Shad?

It's about that time isn't it? Great fun, close to home, excellent sturgeon/crawfish bait! Anybody catching yet?

It's about that time isn't it? Great fun, close to home, excellent sturgeon/crawfish bait! Anybody catching yet?

I hear the numbers are starting to rise now...  Should be some sweet fishing say next Friday when your in town?  Want to hit up some Shad in OC?

Its a red-eye flight. But Saturday sounds like a great possibility!

I hear they are catching lots of them right below the Bonneville Dam. Get there early, it's shoulder to shoulder.

I hear they are catching lots of them right below the Bonneville Dam. Get there early, it's shoulder to shoulder.

But not from the kayak, right?  Like you said in a different post, that water below Bonney is not a place for a kayak.

-Allen

Yep, most of the shad fishing is from shore right below the dam. Boats aren't allowed that close.
While the river there is challenging, I've been out there off Strawberry Island near Hamilton Creek. If you know what you are doing, it's kayak fishable. That area is popular with salmon outfitters, I've seen big salmon caught 30' from shore. There's an old boat launch on Strawberry Island you can launch from, there's spots on Hamilton Creek if you don't mind carting your kayak a short distance. You can launch from Beacon Rock boat launch, which is a very easy launch into a mellow side channel, but I've never fished directly out of there.
There is plenty of kayak fishing potential here in the Gorge, you just have to be careful in the big river. Wear a wetsuit instead of waders, pretend you are heading out into the ocean, see what's out there. If Lewis & Clark could do it in canoes, I figure I can do it in my kayak.

I launched & fished out of Beacon Rock a couple times late last summer or the summer before. easy launch into protected waters. couple routes you can take through the islands, and the scenery is outstanding. No problems paddling on the mainstem either, although the current is noticeable. Winds and/or other boat traffic could change that, so I wouldn't call it a beginner spot. Experienced paddlers shouldn't have an issue, provided you keep an eye on condition. Paddled about halfway up Hamilton Island before I got tired of fighting the current & drifted back down. Another option might be to use the ramp on Hamilton Island (closest launch to the damn), then drift down to Beacon Rock ramp or however far you want to go.

http://www.columbiawatertrail.org/access/hamilton_island_boat_ramp

Brian

Yeah, that's the spot. I think the locals call Hamilton Island "Strawberry Island". There aren't any strawberries there, but when they are in season, they have the best blackberries. Being next to the river, the berries are big and juicy.
Anyhoo, I look at kayaking in the Columbia like being in a rough ocean, the only exception is the Columbia has hidden eddies and currents, the combination of wind and current can be tricky. If it's sketchy, I tie myself to the kayak so I don't lose it downstream. My kayak is pretty watertight, but I use a carabiner in case I need to lose the boat.
When you were out at Beacon Rock, did you get any fish?

There is a shad run in the Willamette - yes? 

Yeah, that's the spot. I think the locals call Hamilton Island "Strawberry Island". There aren't any strawberries there, but when they are in season, they have the best blackberries. Being next to the river, the berries are big and juicy.

That reminds of the Myrtle Tree lauch on the S. Fork of the Coos River.  I know just were to take a pee break while trolling for Salmom, with a bonus snack of some big juicys...MMM

There is a supposedly a shad run up there in late June, gonna try some cat food fishing from the yak...

There is a shad run in the Willamette - yes? 

Yep.
You've been fishing in one of my favortie spots for them
Cedar Oak too.

There is a shad run in the Willamette - yes? 

I've fished from them in Oregon City @ Clackamette park before with much success, wasn't from a yak though.

This year I plan on trying for them in OC from my 'yak

This year I plan on trying for them in OC from my 'yak

That, my friend, can get a little interesting. OC  from the bridge to Clackamette  park has lots of current and LOTS of boats. Definitely yakfishing 200.
Doable, but dicey.

Anyone hear anything about the Umpqua?  I know they're supposed to be there between Mothers Day and Fathers Day.

Anyone hear anything about the Umpqua?  I know they're supposed to be there between Mothers Day and Fathers Day.

Roy G would probly know.