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There are many ways to plunk for salmon and steelhead on Oregon rivers, but here's the most basic setup I'd edit this a bit from when I made it last spring, but the dropper length can be anywhere from 0-12 inches. Rarely more than that. The Spinglo should be in the 2-4 size, with size 1 hooks (sockeye) and upto 5/0 for big chinook. edit: here's more info i just put together

Introduction to Spring Chinook Salmon Fishing in Oregon Spring Chinook salmon, often referred to as "Springers," are highly prized among anglers for their rich, buttery flavor and the challenge they present to catch. In Oregon, Spring Chinook are more than just fish; they are a cultural icon, woven into the fabric of local heritage and economy. Fishing for these magnificent creatures has become a revered tradition, attracting enthusiasts from all over the world to the state's rivers and streams. The season for Spring Chinook in Oregon typically begins in late March and extends through May, although the timing can vary depending on the river system. Key locations for Spring Chinook fishing include the Willamette River, especially in the...

Winter steelhead fishing in Oregon is an angler's dream, offering the thrill of the catch against the backdrop of the state's stunning, frosty landscapes. The rivers that carve through Oregon's terrain become prime habitats for steelhead from December through March, attracting fishing enthusiasts eager to brave the cold for the chance at hooking one of these elusive fish. This article delves into the intricacies of winter steelhead fishing in Oregon, covering essential gear, techniques, prime fishing spots, and conservation considerations to ensure both a successful and sustainable fishing experience. Introduction to Winter Steelhead Steelhead, the migratory form of rainbow trout, return to their natal Oregon rivers in winter...

The lingcod, Ophiodon elongatus, a fish known for its formidable appearance and prized meat, occupies a unique niche within the marine biodiversity of the Pacific coast. Among its ranks, the blue lingcod stands out, not just for its culinary value but also for the striking blue hue that adorns its flesh, a curiosity to scientists and a treasure to anglers. This essay aims to illuminate the mysteries of the blue lingcod, shedding light on its biology, ecological role, and human interactions. Physical Characteristics The blue lingcod distinguishes itself with a robust, elongated body capable of growing up to 60 inches in length and weighing over 80 pounds, though most specimens are considerably smaller. Its mottled skin, featuring...

When there are left-overs, especially Salmon I make this for a dinner salad the next day. The flavor is so different from the filet it is hard for people to realize they are eating yesterday’s leftovers. The photo is of Salmon salad lying on fresh butter lettuce with home grown tomato slices. The dark color drizzle is Trader Joes, Balsamic Vinegar Glaze; very tasty. This is a 2-part recipe. One that will first save you money and second will get you rave reviews. Part One: Tartar Sauce – Commercial Tartar Sauce is made with Mayonnaise, dill pickle relish, pickle juice, lemon juice and finely chopped white onion. I’ve got another way to make Tartar Sauce that you may like even better; and homemade is cheaper. 2 Cups...

Got tired of Plano 3700 Boxes laying horizontally in the box I use for my kayak. If you need the bottom one, it's a pain to drag out without everything on top sliding out. I have a collection of DeWalt TStak boxes I use in the garage, and a Plano 3700 fits perfectly upright/vertically, and I can add secondary boxes or drawers. Only downside so far is the color, the black will heat up quick in the sun. Had to add a divider. Cutting Board/Plastic would be ideal, but I don't have any around. I added holes for weight reduction but made them too big IMO. Spools and such fall through it. I'll make another if it's an issue.

I hate picking bones out of smoked trout/kokanne/cohojack fillets and have been working on my process. My approach to getting essentially bone-free fillets is to use a 2 stage smoking process, with a bone removal step in the middle: Step 1: catch a bunch of fish you want to smoke (in this example, a mess of searun cutthroats between 12" and 19"). Step 2: clean, remove head and tail, and in this example, freeze as you catch them. Step 3: thaw and *key item*: use sharp scissors to cut the skin along the entire top and the bottom in front of the tail. Then brine as usual. (mine got 5 hours in basic brine: 1/2c salt + 1/4c brown sugar per quart of water plus some seasonings). Step 4: dry and place on smoker racks, I like to use...

There are a million guides out there for battery boxes for fish finders. I tossed a picture of my setup in a Wickiup report and had an interest. I wanted a box that could be multipurpose, that I could use to run my fish finder or a laptop or as a large powerbank to run a pump for inflatables. Also, it just didn't make sense for me to buy a bunch of new batteries when I'm sitting on a handful of 20v Dewalt li ion batteries for my cordless tools. So here are the materials for the build: Apache case from HF - $13 - https://www.harborfreight.com/1800-weatherproof-protective-case-small-64550.html 12v socket and switch from Amazon - $22 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QR3C8N2/ Battery adapter for Dewalt 20v battery from Amazon -...

