TROUT STOCKING

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

The trout stocked this week are legal rainbows unless otherwise noted. There will be good numbers of trophy trout stocked this week on the west slope of the Cascades; these fish are 16 inches or better and often weigh about two pounds. The pounders being stocked at several locations east of the summit aren't quite that large but are bigger than legals.

Northwest Zone — No stocking listed on the master schedule this week.

Southwest Zone — Clearwater Forebay No. 2, (950 trophies), Hemlock Lake (1,500 trophies), Lake in the Woods (50 trophies), Lemolo Reservoir (5,000 plus 1,500 trophies) and Rogue River above Lost Creek Reservoir (3,000).

Willamette Zone — In the North Willamette Watershed District: The master stocking schedule lists 16,700 trout being stocked this week in North Fork Reservoir on the Clackamas River above Estacada. This week's ODFW Recreation Report lists 8,000 for the planting this week. Either way, combined with a good dose of fish last week, there will be plenty to go around for the holiday weekend.

Also getting trout in the north valley this week are: Estacada Lake (2,000), Faraday Lake (2,000), Harriet Lake (2,000 plus 667 trophies), Small Fry Lake (300), Trillium Lake (4,000 plus 667 trophies) and West Salish Pond (667 trophies).

In the South Willamette Watershed District: McKenzie River above Leaburg Lake (3,000).

Central Zone — Haystack Reservoir (500 plus 200 "pounders"), Prineville Youth Pond (200 "pounders"), Shevlin Pond (200 plus 200 "pounders") and Three Creeks Lake (200 "pounders")

Southeast Zone — Miller Lake (1,500 plus 250 "pounders"), listed on Sept. 1.

Northeast Zone — No stocking listed on the master schedule this week.

BUOY 10 BECKONS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 2010

Buzz Ramsey expects to cash in on some big silver — in the form of chunky fall chinook — during this season's Buoy 10 season.

The Buoy 10 area, which actually stretches from the shipping marker all the way up to Tongue Point, opens Sunday.

While the coho (or silver) salmon season has less of a silver lining this year, especially compared to last year's impressive run, the 2010 chinook run is projected to be better than the 10-year average. In a report dated today, the Columbia River Compact's latest forecast estimates a run of 664,900 Chinook salmon.

That prospect has salmon anglers salivating, said Ramsey, a renowned salmon and steelhead fisherman and a brand manager for Yakima Bait Co.

About half of those chinook salmon will be bound for the free-flowing sections of the Columbia in Washington state. Those "upriver brights" are wonderful fish to catch and eat, and they come into the river over a long period, but they tend to shoot upstream rapidly.

The tule run of chinook headed to lower Columbia streams and hatcheries also looks strong this year, and those fish have the appealing habit of hanging out in the lower Columbia before moving on, making them a better bet for Buoy 10 anglers, Ramsey said. "Everyone's excited about this tule run," he added.

The coho run is anticipated to be 286,600, well below last year's 721,600 blast of coho and also under the 10-year average.

Generally speaking, many people will first try their luck close to the Buoy at the river mouth, because that is the first place to ambush incoming salmon. And while that's one of the hot spots for coho, it can be rough out there. Also, said Ramsey: "If you want to catch chinook, that's not necessarily the place to be."

Ramsey says look for the first big tide series to push salmon, especially chinook, farther upriver. The first big series after this year's opener is about a week into August, and many Buoy 10 veterans will hold off until then.

Big tide exchanges are often best for salmon success toward the buoy, and bring more fish into the system, but softer tides often bring the best bite upriver from the buoy, Ramsey said.

People targeting chinook will often work deeper channels on both sides of the river, north of Desdemona Sands on the Washington side (including the Church Hole), and both downstream and upstream from the Astoria-Megler Bridge on the Washington side. The deep waters of the dredged shipping channel on the Oregon side of the river also produce good numbers of chinook from Hammond clear upstream.

Many parts of the river can be excellent for salmon at a given moment. To really know where the fish are biting, follow the boats, said veteran guide Mark Lytle. Guides and other regulars all communicate with their trusted fishing buddies by cell phone and quickly gather where fishing is good, he said. You can also spot the bent rods and flashing nets.

"You can scan the horizon and see who's' catching fish," Lytle said. "When you see two fish caught around you, it's not a fluke."

Both Ramsey and Lytle recommend that anglers intent on catching salmon this year show up with a variety of bait sizes and brines, all very fresh, as a good assortment of salmon spinners and other favorite lures. Salmon preferences change often, so what worked last year won't necessarily cut it on your next trip. Overall, herring are the top bait and spinners usually rank a strong second.

While the fishing can turn on and off at almost a whim, Ramsey comes up with his absolute ideal fishing days by matching his tide chart to his sunrise table, especially when he's after chinook in the upper areas of the Buoy 10 fishery. When a high tide comes at first light in August, and possibly in early September, Ramsey would like to be on the water.

We looked it up and we'd bet a tray of purple label herring that Buzz has the second full weekend of August and Monday, Aug. 30, circled on his 2010 calendar. Maybe you should, too.

For more Buoy 10 tips from Buzz Ramsey, see our article on Buoy 10 Salmon Basics in the Fish Finder.

Buzz Ramsey will discuss Buoy 10 salmon fishing strategies at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 29, at the Oregon City Fisherman's Marine and Outdoor. There is no charge.