The Salmon River Fish-Along

When: Sat. Sep. 24th at 7:00 am
Where:Three Rocks Boat Ramp
Directions:The Salmon River is paralleled by Hwy 18 for much of its length and crossed by Hwy 101 near its mouth.  Click on the map icon for a detailed map of the area.

General Fishing Information

Rich Youngers from the Creekside FlyFishing Shop in Salem will be hosting this fish-along.  We'll be fishing tide water on the Salmon river for salmon, sea-run cutthroats, or both.  This is a unique fish-along offering you the choice of fishing for chinook, coho, or sea-run cutts.  The fish in tide water are fresh and fiesty and should be a blast to catch.  Rich recommends bringing equipment for both salmon and cutthroat just in case the salmon are not on the bite.  The tide for the day of the 24th isn't that good so fishing may be on the slow side for salmon.

This short coastal river is known for strong hatchery runs of fall chinook salmon. The hatchery is located only 4 miles from the mouth of the river so most people angle in a rather short stretch of the river. Downstream of the Hwy 101 bridge the Cascade Head National Scenic Area provides good public access for bank anglers. Boaters can put in at the ramp at the end of Three Rocks Road. Most people fish for salmon and steelhead in the fall and winter. NOTE: This river contains wild coho salmon that are listed as a Threatened Species under the Endangered Species Act. Know your fish well if you decide to fish this river or any of its tributaries and help conserve this species.

Fishing Tactics and Techniques (swinging, stripping, dead drifting, etc.):In the estuaries you'll be using classic (stripping) lake fishing techniques.  Silvers require a quick retrieve and the Kings like to come after a slow short stripped retrieved fly.  Silvers will hit the fly hard whereas the Kings will take the fly softly.

Activities: Rich will do a short talk/demo at the start of the day.

Breakfest/Lunch Provided: No.  Bring your own breakfest/lunch and drinks.

Other Stuff to Bring: Waders (not required, but recommended).

Boats Required: Yes and no.

The best fishing will require the use of a boat, either pontoon, drift boat, conventional  v-hull boats. A boat with a motor would be the best.  It's rowable being that we will be fishing tidewater.  It's about a mile row from the boat ramp.  Tides are small on that date so it should be an easy row.  Rich says "I'ved rowed it for years when I guide and it seems even against an outgoing tide it takes me about a half hour". There is an alternate place anglers can put there pontoon boats in that would be a shorter distance.

Fortunately, if you don't have a boat you can still fish. Anglers can hike down to the glass house hole from the 101 bridge.  It's a bit of a hike, not bad though. You can also fish near the hatchery which is near Otis about 4 miles upriver, and it's accessible from the North Bank Road. Fish downriver from the hatchery. Most people bank fish below the Hwy. 101 bridge. This land is publicly owned, but land between Hwy. 101 and Otis is private.

Gear Requirements:

Chinook:

Rod/Line: 9-10 weight.  For Chinook Rich recommends using a Teeny type of sink tip line in a 200-300 grain weight with a 24-30 ft. sink tip.
Leader: 6 ft.15-20 lb.
Flies: Chartruese and white or chartruese and yellow clouser minnows, karluk flash flies in purple, silver/red, or green/red.  flash flies in silver/red, purple, green/red.

Rod/Line: 8-9 weight.  For Coho Rich recommends using either a floating or intermediate sink tip line.
Leader: 15-20 lb. leaders in 9ft for floating or intermediate lines.
Flies: Chartruese and white or chartruese and yellow clouser minnows, karluk flash flies in purple, silver/red, or green/red.  flash flies in silver/red, purple, green/red.

Rod/Line: 4-5 weight.  For Cutthroat Rich recommends using a floating  line.
Leader: 5x 9 ft. tapered leaders.
Flies: pin heads, black nose dace, mickey finns, borden specials (more sea-run cutthoat flies)

We had a great turn out but unfortunately there were very few fish in the river  No one landed a fish although Keric did have a decent fish (small coho or a jack?) hit his fly while fishing out of Rich's boat and Stan landed at least 3 crabs, yep, crabs (he'll for sure have a story for next months meeting).  I'm sure the weak tide had something to do with it.  Rich explained that the best days are those with the higest high and lowest low tide (in the same day). Rich also mentioned that once we start to get some decent amounts of rain the fish will move up into fresh water and that's the time to move above the hatchery for the best action.

Ed (Scott) showed up with his drift boat, Stan with with his pontoon, and Rich with his boat.  Rich was nice enough to ferry bank bound members around to some different water which really made the trip special (a huge thanks goes out to Rich for a great time). Since majority of the group  was bank bound Rich led us to the path (past all the gear anglers) that would (eventualy) lead us to the "glass house hole".  The hike wasn't bad, although there really isn't a well defined path, because of the the tall grass,  which made it more difficult than it could have been.  The boaters then launched at Three Rocks Road and made their way up stream to the glass house hole where we met for some good conversation (but no fish stories).

Even though we didn't catch any fish it was a great time.  It's amazing to see those waves (literally) of fish moving up the river.  So, if you didn't make the fish-along, get out there, there's still plenty of time to fish the the tide water this year.  Watch the tides for the best days and don't hesitate to ask if you have questions.