300,000 fish forecast... Season opens March 1-April 10. I've not fished this on my boat and haven't been out in about 20 years. Need to learn the Big C- :arms:
http://blogs.seattletimes.com/reelt...f-more-than-300000-fish/#.VMqsCPRf5f0.twitter
Greg, I am right there with you. I would like to learn it but I think I will have to wait a couple of years until I retire so I can come down and learn during the week when it is not so busy.
Bruce
Learn the big C for Springers?
Don't burn yourself out in March! I wonder what the number of rod hours per fish is in March. It must be a scary number.
The springer run seems to be getting later every year.
Like ejthomp says, keep your powder dry. I plan to put the boat in the water the last week of March (unless good catch reports).
The season closes just when the dam counts go way up and the fishing gets good. Happens every year.
As I recall, last spring the season was extended because the catch had been so poor.
Oh, and BTW, when the bite finally picks up, they let more water out of Bonny and that kills the bite.
But-----the springers sure are yummy!
(Dave)
For learning this fishery, I recommend guides Eric Linde and Kyle Hall. I've fished Spring and Fall Chinook on the Columbia with both, and will do it again. Both are outstanding guides.
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River has been high and cold during springer season the last few years, which seems to delay the runs. Unless something changes dramatically with snow in the Northwest, we may not get that this year (not a good thing, we need it to get juvenile salmon down the river and past the dams).
I am probably going to take April 6-10 off and fish that week hard.
Peddler,
You are so right! Eric Linde ,my neighbor, is an excellent guide and a class act.
(Dave)
Thanks for the name of the guides to hook up with. I know that is the way I learn rivers I have never drifted before. I will have to look into booking a trip. Won't be this spring, looking at the calendar and it is full. How the heck did that happen.. :shrug9:
I doubt you will learn much about drifting the Columbia. It is pretty much either an anchor (which guides seldom do) or troll show...
Most folks troll
StreamFixer
Russ, I understood that to be the case. I was just reflecting that the tip to go with a guide is a great way to learn a new fishery, like I have done on smaller rivers accessing with my drift boat.
When I first built my drift boat I watched videos and read books about how to operate it, but going out with someone that knows what's happening sure speeds things up.
My hope is to do the same so I can so putting my Arima on the river will be more enjoyable because I will have some clue about what to do.
:beerchug:
I go out with a guide on the Cathlamet for springers every year. It is pretty simple fishing but it's nice to go with someone who knows all the little things that help catch fish. The guides call the guys that anchor up "rope-a-dopers". They actually like those guys because they stay out of the guides way. All the years I've gone down there the guide has never anchored up.
Guys
One of the PDX Rats can usually break free to enjoy a day fishing when you want to come down. WA license works anywhere on the Columbia, Willamette R or Multnomah channel, not so much. Drop a PM or give a call... If I don't have a Honey Due I have to do or (shudder) actually working on a job, I am usually available as a last resort.. :biggrin:
StreamFixer
Yes, don't anchor up. It is just a waste of your time. I would troll, troll, and when in doubt. Do some more trolling.
VT
Spoken by the man who seems to ace anchoring and tying into lots of fish --- while anchored... :whistle:
StreamFixer
SF,
You're right. I've seen VT land a few and cracker a few. He's one serious fisherman!
One memorable day while on the hook, he was an innocent bystander--er--fisherman next to a yelling, swearing, cannon ball throwing, gun brandishing episode. Stayed cool through it all. What a guy!!
(Dave)
Going with a guide is very good advice. Springer fishing looks simple, but it most certainly isn't.
Springers travel in very specific lanes, depending on river level, tide, temperature, and current. The guys who catch 90% of the fish are the ones who have a sense of where to target them.
If you watch the Ifish web site, there will be lots and lots of posts about how much the fishing sucks in March and April. Same thing every year. 90% of the fish that are caught are caught by the 10% of anglers who have mastered the fishery. Everyone else complains about the sea lions, the quality of the herring this year, river levels, etc...
Quote from: Threeweight on January 30, 2015, 10:33:39 AM
River has been high and cold during springer season the last few years, which seems to delay the runs. Unless something changes dramatically with snow in the Northwest, we may not get that this year (not a good thing, we need it to get juvenile salmon down the river and past the dams).
I am probably going to take April 6-10 off and fish that week hard.
BUT on the good side it means the fish will be in on time. PLUS with the low water like in 2008, if you know the lanes it is like shooting fish in a barrel. Because it is so low there is only a very few paths for the fish to run.
As for IFISH, and most online web forums you can take what people say with some skepticism. Lonely men that have nothing to live for sometimes embellish their fishing success and some men find that fishing is all they live for. Which to me is sad. Probably explains why there are so many strip clubs in Oregon.
