bank sturgeon on willamette between lake o and falls?

phillk6751 · 04-14-2008, 10:58 AM

I'm aware of the spot in oregon city, "The Wall", but I'm opposed to throwing those guys 100' just to hit the water and possibly kill/hurt them.

I'm wondering what spot(s) are good bank fishing with a shorter rod. I've got a 9' Celilo (20-40# rod, 30# mainline....1-5oz rec lure weight) and a 321 gt levelwind reel from Penn....I've been told both ways....that the rod is too short, or it'll work....and that I need more weight (8oz or more) or even needing a reel with no level.

I just want to get some decent sturgeon bank fishing in with what I've got and not people trying to sell me more gear :-|

I've seen a few possible spots by checking NOAA's hydographical maps for the holes.....I see one at almost every park upto Lake oswego....downstream from hog island, around cedar island, around meldrum bar(which seems like I'd need a long cast to get to) and along the supposed catwalk on the west lynn side in oregon city(where there's supposed to be water-level access as opposed to the wall).

So I'm curious if with what I've got that 5oz would be enough in any of those spots or if i'd be okay strapping 8oz or more on that rod or what?

I've got Smelt for bait, which seems pretty standard, or herring I've heard as well.

oh, and my step dad has a 7' one piece trolling rod with a cheaper reel....if it's possible his setup would work in the spots, the better...I know it's short, but he really expected to have access to a boat, so in the meantime we'd like to make due with what we have until we have boat access.

JTLunker · 04-14-2008, 05:41 PM

George Rodgers park in LO may be a good spot to try out. Also Meldrum Bar on the East side of the river.

phillk6751 · 04-14-2008, 05:46 PM

cool, thanks.....I scoped out the spot by the small OC bridge....the catwalk someone at Fisherman's told me about had huge signs stating "Fishing prohibited" and the catwalk had a gate that was locked.....even the post before the locks says "no angling beyond this point"....so i take it there's no bank access on that side of the river in that area?

osmosis · 04-20-2008, 04:18 PM

clackamette park across the street from fishermans has bank access for both the mouth of the clackamas and a bit of the Willamette.

At meldrum try taking that left turn after the playground and bathrooms, there's more access than just the bar by the boat launch, including the opposite side of the clackamas as clackamette..

from the bar at meldrum you do need a long cast for sturgeon, 10-40ft is all that is needed alot of the time for salmon/steelhead.

Mary S Young park in west linn has river acess across the river from meldrum and across the river. It is a maybe 1/2 - 3/4 mile walk on paved "trails" - which would be a major pain with a keeper sturgeon now that I think about it!

I'm no sturgeon expert, but I learned to sturgeon fish with a 7' #15-40 salmon backbouncing rod. so I think what both of you have should work as well..

GraphiteZen · 04-20-2008, 11:39 PM

At Buena Vista Park there is a spot you can walk to now since the water is low that I was told dropped to 80 feet and was a Sturgeon hole. Makes sense because off this point the rock goes straight down and about 40 feet downstream from it huge sections of water boil up from the bottom into plumes when all the water around it flows like normal. It's only like 30 or 40 feet from the bank. If you still have your charts check it out. Might be a good spot if you want to drive down.

phillk6751 · 04-28-2008, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTLunker

George Rodgers park in LO may be a good spot to try out. Also Meldrum Bar on the East side of the river.

i went to check george rodgers park today....i lost 5oz of lead and my last smelt!

.....damn trail across the bridge going upto the deep water is closed due to a landslide....so i tried the little pininsula down from the park....bad idea, sand and snag city.

i tried at willamette park off the dock, but i couldn't find a hole, my stuff kept drifting way too close to be a hole.....today sucked

phillk6751 · 05-05-2008, 06:07 PM

I noticed someone mentioned bank fishing at willamette park....where is that possible? all the water there is less than 15' deep even in the channel which is on the other side of the river. Is there a hole I'm not familiar with?

I also had a question about the wall in OC. I know people will pull the sturgeon up with rope and loop....but what about releasing them? Is there a more humane way of dropping them back in the watter than throwing them off? I'd be willing to try that spot if there is.

