A
aw0000001
Out of curiosity, are there channel catfish at Henry Hagg? I spent my early childhood in a place where they were plentiful and they're my favorite species to catch. I can't seem to find them in the Willamette Zone.
Hagg Lake species
Shaun Solomon
There are some present in the Willamette at low population densities. I’m not sure the best location for targeting them on the river, but it seems like from what I’ve read they pick up from Salem downriver towards Portland.
Most of the time in local waters you might encounter bullheads but channels are pretty rare.
Most of the time in local waters you might encounter bullheads but channels are pretty rare.
305to503fishermen
I have caught a channel cat a few times at Hagg. This came from trolling around for rainbows.
DOKF
How did channel cats get into Hagg Lake? They are not native species ...
troutdude
Was just gonna pose that very question. Channel Cats in Hagg???DOKF said:
Shaun Solomon
I would tentatively suggest that they might have been bullheads.
305to503fishermen
Maybe i am mistaken, i don't know my catfish that well.
Shaun Solomon
A deeply forked tail (like Kokanee) is a dead giveaway for channel cat. Bullheads (both brown and yellow) have a slightly rounded, triangular shaped tail.
I guess it wouldn’t surprise me too much if someone caught a channel in Hagg, apparently there is at least one STURGEON in there! Haha
I guess it wouldn’t surprise me too much if someone caught a channel in Hagg, apparently there is at least one STURGEON in there! Haha
troutdude
The myth of the Hagg Sturgeon lives on! LOL
I grew up referring to bullheads as cats. It wasn't until I joined this group, almost 12 years ago now, that I learned the difference.
I grew up referring to bullheads as cats. It wasn't until I joined this group, almost 12 years ago now, that I learned the difference.
DOKF
I prefer to not get too friendly with them ...305to503fishermen said:
Shaun Solomon
I’m not sure if you have seen the videos Roger, but there is actual proof of a sturgeon in Hagg, looks to be in the neighborhood of five to six feet. Right up on the dam, with panning shots of the surrounding area, enough to tell where it was shot. Several different people have seen it, and got still shots and at least two videos I have seen. It might be a solo fish, but they live a long time.
And for the purpose of clarity, bullheads ARE cats, just not channel cats. Same family, different species, like smallies and largemouth, for example. You weren’t wrong to call them cats.
And for the purpose of clarity, bullheads ARE cats, just not channel cats. Same family, different species, like smallies and largemouth, for example. You weren’t wrong to call them cats.
Grant22
Shaun Solomon said:
troutdude
I'm not Roger...but that's certainly a sturgeon, and that's the bank of the dam at Hagg fo' sho' (have fished OFF the bank in front of that parking lot before). Guess I need to switch from 8lb. test mono line, to 80lb braid! LOL
Shaun Solomon
Roger Roger, what’s your vector, Victor? My bad. I guess Roger is Rogerdoger now that I think about it. :doh:
Looking at the video, that DOES look like two separate fish. I’m thinking a boy and a girl, maybe.
Looking at the video, that DOES look like two separate fish. I’m thinking a boy and a girl, maybe.
troutdude
LOL I remember that Vector Victor line!
Yeah I also wondered if we were looking at more than one sturgeon in that clip.
Yeah I also wondered if we were looking at more than one sturgeon in that clip.
Admin
Victor & VictoriaShaun Solomon said:I’m thinking a boy and a girl, maybe.
DOKF
I took the dog for a walk around Commonwealth Lk today, and stopped to read an info sign about fish in the lake. The park sign says that "trout, bass, panfish, and channel catfish" have been stocked in the lake at various times. They show clear pictures of trout, bass, and forked tail catfish.DOKF said:
I'm not sure what to make of it. I've seen trout, bass, sunfish, and carp pulled out of the lake, but it does imply that ODFW has in the past at least stocked channel cats in select lakes. Maybe they did stock some channel cats in Hagg Lake? But, why?
DOKF
From ODFW ...
"Channel catfish in western Oregon are limited to the Columbia River, lower Willamette River, and a few ponds in the Willamette Valley. They are much more abundant in eastern Oregon, primarily in the Columbia and Snake rivers and their impoundments, Owyhee Reservoir, the Owyhee River, and the John Day River. When given the choice, channel catfish prefer clear lakes and streams, but they can tolerate moderately muddy water if food is abundant. Channel catfish are not particular about what they eat. Included in their diet are fish and frogs, either alive or dead, insects, plant material, crayfish, worms, or snails."
I guess they are the cleanup crew? Assistants to the sturgeon(s)?
"Channel catfish in western Oregon are limited to the Columbia River, lower Willamette River, and a few ponds in the Willamette Valley. They are much more abundant in eastern Oregon, primarily in the Columbia and Snake rivers and their impoundments, Owyhee Reservoir, the Owyhee River, and the John Day River. When given the choice, channel catfish prefer clear lakes and streams, but they can tolerate moderately muddy water if food is abundant. Channel catfish are not particular about what they eat. Included in their diet are fish and frogs, either alive or dead, insects, plant material, crayfish, worms, or snails."
I guess they are the cleanup crew? Assistants to the sturgeon(s)?
Shaun Solomon
They are like bald eagles, opportunistic carnivores that are very happy to scavenge.
I not infrequently see “educational material” which misidentifies fish, such as this “bluegill” on the ODFW website. If there is any bluegill present in this fish, it has been thoroughly alloyed with green sunfish.
I also find fish species listed in water bodies frequently that I am very suspicious of, such as smallmouth in places that lack them etc.
I think it is generally useful to see what the state agencies have to say about a given body of water, but such information should be taken with a grain of salt. I don’t think sturgeon are listed for Hagg, for example, and they didn’t admit spots were in Grove for years after they were established.
Anywho.
I not infrequently see “educational material” which misidentifies fish, such as this “bluegill” on the ODFW website. If there is any bluegill present in this fish, it has been thoroughly alloyed with green sunfish.
I also find fish species listed in water bodies frequently that I am very suspicious of, such as smallmouth in places that lack them etc.
I think it is generally useful to see what the state agencies have to say about a given body of water, but such information should be taken with a grain of salt. I don’t think sturgeon are listed for Hagg, for example, and they didn’t admit spots were in Grove for years after they were established.
Anywho.
