Ford's Pond Fishing Reports

[DOKF]

I have emailed the group twice, I have also met quite a few of the members when I'm loading/unloading

There's crappie in there but the city pumps treated sewage water in there, so eat with caution.

They had drain pipes running all day Saturday

Cities dump treated sewage into the Willamette upstream from cities that draw water from the Willamette ....

Not that I would eat anything that came out of the Willamette. Just saying ...

 

[jamisonace]

I have emailed the group twice, I have also met quite a few of the members when I'm loading/unloading

There's crappie in there but the city pumps treated sewage water in there, so eat with caution.

They had drain pipes running all day Saturday

Good for you for trying. I reached out to the Umpqua Enhancement Derby people to see what I can do to help with the fight for hatchery fish on the North Umpqua. They are bank rolling the attorneys to fight the ODFW Commission. I offered time and/or money and never heard back. Go figure.

Thanks for the heads up on treated sewage.

Edit:

The water flowing in is considered potable.

 

[NKlamerus]

Considered potable like the water that's leeching into the everglades in Florida lol

People can go for it surely, crappie is delicious, going to be some bioaccumulation though

I think I saw some FB posts from others that also reached out about the hatchery's, and boycotting any businesses that were for it, pretty large array of them

 

[jamisonace]

Yeah, I'm not sure I'd be drinking it from a fountain. I might take a kid out there someday but it's probably not something I would spend time for myself doing.

I've been following the North Umpqua Summer Steelhead thing closely. Attending meetings and probably seeing most of the online posts about it. I saw the boycott thing but I don't buy from any of those places anyway so I guess I'm good there. LOL I can't help but believe that once predation is 100% of wild summer steelhead at all ages, the run will be extinct before too long. One of the most iconic runs in Oregon.

 

[jamisonace]

Cities dump treated sewage into the Willamette upstream from cities that draw water from the Willamette ....

Not that I would eat anything that came out of the Willamette. Just saying ...

I live just downstream of the sewage plant on the South Umpqua. Literally within a quarter mile. I've always known the treated water is cleaner than the river water upstream but it's the raw sewage spills that used to occur that always grossed me out. Haven't heard of it happening since I was a kid though.

 

[DOKF]

The further upstream the better, but downstream in Portland is like playing Russian Roulette with 6 bullets in a revolver ...

As a chemist, I used to work with water treatment facilities. Fully treated water is safe, maybe even good (probably better than bottled water), but you are right to fear raw overflows. Not that flooding ever happens here on the wet coast.

 

[jamisonace]

I know very little about anything but I figured feces flowing directly into the river right in front of me was probably something to avoid. Back then, the South Umpqua had a bad reputation and at the time all I knew was that it had lots of bass that should not be eaten. One day I was bragging to my junior high science teacher, Mr. Jackson, about all the bass I took home and put in the freezer. He called my mom and told her to throw them out. LOL

 

[DOKF]

I know very little about anything but I figured feces flowing directly into the river right in front of me was probably something to avoid. Back then, the South Umpqua had a bad reputation and at the time all I knew was that it had lots of bass that should not be eaten. One day I was bragging to my junior high science teacher, Mr. Jackson, about all the bass I took home and put in the freezer. He called my mom and told her to throw them out. LOL

I have always fished for the table, usually salmonids and various ocean fish. But, I have occasionally harvested small mouth, walleye, and pike when I know the cleanliness of the source. Raw sewage is only a small part of the "bad stuff", but very visible.

Generally speaking, I don't usually target bass, catfish, or pan fish because of their eating habist. Even though I am aware that I might be missing out on opportunities.

I have caught them elsewhere, but my Oregon bucket list includes walleye and burbot; but only from clean waters. Even though they are voracious feeders, they tend to prefer live bait.

 

[jamisonace]

I've caught burbot with live bait fish but I've only fished walleye with worms and done very well. Probably gonna try Saturday for walleye.

 

[DOKF]

Good luck! I am looking forward to reading about your success.

 

[Fummus]

Cities dump treated sewage into the Willamette upstream from cities that draw water from the Willamette ....

Not that I would eat anything that came out of the Willamette. Just saying ...

Ah yes, the Will-uh-mettee. Home of the three eyed catfish, and genderless river otters.

 

[NKlamerus]

Some friends of mine fished it Friday and caught ~12 fish. I fished it Saturday morning for 2 hours, caught 3 fish. Same rigs, senko and Texas rigged creature. I've definitely caught the one with the messed up lip before.

 

[DOKF]

I've definitely caught the one with the messed up lip before

An old friend?

 

[NKlamerus]

An old friend?

Maybe so or he really really likes the taste of senkos and craws lol

 

[DOKF]

Loves plastic ...