Some Lesser Known Or Underutilized Warmwater Opportunities Near Portland an Addendum to the July, 2014 OBPC Presentation

Some Lesser Known or Underutilized Warmwater Opportunities near Portland An Addendum to the July, 2014 OBPC Presentation

*** CAUTION *** The presentation at the July, 2014 meeting of the OBPC suggested some out-of-the-way, less-frequented, or perhaps forgotten but productive warmwater fishing opportunities near the Portland area. There is good public access at all of the standing waters listed below. However, access to and along the rivers is limited as much of the land these flow through is privately owned. Anglers must use caution when looking for and using access points to avoid conflicts with private landowners. Also, although the Willamette River and lower reaches of the tributaries can be navigated by boat, these are not maintained and there can be hazards such as dense overhanging brush, downed trees, logs, and submerged debris. Be safe and make sure to check the angling regulations before heading out!

Willamette River and Tributaries

Willamette River – Newberg Pool upstream to Corvallis including side channels, sloughs For bank and boating access along the Willamette River, I recommend folks get a copy of the Willamette River Recreation Guide, a joint publication of the Oregon State Marine Board and the Oregon State Parks Department that can be found at http://www.oregon.gov/osmb/library/docs/willametteriverguidepdf.pdf. This provides a map by rivermile of access points, facilities, and Willamette Greenway properties. Another excellent map can be found on the Willamette Riverkeeper web site at http://www.willamette-riverkeeper.org/WTrail/. Bank access is also available at a number of bridge crossings and city and county parks located along the river from Corvallis downstream.

Lower Tualatin River An excellent map of the lower river that includes access locations is available through the Tualatin Riverkeepers web site at http://tualatinriverkeepers.org/recreation/. The site also provides good information about navigation hazards and current flow conditions.

Lower Yamhill River Information on convenient boat access for the lower Yamhill River (mainstem from the North and South confluence downstream to the Willamette River) can be found on the City of Dayton web site at http://www.ci.dayton.or.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7BE3BBA3BE-A6D4-473A- 89DC-2E683B8F071A%7D&DE=%7B02E8B4FE-2E71-44A1-ABFC-2126916614A1%7D. The lower river can also be accessed by traveling up from the Willamette River. Boat access used to be available at Kiwanis Park in McMinnville, but I don’t believe the ramp is functional at this time. For bank access, information about Yamhill Locks Park can be found at http://www.co.yamhill.or.us/content/lafayette-locks. A canoe or kayak can be launched from here as well. Bank access can also be found along paved and gravel roads that cross the lower river or travel along it.

Lower Pudding River Access to the lower Pudding is challenging with most bank access available only at road crossings. A canoe or kayak can be launched with some difficulty at a few of these locations as well, but the best boat access is from the Willamette when the river is higher.

Lower Luckiamute River Boating and bank access to the lower Luckiamute River is available at the Luckiamute Landing State Natural Area managed by the Oregon State Parks. The park is located south of Buena Vista off of Buena Vista Road. More information can be found at http://www.oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=192. Bank angling access is also available further upstream at the Sarah Helmick State Recreation Area located about five miles south of Monmouth and west of Hwy 99W: http://www.oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=98. The lower reach of the Luckiamute can also be accessed from the Willamette River with the nearest ramp on the Willamette located downstream near the Buena Vista Ferry.

Lower Calapooia River The lower Calapooia can be accessed via a number of road crossings and at the City of Albany’s Bryant and Monteith parks. The south or upstream side of the Hwy 34 crossing has been used for bank angling and as a launch for canoes and kayaks, but check to make sure this is still allowed before using this site.

Lower Long Tom River Like many of the Willamette River tributaries, access points along the lower Long Tom are limited as most all of the land along both banks is privately owned. There is a public park in Monroe on the east side of the river and access at public road crossings. Much of the lower River below Fern Ridge Reservoir is very low gradient and made more so by a series of water control structures (dams) that create extended reaches of relatively slack water. If you can find access at a road crossing or meet a willing landowner, a canoe or kayak can be launched to reach some excellent fishing. A boat can also be launched at the lower-most road crossing and the river fished downstream to the confluence with the Willamette.

Willamette River Floodplain Waters

Minto-Brown Island (sloughs and ponds) Minto-Brown is a park managed by the City of Salem. Information about it can be found at http://www.cityofsalem.net/Residents/Parks/ParkTour/Pages/Minto- Brown%20Island%20Park.aspx. To reach Minto-Brown, take River Road south of downtown Salem to Minto Island Road SE, which winds out to the park property. Further south on River Rd you can turn right onto Homestead Rd for more direct access to Oxbow Slough.

Simpson Pond (First and Second Lakes) First and Second Lakes are best accessed from the City of Albany’s Simpson Park. A launch for smaller boats that can be carried by hand is located on the south end of First Lake. Second Lake can be accessed via a shallow channel that connects the two. To get here, head east from downtown Albany on Salem Ave SE, turn left on Ermine St, then right Front Ave, then veer left onto Waverly Dr NE. Parking is located on the west side of the road and just outside the gate. You’ll need to carry your boat a short distance from here to the ramp. Bank access is also available, but it can be brush covered and in places steep.

