How Close Is Too Close?

Last week I pulled my boat into the Siltcoos River, which might raise a few eyebrows. It sure did from the bank anglers who were throwing spinners off docks nearby. I positioned the boat upstream, dropped the anchor, and my guest and I dropped back some plugs to work in the current while we had a sandwich and discussed our next move. I had no intention of staying long, just long enough to eat lunch. One of the people tossing spinners wasn’t very happy about me being there. He yelled something to the effect, “You have that nice boat but you’re right there?” While I basically told him that he didn’t own the river, this encounter got me to thinking: how close is too close?

Where There’s Fish, Expect Crowds
We’d all like to have a river full of salmon to ourselves. But let’s face it: where there’s fish, there’s going to be competition from other anglers. More fish, more crowds. Crowds below hatcheries on the Sacramento River system in California typically number in the hundreds when fishing is good. Anglers can be lined up three-deep waiting to make a cast. Fistfights and thrown rocks are common. We here on the Central Coast don’t have this problem, but there are certain spots where the fish are confined and there’s going to be conflicts between bank anglers and boaters. The Siltcoos River is one of these spots. The Siltcoos Outlet attracts a lot of attention because every coho salmon coming into the lake is moving right through the river. And it’s the only place that has good bank access. Boats want to get in the river too because fish are ocean-fresh and confined to a small channel.

How To Interact Peacefully
Boaters should not anchor directly in front of bank fisherman, period. This is poor etiquette in a small river. Bank fisherman, if the boat is there first, don’t expect them to move just because they can go anywhere in the lake. It doesn’t always work like that, especially if the lake is rough. Boaters, leave enough room for bank fisherman to cast. Bankies, don’t cast over boaters’ lines just to try to make a point. If you have to talk it out, try to do so in a non-confrontational manner. If you start conversations in a nasty manner, nothing else you say will be heard.

Pressure On Siltcoos
Fishing pressure on Siltcoos this fall has been the most since the lakes were re-opened. There have been a couple of days when the parking lot at Westlake was FULL. I’m sure that all those who love and appreciate this fishery are hoping that Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife will make sure that escapement is still being met and that enough coho are making it up the tributaries to spawn. I have a feeling that pressure will increase over the next several years.

See you on the water,
Action Jackson

(Please send comments or questions to Action Jackson at 268-6944 or www.actionjacksonfishing.com)

Spawning Fish Surveys Track Returns, Help Biologists

Every fall on fish-bearing streams all over the Oregon coast, fisheries professionals wade and raft streams counting spawning fish. On Knowles Creek in Mapleton, U.S. Forest Service employees and volunteers have been conducting surveys throughout the entire watershed since 2000. Having taken part in these surveys for the past 5 years, I can tell you there are few other fisheries-related jobs that are as rewarding.

What You’re Looking For
On Knowles Creek, surveyors wade sections from bottom to top, counting live and dead salmon, jacks, redds (nests) and noting other fish observed (such as steelhead and cutthroat trout). Weather conditions, stream levels and visibility are recorded for each stream section, as these factors affect how many and how well fish are seen. Careful observation helps surveyors tell the difference between coho and chinook salmon. Where fish actively spawn also clues surveyors in to what species they’re looking at – chinook prefer lower reaches on Knowles Creek while coho prefer upper reaches and tributaries. Carcasses of dead fish are cut at the tail so they aren’t counted again on future surveys.

Why Surveys Are Useful
Spawning fish surveys are one of the tools used by state and federal fisheries managers to determine run sizes and enact regulations that are in the best interest of the salmon. For instance, poor spawning fish numbers over the past two seasons was a “red flag” to fisheries managers and was a factor in reducing daily and seasonal bag limits for fall chinook on the coast. On Knowles Creek, spawning fish surveys help managers determine the success of habitat restoration projects that were started in the early 1990’s. So, spawning fish surveys, along with data collected at the smolt trap and snorkel surveys help give managers a better idea of freshwater production in Knowles Creek.

Volunteers Welcome
If you’d like to see some spawning fish for yourself, we’re always looking for volunteers to help us complete these surveys. The wading can be physically demanding, but the sites and sounds of Knowles Creek in the winter more than make up for it. Contact Paul Burns, U.S. Forest Service, (541) 902-6953 or call me for more information.

See you on the water,
Action Jackson

(Please send comments or questions to Action Jackson at 268-6944 or www.actionjacksonfishing.com)

News From Around The Area

Fall is finally here. Rains and wind arrived this weekend and is predicted for the next few days. There’s plenty going on both on the river and on the lakes for salmon and trout. Here’s the latest:

Siltcoos Lake Producing Well
Last week I took folks out to Siltcoos 3 days, and we limited with big, beautiful Coho salmon all 3 trips. We also released several fish and caught many jacks and trout. The dam was opened for at least one day last week, and should be open continuously with storms coming. We were successful fly fishing and tossing spinners, but best catches came trolling plugs in Maple Arm and Fiddle Arm. Wiggle Warts™ in pink and orange produced best. I trolled relatively slow and made sure the plugs were far enough behind the boat (40-50 feet) to get the maximum dive. While we’re on the subject of plug fishing, anglers should take the time to change out the treble hooks on plugs. Add a siwash (single) hook on a small barrel swivel to the split rings on the plug. Size #1 or #2 Gamakatsu siwash hooks are perfect for small-medium size plugs. A lot of folks feel that treble hooks are better, but believe me the single hooks don’t miss much. And if you plan on releasing dark or small fish, the siwash hooks do much less damage. This is especially true for the small trout that sometimes take these plugs.

Tidewater Fishing
As of last week, large, fresh Chinook were still being checked at the ramp at Old Town. I got a tip from a very reliable source that good fish were still being caught in the Cushman/Dairy Hole vicinity on the Siuslaw. While Chinook aren’t holding in the lower river like they did back in September, you can still intercept fresh fish in the lower river. And you won’t have to dodge any other boats. The effort on the river has fallen off the table. There’s nobody out there fishing! Get out there, cover some water (read: troll) and find some chrome-bright fish.

River Fishing
Rising river levels will bring a mix of dark and bright fish into the river from The Forks down. A reminder that the river is CLOSED above The Forks and CLOSED for all of Lake Creek to prevent snagging and poaching. Bobber fishing with eggs will produce well over the next several weeks in deeper holes and slots. Here’s a couple of things to consider: please gently release any fish you don’t want to keep and be sure to pack out your trash. Bring an extra bag and pack out the other guy’s trash too. Nothing is worse than getting down to your favorite spot and see shrimp and egg containers everywhere. Leave it looking better than you found it.

See you on the water,
Action Jackson

(Please send comments or questions to Action Jackson at 268-6944 or www.actionjacksonfishing.com)