Steelhead out of Chinook Landing

[whitewaterbill]

Today was almost no presure and a fair day. The boat next to me caught 2 natives and I caught 1 native. Fished a little deeper water... 19' with red X-4's, 30 inch dropper with 2 or 3 oz and heavy amounts of Smelly Jelly. Lots of moss to contend with so cleen your lines off every 5 to 10 minutes. Counts at Bonnevile are going up daily! Go get em!
Bill

[Deleted User]

Interesting name Sl......ess! What other lures and techniques are used for the summer steelhead out in the Columbia? Also would appreciate any info for lures and methods for Col. fall chinooks such as what are the best spinners and spoons and plugs and flatfish? I have heard that the Alvin spoons are the best. what size and color for that? What type of water depth and current to look for? does everyone anchor or do you also backtroll for them? Excuse so many questions but any help would really be appreciated because I don't get many chances at them. Thanks in advance.

[Fish mojo]

SG- saw you launching Saturday morning. Nice boat!! I fished walleye first 2 hours by 205 bridge. No luck and lots of grass/ weeds. Where are those coming from? Never seen it that bad. Then went over on north side Gov Island anchored 14 feet. One wild steelhead and one lost in 2 hours. Using a Flash-n-Glow spinner, flame red blade w/brass and red beads (non-weighted).

[Deleted User]

Instigator - Thru my guiding years I worked Clack springers thru June, took a week off, then worked the Deschutes thru about Labor Day, took a week off, then began my Tillamook fall season starting out in the Bay. I have participated in those Columbia fisheries enough to give you some basics, but it's not my forte'. I have to express disappointment at the lack of reciprocated sharing of info about these popular fishries by BB members to this. - Most of the fishing is done by anchoring up for steelhead in about 7' to 18' of water. Try starting at about 9' to 12' in water that is running fairly even and riffly, as opposed to swirly eddys. Toward the middle of bright sunny days move out a little deeper. Watch where boats are getting into them. Use a 50" leader with about 20"to 28" dropper. Try various spinners and small flatfish such as the ones mentioned above. One thing I do differently than most is to backtroll standard Wiggle Warts in the water I decribed above, especially on the outgoing tide. I like fishing between Beacon Rock and up to the Bonneville deadline, for both beauty and productiveness. I've had some great days backtrolling between the hoglines from the "Oak Tree" line and down thru some along Ives Island, of course being careful not to get too close to fishing lines above me or anchor ropes below me. Backtroll slowly. When the Columbia is open for bait fishing steelhead (with the C&R of non-clipped fish it might not be, sorry I haven't checked the regs) try backbouncing sandshrimp/birdie combos at anchorup or backtrolling. Or with a Hot N Tot diver. - As for the fall 'Nooks the basics are similar except fishing one size larger spinners and also large spoons like the Alvins you mentioned (chrome w/red dots is popular, and you can bend the lower edge more for slower current and straighter for faster currents to maintain the best action - experiment). Try red K-11 and metallic K-12/14 Kwikfish too. Most fish are caught in depths from 12' to 25'. Start about 18' to 22'. A lot of fishers like to fish behind or off the end of wing jettys for them. Look around and you will learn quickly where the productive spots are. Fishing near the mouths of some larger tributaries such as the Sandy, Wind, and Deschutes can be very good, especially later in the summer as the mainstem water heats up. Try to fish in the cooler outflows from these and other rivers for 'nooks, late group B steelies, and cohos. Casting spinners from anchored boats or shore can be real good at times in these areas, especially when the coho are in. Be aware of fishing deadlines. If you want to get into the good hoglines, such as off the mouth of the Sandy R., plan on getting out there early in the dark. As always, keep hooks sharp and lures smelling right! Good luck out there. - RT



[This message has been edited by RT (edited 07-24-2000).]

[cts258]

RT you mentioned your disapointment with sharing info. Just to let you know I am from back East were I have fished for Bass, Walleye,Catfish, Trout and Northernpike and when I moved out here it is a whole differant world for fishing so I have been trying to find as much info as I could. I have been surfing the net and checking books and 1 day I found this site by mistake and so far I have learned more from this site than anything I have found.
I may not be able to answere any questions about the fishing out here Im still learning so If anyone has questions on tips for the above fish I will be glad to give tips on how to. I am still learning were.
My thanks go out to all of you on this site for all the tips passed on.

[Deleted User]

You're right. I was just a bit frustrated that nobody answered the Col. Q's because so many fish out there. People on here have been good about sharing, so please pardon the undue dig above. - RT

[Deleted User]

I fished today out of Chinook Landing,went after them for 6 hrs,nothing, used mostly flatfish jellied up.Then I read how over 3,800 fish went over the dam today,guess I shoulda been on the other side of that dam....

[whitewaterbill]

Been gone to Alaska for a week so slow to repond.
Thanks for the compliments on the boat. Took me a lot of years of dreaming and waiting to get it.
RT gave you great advice about how to do it.
Next time you see me...introduce yourself. I like meeting and making new friends on the water! Happy to show what little I know!

Bill

[Fish mojo]

Welcome back, Bill. Tell us 'bout your Alaska trip. I hit the Columbia again Sat. Nothin' but weed city!! http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/mad.gif I had to clean my spinners every 5 minutes. Never seen it like that http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/confused.gif. Headed to Illwaco for silvers and crabnext week http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/cool.gif.

[Deleted User]

North. S - Above is the info you wanted. -RT

[whitewaterbill]

Fish Mojo

Don't give up on the Columbia because of the Moss and grass. I don't know where it came from and I just stay busy cleaning it off my lines. The next few weeks should be good so stay on them. The counts at Bonneville are up 50% in the last week. I am going to fish out of the Fishery on Saturday and hope that moving up the river may bring less of the grass/moss and more catching!

Bill

[whitewaterbill]

Alaska was great!!!!
Fished with Kenai River King Guides. Check out the link on this page!
They worked from 06:00 to 6:PM to get our fish and did a great job of it. We caught fish from 38 to 50# and had a great time with them as our our guides. They don't get any better than Chris and Danny. Darla and I are discussing next years trip already and will be booking it very soon!

Bill