2022 Willamette/Columbia Spring Chinook Reports

I was able to get out on Saturday afternoon from the Sellwood riverfront park. What a beautiful day it was! No fish caught for me or few boats that were there but I did see some marks on fish finder. This was more of exploring the area and a mental break from kids and the news from my home country. I think I will try to launch from Meldrum bar next time and also would like to try Austin Point; just need to find a good launch spot on Oregon side.

Got out Saturday and Sunday. Saturday, launched at Fred's and did 4+ hours under the power lines on both sides of the river. Saw nothing and only heard of one fish landed.  Sunday was first thing at Willamette Park below Sellwood. 5 hours downstream by the Spaghetti Factory and an hour directly across from the ramp. Only news was one boat that had two fish. Not as many boats as I would have expected.  Both days fishing two rods. Always herring and a triangle. Other rod with Pro-Troll switching between spin-fish and prawn spinner. Only kayak both days. I would feel worse if every other boat on the water was landing fish right and left and I was getting skunked. Still early!

Heading out tomorrow morning to see if my lucky streak continues. Will be launching near sellwood river park.

Headed out yesterday morning at Sellwood. Trolled under the powerlines and then above the bridge. There were plenty of boats on a sunny Sunday. Marked a few fish. Saw one caught and there were rumors that a couple of othre fish had been caught earlier in the day. No excitement for me, other than the gang of paddleboarders!!

No excitement for me, other than the gang of paddleboarders!!

Did they tag your yak?

No excitement for me, other than the gang of paddleboarders!!

Did they tag your yak?

  Funniest thing I've seen today!

Let's get those punks!
...or fish 🤷‍♂️
I'll be hitting Sellwood at 0' dark :30 🤞

Let's get those punks!
...or fish 🤷‍♂️
I'll be hitting Sellwood at 0' dark :30 🤞

The best part is snopro and I both SUP, too 

No Tagging happened as they had to keep both hands on their paddles (making holding a rattle can difficult) as I peddled away! 

No love for me, or anyone of the 20 or so others that I saw, but I could only troll a few hours. Waters getting more brownish

No love for me, or anyone of the 20 or so others that I saw, but I could only troll a few hours. Waters getting more brownish

we caught 6 in the big C weeks ago, but Willamette we went 0-5 trips... i don't know how fishing the Willamette is different than Columbia but its definately a learning experience. Turbidity was up to 10 yesterday in which was one of the trips we skunked.

Sellwood/Willy park area from sunrise til about 1. Went 1/1 and had a drive by. I may have also hooked a sturgeon at some point. It was good to get the the first springer in my kayak.

Leo’s flasher and spin fish fishing suspended in 20 ft of water, 15 on the counter. Water temp 51-52 with about 2 ft of visibility. Fish was about 8-9lbs with fresh battle scars from either nets, a fur bag or both.

Congrats on the first kayak springer!

Thank you!

The netting actually went really smooth even with my leader being around 4 ft and a 7 1/2 rod. I did accidentally send a brand new Spyderco overboard while trying to unclip it to bleed the fish. I was disappointed but the excitement of the fish drowned out the loss of the knife

I have a rare weekday off work this Friday and am planning an early morning launch from either Fred's or Sellwood.  I am welcome to any opinions and advice.  Better yet, if someone wants to join me I would be a willing student!  (PMs are welcome)