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)