Alright, let’s talk about fishin’ at Dexter Dam, you know, the place with all that water. I ain’t no fancy fisherman, but I’ve caught my fair share of fish there, and I’ll tell ya what I know.
First off, you gotta know where to go. They say most of the salmon and steelhead fishin’ is a few miles below the dam. Makes sense, right? Fish gotta swim somewhere. I ain’t never been one for climbin’ all over the place, so I stick to the spots I can get to easy.
Now, about them fish. They got all kinds in there, or so they say. I’ve caught some rainbow trout, them little fellas, and some chinook salmon, the bigger ones. They say there’s bass too, bigmouth and smallmouth, but I ain’t never seen one myself. And catfish, them bottom feeders, they’re in there too, I reckon. And some crappie, whatever them is.
- Rainbow trout
- Chinook salmon
- Largemouth bass
- Smallmouth bass
- Brown bullhead catfish
- White crappie
When to go fishin’? Well, that’s a good question. Some folks say there’s a right time and a wrong time, somethin’ about the moon and the tides, but I just go whenever I got a hankerin’ to. But I heard tell there’s an app now, somethin’ called BiteTime™, that tells you when the fish are bitin’. Sounds fancy, but maybe it works. I ain’t never used it, though. I just go when I feel like it, and if I catch somethin’, great. If not, well, it’s still a nice day out by the water. They also say you can see them big salmon in the summer, up at them viewing ponds. Never been there neither, but might be somethin’ to see.
Now, about that fishin’ gear. I ain’t got no fancy rods and reels, just my old trusty pole and some worms. Works for me. But if you want to get all technical, they say you gotta use different gear for different fish. Big fish, big hooks, small fish, small hooks, that’s what I say. And bait? Worms work fine, but some folks use fancy lures and flies. I guess it depends on what you’re after. I’ve seen folks standin’ right there below the dam on the south side, so maybe that’s a good spot too.
And what about the place itself? There’s a Dexter State Recreation Site there, they say. Got picnic tables and toilets, even a place to launch your boat. I ain’t never used the boat launch, I just fish from the shore. But it’s nice to have a place to sit and eat a sandwich, you know? And if you gotta go, you gotta go, so the toilets are handy. They also got somethin’ called Dexter Pond, where they keep the little fish, I think. Sounds like a good place to take the grandkids.
Fishin’ at Dexter Dam ain’t rocket science. Just find a spot, cast your line, and wait. That’s how I do it, anyway. And if you don’t catch nothin’, well, at least you got some fresh air and sunshine. It’s all about relaxin’ and enjoyin’ yourself, that’s what I say. And if you happen to catch a fish, well, that’s just a bonus. They say Dexter Reservoir is a pretty big place, 1000 acres or somethin’, so there’s plenty of room for everyone. And if you want to fish somewhere else, they say there’s good fishin’ in Detroit Lake and the Santiam River, near Salem. But I ain’t never been there, so I can’t tell you nothin’ about that.
Remember, if you’re gonna be fishin’, you gotta know what you’re doin’. Gotta choose the right gear, gotta find where the fish are, and gotta know how to catch ’em. It’s different fishin’ in reservoirs and dams, they say, than fishin’ in a regular ol’ river. And the fish, they change their habits dependin’ on the time of year, so you gotta be smart about it. But like I said, I ain’t no expert, I just go fishin’ when I want to.
So, that’s about all I know about fishin’ at Dexter Dam. It ain’t much, but it’s honest. If you want fancy fishin’ advice, go talk to one of them experts. But if you just want to catch a fish and enjoy the day, well, maybe my words will help you out a little. Good luck, and happy fishin’!
Tags: [Dexter Dam, Fishing, Oregon, Trout, Salmon, Bass, Catfish, Crappie, Reservoir, BiteTime, Dexter State Recreation Site, Dexter Pond, Detroit Lake, Santiam River]
