PC Spring Break- Kayak Angling Gone Bad!

The missus and I had rented a beach house in Pacific City for later in this week a while ago. So much for luck with the weather and ocean conditions. 

Don't want to just sit and cry in my beer at the Pelican. Any suggestions for back-up activities? I'm thinking clamming/crabbing and paddling Nestucca or Netarts. Anyone care to join the party?

Explore the tidewaters of the Tillamook, Trask and Wilson rivers.  It's just beautiful back there!

Arrange for a shuttle to take your car from Cloverdale to the state park in PC and drift down from Cloverdale.

Paddle out to the spit at the mouth of the Salmon River and throw a crab ring.  This is a great place to be at dawn.

-Spot-

I had read the suggestion in an earlier post (I think it was from you) about this float, but that was the upper section from Farmer down to Cloverdale. This lower section looks like real attractive water for a pleasure paddle this time of year with the wife. How long of a float would you say that is? Is there any rapids of any significance in that stretch? It looks like the takeout would be the State park ramp off of Sunset Dr. Is that correct? Any of you locals know who offers a shuttle for that section?

Had not considered the mouth of the Salmon. That looks niiiiice... How is the tide exchange there? Better at high or low? Since Low tide is around 6 and sunset at 7:40, thinking catching the tide out at 4:30 or 5 and riding it back in by 7:30.

Tillamook, Trask, and Wilson seem a bit far for the trouble than the other closer waters mentioned.

Are you taking the new-to-you Revo out?
By the way, thanks for the jig heads! I found them by accident when I was unloading the car last night. I got around five holes in my thumb 

I had read the suggestion in an earlier post (I think it was from you) about this float, but that was the upper section from Farmer down to Cloverdale. This lower section looks like real attractive water for a pleasure paddle this time of year with the wife. How long of a float would you say that is? Is there any rapids of any significance in that stretch? It looks like the takeout would be the State park ramp off of Sunset Dr. Is that correct? Any of you locals know who offers a shuttle for that section?

This stretch is about 5 to 6 miles long with no rapids.  It's all just coastal tidewater. Your wife would probably like it. 
Check out the bait shop in Hebo.  They might be able to provide shuttle service.
34368 Highway 101 S,
Cloverdale, OR 97112
(503) 392-3157

Had not considered the mouth of the Salmon. That looks niiiiice... How is the tide exchange there? Better at high or low? Since Low tide is around 6 and sunset at 7:40, thinking catching the tide out at 4:30 or 5 and riding it back in by 7:30.

The only consideration here is that the launch can be a slog at low tide.  Flow doesn't matter much.  Incomming, outgoing, it's a short paddle and not very challenging.  But, it's beautiful on that bar!  Great place for a picnic.

Have fun!
-Spot-

Are you taking the new-to-you Revo out?
By the way, thanks for the jig heads! I found them by accident when I was unloading the car last night. I got around five holes in my thumb 

Absolutely! My wife just absolutely LOVES her Perception 9.5 Swifty. 'Course all she likes is flat water anyway, but now that I have the Revo, this will free up the Trident 13. Been trying to talk her in to a SOT for a while. Maybe she'll go for the Revo instead once she's tried it and leave me with the Trident!

Let me know how those home made jigheads work out. They were the first-run/first-attempt...

I just brought a limit of clams back from Netarts today, so that and crabbing in the bay is always an option if it isn't too rainy and windy. 

I just brought a limit of clams back from Netarts today, so that and crabbing in the bay is always an option if it isn't too rainy and windy.

Kayak or pb? I thought I saw an NWKA folk (or two) over the weekend. I was crabbing off the marina rocks with my kids. Did pretty well for red rock crabs and got my first experience with kelp crabs. Those things are crazy! Didn't do any clamming this time, and couldn't buy a bite from shore (tried several spots for a few hours, couldn't even rustle up a perch or sculpin). The ocean looked nasty!

Hmmm, you ate kelp crabs?  Or by "first experience" did you mean something else.

Hmmm, you ate kelp crabs?  Or by "first experience" did you mean something else.

I did! I'm kind of an omnivore when it comes to saltwater. The kelp crabs kept harassing my rings so I kept them. I'd never seen one before in the wild, and I've been crabbing for 15 years. I don't know if it's a Netarts Bay thing or what. I went down to the boat ramp at night with my kids and they were all over the underside of the dock.

Anyway, yeah, really tasty. Hard to get to the meat in the small bodies, but the claws yielded nice chunks of meat. The taste was about like red rock crabs. Next time I won't keep any that don't have big claws. I know some people say the flesh is mushy; I suspect they are overcooking them.

I also caught a red rock crab with the biggest claw I've ever seen. I think I've got a picture or two (hopefully they turned out OK). The circumference of the claw was as big as making an "O" out of your thumb and middle finger, no joke! Anyway... good times. We also harvested some mussels from one of the surfing beaches towards Cape Meares. They turned out OK. My wife wasn't wild about them but I thought they were decent, if strongly flavored.

I just brought a limit of clams back from Netarts today, so that and crabbing in the bay is always an option if it isn't too rainy and windy.

Kayak or pb? I thought I saw an NWKA folk (or two) over the weekend. I was crabbing off the marina rocks with my kids. Did pretty well for red rock crabs and got my first experience with kelp crabs. Those things are crazy! Didn't do any clamming this time, and couldn't buy a bite from shore (tried several spots for a few hours, couldn't even rustle up a perch or sculpin). The ocean looked nasty!

Went and picked them after kayaking.

I didn't get out in the yaks this week while out at the beach, but I did get a few clams out of Netarts.  I could have easily got a limit of steamers, but we walked way out looking for cockles then the weather turned on us.  I was impressed with the stamina of my 9 year old boy.  Some how he managed to complain about the rain the entire trip back. I figured he would be tired of complaining after about 3/4 of a mile.   He did get his first steamers by himself though so I consider it a win.

I didn't get out in the yaks this week while out at the beach, but I did get a few clams out of Netarts.  I could have easily got a limit of steamers, but we walked way out looking for cockles then the weather turned on us.  I was impressed with the stamina of my 9 year old boy.  Some how he managed to complain about the rain the entire trip back. I figured he would be tired of complaining after about 3/4 of a mile.   He did get his first steamers by himself though so I consider it a win.

Nice!

Ok. So no tears were spilt in the growler of tsunami stout.

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Way to go BrownEyesVictim.   Impressive stamina indeed on your 9yr old...love it!