Willamette River Bassin

Fished the Willamette yesterday, Independence to Salem for bass; this was my first time using braid main line and fluorocarbon leader material. I missed the first few strikes by setting the hook too fast. I realized I was likely pulling the chartreuse and white willow blade spinner-bait out of the fish’s mouth and slowed down. After that revelation I hooked and landed a bunch of bass; none of decent size with the largest around 10”.

This was also my first time on the river to fish bass. I thought I’d be hooking small-mouth bass from reports I’ve read, but every fish landed was a large-mouth. I did try tubes, swim baits and plugs but no hits on anything except the chart/white gold blade spinner-bait. Also experimented with various scents. Pro-Cure Sweet Craw Super Gel was the scent I caught the most fish on, second was Shrimp/Krill Super Gel. Don't think either scent is relative to the river so to speak; I tried each on recommendation of Pro-Cure who's factory is here in Salem. BTW used the willow blade model and ¼oz spinner-bait because there is so much vegetation; tried a 3/8oz with Colorado style blade, it sank too quickly and kept getting fouled.

Every river I’ve ever been on is the same… the wind always blow upstream in the afternoon. The Predator 13 was a handful when the wind came up. After a few paddle strokes the bow would be pushed over and I’d have to fight wind and current to get back on tract. I don’t think a rudder would have been of use as the river is pretty low with several areas of very skinny water. The P13 is definitely not a river boat; it’s possible the MX would be better but it too has a pretty tall bow stance in the water.

I haven’t been on any river for a few years and thoroughly enjoyed myself except for the battle with the wind. I didn’t realize there were so many sloughs on the Willamette which would be difficult to fish, during low water, from anything except a kayak. This is not prime-time for bass fishing the river, so I will plan on more float trips as the year progresses.

The best news; I spent almost 7-hours on the river and my back feels better than it has in a long time. This morning was not a challenge to get rolling, in fact I believe the twisting and rotating while paddling is doing as the Doc suggested and helping free up some unused micro muscles from the past few years of inactivity due to the injury; another very good reason to love kayaks.

Don’t have a waterproof camera of any kind; still or video; my friend Phil Pirone took a shot as I headed out using his I-Phone. Sorry that’s the only photo available.

Nice report, thank you!

No one really talks about the largemouth on the Willamette. I catch them downstream of Oregon City too.

Nice report. I live near Independence but have never been on that stretch of river. Nice to know there are some fish there, too.