04-14-2008, 05:41 PM	#2
JTLunker Master Angler Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: West linn, OR Posts: 419	George Rodgers park in LO may be a good spot to try out. Also Meldrum Bar on the East side of the river. __________________ JT FISH ON!!!!

04-20-2008, 11:39 PM	#5
GraphiteZen Sustained Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 218	At Buena Vista Park there is a spot you can walk to now since the water is low that I was told dropped to 80 feet and was a Sturgeon hole. Makes sense because off this point the rock goes straight down and about 40 feet downstream from it huge sections of water boil up from the bottom into plumes when all the water around it flows like normal. It's only like 30 or 40 feet from the bank. If you still have your charts check it out. Might be a good spot if you want to drive down. __________________ When I die, screw some hooks into my spine and head for the deep water.

04-14-2008, 10:58 AM	#1
phillk6751 Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Molalla Posts: 39	bank sturgeon on willamette between lake o and falls? I'm aware of the spot in oregon city, "The Wall", but I'm opposed to throwing those guys 100' just to hit the water and possibly kill/hurt them. I'm wondering what spot(s) are good bank fishing with a shorter rod. I've got a 9' Celilo (20-40# rod, 30# mainline....1-5oz rec lure weight) and a 321 gt levelwind reel from Penn....I've been told both ways....that the rod is too short, or it'll work....and that I need more weight (8oz or more) or even needing a reel with no level. I just want to get some decent sturgeon bank fishing in with what I've got and not people trying to sell me more gear :-\| I've seen a few possible spots by checking NOAA's hydographical maps for the holes.....I see one at almost every park upto Lake oswego....downstream from hog island, around cedar island, around meldrum bar(which seems like I'd need a long cast to get to) and along the supposed catwalk on the west lynn side in oregon city(where there's supposed to be water-level access as opposed to the wall). So I'm curious if with what I've got that 5oz would be enough in any of those spots or if i'd be okay strapping 8oz or more on that rod or what? I've got Smelt for bait, which seems pretty standard, or herring I've heard as well. oh, and my step dad has a 7' one piece trolling rod with a cheaper reel....if it's possible his setup would work in the spots, the better...I know it's short, but he really expected to have access to a boat, so in the meantime we'd like to make due with what we have until we have boat access. Last edited by phillk6751 : 04-14-2008 at 11:03 AM.

04-14-2008, 05:46 PM	#3
phillk6751 Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Molalla Posts: 39	cool, thanks.....I scoped out the spot by the small OC bridge....the catwalk someone at Fisherman's told me about had huge signs stating "Fishing prohibited" and the catwalk had a gate that was locked.....even the post before the locks says "no angling beyond this point"....so i take it there's no bank access on that side of the river in that area?

04-20-2008, 04:18 PM	#4
osmosis Angler Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Beavercreek Posts: 108	clackamette park across the street from fishermans has bank access for both the mouth of the clackamas and a bit of the Willamette. At meldrum try taking that left turn after the playground and bathrooms, there's more access than just the bar by the boat launch, including the opposite side of the clackamas as clackamette.. from the bar at meldrum you do need a long cast for sturgeon, 10-40ft is all that is needed alot of the time for salmon/steelhead. Mary S Young park in west linn has river acess across the river from meldrum and across the river. It is a maybe 1/2 - 3/4 mile walk on paved "trails" - which would be a major pain with a keeper sturgeon now that I think about it! I'm no sturgeon expert, but I learned to sturgeon fish with a 7' #15-40 salmon backbouncing rod. so I think what both of you have should work as well..

05-05-2008, 06:07 PM	#7
phillk6751 Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Molalla Posts: 39	I noticed someone mentioned bank fishing at willamette park....where is that possible? all the water there is less than 15' deep even in the channel which is on the other side of the river. Is there a hole I'm not familiar with? I also had a question about the wall in OC. I know people will pull the sturgeon up with rope and loop....but what about releasing them? Is there a more humane way of dropping them back in the watter than throwing them off? I'd be willing to try that spot if there is.

Username
Password
Remember Me?