Clackamas and Sandy rivers

does anyone know any good kayak spots are on the Clackamas and Sandy rivers? and how and where are is the Coho bite is?

I'm a newbie and I would be thankful for any help.

The only places I know to fish for coho on the Clackamas are hike-in spots. Be careful as the rains come and the water rises; the flow can vary pretty quickly up there. Good luck!

Thanks if anyone else has info I would be greatfull.

I fished the Clackamas a ton near the Barton Park boat ramp (caught my first steelhead there).  Caught my second in the Sandy.  But those were wading. 

Food for thought:

Both those rivers are super treacherous, both have extensive body counts, both radically change after the winter storms every year.  The Sandy in particular is a notoriously unforgiving river; lots of hidden, shifting obstructions under water, so on.

In the summer, both rivers certainly calm down.  Lots of people float down the Clack through Barton in the summer in every thing from inner-tubes to pool toys, Ive seen some kayakers there as well.  I never saw anyone trying that on the Sandy tho. 

Are you planning on putting in up river and having a service taxi your car to a pick up point?  I cant think of a spot that you could reliably get back to a launch point otherwise.. 

In any case, the magic color for the Sandy is pink, the magic color for the Clack is purple.  Make of that what you will.

There is a nice float from Dabney park to Lewis and Clark park on the Sandy. I have taken several trips on this stretch and usually catch a Steelie or two in the process.  Watch your water levels. Digginit it is right the water levels do change quickly.

I was planing to bank fish most likely,do you guys know if any coho are still in the lower systems or are they all near eagle or ceader creeks?

I was planing to bank fish most likely,do you guys know if any coho are still in the lower systems or are they all near eagle or ceader creeks?

Not my hood anymore, sadly.

http://www.west-fly-fishing.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/forums/4/1/oregon.html   Consider asking here, these guys are grinding out salmon/steelhead on all the big Oregon rivers full time.

One of my favorite holes on the lower system is just below the Stark Street bridge. Drive up the river until you come around a corner and spy the Stark street bridge. Pull over and park as close to the white rail fence as you can. Pack up your gear and hike down to the water. Follow the waterline down stream until you hit the first bend in the river. The whole bend is productive. I like the top of the hole where it dives off from 3-4ft to 19. Good luck.

Wobbler

Thanks.

One of my favorite holes on the lower system is just below the Stark Street bridge. Drive up the river until you come around a corner and spy the Stark street bridge. Pull over and park as close to the white rail fence as you can. Pack up your gear and hike down to the water. Follow the waterline down stream until you hit the first bend in the river. The whole bend is productive. I like the top of the hole where it dives off from 3-4ft to 19. Good luck.

Wobbler

Not to be a bummer but if OP is thinking of floating/kayaking from say, Oxbow down into Dabney to get to this spot,  please dont do it.   Every year, people have to get rescued from that stretch, and I'm pretty sure that's one of the spots that people dont always make it out of alive.  You get dumped, your feet end up in branches under water, and the curtain drops.  All the guides put in upriver and pull out at Oxbow. 

Like Wobbler said, drive there and pull over.  I cant speak for what type of kayaking is available downstream of Dabney but really, Oxbow is a goddamned graveyard.

You know.. there is a fantastic shop near Gresham; Northwest Fly fishing Outfitters.  Give them a ring, (better still give them some business).  Consider asking them where to get the most bang for your kayak buck..

I've banked fished oxbow before and seen that graveyard you talked about,I don't think I'd float down from oxbow unless I was in a drift/sled boat.

I have kayak fly fished the Sandy from Dabney to Lewis and Clark a couple times in Hobie PA's and done so with kayak newbies, but experienced anglers. This stretch can be kayaked but, as always, with care. I have also kayaked a couple times, in winter, the Clack from Barton to Carver. The Clack requires more skill and I preferred my PA to my Outback. I have also rowed a drift boat and run a sled and I have a reverence for the power and how quickly rivers change. There is better fly water on the Clack than the lower Sandy. I wear a dry suit, carry extra clothes, a phone and, of course, always wear my PFD. Plus, I have a flag on my kayak because kayak anglers are not a common site, especially for those running sleds.

Thanks for all the advice, anyone know about were in the systems the coho are now? Are they up at the hatcherys or in the lower systems?