By Mary Owen
Want to know everything there is to know about where and how to catch fish – and float – nearby rivers?
Well, just ask the experts!
Some of the area’s best fishermen and river guides will speak at the Northwest Steelheaders’ “Ask the Expert” evening, 7-9 p.m., Sept. 16 at Paradise Island Mobile Home Park, 3100 Turner Road in Salem.
“The idea behind the workshop is to teach people how to fish for salmon and steelhead,” said David Gray, secretary of the Salem chapter of the organization. Attendees will learn to tie hooks, tie jigs, make spinners and tie rigs for steelhead fishing, Gray said.
“People will gain knowledge it took us years to learn,” he added.
Bill Sanderson, owner of North Santiam River Trips, will share his experiences of running the whitewater and catching steelhead in the North Santiam River.
The Mill City river guide has been running the river since 1964 and leading trips – fishing and floating – since 1968.
“Experience is a big factor in safely running whitewater and getting steelhead to bite,” Sanderson said. He plans to share some of his personal experiences and techniques guaranteed to help reel in the big ones, as well as bringing plenty of fishing tackle to help anglers “tie up riggings that work.”
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 7 p.m.
Paradise Island Mobile Home Park,
3100 Turner Road, Salem
www.nsrivertrips.com
“I will bring spoons and flies and jogs that work here,” Sanderson added. “And I will also tie up some riggings for diver and bait fishing, which is very successful for steelhead angling with live sand shrimp.”
According to Sanderson, if people have questions about different places to fish or about where to put their boats in the river, club “experts” can get them properly oriented.
Other speakers include:
• Wayne Parker, Good Day Fishing – how to make and fish with spinners.
• Phil Pirone, Pro Cure Scents – how to cure eggs, the use of scents, and other fish attractants.
• Thom Kaffun, fishing guide – the proper rigging and use of herring rigs and egg loops.
• Matt Halseth, experienced local fisherman – the proper making of fishing “yarnies” and “rags” lures.
• Jim Johnson, experience local fisherman – the proper making and use of salmon flies and other lures.
• Arden Cory, river guide, and John Wills, experienced local fisherman – the proper making and use of jigs and other fishing techniques.
• Dana Roberts and Dave Hopfer, Northwest Steeldeaders – information, items for sale, videos of chapter activities and more.
According to Gray, the workshop will coincide with the start of the fall Chinook salmon fishing.
“And it’s the start of our Steelheader meetings,” he added.
