Low Clear River Salmon Fishing

[Deleted User]

With the ocean producing so many more fish this year they are starting to enter even the smaller tribs of the Columbia and rivers directly connected to saltwater around the NW, despite a lack of rain. Particularly silvers will skinny swim up into low clear water rivers and creeks. Even the more eager 'Nooks will swim up with the upper half of their bodies sticking out of the water thru the riffles. It's challenging to get them to bite in these conditions. After you have tried small egg clusters (using light slinkies or floats), black w/some flash jigs, size 3 silver w/chartruse tape Vibrax spinners, and Little Cleo chrome/blue spoons, then it's time to mop up with small Hot Shots. After letting the water rest a bit, stealthily wade out well above the silver holding water and work a small size 50 Hot Shot with one size larger hook than stock and 8 lb. to 10 lb. line (size 30 if the water is fairly deep in the pools, and maybe 12 lb. line if enough 'Nooks are present) down into the holds. If there is enough current just slowly back reel it down, hovering it in likely spots or right in front of a fish that you can see. If the current gets too weak for proper action, the fish will definitely take ones casted way down to the lower end of holes and slowly reeled up thru the holds. Good colors are chrome/met.blue, silver/chartruse nose, and RT "injured baitfish". If the area isn't fishermen crowded and the fish are on a "plug bite" I'll sometimes just stick to those (saves eggs). As always, use sticky sharp hooks, plugs tuned to dive straight, and a little scent on the hooks and clips; not on the plug body where it can dampen the plug's flash). And please only use these tech's on fresh migrating fish, not further up rivers on fish pairing up and into working redds for spawning. Other ideas? - RT


[This message has been edited by RT (edited 09-19-2000).]

[Kerry]

Might try florocarbon leaders that are virt. invisibale in the water if that does not work go to the nearest bar

[smilesforu]

I don't like the flourocarbon line. The knots are difficult to keep at full strength and the line is so slippery it slips out if not tied just right. Sure It can be done, but I prefer 8# mono over 14# flouro. I do like the bar idea though http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Rt I been fishing a no bait or scent allowed!river that is really tough fishing if you don't figure them out. I am a die hard bait pitcher..... Lots of guys asking what it takes to get them to bite. Pretty frustrating even for me until I dialed in the magic lure (tiny dark colored jigs). The rest of the fish caught legally appeared to be on spinners. I had a couple strikes on a new spinner called the mangler. I think it is important to throw something a little different than the others are pitching.
Another clear water technique is a dark fly tied on a 8-10 inch dropper behind a spinner on heavily fished water. You have to remove the spinner hook in selective fishing waters. This rig is a bigger version of a Colorado spinner only for the big fish http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif
But I didn't see any hotshots used and asked my partner if he had any on him so I could test those. Next time I will pack a couple and try to keep the chums away.

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Marty M
Steelheader.net (http://www.steelheader.net/)

[Deleted User]

If there is room, use a fast sinking tip flyline outfit and drift/swing/strip twitch wet streamer flies, black wooly buggers, and sparsely tied size 2 or 4 Royal Coachmans (and many other flies). Try a dropper attractor fly too. They do take flies almost as well as steelhead in some situations. Fun! - BTW, I agree with needed bait bans but if a fish run is so fragile as to not allow a little scent on barbless lures they should just close it! Give us a break. If there is a no scent reg I take along some black licorice or fennel seeds in case I get hungry http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif RT



[This message has been edited by RT (edited 09-20-2000).]

[smilesforu]

easier to brush the lure with your hands after releasing your fish. http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif Have to catch one first of course.

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Marty M
Steelheader.net (http://www.steelheader.net/)