Fall Chinook Fishing
 Fall Chinook begin entering Oregon’s coastal bays
in late July (Season opens Aug. 1st on many rivers systems)
and continues through the end of December, usually peaking
in October. These are the largest salmon found in Oregon.
Average size running 25-35 lbs. with an occasional fish
into the 60 pound range caught every year. I spend the lion’s
share of my time on the Nestucca River and several other
smaller coastal rivers and tidewater sections of the bays.
Fishing the lower sections of the rivers ensures the catch
of ocean fresh, hard fighting salmon and the Oregon coast
in the Fall is spectacular.
Oregon’s Fall Chinook are exceptionally strong fish
characterized by a stocky frame that’s ideally designed
to generate spectacularly powerful runs when hooked.
Coho Fishing
I also fish for Coho ("silver")
salmon in the Fall. Silvers are hard fighting acrobatic
fish that can be caught on some choice coastal rivers or
in the Clackamas and Sandy rivers. Our Coho average 8-12
lbs., but in 2002 a 21 lb. trophy was caught by one of my
guests on the Nestucca River. I use relatively light gear
and small diameter line to catch these salmon which makes
for an action-packed trip.
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