't remember which) even with fly rods! they don't care if you have 2 or 3 lines. Anything after the fly line they consider part of your leader. Lots of fly guys getting fined lol. And I just use...
Just be careful how you freeze your roe. It can really weaken the skein if not done properly and makes your eggs pretty much useless. I wait until they're fully done curing and I also let them tack up a little as well so usually 5 days to a week around there if I'll be freezing them. Then I...
Heard it's been packed down there but producing fish. Umpqua it's a mainly native run. From what I've been told chances of getting a clipper are about 1 in 8 fish (if that) still some great fighting beauties in there either way. I might have to brave the crowds myself....
Yeah they don't assemble it just yet due to the salmon spawning. And although the run does come from a strain from the siletz, I'm almost positive they are not the ones who deals with the trap and all that type of stuff.from what I've heard it's from a volunteer program type deal....?
Yeah I have caught re brights plenty of times out there.usually they're like skinny snakes and usually recycled. This was a fresh thick shouldered fish. Still full of eggs and meat was orangeish good for the smoker. I can usually tell if its a re bright and those go back in :)