rogerdodger:
Once again, as we approach Oct.1, it's that time of year when coho fishermen all around the Florence area (and beyond) are heard to say..."Is the Siltcoos dam open yet?"
Good summer weather here, cool with lots of clouds and coastal drizzle, Siltcoos and Tahk are both at what I would call 'normal' levels for late September. Expecting a decent amount of rain early next week, should bring an explosion of mushrooms and perhaps start bringing up the lakes.
Pepper and I will be visiting the lakes often to check the water levels, I will post updates on that. And the first nice day after Oct.1, I'm going to take her along for our annual "Opening Day" outing to Siltcoos, just not on Oct.1 this year due to stormy weather. She's doing really well and I'm hoping can stay on the kayak and enjoy a bit more time out on the water with me.
The Tahk launch on 101 is still closed but the one just 1/4 mile away at Tahk Landing campground is open, just requires any of the federal passes.
Hoping for 'big' things from the coho at the lakes this year based on what I've been hearing about ocean conditions and coho fishing. ;D
cheers, roger
SD2OR:
As always, I super appreciate the info and updates on the lakes this time of year! Thanks Roger!
rogerdodger:
I hit both lakes this week as part of my 'Tribute to Pepper' tour- 7hr on the Siuslaw Tuesday (IMO- salmon runs underperformed this year on the Slaw), 5hr on Tahk Wed. and 7hr at Siltcoos yesterday. (did you guys know that there is all sorts of space on the rear deck of most kayaks where you can put stuff? lol).
No change to lake water levels, not enough rain to raise them yet. Both lakes about 65F.
Tahk was beautiful and I had it all to myself, no sign of coho yet, I went from Tahk Landing to the top of Mallard arm (2.5miles) to check my matsutake spot and, well, I found a nice one and like 4' over from it, just laying there plain as day, was my Leatherman Rev that went missing on my very last trip to Tahk last December 6. Pepper and I came home from that trip with a huge coho and some mushrooms but no Leatherman (had no clue where I had lost it, just gone).
Siltcoos has me very excited, at the launch, guy walking his golden doodle showed me a picture of a shiny coho that he had caught Tuesday on the west shoreline. That changed my focus from mushrooms to actually fishing harder but it's the water that got my attention, much better clarity, easily 5' in some areas on the west side. Again I shared the lake with geese, ducks, loons, grebes, but almost no other boats. Sure enough, up the Maple arm I had an adult coho jumping/rolling and tried for 2 hours, cast and trolled probably 8 different spinner styles/weights/colors but just could not convince him to play. Found a foot long SRC and 16" resident cutthroat and headed home to rest my legs.
Planning to try Siltcoos again next Tuesday.
Drifter2007:
Nice find on your knife! Thanks for the report!
rogerdodger:
Oct. 11 Siltcoos Bar report: excellent but not unexpected- a deep wide connection to the ocean, easy route for the coho to swim right in and there should be plenty of water flowing over the short fish ladder at the dam. I am optimistic about a decent number of jacks and adults coming in early this year and then hopefully even more after rains and the dam gets opened. In my experience, early coho tend to hang out in the lake longer, later incoming fish often seem to zip right through the lake and are not as willing to play with the friendly kayak fishermen.
with wind forecast looking good and sunny or partly sunny skies, I'm planning to be there Tue and Wed of this week.