LINCOLN CITY, Ore — From Lincoln City south to Florence there are four rivers that, by themselves, are small blips on Oregon's salmon radar screen. At least, during years when over a million salmon make their way back to the Columbia River. But when you combine these four rivers, they account for some of the state's most exciting salmon fishing in the fall.

All four — the Salmon River, the Siletz River, the Alsea River and Siuslaw River — are capable of producing fall Chinook in the 40- and 50-pound range. They share certain features. They're all tidewater fisheries, and there isn't a large bay where the salmon stage before moving up river, as you'd find in Tillamook or Nehalem Bay. Yet, they are each unique.

The Siletz Bay proper is barely fishable; it's so difficult to fish that most people wait for the salmon to reach the tidewater section of the river and move in accordance with the tide. On the Siuslaw and Alsea, the bays are fishable but small and crowded and sometimes dangerous. Most people wait for the salmon to reach the tidewater. Not true for the Salmon River. It's just that: a river that looks more like a small section of tidewater.

Each river has its own run of salmon, all worth pursuing beginning in September. Sometimes earlier. Here's a quick look at the best way to fish, best places to fish, and when the best fishing occurs.

Siletz River

Best section: From the Highway 101 bridge upriver to Windy Bend. In between, the highlights include the Cannery Hole just above Highway 101, the deep hole in front of Coyote Rock Resort, Boat Works Hole, Movie House Hole, Duck Point Hole and Windy Bend Hole.

Best time: Fishing starts in August and lasts through October.

What's catchable: Fall Chinook here run 25 pounds on average, with fish up to 50 pounds available. Of the four rivers featured, the Siletz has the biggest fish.

Best method: Troll cut-plug herring or spinners in front of Coyote Rock Resort and the Cannery Hole just above the Highway 101 bridge. Best spinners to use include green- or blue-tipped rainbow and lemon-lime colors. Size 6 or 7 Cascade blades are the most popular, with Clam Shells an option.

From shore you can cast spinners or plunk sand shrimp or a gob of eggs. There are several spots along Highway 229 between the Cannery Hole and Coyote Rock. On an incoming tide, fish a bait-wrapped salmon plug (Kwikfish, FlatFish) in the deep hole in front of Coyote Rock, Boat Works, Movie House, Duck Point and Windy Bend holes.

Best tide: The incoming tide is the best time of day to fish; however, high slack produces lots of hookups.

Where to launch: On the lower river, there are two spots to launch: Siletz Moorage and Coyote Rock RV and Marina. Each charges a nominal fee. From Highway 101 turn onto Highway 229.

Salmon River

Best section: Bank fish below the Hwy. 101 bridge or near the hatchery. From a boat you can troll spinners, herring or bobber fish in the deeper holes.

The hatchery is near Otis about 4 miles upriver, and it's accessible from the North Bank Road. Fish downriver from the hatchery. Most people bank fish below the Hwy. 101 bridge. This land is publicly owned, but land between Hwy. 101 and Otis is private.

Best time: Usually the first Chinook shows in August, and it picks up by September, assuming the river gets some rain. September is usually the peak month. Rains, however, will dictate how good the fishing is. Considering Lincoln City has had little to none, the best fishing will likely take place between the last week of September and the first week of October.

What's catchable: Most salmon here weigh between 15 and 25 pounds with a few in the 30s.

Best method: Anchor and fish fresh roe under a bobber, or troll cut-plug herring an incoming tide. From the bank bobber fish.

Best tide: Incoming tide and high slack.

Where to launch: Knight Park accessible from Three Rocks Road.

Alsea Bay and tidewater

Best section: If you're going to brave the mouth of the bay, troll cut-plug herring near the bottom. Go equipped with 10 to 16 ounces of lead, or use a diver if grass is not a problem.

Most of the action takes place from Drift Creek Landing to the head of tidewater. You can catch salmon on bobbers and eggs from the Barn Hole area up to the head of tide.

Best time: Fall Chinook were caught in August and early September, but the peak of the tidewater fishery takes place the last week of September and the first week of October.

What's catchable: A 25-pound fall Chinook is considered average, and salmon to 40 pounds are not uncommon.

Best method: Troll either cut-plug herring or Blue Fox spinners, size 5 or 6, or bobber fish with sand shrimp and roe.

Best tide: Incoming tide produces the most fish.

Where to launch: If you fish the bay, launch at Port of Alsea or McKinleys. In tidewater, the lowest boat ramp is Happy Landing RV Park & Marina. Taylor's Landing is next, followed by Kozy Kove Marina.

Siuslaw River

Best section: From the mouth of the bay upriver to Mapleton. Be prepared to troll herring or spinners as high as Cushman. Upriver from that spot, salmon are commonly taken on roe fished below a bobber.

Best time: Late September is considered the beginning of the best fishing. It will last into late October.

What's catchable: Most Chinook weigh 20 pounds on this river, though salmon up to 40 pounds are possible.

Best method: In between the jetties, troll cut-plug herring, keeping your bait just off the bottom. There's a deep hole in front of the Coast Guard Station that produces. In Old Town, troll herring under the Highway 101 bridge. At the mouth of North Fork, troll spinners. Located upstream from the mouth of the North Fork, the Old Murphy Mill is a good spot to troll spinners or herring. The Cushman Hole is a favorite spinner hole (troll from the trestle up to the corner). The Dairy Hole is a popular bobber hole; however, the Power Line Hole is a spinner hole. In Mapleton, upriver from the boat ramp, it becomes a bobber fishery until you reach the Dollar Hole at the head of tidewater.

Best tide: Incoming tide is considered the best time to fish, but high slack produces plenty of salmon.

Where to launch: Bay Bridge Marina, Holiday Harbor in Florence (public ramp), Cushman RV Park and Marina, Siuslaw Marina, Tiernan boat ramp. Further upriver near Mapleton, launch at Mapleton Landing, or Thompson Creek.

At a glance

What: Fishing for fall Chinook on four of Oregon's central coast rivers and bays.

Where: Salmon River, Siletz River, Alsea River and Siuslaw River.

How: Methods vary per spot, but be prepared to troll herring, spinners, plunk bait, bobber fish, or anchor and plunk bait-wrapped plugs.

Who to call: On the Siuslaw, call The Sportsman (541-997-3336); on the Alsea call Happy Landing RV Park & Marina (541-528-3300), Taylor's Landing (541-528-3388) or Kozy Kove Marina (541-528-3251); on the Siletz, call Siletz Moorage (541-996-3671) or Coyote Rock RV Resort & Marina (541-996-6824); on the Salmon, call Rose Lodge Park Store and Feed Store (541-994-2415) in Otis.

Material from Fishing & Hunting News
published 22 times a year.
Visit them at www.fishingandhuntingnews.com
 

Copyright © 2007 Last Modified 8-21-07

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