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SD2OR with a trophy fall walleye

Topic: Shad Fishing on the Willamette...Farther-Upriver?  (Read 1093 times)

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Larry_MayII_HR

  • Rockfish
  • ****
  • Location: Corvallis, OR
  • Date Registered: Jun 2017
  • Posts: 150
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


alpalmer

  • Salmon
  • ******
  • Location: Albany, OR
  • Date Registered: Apr 2012
  • Posts: 504
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
« Last Edit: June 12, 2022, 10:11:14 AM by alpalmer »
"A venturesome minority will always be eager to get off on their own,
and no obstacle should be placed in their path;
let them take risk, for God sake, let them get lost, sun burnt, stranded, drowned,
eaten by bears, buried alive under avalanches -
that is the right and privilege of any free American."
--Edward Abbey--


Helium Head

  • Lingcod
  • *****
  • Location: Outer NW Portland
  • Date Registered: Mar 2016
  • Posts: 366
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.
Hobie Revolution 13 olive
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Larry_MayII_HR

  • Rockfish
  • ****
  • Location: Corvallis, OR
  • Date Registered: Jun 2017
  • Posts: 150
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.


Shin09

  • Salmon
  • ******
  • Location: Portland
  • Date Registered: Oct 2015
  • Posts: 549
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?