How to Fish for Nestucca Salmon
Oregon's Nestucca River begins in the Coast Range Mountains and runs for 50 miles before flowing into the Pacific Ocean at Nestucca Bay, just outside of Portland. A major tourist attraction, the river offers a variety of fishing opportunities for anglers of all skill ranges, from novice to seasoned pro and is one of the most popular and prolific salmon streams in the Pacific Northwest. There are two salmon fishing seasons at Nestucca; the spring season which runs from late April to mid June, and the fall season from September through December. Each season produces fish that weigh between 15 and 20 pounds, though the fall fish tend to be larger on average. Even a "small" 10 pound salmon can be tricky to catch and difficult to land. The following guide will help you to accomplish both.
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Things You'll Need
- Hip waders Fishing vest with pockets 9-foot Fishing pole 15-30 lb. Line Bobbers Fishing weights Hook remover or needle nose pliers Tackle box Fishing hooks Gaffing hooks Bait or Lures
Instructions
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Drift Fishing
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1
Set up your pole. At the end of the main line, attach a two-way swivel. Leave approximately 8" of leader and add a sinker. One inch below the sinker, add another two-way swivel. Leave 16" of line, and add a single hook with an egg loop. Above the first swivel, attach a bobber or cork. This is known as a fishing rig.
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2
Remove the following things from your tackle box and put them in the pockets of your vest: extra hooks, pliers or hook remover, extra bait, plus any personal equipment you think you may need such as sunscreen or insect repellent. Pull on your hip waders, grab your pole and your net and wander into the river -- preferably at an area between riffles.
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3
Bait your hook or spray scent on artificial bait. Note the direction the water is flowing. Cast your line upstream at a 30 to 45 degree angle.
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4
Keep your eye on your bobber. Let your line drift along the river until it is downstream from you at a 30 to 45 degree angle. Then, slowly reel the line in. The goal is to bounce your bait along the bottom of the river at approximately the same speed as the water is flowing. More weight slows the line down, while less speeds it up.
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5
When you feel a tug on the line, jerk the pole up towards your shoulder to set the hook. Reel in the line a bit. If you feel resistance, you have just hooked yourself a salmon.
Landing the Salmon
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6
Once you have your salmon on the line, begin to slowly reel it in, pausing every five seconds to let the fish "fight." This will tire the fish out.
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7
Continue reeling, walking backwards toward the shore, until you are standing on solid ground with the fish a few feet away and you can see its head. Using the handle of the gaff hook, thump the salmon solidly in the head.
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8
Insert the gaff hook inside the gills, directly behind the head.
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9
Using the hook, pull the fish onto the shore. Pry the fishing hook loose with a hook removal tool or needle nose pliers. Remove the gaff hook.
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10
Scoop the salmon into the net and carry it back to your car or fish cleaning station.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Stay out of direct sunlight when fishing. Do not touch the line when landing a fish. If you can find one, the spot just beyond a river bend is a prime location for catching salmon.
Do not fish without a license.
Resources
- Photo Credit istockphotos.com, Charles E Parks
