jamisonace
I don't travel outside my comfort zone too often but I do enjoy exploring new rivers now and then. Most of my "new river" experience is on the North coast for fall chinook but I've dabbled on the Siletz, Nestucca and Wilson for winter steelhead a time or two. I have a kid in Corvallis now and would like to check out the Alsea from my drift boat.
I've spent some time bank fishing the Alsea and explored it a little but not much. One time I went there specifically to fish it but I had no idea what I was doing. This was around 2006 when I was still an Elitist Fly Fisherman (insert eye roll here). It was a total waste of time. Then there was the time, not long after that, we were camping in Waldport with neighbors. Not sure what time of year it was but I know there were fall salmon in the river. Again, had no idea what I was doing. We heard that bobber fishing was a thing so we geared up and found a likely spot. It's embarrassing to describe how we were bobber fishing but essentially we had everything rigged correctly except we were only using some small split shots to get down when we needed at least a 1/2 ounce probably. LOL There were fish rolling all around and we never stood the slightest chance. The last time I fished it I knew what I was doing but I only had an hour or so to explore. I was on my way from Coos Bay to Corvallis to pick up my boy and brought drift fishing gear looking for an early steelhead or maybe a coho. I ended up catching a bunch of cutthroat and one huge, old Chinook that never gave me an inch before I ripped the size 2 hook out. Had him on for a few minutes though, so that was fun. So that's my Alsea resume'.
I'm curious about two things:
First of all, what floats do you like? Meaning from what ramp to what ramp.
And what water level is best for that float?
Thanks in advance and if you have any super secret secrets you want to share via pm, I'm happy to swap knowledge about my rivers.
I've spent some time bank fishing the Alsea and explored it a little but not much. One time I went there specifically to fish it but I had no idea what I was doing. This was around 2006 when I was still an Elitist Fly Fisherman (insert eye roll here). It was a total waste of time. Then there was the time, not long after that, we were camping in Waldport with neighbors. Not sure what time of year it was but I know there were fall salmon in the river. Again, had no idea what I was doing. We heard that bobber fishing was a thing so we geared up and found a likely spot. It's embarrassing to describe how we were bobber fishing but essentially we had everything rigged correctly except we were only using some small split shots to get down when we needed at least a 1/2 ounce probably. LOL There were fish rolling all around and we never stood the slightest chance. The last time I fished it I knew what I was doing but I only had an hour or so to explore. I was on my way from Coos Bay to Corvallis to pick up my boy and brought drift fishing gear looking for an early steelhead or maybe a coho. I ended up catching a bunch of cutthroat and one huge, old Chinook that never gave me an inch before I ripped the size 2 hook out. Had him on for a few minutes though, so that was fun. So that's my Alsea resume'.
I'm curious about two things:
First of all, what floats do you like? Meaning from what ramp to what ramp.
And what water level is best for that float?
Thanks in advance and if you have any super secret secrets you want to share via pm, I'm happy to swap knowledge about my rivers.
Last edited by a moderator: