Catfishing

Anyone know of any good catfish spots near Portland?

 Anyone up for an upcoming night paddle?  Let me know

As I understand, the Multnomah Channel has some good sized channel cats and bullhead.  They can also be found in Sturgeon Lake (on Sauvie's Island).

If we were doing this at night we'd probably need running lights - wouldn't we?  I don't know much about boating regs.  I used to night fish for cats in CA on reservoirs where I was the only one there (except the turtles that would steal my cats off my stringer).

I miss good cats.  But not sure I'd eat one out of the Wilamette.

I wouldn't eat one from the lower Willamette for sure, and I'd have second thoughts about Multnomah Channel (all that water is mostly coming from the Willamette).  Omnivorous bottom feeder that is resident in a small stretch of river/water.  Above Albany maybe.

I grew up fishing for channel cats and blue cats in the South East.  They are most active at night, but feed throughout the days.

There may be cats in Hagg, wouldn't surprise me. 

If we were doing this at night we'd probably need running lights - wouldn't we?

Naaa, a headlight will do just fine. Colregs say a light to signal with is all that's required for vessels under oar under 17m (?) I don't remember the length, but I know its bigger than anything I'd be paddling.

In fact, running lights (port and strbrd lights) are a bad idea as powered boats can easily misjudge your distance. A 13' kayak with running lights near by looks exactly like a 28' center console thats twice the distance.   A single all-around light says "I'm at anchor (which essentially you are) please don't run over me"


On catfish;
I heard some guys on the ramp at Hagg yesterday saying they'd caught good cats while trolling (?). Both said they were surprised and one said it happened twice. I've never caught any there, but I have not tried. (Got two nice trout though ) Relativly clean water too! (well at least its not a super fund site)