Rain Will Help Silver Fishing

Hello Anglers!
This week's rain should help the silver fishing in the lakes. I'll be out several times next week fishing for silvers with fly gear. I'll post updates later this week.
Here's this week's Siuslaw News story...
Snaggers Steal From All Of Us

The rains a couple of weeks ago moved many chinook up river. For a while, great fishing was had in many of the deeper holes and slots from Deadwood all the way down Lake Creek and on the mainstem Siuslaw. Now that the river has dropped down to pre-rain flows, opportunities for snagging salmon are all over the place. Salmon may be trapped in some holes by low water making them an easy target. Let’s talk a little bit about why this is so sickening.

Snagging For Eggs
Many snaggers are not after the salmon to feed their families, since many fish easily seen are marginal at best. They’re after big female fish with eggs. They’ll cut the fish open, take the eggs, and throw away the rest of the fish in some location where it’s unlikely to be found. Pretty disgusting. Snaggers often target fish on their spawning beds, where they will sit for long periods and, when disturbed, will return to the same spot. Maybe the saddest part about this whole thing is that the eggs aren’t high quality, either. Eggs in dark fish are often loose (single eggs) since the skein diminishes before the female salmon deposits them in the nest. So just like that, a snagger taking a fish off the spawning gravel has literally destroyed thousands of eggs.

Time To Close Upper Siuslaw and Lake Creek?
It may be time that ODFW consider closing portions of Lake Creek and the Siuslaw until later in the season. I realize that many salmon fishermen without a boat depend on fishing these areas, and that fresh salmon can be caught there, even in low water. But snagging is a problem that needs to be addressed. If the Siuslaw was closed from the confluence of Lake Creek upstream until November 1, there would still be plenty of good locations folks could reach from the bank.

What You Can Do
First of all, keep your eyes open when you’re out on the water. There’s the old saying that “if you think something’s wrong, it probably is.” If fishermen seem nervous and not very talkative, something may be wrong. Most folks out on the water will gladly tell you what’s going on, how they did, what they saw, etc. If you have a cell phone on you, call the Oregon Poacher’s Hotline at 800-452-7888. Get a description of the vehicle, suspects, and any other relevant information. Remember, you are protecting your fish, your children’s fish and your grandchildren’s fish. Do your part to help the fish you love.

See you on the water,
Action Jackson

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