Too early for springers?

[madasahab]

I was thinking of hitting the clack below carver and was wondering if it is too early for chinook? Plunk or bait and bobber?

 

[brandon4455]

if you want to plunk i would go to the mouth. its a bit early anywhere upriver. atleast i think im no clack master.

 

[madasahab]

if you want to plunk i would go to the mouth. its a bit early anywhere upriver. atleast i think im no clack master.

think I will just bring steelhead gear and drift fish it or plunk as the water may be a tad high...it seems like the closest place to Salem with a decent amount of fish this time of the year...

 

[chrisohm]

Plunking would be a good bet just start close to the bank and work your way out. If you hit the mouth cast out and keep your offering just before the confluence where the clean water is. There is some decent water for them to rest between the mouth and the boat ramp at clackamette park. If you see sea lions move up to Cross park and toss out a pink worm on a bobber for steel or toss out some steel eggs on a bobber for nooks. If you don't get any action change your the depth you are fishing or think Carver to Barton for steel.

 

[chrisohm]

If you see too much sea lion action then go focus your efforts between Riverside and Barton. That won't happen for a few weeks though with current river conditions.

 

[madasahab]

If you see too much sea lion action then go focus your efforts between Riverside and Barton. That won't happen for a few weeks though with current river conditions.

How much lead for plunking? Will 3 or 4 ounces work?

 

[chrisohm]

You could get away with that if you were above the mouth or around cross park. At the mouth you should start with at least a 6 to 8 ounce weight. With the river level right now you will see some guys using 10-16 ounces in that dirty water by Meldrum. Get away from that dirty water and focus on the mouth of the clack and higher. Go bright and use some scent or make sure you tie some sand shrimp on with wonder thread or magic thread. You can do the same with a spin n glo w/yarn and some scent if you find the mouth is busy then try Clackamette between the mouth and the boat ramp, not many snags in there or Cross park. It is just a rocky/sand flat through most of it and that is why I suggest a bobber, just drift on through and move often. Sometimes the fish will push up only to move below where you are fishing.

Your offering should be about 16"-24" above your weight (plunking) with the river depth right now. If you switch to steel fishing, go bobber and start at 3' and work down from there. Just stay close to the bank, fish don't always like that deeper/stronger water in the middle.