Long Time, No Post!

Hello Anglers,
Sorry for the long time between posts, but things are busy here at the Jackson residence. Between steelheading, taking care of baby and a thousand chores, it is tough to post! Here are couple of back articles from the Siuslaw News...

Please get back to me if you have any comments or questions.

Best,
Jeff

Smith River Stipers – Here’s A Little More Information

Wow! My last article about Striped Bass in the Smith River created a lot of attention. Last week’s story resulted in more phone calls to me than any other article I’ve written. Lots of folks called asking about how to get there, where I saw the fish, and what to use. Other folks called to offer tips on fishing them, techniques they used when fishing them on the Sacramento River. Since there was so much interest, here’s some more information to help you in your pursuit of the mighty Stiper.

How To Get There/Where To Launch
The Smith River is a major tributary of the lower Umpqua River, joining the Umpqua between Gardiner and Reedsport. From Florence, take Hwy. 101 south to Gardiner. Right after you go through Gardiner, you cross the Smith River. You can turn left on Smith River Rd. to access the river. There are a few places to bank fish for the Stipers, and two very good launches. Noel Ranch is operated by the Forest Service, is paved and doesn’t charge for launching. Another ramp, Riverside, is a few miles higher up and accesses the highest areas of tidewater. There is no fee to launch at Riverside either.

Upper tidewater goes for a good distance. You can access the mouth of the North Fork Smith River (and further) with a prop. A word of warning: as with any body of water you’re not familiar with – use caution. If you plan of fishing Stipers at night, check out where you’re going during the day first.

What To Use For Bait
Lots of folks have different ideas on this one. If you’re fishing bait, try whole fish like herring, anchovies, smelt, etc. It is ILLEGAL to use a live fish as bait, even if it swims in the waters where you’ll be using it. As with any other fish as bait, use the best looking, freshest bait you can find. Another popular choice are plastic swim baits – which come in many sizes and are made by many different manufacturers. I found several good looking choices at the Sportsman right here in town before my last trip out. Try something resembling a small trout or shad to look like something on their normal menu.

Join me next week for more bait options and what tackle you’ll need to take down these hard-fighting fish.


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

There are plenty of interesting things going on with our fisheries here on the Central Coast. Here’s the latest on what I’ve heard and seen in our area.

Presentation On 2007 Salmon Run Tonight
The Siuslaw Watershed Council will host a presentation tonight on the 2007 fall Chinook run. John Spangler (ODFW) will discuss recreational harvest and spawning fish returns. You can catch the presentation at the Mapleton Grange Hall, 10880 E. Mapleton Rd. in Mapleton. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

Striped Bass In The Smith River Now!
Friends and I recently floated the North Fork Smith River and saw dozens of large Striped Bass in one hole. On another trip a few days later, hundreds were spotted. These are large fish, with most of them in the 20-40 lb. range. As friends and I started doing some research on what exactly these fish were doing, we turned up some interesting facts. First, these fish were spawning or getting very close to spawning. Striped bass spawn in late winter/early spring and the male fish we caught looked to be close to spawning. They are broadcast spawners, meaning the males and females simultaneously release both sperm and eggs into the water. They don’t dig redds in gravel like salmon and trout. The fertilized eggs drift with the current until they hatch.

Some folks would say that its too early for those Stipers to spawn and that they were up there to feed. I’m not so sure. The large out-migration of salmon fry and smolts is still at least another 6 weeks away. That many fish would need a lot of feed to warrant staying up that high in the system. I feel pretty sure those fish were spawning.

I have some phone calls in to ODFW staff to find out exactly what they know about Striped Bass numbers and their impacts on our salmon, steelhead and cutthroat trout. I can tell you Stripers are highly efficient predators and surely eat a great deal of juvenile salmonids. They are an excellent gamefish so get out there and take a limit! Feel free to contact me for some information about where to go and what to use. There’s no need to keep this fishery quiet as there’s plenty of fish to go around.

See you on the water,
Action Jackson

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

Advice For Fishing New Rivers

From time to time, you’ll find yourself thinking about fishing waters that are unfamiliar. First, let me tell you it’s a great idea! You’re certain to expand your fishing knowledge, see some beautiful scenery and perhaps hook into a fish of a lifetime. But before you load up your gear at three in the morning and get in the car, here’s some tips to help your expedition be less stressful and more successful.

Research Will Pay Off
There are two books I will read before I head out to fish new waters: Fishing in Oregon (Sheehan) and Oregon River Maps & Fishing Guide (Amato Books). These two books will give you information on boat launches, run timing, best river levels to fish and popular techniques. Other information you’ll find in these books includes navigation hazards (subject to change) and close-by services. Pick up these two books before your next trip and they will save you a lot of preparation time.

Check The Weather and River Levels
Checking the weather for the area you’ll fish and the river level will save you a lot of disappointment. There’s nothing worse than driving three hours to fish a new location only to find the river has blown out. Check the National Weather Service website (http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/) before heading out. This website will tell you the upcoming weather, and many river’s levels are listed as well. Remember that best fishing is usually when the river is dropping or steady and not on a rising river. Also, if the river is too low and clear, fish tend to be spooky and fishing is more difficult. You’ll find best fishing after a storm, as the river is first clearing and coming into shape.

Talk To Someone Who Knows
If you know someone in the area you’ll be fishing, call them and find out what’s going on. If you don’t know someone in the area (more often the case), call a guide on the river you’ll be fishing and ask them where the fish are. You can contact a local Chamber of Commerce to find the names and numbers of reliable guides. Any good guide will be happy to share information with you. Be sure to ask what stretch of the river is fishing the best, what techniques are working, and if there are any boating hazards of which you should be aware. If it helps you, write down your questions ahead of time so you ask about everything you want to ask about. If the guide doesn’t know, he or she should be able to point you in the right direction.

Spend At Least A Couple Of Days
Spending more than one day will really increase your chances of success when fishing a new river. You’ll be able to spend more time fishing, cover more water, and not feel so rushed. You don’t want to spend more time driving than fishing, so plan to stay overnight and fish again the next day.

See you on the water,
Action Jackson

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