ZeeBorn

when I first started fishing for sturgeon I was in the 6th or 7th grade and my friend Toney and I would go down to the Sellwood dock just about every Saturday and Sunday. We used steelheat/salmon rods with 2-3 oz pyramid weights. We mostly got shakers but I did get my first keeper out of that spot with my light rod. I even caught a 30" shaker on my trout rod while fishing for what ever would bite a chunk of worm on the bottom. After a while "no fishing" signs were put up on the dock and we eventually stopped going. I still see people fishing off that dock occasionally but I'd rather not risk a fine at thins point.
Any way, my point is that you don't need a full on stergon rod to get stergon. DDR, I would bet your pike/muskey rod would do fine for fishing the Willamet as long as it can handel casting 2-3 oz. the trick to fishing with a light rod is finding a spot that has deep water not too far from the bank and with water thats not too fast. I was useing 10-15 lb mono and never had a problem with it. but I would segjest just getting the lightest line you feel comfertable with to maximize the ammount you can fit on the reel. That 30"er I got on my trout rod was with 6Lb line. Also I have been told by the guys at fishermans marieen that mono is better for casting that braded. I think it's because the braded line has a tendency to dig into its self on the reel. Although I have never tryed it my self thats just what I herd. Any way just get out there give it a try thats the best way to learn.
Good luck,
Nate

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Got skunked? Thats why its called fishing, not catching.

DDR

Thanks Zeeborn! Glad to hear it. Now if I could just find a decent location to fish from shore.

ZeeBorn

One place I know of is the catwalk on the west side of the river just down stream from the falls in Oregon City. You get there from the parking lot for the locks. Drive in from the road past the police station and drive down a wooden ramp to the lot. The path to the catwalk is at the north end of the lot. It can be slick some times so be careful. Just cast out as far as you can from there and if you snagged up then move to an other spot until you get out of the snags. The amount of debris on the bottom seems to very from time to time. So if its rely bad one time then come back after a time when there has been heavy flow and the debris should have shifted and hopefully moved out.
An other place I here is good is River Villa Park. From what I have seen here you need to cast from the south most part of the park slightly up stream. You should be able to see the slower moving water to cast into. The water down stream from there is going to be too fast for light weight gear. I have even had a hard time keeping 8 oz in one spot in that aria. And remember we can only fish for sturgeon from Thursday to Sunday now. Let us know how you do and where you end up going.
Good luck,
Nate

__________________
Got skunked? Thats why its called fishing, not catching.