A Quick Start On the Willapa River

  As one of the earliest coastal rivers to start salmon fishing--I thought I would throw this out there for you guys that will be showing interest in this fishery soon.It's a very informative arcticle from Salmon University all about Willapa River fishing.Do some early homework and come on down this way for some fine fishing.


 
http://www.salmonuniversity.com/wtc_willapa_bay.html

  Enjoy........
 

Oh yeah!!!  Cant' wait!

Hey Mark, 
Thanks for the heads up..  Let us know when and where!  I also notice that you can use the two pole endorsement starting August.  I bought that endorsement for fishing other places, but wonder if it's feasible  from a kayak?

   I was just looking at Deep Zoom Nautical charts http://www.deepzoom.com/#/Views/Boat.xaml and spotted what looks to be a nice deep hole about a mile south of the Tokeland boat launch.There is a shelf 10' deep that slants out to this deeper area that might be pretty fishy once those big Willapa Kings start moving in.I've talked to a few charter boat skippers who have been fishing south of the Westport jetty a few miles and they imply that those kings are on their way south.I'll be checking out current flows,structure,and boat traffic in the next few days and let you guys know how it looks.
   Stay tuned...........


    just checked to see if this link directs you to the right place ....and it misses by a bit.Zoom out,center your page on the Tokeland marina then close in on the spot.It is a good looking hole on the chart.
    actually...I was looking for sturgeon holes higher up on the Willapa..but that 50' hole definately caught my eye.

  Willapa River opens for salmon August 1st.

  Made it to the South Bend launch as the tide was changing (low of 0.8 ft) and tried fishing the incoming tide.Began by fishing out toward the salt,pulling K-15's in various colors,Just mainling them-no dropper,no slider,just working the edge of the current.Went about 2 miles out to marker 35-turned around and worked the incoming tide for 4 miles upriver.Turned around and cme back to the launch.

  No love from any salmon..Damhik..........

  Talked to several PB who had run out to Tokeland and the North River channel and scored.They said there were a lot of boats out there,but only a few fish caught.Hmmmm

  Will try to get out to Tokeland in the morning--report will follow.
  They are coming....

          I tried again out of South Bend today (Saturday).Headed west toward the salt pulling plugs (K15,Magwarts,and K 14s) juiced up with herring oil.Went out a little further to marker 33.Lots of power boats running out toward Tokeland--probably counted 25 rigs in the parking lot at 6:30 am.
          Still no fish for me --yet.
          Talked to 3 different PB's that made the farther run and they did not see any fish caught today.One guy had some pictures of a couple fish he and his son had caught last weekend.Nice 20-25 lbs kings.So I'd say there are some fish around.Just not a whole lot in the upper part of tide-water yet.
          I did see some harbor seals in the area I fished--so that tells me something.


       A couple of side observations.......
       All of the PB's gave me plenty of room and respect while out on my yak.A few thanked me for flying a safety flag to increase my visibilty.Thought that was kinda cool of 'em.Some slowed downed (which I think is not the correct way--I'd rather they stay up on plane).(less wake while on plane)
       I fished out of Tokeland on Thursday for 4 hrs.2 hrs before and after high tide.While I didn't hook-up,it was a learning day.I learned that when the tide starts going out --it really goes out quick.Lots of current.
       Most of the PB's were fishing out near Washaway Beach.Not sure I'd want to try that in a kayak.Too exposed.It might be possible--but you'd want to pick your days carefully.
       There were a few boats working inside over toward North River channel.Couldn't tell if any fish were caught over that way or not.
       Stay tuned---those salmon will be turning in this way any day...........I hope it's soon.
                                                                                                                                  Mark

I'd stay away from Washaway, it's not the hot spot it was back in the 1990's.  Buoy 10 to buoy 8 is the ticket, I think.
Good Luck!!!

