Multnomah shad

For shad, might be best to organize a similar gathering to fish Multnomah Channel, on the Oregon side of the Columbia. 

The best shad fishing spots are areas where the rivers narrow and current picks up, forcing the shad to congregate... there is a spot on the Channel known as Coon Island that is a shad-fishing hot spot (just a couple miles from the Gilbert River boat ramp where Spot caught his springer yesterday).

Best part is that Coon Island is a public park, managed as a primitive area for camping.  Many folks kayaking the Columbia River trail plan a day or two around camping on the island. 

There are also miles and miles of sloughs, shallow lakes, and wetlands inside Sauvies Island (which forms the north side of the channel), filled with bruiser carp (poor man's bonefish on fly tackle), and walleye and smallmouth bass in the channel.  Depending on when spring chinook fishing closes there, there might also be some late run springers in mid-late May.

You organize it 3wt and I'll be there, although next time I go near that channel I'll be sure to use the tides better.  It can be slow going, especially if your trolling an "anchor" size weight on a K15.

Maybe this should be it's own thread?

Maybe this should be it's own thread?

Done!  I split it off.

-Allen

So the ideal time to do such a weekend would be the end of May or early June.  What kind of interest would there be in something around June 7 or 8, beyond me and Scott?

It's almost time!!!

just wish y'all could save some for me to catch till July

http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=198970


BTW: If anybody would put some of the slimy boogers in the freezer for me, I'd greatly appreciate it. Shad are THE best crawfish bait on the planet!

Flies, spoons, spinners.....I've never fished for shad before and know nothing about them. I'm up for a Sunday or Monday session

Jay

Flies, spoons, spinners.....I've never fished for shad before and know nothing about them.
Jay

The short answer is "yes", as long as its little and chartreuse (or yellow). My favorite is a 1/32 jig head on a #8 hook and a tiny chartreuse curly tail. Tie up some little clousers in the same colors and hang it out in front of 20' of LC-13 or the shooting head of your choice.

Here's a couple of ifish threads that cover it even better.

http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=114268&highlight=shad+swivels

http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?p=827994#Post870574

http://www.shadspoons.com/Doubleshadrig.JPG/Doubleshadrig-full.jpg

I just got back into town after a long business trip.  Still adjusting back to West Coast time, but thinking of trying the Coon Island area tomorrow or Monday.

Anyone interested in pursuing the overnight trip idea?

Scratch that... just looked at the flows in the Willamette... yikes!  No shad fishing in the channel to the current tames down a bit.

Yeah, I read that the Gilbert river boat ramp is closed right now due to the lake that you pass on the way there flooding out the road, and too much debris on that ramp to make launching possible.  That ramp get's really nasty when the weather sucks.    Drove by the boat ramp in Milwalkie on Friday and I couldn't even see where the ramp is, the water is so high (same with Meldrum bar).   Looks like no playing in the rivers round here for a little bit.

To make matters worse, breathing recycled airplane air for 8 hours on Friday left me with a nasty sore throat.  I am itching to get out though... contemplating taking the kayak up to Laurence Lake tomorrow, or heading to the Deschutes for some early salmonfly action.  Or saving $$ on fuel and heading to the Tualatin (I'm hoping that since it flows out of the coast range, it is not getting the massive slug of snowmelt that is coming out of other area rivers.)

***SHAD REPORT***

"The shad numbers at Bonneville also skyrocketed this week with 91,476 counted on Tuesday alone, and fishing was off the charts below the dam in recent days. The count was expected to be well over 600,000 by yesterday, so hit the banks now from Bonneville down to the Camas-Washougal area."

Z

I realize shad tend to be found in fairly fast moving water, any one know of some good areas to target these from a yak.  BTW, I'm sick of this snow melt making our rivers high, fast and cold.

Brian

Launch at 45.3908 122.629, fish at 45.3875 122.623
or
Launch at 45.3773 122.617 and fish in the river up to Oregon City
or
Launch at 45.7585 122.819, fish at 45.7673 122.816
and
save some for me! I'll be there in a couple of weeks!

Launch at 45.3908 122.629, fish at 45.3875 122.623
or
Launch at 45.3773 122.617 and fish in the river up to Oregon City
or
Launch at 45.7585 122.819, fish at 45.7673 122.816
and
save some for me! I'll be there in a couple of weeks!

Now that's what I call detailed fishing intel. Thanks Wali.

Brian