NorthWest Kayak Anglers
Kayak Fishing => Let's Talk Kayak Fishing => Topic started by: Larry_MayII_HR on June 08, 2022, 04:20:40 PM
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Everyone knows about shad fishing on the lower Willamette, but I am interested in hearing folks' experience farther upstream - say Salem, Corvallis, or Eugene. I haven't heard anyone talking about fishing mid or upper river for shad, and am wondering how far up they've been seen or hooked. I've fished the Sacramento River for shad more than a hundred miles from the ocean, so I am guessing shad making it up to Eugene isn't a crazy idea.
If the river ever comes down I'll try around here (Corvallis) and let you know what I find out.
Tight lines, y'all.
--Steve
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I haven't ever found reports of shad being caught above the falls. Perhaps they are but it's kept a secret. https://www.bestfishinginamerica.com/or-shad-fishing-in-oregon.html
I got curious and found this "report" from USGS. It seems the errant fish has been found above Oregon falls but nothing consistent. It would seem to be quite the long shot to find shad upriver.
https://nas.er.usgs.gov/viewer/omap.aspx?SpeciesID=491
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I heard that shad don’t make it past the falls because the “fish ladder” is a tunnel and shad don’t do tunnels. No idea if this is true.
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alplamer - thanks for sharing that link...that's a really handy and super interesting resource. The population shown in the middle Willamette near Albany was shown was a 'failed' population in 1886. I am wondering if that was an initial bid to introduce them above the falls.
Heliumhead - your point about the tunnel is also very interesting. I work in the hydropower industry, and the preferences and natural tendencies of fish (native or not) never cease to amaze me. It's totally possible that the shad get spooked by the fish ladder tunnel, or maybe a myriad of other issues with the design of the ladder (approach hydraulics, speed, drop height, attraction confusion, etc.).
Based on the link to the USGS site, I think I can call off my search for shad in the upper reaches of the Willamette - thanks for posting all.
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For some reason I was thinking they passed the falls and ODFW just didtn count them because it was too much work (based off notes off the FPC page?