Here's a great link by the dean of Willapa Bay.  He now advises the Brad's Cutplug in Blue Hawaiin filled with oil pack tuna.

http://www.leeroysramblings.com/estuarysalmon_rigging.htm

Didn't go this morning due to the thick fog. Yesterday, we got one 15# hatchery King. Trolling whole herring behind fish flashers from my 16' john boat. Hooked up exactly 1 hour after the high tide change, but there was very little tidal flow happening at the time. My buddy fought it flawlessly, and it was an easy net job for me.
As far as where to fish, Kallitype knows what he' talkin' about.  About 25 - 30 boats out between 13 and 8, and another 25 or 30 boats out past 2 and around to Washaway.
We saw only one other hook-up... a kid who got it to the boat but the fish got off when his dad tried to net it. Another angler said they got two and lost one early, on the incoming tide. Those are the only fish we heard about.

Gill netters go in this evening at 6pm for a few days. Although the Jetty was fishing very well last week, I'm going cutthroat fishing this week. Good luck all. Laters.

I'd stay away from Washaway, it's not the hot spot it was back in the 1990's.  Buoy 10 to buoy 8 is the ticket, I think.
Good Luck!!!

Here's a great link by the dean of Willapa Bay.  He now advises the Brad's Cutplug in Blue Hawaiin filled with oil pack tuna.

http://www.leeroysramblings.com/estuarysalmon_rigging.htm

Those Brad's Cutplugs are $8 for a two pack of un-rigged units. Hooks, leader, and time are another buck each. Its $5 a pop if you lose one. So use at least 30# test leader.

Actually, Washaway was where the action was last week, on the late afternoon/evening high tide change. that was when the bite was happening. Within one hour either side of the tide change. Nothing happening during the main durations of the flood or ebb. My guess is that those fish caught outside were Columbia River "dip-ins."
 Leroy's Ramblings seems to be the better link for good info on the Bay. I like his rambling style, and his info is reliable.
Surface temp of the river water out in the Bay around markers 13 and 10 was about 66 F, which is pretty warm.

Nice info----good luck out there!!!

My buddy and I are heading out again on Friday. Gill nets will be pulled out on thurs morning at 6am (I'd fish Th, but I plan on surfing due to the wind/swell forecast), and they don't get to fish area 2T for three weeks. That's our window for fishing there in the Bay out in front of Tokeland up river to where area 2U begins (at the "Big Bend" around Range Marker B, which is somewhere around channel markers 26 and 28). I usually fish outside of 13.

There will be a few days of no nets, which will allow some fish to get upriver, and then they go in area 2U, for a long period. Unfortunately, nets in area 2U cork off the entire mouth of the Willapa River all the way up to South Bend (Area 2U goes all the way up to the hwy 101 bridge in Raymond), and they will be in there for most of the gill net fishery. So I study their schedule, and fish in between their netting periods. I plan most of my upriver fishing in the Willapa for when the nets aren't in, so I will have a chance at some freshly arrived fish.

I fish elsewhere when the nets are in anywhere. Never just upstream from them. If I could low-hole them on a good school of salmon, I'd certainly jump on that opportunity!

  Hey Jim

  Can you post a link for the gill-netter's schedualing?That is good intel to have.
  Thanks--and good luck on Friday......

Here's the info.   I will be there in Sept., 15th to ...?

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/commercial/salmon/2012_wb_fall_schedule.pdf

My neighbor who is a commercial fisher and gill netter, fished somewhere in the Bay (didn't say which channel he was fishing) Sun eve thru Wed morning, and he said they only got around 60 salmon in the 3 days. Largest was a 25 lb King. Most Kings he caught were in the 12# to 18# class.

My other neighbor (not a commercial fisher) and I went out yesterday, and he caught a 13# hatchery King on our first run. That was about 45 minutes before the high slack. We had motored out past marker 7 and trolled back in with the direction of the tide. Again he was trolling a whole herring behind a green/chartreuse KoneZone flasher. We fished for 3 more hours without another bite. There were maybe 15 to 20 boats out that we could see. We saw one other boat with a net out, once.

My guess is that the fishing in the Bay is still a little slow.

The fog wasn't bad inside the Bay, but when we drove home heading past Washaway, the fog outside the Bay off the beaches was getting thick.

Heading out again shortly, in spite of thunder storms in the forecast. I'll wear my rubber boots.

Neighbor had some friends drop in, and since we had been thinking we might cancel fishing today due to thunder/lightning in the forecast, we chose to cancel so my neighbor could hang out with his friends. I've got work to do, anyway.
Maybe fishing tomorrow!