THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 



WHERE TO FISH IN DECEMBER. 



By Walter F. Backus. 



December is the hardest month in which to find fair fishing. It 

 seems to be just between seasons. About the only fish worth going after 

 at this time is the sea trout, or as commonly called ' ' salmon trout. ' ' The 

 run of silverside salmon is about over by December first and the steelheads 

 do not come in until several weeks later. As the sea trout usually follow 

 in these salmon runs, it is easy to see why December is usually such a lean 

 month for the anglers. Still, the persistent fisherman can generally get 

 enough good ones to make life worth living. 



Scappoose Creek, twenty miles north of the city, is a favorite haunt 

 of the sea trout. The lower reaches of this stream run through meadow 

 lands, with a deep, slow current, and a surprising number of large trout 

 are taken there each winter. From now on until Christmas Scappoose Creek 

 ought to be a good bet. 



A little further down we have Clatskanie Creek, and Big Creek at 

 Knappa, both of which yield a lot of fine fish at this time of year. The 

 Nekanakum River is an excellent all-winter stream, as both steelheads and 

 sea trout are taken there in large numbers. 



For a short trip the Sandy River is a great favorite with local anglers. 

 This river has a good run of large trout each fall, but by this time the fish 

 are usually pretty well scattered. A very heavy run of silverside salmon 

 came up the Sandy last month, and furnished excellent spoon fishing. This 

 may result in a follow-up run of sea trout, so that the river will bear watch- 

 ing for a few weeks. About the middle of December the steelheads enter 

 the Sandy, and a few are taken on bait from then until June first, when 

 the big run is due. 



The Clackamas River should furnish some sea trout fishing at this 

 time, but it seldom does. As a salmon stream this river seems to be going 

 back, and this probably accounts for the decreasing supply of trout. 



Some good trout are taken in the Willamette River between Sellwood 

 and the mouth of the Clackamas. Every good eddy in the river has its little 

 population of ' ' salmon trout, ' ; which works slowly up stream, and the 

 patient angler is usually rewarded by taking home several two-pounders. 



The Columbia River beach, just above the Vancouver ferry, is another 

 favorite haunt for both fish and fishermen. Every Sunday finds dozens of 

 campfires along the sand bar, where the fishermen congregate to keep warm, 

 exchange lies, and occasionally pull in a fine trout. 



For the accommodation of anglers, we print the following table show- 

 ing short winter fishing trips out of Portland: 



Page Seven 