Steelhead fishing give to us fishermen a great opportunity to try various method of angling. It’s one of the top things that draws me to venture out after them. I enjoy working the Spey rod with a recently tied fly, but I also enjoy the thump, thump feeling of drift fishing. Other times it’s casting a spinner or floating a bobber with a lead head jig. The other day I went retro and took the D.A.M. Quick reel and rod out of the rack and put a few spoons into the tackle box. It had been a while since I had fished with a spoon from the bank. I ventured out to the Sandy River’s Dodge Park, with a full thermos of coffee, and my pipe tobacco pouch loaded. I enjoy my pipe when casting and always like fresh hot coffee on the river...

I make no secret of being a huge fan of salmon and steelhead bellies. I like to smoke them, eat them raw (after a quick dry ice deep freeze) and saute them fresh as a dinner main course, which is the subject of this post. After filleting the sides OFF a fish as normal and before removing any of the rib bones, I almost always use a sharp scissors to trim OFF a wide belly strip, cutting through the ends of the rib bones. Basically, I'm looking for all the thin meat on the fillet (that often just gets overcooked), so a 'wide belly strip'. After cooking, the little tips of the bones come off real easy with that inner membrane (I want that membrane in place for the cooking, to seal in the juices). For reference, I'm using the little...

I'm going to give you a recipe. It is long and detailed, but in the end you will be glad that you read on. I wrote this recipe for a class and received an A+ for it because it made the teacher's stomach growl. This recipe is not for the weak of heart. This recipe is not for vegans or vegetarians. This recipe is for those of us that absolutely enjoy biscuits and gravy to the fullest. This recipe is for us fat kids! How to Make Deep Fried Gravy Balls Have you ever wondered how to make biscuits and gravy more portable? Maybe even be able to eat them without the aid of a fork? In the main campus kitchen at Chemeketa Community College, staff has worked hard and figured out a great way to use an iconic comfort food and turn it into a...

with a 7:45pm kick-off in Corvallis Saturday, I had time to cook up something fun- Halibut Tikka Masala. I did however make a gameday substitution to fresh lingcod, using a 20oz fillet from the 'beauty' that I caught Friday I used to make this dish all the time with chicken quarters in AZ, a real flavor explosion of ginger, garlic, cilantro, spices and just a little heat... I cut the almost 2" thick fillet into little blocks and marinated it for about 6 hours in the fridge... you can cook the marinated meat on skewers or in a baking dish, or even in a skillet on the range, goal is to just get some color on it and lose the excess marinate...the Tikka Masala sauce is easy to make, a bit of food processor work and simmering...add...

Ok. So I loooove carp fishing, especially for the fight they put up. I have experimented with MY HOMEMADE bait and I finally got the best ingredients and directions. To make the bait, you will need: Yellow Corn flour, White Flour, water, sugar, peanut butter, and original shredded wheat cereal. 1. Pour 2 cups of yellow corn flour in a large plastic container. 2. Pour 1 cup of white flour. 3. Add half a cup of sugar. 4. Mix together with a wooden spoon, or your hands. 5. Gradually add water until you can roll the mixture into a ball. 6. Put a pan of water on the stove to boil. 7. Make tiny balls from the mixture, or tiny cubes (preferred) and submerge them in the boiling water. 8. After every five minutes, stir, so the cubes...

Here is the final recipe I settled on after much trial and error for this delicious treat. This is for one large filet of Sockeye Salmon. For the brine use... 1 1/2 cups dark pure brown sugar 1/4 cup sea salt 1/2 cup filtered honey 1/2 cup pure maple syrup... it costs a bit more but is worth it to avoid unnecessary additives. 2 tbs garlic powder 1/2 gallon of water Mix these ingredients together until water is super saturated, meaning that there is no sediment and water is very dark in color like mollasses. Now remove pin bones and cut the filet into 1 inch wide strips across the length of the filet. you can choose to filet the skin off before or after this step. layer the pieces of meat in the brine in a glass dish that will hold...

This is NOT my story,it comes from the GLASGOW DAILY TIMES sports section. Baitcasting has always been a challenge for me. That's why I prefer spinning outfits, fewer bird nests. I do have some baitcasters but rarely break them out. In this week's column from outdoor writer Lee McClellan of Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Resources, some advice is offered on how to prevent back lashes. Here's what he says: Backlashes occur to even the best baitcasters, but to cut them down significantly, make sure you use the technology of modern reels to your advantage. The spool tension control knob usually lies on the right side of the reel (for a right-hand reel). Tie on the lure you plan to throw and press the button to release the spool. Adjust the...

So you're taking up fly fishing, or thinking about it. First things first – you're going to need a fly rod, reel, and line so you can learn to cast. Before we get ahead of ourselves and just rush to the store (preferably a fly shop vs a big box retailer) to lay down cash, we need to answer some questions, so that you pick the right rod for the jobs at hand – those being: Learning how to fly cast and catching some fish. You can learn to fly cast with just about any fly rod & reel combo, provided it's at least close to being balanced. The right combo, or one that's balanced between rod, reel, and line weights and types – will make learning a metric ton easier. A couple words on rods and such: Fly rods are typically rated for the AFTMA...