News From Around The Area

Last weekend’s storm delivered way over 2 inches of rain to Mapleton and the surrounding mountains, changing tidewater fishing for the next several days. Here’s the latest on what I’m seeing and hearing out there:

Upriver Fish?
Many folks headed upriver to try to find those moving fish over the weekend. I’ve heard wide ranging stories from getting skunked to hooking several fish. For the most part, if you hooked any fish above Mapleton, you did well. A very reliable source reported landing one chinook, having a couple of other takes, and talking to a lot of folks who had nothing. The river was still too low for safe drift boating on Sunday. Remember, Lake Creek and the Siuslaw above Lake Creek are closed to salmon fishing this year.

Tidewater Fishing
Upper tidewater fishing had been very consistent until the weekend rains. Fishing around Mapleton and below slowed considerably over the weekend. The rain cooled the river into the upper 50’s, which will make for better fishing once fresh fish arrive. Trolling spinners is a great way to cover water and find aggressive fish when they are spread out. Some folks might feel that tidewater fishing is over for the year. Don’t believe it! More fish are coming, and once river levels drop all the way down, they will spend some time in tidewater.

Siltcoos and Tahkenitch Open
Boats have been spotted fishing Tahkenitch lake near the outlet this week. Nobody has reported anything to me yet, but my guess is that silvers are pouring into the lakes, especially with the tremendous numbers of silvers we’re seeing in the river this year. Trolling spinners (like North Country Super Hoochies™) in pink and green would be a great way to catch these fish. If you get out there, call me and send me a report.

Follow That Fish!
Last week we saw a couple of guys hook a large chinook. As they held their position in the river, the big fish worked closer and closer to the shore. Eventually, the fish found some old pilings, wrapped around them, and the guys lost the fish. I felt bad for them, not only because the fish was surely a beauty, but also because there were things they could have done to push the odds in their favor. First, close the gap between your boat and the fish. You can move toward the fish as the angler takes up line. Second, move away from the bank. Lead that fish to the middle of the river where there’s less debris to wrap around.

See you on the water,
Action Jackson

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