Noob here. Trying to learn to salmon fish

Hey guys I see a lot of you guys having some success new sellwood bridge.  I would like to go out there this friday.   Any tips.  Im still new to kayaking but fairly experienced in fishing.  Any of you experienced people going to be out there on friday?   My main concern is the current.  I ride an ocean kayak trident 11.  I took it out with a buddy of mine on saturday to Tillamook bay for some rock fish.  We went out late that day and was fighting the in-coming tide to get out to the fishing spot.  Man was that a workout! Will it be the same as if I was out there near sellwood to fish for salmon?  I have most of the essentials.  PFD, Fish Finder, Wetsuit, Fishing gear, Radio,  etc...  If any of you experience people out there would like to show me the way it would be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks!

The Willamette isn't anywhere near as bad as the tidal currents in T-bay. It can be quite pleasant this time of year.  In fact several of us know of some spots that do not even require an anchor for sturgeon fishing this time of year.  As for Sellwood tips, I have never fished there so I can't help you other than to say get some herring and brine it. Plug cut it and put on a Dick's sure spin so it doesn't get blown out so easy and it rolls consistently. Then, put about a 24 inch dropper line on and keep it just off the bottom. I have seen many fish caught that way--right next to me.    Then again, I may not be the person that is best qualified to provide Springer advice.  My catch ratio is right up there with Noah's.    I would love to fish Friday, but my stoopid job prevents me. No one should have to work when there is a salmon run going.  Just my humble opinion.

Sellwood is a great place to start fishing for salmon.  Going under the bridge with all the construction can be intimidating, but there are are plenty of great spots downriver.  Keep an eye out for a nice shelf that goes about halfway across the river.

Check out the Springer tutorial on the front page.  Apply those tactics to the reef at Sellwood and you should be doing well.  Follow the "Continued on" notes along the edges of the map that's linked in the tutorial and you'll find the map for the sellwood area.  Work over the shelf you find in the map.  Fish on the bottom while on the reef.

Currents won't be much of an issue.  You may require a bit more weight going upstream on the outgoing but that's it.

Oh yeah, craid nailed it with the suggestion of using a surespin.  You can also forego the flasher till you have a bit more experience.  They can create nasty tangled messes.

-Mark-

I hope to be out there Friday too, but I am 0 for 2 at Sellwood, and still waiting to get salmon blood on my new kayak - so I am not much help.  Last week I had to hear from several boaters about the Hobie fisherman that put two in the boat in a half hour just before I got there! 

SPOT is right on - follow the tutorial - the shelf is pretty easy to find, and the PBs follow the shelf inside the green can if you aren't sure where to look.  The currents are pretty mild, I have to back off on the speed constantly, even on the outgoing, but the tide turn also seems to be more productive.

Good fishing, I'll wish you beginner's luck, and look for you if I don't work and can make it there. 

So the early hobie catches the springers?

Thanks guys! I have trolled for salmon before out of a motored boat in the Columbia and out of buoy 10.  So I kinda got that down.  But the Willie is relatively new to me.  Stevm  when do you plan on going out there? It would be nice to go along with someone.  I'm still new to the idea of kayaking so I'm trying to stick to the rule of going with a buddy.  Oh BTW do you guys go with or against the current? 
FYI have you guys heard of Franks FBRs I killed it last year at buoy 10. Hopefully it will give me some luck.

Quick question guys. How do you guys fish right off the bottom if you guys kayak with a paddle?  and how much weight do you guys use out there.
Was out there today and people catching fish around me.. kind of sucky.. not even a bite. 

I'm just starting to figure this out, but I'm loving having the rod in my lap.  My legs are pretty flat, the butt goes under my right thigh and the reel sits on my left knee. I feel every bump, strike and interested stare. I rock the boat every 5 stokes to touch bottom and can adjust almost without breaking stroke. I use 6oz.

That's just what works for me. Good luck.