Lower Willamette springers

[mikeredding]

I am hoping to drag my boat up to the Willy to catch some springers but have no idea of when or where to go. I understand there are a lot caught right around the downtown Portland area. Just looking for some advice of when to go and where to find boat ramps.

 

[Santiam338]

Downtown Portland is where I fish...That is the St Johns bridge behind me...There is a boat ramp underneath it....March/April...

 

[mikeredding]

Nice! Where do you launch?

 

[Santiam338]

There is a public ramp under the bridge and Freds Marina is just downriver.. They charge a small launch fee...They have a website..

 

[mikeredding]

I was actually just looking at google maps and saw Freds. How is the parking at the public ramp? Is it safe to leave your rig there? We don't really have much problem anywhere down here but I have heard a lot of bad stories from up north.

 

[Santiam338]

Freds is the best bet...I haven't launched at the bridge,but see people who do...

 

[RunWithSasquatch]

If you catch St Johns launch on a ' busy ' day, its more or less insane.

 

[RunWithSasquatch]

I was actually just looking at google maps and saw Freds. How is the parking at the public ramp? Is it safe to leave your rig there? We don't really have much problem anywhere down here but I have heard a lot of bad stories from up north.

Well everyone is a PRO in Portland, so dont you dare try and launch up there until you have 350XP

 

[mikeredding]

350XP

????????????

 

[JeannaJigs]

If you catch St Johns launch on a ' busy ' day, its more or less insane.

Omfg true words!! That's where we launched everytime I went up there last year because I'm cheap and didn't want to pay any fees, but so is half of Portland. Get there at 2 am unless you want to wait in line for an hour! We got awesome looks with Andy's 12 footer with a 15 horse, being backed down by a member of the female populous. Good times. All that aside never had anyone mess with my Jeep in the lot. I didn't leave anything in it either though.

 

[mikeredding]

WOW. I have been trying to decide if it is even worth it. I am not one for boat ramp circus and I hate fishing around and bunch of idiots that can't drive their own boats.

 

[Santiam338]

Its not as bad as all that...Haven't had to wait once at Freds...Pay 5 bucks and launch...No sweat,no problem..

Head upriver a 1/4 and you are at the confluence of the channel and the river...A tad crowded there...Everyone going around in circles there including the sea lions...As soon as we get by that we put out and troll up to the tanks...Usually catch a fish or 2 there...Lots of river and lots of room...

No doom and gloom and lots of fun...

 

[mikeredding]

That doesn't sound too bad. I've ran hours in the Slaw Tidewater Zoo, I guess I can handle that!

 

[Santiam338]

There's that bridge again and no other boats and a limit of springers....Just took the drift boat that day...I think this is around the first of May..

Just trying to give you a little incentive..

 

[JeannaJigs]

It's only a zoo on the river when you get down onto the Columbia, that's where the majority of those boats are headed. The Columbia is a clusterfu... the stinky willamette isn't so crowded, just the st johns boat ramp. Once you launch, all is golden. Never launched at Fred's but sounds like that's the way to go.

 

[mikeredding]

Thanks man. I really have the itch to get my boat on some water soon. It has been almost 3 months and I am starting to freak out a little. Haha.
Nice fish by the way

 

[mikeredding]

It's only a zoo on the river when you get down onto the Columbia.

Yeah, I don't think I am going to do the Columbia thing. Not worth the headache.

 

[Thuggin4Life]

Mike it's tons of fun. I do it in my boat. Pm me your number and I can give your call and tell you everything I know.

 

[RunWithSasquatch]

WOW. I have been trying to decide if it is even worth it.

Yeah I'm curious if its worth it my self :lol:

 

[JeannaJigs]

That's not a conservation net :shock: someone might jump your shirt

I'm looking forward to heading up there the end of next month if I can pull it off.