Last Saturday (29th) the wind was too stiff (>20mph all day) in the gorge so I thought I would hit the upper Willamette. I was bummed to see that they had just put in the flashboards on Thursday (raises the upper river 3' for summer recreation) and when they do that the bass are a little wonky for a while before they settle down and start grouping up tighter. I met up with a buddy, @campsean, still hoping for a good day.

 

It was really great to see Sean but the fishing was pretty mediocre. I ended up with 33 smallmouth with the emphasis on the small part  My best fish was probably pound and a quarter or so. I did lose 3 nice fish over the course of the day including one I think i definitely would have had if I had remembered my net. Here is a picture moments before disaster:

 

 

 

I had a good look at that fish and it was all of 18". Not a giant but that would have made up for the dinkfest but it was just not to be. The other two nice fish I lost both just had the hook pull out. Once on a spybait (which happens) and once on Ned rig which is just bizarre.

 

The highlight of the day was catching a channel catfish on a Ned rig.

 

 

 

That was a fun bycatch. As soon as it started fighting I knew I had a cat on. I usually catch a handful of channel cats on lures each summer on the upper river. I assume their numbers must be half decent in order for that to happen.

 

Still, it was a beautiful day to be out on the water so I can't complain too much. The sky in the afternoon was so cool looking in the afternoon:

 

 

 

Caught most of the fish on a Ned rig. After mid-morning the moving bait bite really fell off. It did pick up again as I was leaving but I was too tired to keep fishing.

 

Here is some video of me reeling in a bunch of small bass if you are really bored

 

 

 

12 hours ago, pdxfisher said:

 

Still, it was a beautiful day to be out on the water so I can't complain too much.

 

That's the spirit. I know it's heresy to say, but catching bass isn't every wonderful thing in this wide world.

 

12 hours ago, pdxfisher said:

The sky in the afternoon was so cool looking in the afternoon:

 

Indeed! And that's one of the many wonderful things besides bass.

 

12 hours ago, pdxfisher said:

It did pick up again as I was leaving but I was too tired to keep fishing.

 

Been there. I quit early yesterday morning too.

13 hours ago, pdxfisher said:

but the fishing was pretty mediocre. I ended up with 33 smallmouth

 

You call that mediocre?  Come on up to New England where a handful is a good trip.

 

😉

1 hour ago, DogBone_384 said:

 

You call that mediocre?  Come on up to New England where a handful is a good trip.

 

😉

 

It was the size that was mediocre. As far as New England, bass are plentiful in Maine. However, I'm learning that they're not plentiful for everyone. I fish a friend's pond and his family's camp counts four generations. My friend says that no one on the pond catches or has every caught the numbers that I do. When I first started reporting what I caught, he doubted me, but since I've taken his son and grandson fishing and they counted the bass along with me, plus seeing the many, many photos, he believes me. My best morning this year at his pond was 75 bass and one big pickerel.