Luckiamute Landing State Park (Vanderpool and other ponds, floodplain waters) These waters are located on the Luckiamute Landing State Natural Area managed by Oregon State Parks (see the aerial photo of the Lower Luckiamute River above). However, they are in the southern portion of the area with access parking closer to the Buena Vista Rd intersection with Springhill Drive. http://www.oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=192.

North Coast

Lytle Lake Lytle is located on the north Oregon coast just north of Rockaway and on the east side of Highway 101. There is a boat ramp on the northeast corner of the lake, a public fishing dock on the west shoreline along Hwy 101, and other scattered bank access locations.

Cape Meares Lake Cape Meares is a shallow and often very windy lake squeezed between the ocean beach and western shoreline of Tillamook Bay. There is good boat and bank access. Take Third Street west out of Tillamook then turn right or northwest onto Bayocean Road.

Willamette Valley Standing Waters

Foster Reservoir Foster Reservoir is located just east of Sweet Home along Highway 20. It offers excellent boating and bank angling access and warmwater fish can be found throughout the reservoir, but the eastern shores are recommended as there is a greater variety of habitat. Foster gets pretty crowded during the summer months with water skiers and other boaters, so during that time be prepared to share the water if you fish mid-day.

Pettit Reservoir Pettit is located southwest of Silverton – and just past the Oregon Gardens - on the east side of Cascade Highway NE. The City of Silverton took ownership of the property only recently, but apparently there has been some discussion about their selling it. However, I don’t know all of the details at this time and what a sale could mean for public fishing. Access has been along the dam on the west side of the reservoir.

Woodburn Pond Owned by ODFW, the pond is located north of Woodburn and just east of Interstate 5. To get here, take the Woodburn exit off I5 and head east on Hwy 214, then turn north on Boones Ferry Road for two miles to Crosby Road. Turn west or back toward I5 on Crosby Rd, then turn north on Edwin Road just before the freeway overpass. There are the remains of a gate at this location, but Edwin is a public road, albeit poorly maintained. Drive to the end where you’ll find a gate and ODFW sign – from here you’ll need to walk a very short distance to the pond. Boats are welcome and you can carry one in by hand, but motors are prohibited. There is good bank access along the entire perimeter of the pond.

Freeway Lakes Freeway Lakes are located several miles south of Albany along Interstate 5. From I5 take Hwy 34 east about ½ mile to the flashing yellow light at Seven Mile Lane. Head north on Seven Mile Lane, then just before heading back over I5 on the overpass you’ll make a right turn or north onto Three Lakes Road. A parking area with a gravel boat ramp is located on the northwest corner of the easternmost of the three lakes and is managed by Linn County Parks. There is good bank access, but a shallow channel connects each of the lakes so you can also use a boat to access all three. However, there is a 10 mph speed limit. These are also good lakes to fish using a canoe or kayak. For more information, go to http://www.linnparks.com/pages/parks/freewaylakes.html.

Cheadle Lake Cheadle Lake is managed by the City of Lebanon. A parking lot and boat ramp are located on the northwest end and there is good bank access via a developed trail along the north shoreline with an ADA-accessible fishing dock and spur trails that lead onto the peninsulas. This is an excellent water to fish using a canoe or kayak as it can get weedy. Also, I believe the City of Lebanon does not allow the use of gas powered motors on it. To get here, take Russell Drive east from Hwy 20 and then continue south as it turns into River Drive. The park entrance will be on your right: http://www.ci.lebanon.or.us/index.aspx?page=316.

Bond Butte Pond Bond Butte is an ODFW-owned pond located about 15 miles south of Albany. Although it sits just east of I5, your first time getting here may seem be a bit tricky. For the more direct route take I5 south to Exit 216, then head west into Halsey. Turn left and head south on Hwy 99E, then left or east on Cartney Dr, which ends at a “T” with Rowland Rd. Turn left or north on Rowland and then east on Bond Butte Road. The pond will be on your left as you descend the I5 overpass. There is a gravel boat ramp on the south end of Bond Butte that is open year-round and motors are allowed. A gravel road travels part way up the west shoreline and ends at a large parking area, but this is closed during the wet months to prevent illegal off-road vehicle use. You can walk the entire perimeter of the pond.

St Louis Pond 7 ODFW’s St. Louis Ponds Public Fishing Area is located north of Salem and west of Gervais. From Gervais head west on St. Louis Road, then turn left or south onto Terch Lane just before crossing the railroad tracks. Pond 7 is located southeast of the main parking area and to the south of the more heavily used Pond 6. There is very little vegetation around Pond 7 and the water is often turbid. Also, water is not pumped into it as often as in the other ponds during the dry periods of the year, so the water level can be lower. However, it holds an abundance of crappie and some nice channel catfish and largemouth bass.