I may sound bitter, but the truth hurt sometimes. And I am hurting from that loss, but more importantly from the constant hematuria and pain I am experiencing.
VT
Our family of 7 fisher persons decided not to support WA state in any angling licensing once again (year 8) and will not support the Willy tax (CR endorsement) imposed in all rivers to their headwaters that drain into the CR in the state of Oregon. Our annual fishing budget alone is a modest 5 figures which is now spread around elsewhere on both coasts. Unfortunately this amounts to a big loss for local retailers who used to benefit widely from our local angling participation.
The controlling agencies have designed the annual CR springer open dates historically to not be anywhere around the "peak" run dates. Water temps (below 47.5 degrees) an large flow rates have really put the kibosh on the CR springer run to a large degree as well. Therefore, increasing the cost to you in days spent chasing very little. The CR or its tribs. are no longer my cup of tea. I do however miss fishing the lower Klick. But I am not gonna run 150 miles r/t for one spring chinook.
I much prefer the taste of ocean fresh salmon anyway and that is right around the corner. My wife won't eat a "river" fish even if it is a springer.
Zarn,
That is what I like about you. You are a straight shooter! With the low snow amounts the flow rates and water temps might be ideal for this year's run to be on time. But we have another month of rainy weather. The guys at Bonny don't give a rats a$$ about the fish and tend to dump water when they see fit.
Salmon in the salt to me are a lot better than those in the river. When comparing coho from the Columbia and coho from the sound, in my humble opinion the fish in the sound are brighter red and better tasting. My wife and friends also notice a difference in color and texture. But that might be my Seattle bias.
VT
When snow starts melting in the spring and the rain falls, that water has to go somewhere. :shrug9:
I don't think it's a conspiracy, I think it's dam operators 1) trying to avoid flooding agricultural land in the upper Columbia Basin in March/April, and 2) trying to meet the flows legally required to get juvenile salmon down river past the dams in late spring.
Lots of guys do really, really well in high flow conditions, it just requires fishing different areas and becoming familiar with travel lanes in high flow years. If my wife can do it, you guys can!
(http://www.arimaowners.com/gallery/5/4-090414164555.jpeg)
3WT you may add she does have the advantage of using a "PINK" fishing pole when catching those nice beauties. I don't know what it is about those poles but they are notorious for catching fish.
H-T
Quote from: Threeweight on February 05, 2015, 10:04:05 AM
When snow starts melting in the spring and the rain falls, that water has to go somewhere. :shrug9:
I don't think it's a conspiracy, I think it's dam operators 1) trying to avoid flooding agricultural land in the upper Columbia Basin in March/April, and 2) trying to meet the flows legally required to get juvenile salmon down river past the dams in late spring.
Lots of guys do really, really well in high flow conditions, it just requires fishing different areas and becoming familiar with travel lanes in high flow years. If my wife can do it, you guys can!
(http://www.arimaowners.com/gallery/5/4-090414164555.jpeg)
Perhaps we should have an Arima Spring Chinook Derby? Anyone?
(http://www.arimaowners.com/gallery/5/15-190414155611-5635194.jpeg)
(http://www.arimaowners.com/gallery/5/15-190414155557-56292289.jpeg)
(http://www.arimaowners.com/gallery/5/15-190414155551-5629346.jpeg)
(http://www.arimaowners.com/gallery/5/15-150414075131-56282381.jpeg)
VT
VT,
Thanks for showing a pic of the Maddy A. with the usual suspects and a salmon we intercepted before it got to your lure. Wish you would not show it again, however, as it's painful to see that blue thing on the radome.
Hope we have the same luck in the same place this year. That was sure fun!
(Dave)
Finally hooked up today for the first fish of the season. In my buddy's tin-can Fish Rite boat off Kalama. Let the games begin!
Actually, it the river was mostly dead. This is one of only four fished checked at the Kalama Marina. I felt very fortunate. K14 "double-trouble" with sardine wrap. 24 inch drop and 54 inch leader. Procure Salmon Slammer, which, by the way, is a delicious dipping sauce for toasted French bread!
WAy to go Doc!! :applause:
Got lucky this morning! Naked herring trolling on the bottom in 15'.(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/04/04/d3ceb287104712afb72300db375d5ee8.jpg)
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:yeahthat:
Sweet! About time they started to show up, I was beginning to think it was going to be a now show year.
