KAYAK FISHING ON THE UMPQUA RIVER

THE UMPQUA RIVER OFFERS SOME OF THE MOST EXCITING SALMON FISHING IN THE STATE OF OREGON. DURING THE FALL, YOU CAN CATCH SOME OF THE BIGGEST AGGRESSIVE CHINOOK SALMON, FIESTY STEELHEAD AND TOUGH FIGHTING COHO. ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES ON THE OREGON COAST TO FISH IS WINCHESTER BAY.  IT IS DEFINITELY  A SALMON HOT SPOT! HUGE KING SALMON LIKE TO HANG OUT IN THE COOL BAY WATERS DURING THE MONTHS OF AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER. THE COHO SALMON USUALLY RUN A MONTH LATER STARTING IN SEPTEMBER AND RUNNING THROUGH OCTOBER. WINCHESTER BAY ALSO HAS SOME OF THE BEST STURGEON FISHING ON THE OREGON COAST.

THE BEST CHOICE FOR SALMON BAIT IS SALMON EGGS USING A DRIFTING OR BOBBING TECHINQUE. I PREFER USING HERRING AS BAIT. CUTTING THE HEAD OFF THE HERRING AT AN ANGLE AND ATTACHING THE HERRING TO A HOOK WILL CREATE A SPIRAL OR ROLLNG EFFECT THAT BOTH COHO AND CHINOOK CANNOT RESIST. 

CRABBING IN WINCHESTER BAY IS ALSO VERY POPULAR. YOU CAN EASILY RENT A SMALL CRAB TRAP, GET SOME BAIT AND CATCH YOUR OWN CRAB FOR DINNER. CRABBING CAN BE DONE YEAR AROUND, BUT IS BEST FROM JULY TO FEBRUARY.