I am wanting to take my son (4) fishing around Scappoose, Oregon, where we live.

I was thinking of starting him on lake fishing, or fishing in quiet Scappoose Bay.

Can anyone recommend Scappoose Bay as a good spot for bobber fishing for him, and maybe spinner fishing for me?

We don't have a boat, thinking of bank fishing.

Thanks for any ideas.

best,
Paul

Welcome Paul!

You can catch warm water fish out of the bay near the baot ramp. If you head farther west there is a series of ponds where the old Trojan site was. It gets stocked regularly....

Yep, the Trojan ponds would be a good bet.
They get stocked with trout.
Sauvies Island has warm water opportunities as well as a unique cold water pond called Haldeman. (stocked with trout)
http://www.pdxfamilyadventures.com/2011/08/19/haldeman-pond-sauvie-island

Thanks.

We tried in late morning, fishing with a bobber from the shore in the park near the boat ramp. No luck.

We might try Trojan later, although I cannot seem to find any clear driving instructions on the web on how to drive to the one pond that an DFW person told me is still stocked. The maps show several ponds...

best,
Paul

If you want to fish steelhead and salmon when it opens Sauvies Island has a ton of productive beaches for plunking. And you can go down steam towards Rainier and hit Dibley or Prescott Beach. But my best advice would be to get a boat to troll the channel. It's right in town and the springer fishing can be fantastic, but when they're not biting there are a ton of sturgeon and just about everything else swimming around in there.
Being born and raised in Scappoose, I've spent a lot of time in the channel.
JD

Thanks for the Haldeman pond note. We went there just two days ago, and caught just a few nibbles. No signs of fish at all, except for 1-inch fish near the shallows.

We tried spinners and bobber fishing - nothing.

We will try Trojan later.

best,
Paul

Try channel with rolled mop herring on the bottom.
Trojan ponds are right off hwy 30 on your way to ranier. Heading west look for nice lawn and ponds to your right

What would I be fishing for with rolled mop herring on the bottom in the channel?

Thanks.

Paul

sturgeon or big catfish

Great.

Thanks.

Paul

Wish I could remember where that bank-accessible sturgeon hole was.
Seems like it was fairly close to Brown's Landing.
There was an unusual rock feature at river left, IIRC.

Just a suggestion, as the sun comes up the fish will go deeper, especially the stocker trout. Starting at 10am they'll start to move down and eventually get near the bottom.

If the bobber isn't producing try something that floats a little like powerbait off the bottom. It's not as interactive for your son but might help catch some fish.

Or conversely go in the afternoon, 5pm-8pm and they'll come back up toward the surface. My go-to is 2 beads and a piece of nightcrawler ~24" inches below the bobber.

GL

GL,

Thanks very much.

best,
Paul

If you know the pond depth, you might want to try a slip bobber so your son has something to watch.

You could rig a slip weight on your line above your swivel, about 18" of 4# leader with a #10 or #8 egg hook, a piece of nightcrawler or an egg and enough of a miniture marshmallow to float the bait off the bottom. Take a big bag of marshmallows, they'll help keep your son's attention.....

Shad are going by there in abundance too if your kid wants non stop action. Just off of Goble.

Good call! already showing up too. plunk a dick nite or 3.....