Willamette Slough and Hammers

I parked and paddled from West Salem, Oregon, Wallace Marine Park #1, across the Willamette and up past the sternwheeler #2 The Willamette Queen. This is the beginning of the (by name) Willamette Slough. Google earth shows there is a clear entrance #3  from the river but with summers low water the area is overgrown with aquatic weeds and shore brush. To get to the slough is a portage of about 100 yards on a makeshift trail through a weedy area that leaves sticky seeds everywhere; didn’t like that part.

How was the fishing?
Once into the main slough the same aquatic weed or plant is choking off what is now, a large pond. Google Earth shows is at least 50% more water and 100% less vegetation. Summer is tough on the slough; the water is tannic acid brown from the rotting vegetation, further reducing clarity and visibility. Of course this will get flushed out during high water again this winter and begin anew in the spring.

How was the fishing?
My regular craft the Predator 13 is sidelined while I’m playing in the rivers, so this is only the second fishing trip in a new boat. The new boat, a Dagger Axis 12.0 Sit Inside kayak has an easy portage weight of just 55 pounds. She is half class III whitewater boat with a drop down skeg providing great tracking in still waters.  I’ll have to do a review on this boat; she is amazing, and fun.

How was the fishing?
This is the first time I have ever used a Big Hammer Swimbait. So, between new fishing waters, new boat and new technique, one would think it may not have gone too well…

As I was paddling in I saw few heavy swirls and just knew I’d found a gem. I didn’t bring a great selection of Hammertails just 3, 4& 5”, all in some form of rainbow trout color, all but one which was the Mackerel color #72, after seeing the dark water I wish I had something with some color to it. I settled for the Mackerel in 4” and after a half dozen casts I felt a hit, but more like just a nibble, a pull on the tail. I began to zero in and just a few casts later was into a monster. Long dogged runs, fakes and plenty of rod bending and finally a huge sucker gave me a chance to see the 4/0 hook buried in his side. Sorry about the poor photo.

No wonder he was able to run so well I thought…  At that very same moment I realized I had no landing net. What to do, never lipped a sucker, then decided; don’t think I want to. Pick him up by the gills? I heard they have sharp gill plates don’t need to get cut. I tried to tail him like you would a salmon, found out on the first try, that won’t work; too slippery. Finally just gave up, cut the line and donated the hardware. Somewhere in that slough is a sucker showing off his new bling. The days fishing started off a bit strange.

Now the rest of the story; that was the only Mackerel Swimbait I had so I rigged a 4” Big Hammer in Rainbow Trout #1 on a 3/8 oz Hammerhead with 2/0 hook. The sucker came on Pro-cure Anise Plus Super Gel. With the new color came a different scent; Shrimp / Krill Super Gel. Didn’t bring Rainbow Trout Super Gel and figured anything tasty is better than plain old rubber; and I was right.

 I spent the next four hours learning how to swim a Swimbait while catching and releasing several bass in the process; the largest about 20 inches, nothing huge. Again on this trip it was largemouth bass only. Still waiting to see a smallmouth, I’ve heard spring is better.

I’ll visit again real soon while the weather stays nice and bring some Big Hammer Swimbait in lively colors to see how they like that. Think I’ll wear long pants during the portage as well.

Great report!  You did better than I ever did in that pond. I only fished it a couple of times though.  Tons of carp in there.  Pretty awesome place for a kayak ride on a sunny day.  There are smallies at the mouth of the slough upriver from there on the way to Independence.

Sounds like a good day. I drive by there a lot and have wondered why I haven't seen many boats there, the vegetation issue would make sense.

Sounds like a good day. I drive by there a lot and have wondered why I haven't seen many boats there, the vegetation issue would make sense.

The portage he mentioned also makes it tough to get a regular boat in there.

Sounds like a good day. I drive by there a lot and have wondered why I haven't seen many boats there, the vegetation issue would make sense.

The portage he mentioned also makes it tough to get a regular boat in there.

Also makes sense, I guess I glossed over that particular part about note #3 being a portage and not open like the picture shows.

Great report, sounds like all the portaging was worth it. Can't wait for your review of the Axis 12.0

Nice report. I always wondered what that was like in there. We walk around Minto Brown often.

If you run into a situation of no net again, while fishing a jig head, simply grab the jig and haul them in that way. I've done this on fish all the way up to halibut.

That's how landed all my lings on that last trip

The following is a paragraph from my Axis 12.0 review: This is one of the cons of the sit inside style of kayak, especially one that is only 27 1/2 inches wide with a small cockpit.

"Once a fish is hooked it is not feasible to bring it aboard inside the cockpit, while it is still alive, as is done in my Predator 13 SOT. The last thing I’d want is a big pissed off fish flopping about, on my lap, or in between my legs, with a hook still embedded looking for a leg to get attached to.
I considered a landing net, which turns out to be too cumbersome, but instead opted for a nylon plastic, Norton Fish Grip (lip grabber), which is now, a dedicated accessory, attached on a tether on my PFD along with my rescue knife, whistle and Boomerang line nippers."

I've got a few other cons that I'll share in the review, which will be posted in a week or so (need photos). Rest assured even with the cons the benefits to me, of the purpose purchased Axis 12.0 outweigh them. After all, necessity is the mother of invention; where there is a problem, there has to be a sound solution.

Going back to the slough tomorrow, who knows what lurks in those dark waters...

Sounds like a cool boat but not being able to land a fish would be a very big 'con' for me. Of the list of things I want out of fishing kayak being able to land the fish is pretty high on the list.