Deleted User
05-08-2000, 03:11 PM
I promised some tips for Tillamook area springers. I haven't actively fished the runs down there for quite awhile, but I used to enough that I can help people not dialed into it yet. These techs will work for many other areas too. Maybe some locals will add tips that I haven't (but don't hold your breath for that). - This fishery has less numbers than the fall run; both fish & fishermen. Many of the techs are much the same as for fall'nook fishing, only slightly smaller and lighter tackle and baits (especially during low water, which is more common in May and June). The good fishing starts about May 1st, with the best areas early in the run being in saltwater, either outside in the "bubble" or up along the jetty & thru the Ghost Hole near Garibaldi. The rigup of choice is plug cut herring. Try the large purple pack like in fall & the smaller green pack to see which is more effective. [Edit in: I have gotten a tip from a local expert- I won't mention his name except to say his first name sounds like Bill and his last name initial is H. & he is close to Jen- the herring of choice outside and in the lower T-Bay for springers is the Blue pack for plugcuts and commonly trolled with 30# leader. Thanks Bill]. The Gilly Cutter is good for consistent plugcutting. And smaller whole herring still work! Have them show you at the marina how to rig them on a double hook setup. Be sure to poke a hole in the vacuum pack then remove the herring carefully so as to leave on all the scales possible. Brining them in distilled water with rocksalt the night before is good (some like to mix in some sardine oil &/or bluing color). Use them plain or with a little spray of WD40 first, then try injecting them with a good baitoil. Use very long 7' leaders (at mid-leader use a beadchain swivel; or experiment with a 00 dodger or spinner blade for attraction) and 2' lead droppers. Troll slowly & check your rig often to remove seaweed. Fish outside & on the bar during the incoming tide, where the best bite often comes after daybreak or near hightide. As you go further up the bay shorten your lead dropper to 18" in the Ghost Hole down to 12 to 15" in the upper bay & tidewater, where I also use shorter 5' leaders. Trolling spinners, smaller plugcuts, K14 Kwikfish (sardine or herring filet wrapped), and rolling prawns all work well at times in the upper bay (see my reply in Nuttinbutnet's "Tillamook- Oyter House Report" on this BB for details about a deadly prawn rigup for T. springers). If you can time tidewater fishing right it can be real good. Bobber fish it as you would for fall 'nooks but with slightly smaller egg clusters (around the diameter of a 50 cent piece- sometimes with pink or chartruse yarn); also try sandshrimp or light pink prawns. Move your bobber stop around to try from 6' deep down to within 6" of bottom; most of the time nearer to bottom. Casting and slowly retieving size 4 spinners such as a silver Bud or Vibrax in the deeper holes is a must. Some deeper holes may need a little extra weight about 35" up from the spinner- I like to use a snapswivel at the upper leader and lower mainline to snap in 3/4 oz. to 1 1/2 oz. cresent sinkers; and a wiresnap at leader's end to snap in different spinners and for casting and retieving Kwikfish. Trolling K14's in tidewater can be great at times (can cover a lot of water during high tide by trolling the Kwikfish w/ 20" dropper & spinners or prawns w/ 12 to 15" dropper- use light lead to get your rig back a ways from the boat). As during the fall, concentrate in the deeper holes during the last part of the outgoing tide & thru low tide. The upper half of tide the fish more often move around & can be caught most anywhere, but it is more challenging. Work a lot of water. For fishing the rivers above tidewater late May thru June, there are 2 ways to go about it. I prefer driftboating the lower Trask, Wilson, or Nestucca after rains bring them to proper levels. Fish as you would for fall 'nooks except use slightly smaller egg clusters; driftfished or backtrolled with divers or backbounced with lead (35" leader with 8" dropper- 20# leader when there is some water color and down to 12# when real clear) when there is enough current. When there isn't I like to anchor well above a hole to work it over with bobber & bait first (try to bobberdrift the baits from 6" to 18" off bottom); then follow with spinners, plugs, and Kwikfish (if the current is too slow for good action cast these lures to the lower end of the hole and very slowly reel them up thru- if deep, keep the rodtip low to the water or use a little extra weight). Use standard Warts for deeper holes and size 30 Hot Shots for med. holes. Try my custom blue/silver/red arrow tail plug colors (see Custom Lures on old DB- 2/25).- The other way is to bank fish the deeper holes (have to when not enough water to drift). This is usually an early morning & late evening show when the water is clear as it usually is. And you will have to do some local research to find good bank holes that the locals don't have tied up. If you don't hook up drifting or floatfishing bait, try slowly & deeply retrieving the spinners thru med. & deep holes. Then carefully wade out above a hole and slowly work the 30 Hot Shot down thru it, and slowly back up thru it if the current is slow. If I think of something else I will edit it in. Good luck. - Steve
[This message has been edited by RT (edited 05-09-2000).]
[This message has been edited by RT (edited 05-09-2000).]
[This message has been edited by RT (edited 05-09-2000).]
[This message has been edited by RT (edited 05-09-2000).]