Bass near Corvallis?

My kids have come to their senses and are moving to Oregon, arriving June 10th.  They want me to come up to help them unpack and if I have to drive that far, I'm bringing the Tarpon and I'm going fishing.

I'll only be in town two or three days and I'd be ever so grateful to learn about some good bass fishing spots that are in town or within a 20 to 30 minute drive from Corvallis so I can make bass-dashes.  Places I can take my kayak so I might (finally) get an AOTY point?

What's around?  Where would you recommend?  PM me if you prefer.

The Willamette River has bass and sturgeon.  You can drop in near the third street bridge or plan a small float.  There are plenty of parks on the river if you have someone who can drop you off and pick you up.

If you like trout, EE Wilson lake it a fun option.  It is pretty small but is stocked well.

Zach

Call Caddis Fly Shop and + 1 one the Willamette.

If you want a sure thing, drive north on 99 to the Buena Vista Ferry (15-20 minutes) and put in at the park there.  Then move upstream until you hit the Luckimute river coming in (on the right).  Lots of pike minnow on the way up but right at the mouth of the Luckimute, you can always find some good size bass.

The Willamette River has bass and sturgeon.  You can drop in near the third street bridge or plan a small float.  There are plenty of parks on the river if you have someone who can drop you off and pick you up.

If you like trout, EE Wilson lake it a fun option.  It is pretty small but is stocked well.

Zach

Thanks, Zach.  Don't know if I'll finagle a shuttle driver since I'll be sneaking out to fish, but if I can, this is good to know.

Call Caddis Fly Shop and + 1 one the Willamette.

You know the Coquille and the Willamette?  There' something fundamentally unfair about that, Scott.  Didn't think of calling the shop, but that's a Good Idea.  Thank you.

If you want a sure thing, drive north on 99 to the Buena Vista Ferry (15-20 minutes) and put in at the park there.  Then move upstream until you hit the Luckimute river coming in (on the right).  Lots of pike minnow on the way up but right at the mouth of the Luckimute, you can always find some good size bass.

Alas, pike minnow are another species the AOTY team have suspiciously overlooked, but they are fun to catch.  I've heard rumors about the Luckiamute but wasn't sure where to try it.  I appreciate the tip!

Kevin 

If you want a sure thing, drive north on 99 to the Buena Vista Ferry (15-20 minutes) and put in at the park there.  Then move upstream until you hit the Luckimute river coming in (on the right).  Lots of pike minnow on the way up but right at the mouth of the Luckimute, you can always find some good size bass.

A couple of weeks ago I paddled the Willamette River from the ramp next to the Buena Vista Ferry up past the mouth of the Luckiamute River to the mouth of the Santiam River, and it's a lot of work.  If you want to fish the Luckiamute, you can put in at a bridge south of Buena Vista, but there isn't any parking area or boat ramp.  You have to carry your kayak down the riverbank and put in under the bridge, which is kind of a hassle.  But the river is very slow, so once you're on the water you can easily paddle upstream to fish. And there are bass in the river.

Thank you, Pete.  I'd forgotten that you visited that part of Oregon not long ago.  Good information.

I kayaked that area with the family on Saturday. We floated from Willamette Boat Landing to the park/ramp on 1st street. The current was ripping and I'm pretty sure if you tried to fish the area around Willamette Boat landing you'd get swept down river and not make it back to the ramp. The launch on 1st is a lot more forgiving. I'd start there and try and work your way up river a bit. You should be able to make it to the where 34 crosses the river but it may be hard to get further than that due to the current. I wanted to fish the mouth of Mary's River but wasn't able to stop due to a cranky two year old.

Another option is Hyak Park which is 9-10 miles down river from 1st street. It might be another spot where you can work up river a bit but that current is ripping really good this time of year. If you have the option, I'd try to float it.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/44.5700791,-123.255803/Willamette+Boat+Landing,+Corvallis,+OR+97333/@44.5696864,-123.2553506,252m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x54c040de2fd1942d:0xd6ff4811b933b54c!2m2!1d-123.251846!2d44.5516712

Thanks, Noah.  I haven't seen the Willamette this early in the year and it's good to know the current is a butt-kicker.  Makes a difference.

You might consider the Calapooya river, Bryant park in Albany is an easy launch and less current than the Willy.  There's a put in on Hwy. 34, it's a meandering float for most of a day to Bryant park. I haven't been on the river in a decade but it was popular with the pontoon angling crowd.

You might consider the Calapooya river, Bryant park in Albany is an easy launch and less current than the Willy.  There's a put in on Hwy. 34, it's a meandering float for most of a day to Bryant park. I haven't been on the river in a decade but it was popular with the pontoon angling crowd.

I was there on Monday actually and that's also a good suggestion. The Calapooya was pretty slack at the park and would make a short wheel over level grass. Or drag.

Tinker, call me, we'll get some bass. You can use the wife's T-11 if you want.

Tinker, call me, we'll get some bass. You can use the wife's T-11 if you want.

Thank you.  I'll be bringing the Tarpon, so the T-11 is safe, but I will give you a call.

You might consider the Calapooya river, Bryant park in Albany is an easy launch and less current than the Willy.  There's a put in on Hwy. 34, it's a meandering float for most of a day to Bryant park. I haven't been on the river in a decade but it was popular with the pontoon angling crowd.

I used to have a pontoon.  If it's popular for them, I can do it.  Thank you.

Maybe everyone already knows this, but any bass out of the Willamette should not be eaten.

pmmpete ate his from the Luckiamute and lived but, I'm sure you are correct.