Hi tide Friday (3rd) -- Warrior Rock -- about 15#
(http://www.arimaowners.com/gallery/6/5-050415082323.jpeg)
I just took "Reel Trip" out for the first shake down since I did all the work on her. Everything performed great! The new kicker is a dream. Sooooooo...I'm ready to get schooled on how to catch springers! I'm willing to take someone out if they are willing to try and teach an old dog new tricks! :arms:
Russ, get out of my secret spot!!! And where is the handle of your net?!?!
Baywolf, I have this week off and plan on fishing at least a few days. Let me know when you plan to be on the river, and we can at least buddy boat.
Weird way to run a net for sure and I never realized how short Russ' legs were either... [emoji79][emoji37][emoji12]
Still, he's caught more fish than I have so far this year... :doh:
Rick
Reluctantly sent from my iPhoney using this crappy Tapatalk app... [emoji37]
Nice going, Russ!
The defiant look on your face would make for some interesting captions, like--"Who says I can't catch fish?"
The no handle net reminds me of a time when I was netting my wife's springer and the handle came off. Fortunately her fish had a death wish or maybe felt sorry for me.
(Dave)
I think I better take a couple of Nitro's. Russ caught a fish !!!!! Nice going buddy!! :dance: :party: :clap: :bowdown:
H-T
Booya !!Nice one !! :clap: :bowdown:
Quote from: StreamFixer on April 05, 2015, 08:25:03 AM
Hi tide Friday (3rd) -- Warrior Rock -- about 15#
(http://www.arimaowners.com/gallery/6/5-050415082323.jpeg)
By the time I got the fish ready to go into the fish box, BBQ John had broken the net down and had the handle back in the rod holder (just next to the fish) and had his camera ready... His boat, things are done his way...
StreamFixer
(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/04/05/81f6517898f874d27dbe0c33fe09f43b.jpg)
Scratched another up this morning.
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I'll come out tomorrow from St John ( Willamett ) to columbia R and fish to Sauvie Island quite a few fishes check in at St John boat ram today all caught at columbia R
What a wonderful dinner!
(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/04/11/7d34d5eaf48e68e1b9cfdff833002734.jpg)
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I am so jealous of you guys getting to fish right now. We still have ice on many of our mountain lakes so we wait! My friends on Vancouver Island call the size of fish you guys are showing off sardines! On all my past trips up to the Island every time I came in from a day on the water with those size fish that is what I was met with! sardines LOL!
All we have in the freezer right now is store bought salmon, YUK! wish I was with you guys catching those sardines! Lucky buggers!
Ok there is only one more day to fish the Columbia. April 16. will be the last day out there. Then you are stuck on the Willamette the rest of the year for boat fishing . There is a bank only fishery above Bonneville dam though May 6.
H-T
Wet a line for the first time this springer season yesterday afternoon.
Fishing above I-205 on the WA side with a few other boats, did not have a touch for 3 rods. Saw a couple fish caught, but was definitely slow.
Will be out there next Thursday with hopefully better results.
(Dave)
Vacation plans last week got sidetracked, but I did get out this weekend. Skunked on the Columbia Saturday (one drive by on a Mag Lip that didn't stick, while anchored just above Kalama). Hit Multnomah Channel and trolled herring today and picked up this cookie cutter... lost another at the net.
(http://www.arimaowners.com/gallery/6/4-120415225526.jpeg)
Got out the last day and found one. Loving the knuckle buster!(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/04/16/1b057e51d79df0804cecfdf1f7fbbfa9.jpg)
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Very nice
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Here's one with my daughter, she helped hold the rod as I netted this one. She's good for about 2-3 hours at best, so I was glad to get this one for her not long after we launched. Missed one takedown 5 minutes in, and hit this one about 30 minutes later.
(http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag31/jeffcycles/0409151609_zpschmmmcm6.jpg)
(http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag31/jeffcycles/10a81192-07a2-4072-9859-d41ffcec99f9_zps7qjvcm4b.jpg)
(http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag31/jeffcycles/0409151745a_zps4zkq6stt.jpg)
Nice fish Jeff, enjoy the days you can with the daughter as they grow up way to fast.
H-T
Nice work guys! Great picture Jeff...I bet she was excited holding that pole! I took my son out for a couple hours after work to try to scratch one more out but couldn't land one. Had one on and lost it but that was it. Back to kokanee now.
Careful Jeff, next thing you know she will turn into a teen-ager and you will be wondering where your little girl went...
Nicely done with the fish.
Russ
Congrats to all who caught fish the last several days of the springer season.
I wasn't so fortunate. Went out yesterday above !-205 with a couple friends. We saw fish caught upstream, downstream, and on each side of us, but we could only scratch out a couple takedowns.
"Some days you bite the bear, and some days the bear bites you!"
(Dave)