2016 Springer Thread

So tomorrow is out on the big C? This deck job is at a standstill!!!!!!!
Dang!!!!!!

 

We went this morning and did a 3 for 4........I had to leave at 1 to get some business finished. 2 mid-teens and a native. My fish was lost a foot from the net. Anyways good season for the Big C. Going to learn the MC in a couple weeks and see how that goes. Never tried the channel, but I got a teacher lined up. Hoping to see maybe a little May time on the big C?

 

I have a friend who wants to give the MC a try, I'll probably have to go with him....

 

If you go let us know how you do. I'll do the same......Heard from a buddy that there were a good chunk of fish caught today in the channel. He didn't manage anything, but seen a few landed.

 

I'll do that but it may be May before we get there.
Been too busy this last week to wet a line.

 

Fished the high slack this morning at M.Channel and lost a 15 -20# just outside the length of the net. I hate those barbless hooks some times.

 

Dang......hate to hear that. Those barbless hooks give me fits. Bet the fish was clipped too. It's always the natives that stay stuck.

Trolling plug cut?

 

Plug cut, green & chrome flasher and 8oz weight. This year I have had the best luck leaving the guts in the herring letting the hang out the side once the herring thaws out but still change them out ever hour.

 

Well I got out of the house this morning and headed to the Cowlitz river and low and behold we managed to scratch out 2 springers..
Dang ole pic is to big to post from phone..... Sorry it took so long.
I tried it again today 4-27 at the terminal fishery at the Barrier Dam. I had a fish on and got wrapped up with an Asian that kept casting while I fought the fish & lost the fish & my friggin bobber to boot!!!!!
And no I didn't shoot him..... but he damn well deserved it........

 

Congrats......Springers are like Pringles, you pop one and you can't stop. Look forward to the pics.

 

Today was a catch day, took a couple of people to the Cowlitz and I got this guy at 6:30 am. Tough fishing with the new guys not getting a bobber down but the boat always shares the catch & they (brothers) went home with 1/2 a springer.

The bait: The Springer cocktail eggs & sandshrimp.

The reaction when Mr. Springer devoured the said cocktail.....

The happy angler with said springer!!!!

 

Dandy looking fish.......kid went out with his friend a few days ago and picked one up in the lower river SAFE area. Gillnetters in the SAFE areas have not been doing very well though. The run this year still looks particularly soft.

Cowlitz looks to have some good color on the water judging from your pic.

 

Yeah the river is in excellent shape finally with all the fluctuations of flow that kept it off colored earlier this winter and spring.

 

So, did you guys try the opener. I went Friday morning and didn't touch a thing. My normal go to spot was closed do to the sanctuary for the Lewis. Didn't hear of much action.

 

Well for those of you that want to try your luck some more you have 3 more days.

Spring chinook fishery reopens May
20-22 below Bonneville Dam

OLYMPIA – Anglers can catch and keep
spring chinook salmon May 20-22 on a
section of the lower Columbia River
under a three-day extension approved
today by fishery managers from
Washington and Oregon.

Although the latest projection of
returning upriver spring chinook is
down slightly from the preseason
forecast, representatives from both
states agreed it is still strong
enough to allow at least one more
opening – and perhaps more – in the
lower river this year.

More than 2,300 upriver fish are
still available for harvest under the
current catch guideline, said Ron
Roler, Columbia River policy advisor
for the Washington Department of Fish
and Wildlife (WDFW).

"We're hoping to reopen the fishery
again prior to Memorial Day, but that
will depend on the count of upriver
fish passing Bonneville Dam," Roler
said.

This week's three-day extension will
reopen the spring chinook fishery
from the Tongue Point/Rocky Point
line upriver to Beacon Rock for boat
anglers, with bank fishing allowed up
to the deadline below the dam.
Anglers are limited to one adult
hatchery chinook salmon as part of
their daily limit of two adult fish.

Under permanent rules, anglers may
retain hatchery steelhead and
hatchery chinook jacks through June
15 from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point
line upstream to the I-5 Bridge. Shad
fishing is open up to Bonneville Dam
and beyond

Fishery managers now anticipate a
return of 180,000 upriver spring
chinook to the Columbia River this
year, down from 188,800 projected
prior to the season.

Salmon and steelhead fishing remains
closed until further notice above
Bonneville Dam but reopens for the
summer chinook season June 16 in
waters above and below the dam under
rules outlined in the Washington
Sport Fishing rules pamphlet
(http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulatio
ns/).



Persons with disabilities who need to
receive this information in an
alternative format or who need
reasonable accommodations to
participate in WDFW-sponsored public
meetings or other activities may
contact Dolores Noyes by phone (360-
902-2349), TTY (360-902-2207), or
email ([email protected]). For
more information, see
http://wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/reas
onable_request.html.

 

I have to work this holiday weekend, but made it out for 4 hours this morning with my grand kid. 4 hours, 4 take downs and two fish.....both clipped. Another couple guys I know were out tonight and they are 1 for 3 plunking off of Sand Island and another buddy picked one up an hour ago trolling in the channel. There is a push coming through.

Another buddy that lives down near Astoria is getting some hot reports on the Summer Steelhead from the lower river.

Like always I was plunking off of Warrior Rock using #2 S&G's tipped with Tuna in about 20' of water. Surface temp was at 58 degrees.

 

I've been on the road (flew to fla) since the 19th & now up in NC. Will drive back out to Washington on the first.....
Good luck this Memorial day weekend.

Remember to pay homage to the fallen.


Before I left I opted for the Cowlitz since I figured the Columbia would be a bust.

 

Good luck on your trip. Really wasn't expecting much to be going on fish wise on the river after the poor reports from the past couple weeks. Those guys I know fishing off of Sand island had 2 on the bank when I went to bed last night and get this.....they broke 3 off. Told them I would spring for new leader material. Several more take downs that didn't stick.

There is a very good push going through......I'm seriously depressed about having to work.