Kage said:
I usually fish Clackamette Park and now newly discovered Cross Park and High Rock and same deal...nothing but lost lures. Just came back from a trip and saw a good number of boats at the mouth at Clackamette, one of them told me they'd caught 2 salmons. As for me, I still have yet to catch my first salmon and steelhead...sadness
Btw, how can I really tell the difference from a bite and my spinner bouncin off the bottom?
I'll relate some of my experience...
On the bigger water, like the lower Clackamas, I've not had good luck. Steelhead in particular look for the easiest path in the current and will typically select a holding spot near that line. My problem on the lower Clack has often been that where I can access the bank is not always near good holding spots. In fact, one spot in particular I frequented, though I've spotted one fish, I've seen about 10 caught by boaters on the other side of the river, where I can't cast to because of width; most of the fish are traveling along the far bank and will consequently select a nearby lie on that side.
When I started going to smaller systems, where I can reach both sides and fish all the likely lies effectively, I did much better. I still want to get a better feel for the Clackamas as there are lots of fish, but this will involve more exploration until I figure out some good holding spots...that takes time and a lot of 'no fish' outings.
The second part of my story has to do with this question: "Btw, how can I really tell the difference from a bite and my spinner bouncin off the bottom?"
When I described how I was fishing and what type of water I was targeting to a neighbor of mine, he said, "Well, sounds like you've got a decent idea. You're probably getting some bites, but just don't realize it."
So, if I got a bump and wasn't sure if rock/log/fish, I set the hook...started hooking fish. I spent all 12 months of last year with nothing to show for it and so far this year, I'm at 7 to the bank out of 12 hooked. I think I'm starting to get a better feel for the rock/log/fish thing and that's because I now have something to compare. But, even now, if I'm not entirely sure, I don't 2nd guess or hesitate to just yank. One thing's for sure, they don't always slam those spinners/spoons and I've even hooked a couple where I felt nothing, but my line stopped moving downstream. Of course, I've also just hooked into rocks, too
ETA: Oh, but the real reason I started doing better, as was pointed out to me, was my changing the avatar photo
When I first started letting my spinners hit the bottom I was yanking on EVERY tug, bump and pull and I've lost so much gear from it haha I suppose I should keep in mind that i WILL lose lures along my fisherman's journey. Maybe I'll head to a narrower part of the Clackamas and see if I can do any better. Maybe I should set up an avatar too haha
