Currents

I usually use MSW for wind and swell forcasts, but how to you guys tell what way the current is moving before you go out? Info is greatly appreciated!

Usually once on the water, we head out to fishing grounds and just heave to.  Then, note which way we drift, and take note on the GPS the average speed.  It can switch directions one or more times a day, or not.

Thanks for the reply,

That's usually what I do also, but at times the current is so strong that I can't even troll for salmon without drifting way off and try to fight current all the way back. Is there such thing as a current forecast so I can know before I go?

Thanks for the reply,

That's usually what I do also, but at times the current is so strong that I can't even troll for salmon without drifting way off and try to fight current all the way back. Is there such thing as a current forecast so I can know before I go?

Maybe, but I haven't seen one.

Depends where you are, you can usually figure out the current based on the tides.

They do make current books, that will tell you where and when the current will be the strongest and what direction it's going depending on the tides and features of the area.

 I've only seen them for the san jauns though, they're called waggoner tables

https://www.amazon.com/2016-Waggoner-Tables-Burrows-Associates/dp/098828779X/ref=pd_sim_14_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=41AADuqyLAL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL320_SR246%2C320_&psc=1&refRID=VXQAKRW7D485V785WMG4

USGS river data will show speed as well as rise/fall, turbidity, and temp.

Dunno how you'd get that for a bay or ocean.

Deep zoom,

http://www.deepzoom.com/#/Views/Boat.xaml

http://bragg.coas.oregonstate.edu/

This isn't a forecast but it maps surface currents along the Oregon Coast daily. You'll find yesterdays currents the morning you go out.

I've had issues with strong north to south currents fishing at Pacific City. They can make it really difficult to jig for ling and rock fish. It doesn't help that I require a paddle to propel myself, leaving me without enough hands to do it all.

I use the one Noah posted as well as this one for fishing JDF .

http://www.dairiki.org/tides/daily.php/jua
T2

https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/noaacurrents/Regions

http://bragg.coas.oregonstate.edu/

This isn't a forecast but it maps surface currents along the Oregon Coast daily. You'll find yesterdays currents the morning you go out.

I've had issues with strong north to south currents fishing at Pacific City. They can make it really difficult to jig for ling and rock fish. It doesn't help that I require a paddle to propel myself, leaving me without enough hands to do it all.

That is a big part of the attraction to Hobies and other pedal drive kayaks.  Once I get my job situation settled and we move the cash flow that should get freed up if we buy a cheap enough house might allow me to buy a Hobie or Native Propel, or some other pedal driven kayak.

Wow thanks for all the great info guys!

http://bragg.coas.oregonstate.edu/

This isn't a forecast but it maps surface currents along the Oregon Coast daily. You'll find yesterdays currents the morning you go out.

I've had issues with strong north to south currents fishing at Pacific City. They can make it really difficult to jig for ling and rock fish. It doesn't help that I require a paddle to propel myself, leaving me without enough hands to do it all.

That is a big part of the attraction to Hobies and other pedal drive kayaks.  Once I get my job situation settled and we move the cash flow that should get freed up if we buy a cheap enough house might allow me to buy a Hobie or Native Propel, or some other pedal driven kayak.

A drift sock doesn't cut it?

A drift sock slows down the effects of WIND moving you. It would have zero or possibly an amplifying effect on what current does to your kayak.

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I use sailing current charts that show the changes in currents depending on tide flow.  This is for Hood Canal, I'm sure if you hunted for sailing charts you might find some.  I've used a GPS to measure speed and sometimes moving 50 feet or so left or right will result in changes of forward speed from 3 MPH to 5 MPH

http://nsgl.gso.uri.edu/washu/washuc77001/washuc77001_part3.pdf