View Full Version : Springer caught on the Coast!
Deleted User
04-02-2001, 11:01 PM
I fished the lower Nestucca River and caught a 14lb springer!!! ... It has to be the first one of the year down here!... I figured since the upper river has been getting all the pressure that I would try for steelhead down low. I nailed her just above Cloverdale drifting a small glob of eggs, what a beautiful fish! ... Oh yeah, I also landed 2 steelhead
images/icons/grin.gif
Remember... ****** ain't easy...
Osprey
04-03-2001, 09:33 AM
Ya I'm sure that the first one images/icons/rolleyes.gif ...ever...once again we all stand in honor of the great...****......Os
Deleted User
04-03-2001, 01:35 PM
Osprey is just jealous because he has yet to put a fish on his tag this year. images/icons/rolleyes.gif
Tanner
04-03-2001, 01:43 PM
****,
You are ****'n images/icons/rolleyes.gif
Big Willie
04-03-2001, 02:06 PM
That's probably gonna be the best eating fish ever...a springer right out of the ocean! Covered in sea lice? Question: Are these spring run salmon heading in the coast rivers by mistake? Lost and confused? I wonder how many more are in there...
Mike H
04-03-2001, 02:54 PM
Big Willie - Springers on the coast are no mistake. They have always returned to a few rivers there and historically the runs were quite large. Their numbers have severly dwindled due to some pratices which I will leave un-named.
If any of you guys are lucky enough to catch these rare chinook (coastal springers), please let them go and leave the meat market to the Columbia / Willamette. Thanks.
Mike H
Bait O' Eggs
04-03-2001, 03:32 PM
Mike H
I dont agree with your statement that all coastal springers should be released. I know the whiskey creek hatchery produces fish and clips them for fisherman to catch and keep. I am not up to date on all the other hatchery operations that raise spring chinook, but I would assume there are others.
I dont know where this Nestucca fish came from, a brat, a nate or a stray from another river.
Bait I agree with you. If it is clipped take it. If it is not clipped or you have even the SLIGHTEST doubt, let it go. images/icons/mad.gif
Fishin Magician
04-03-2001, 08:12 PM
Hey mike? are you going to kill a unclipped springer in the Wilson??? Is it a native??? I am going to tag it if I need a fish. The fact of the matter is that the runs of spring chinook and summer steelhead are an artificially planted run of fish. they were introduced in the 60's I believe.Prior to that they were non existent.I am not sure about the other rivers but I will take a springer off the Wilson anyday....My .02 worth
[ 04-03-2001: Message edited by: Fishin Magician ]
Gone Fishin
04-04-2001, 08:52 PM
Big ******',
IF (and only if...I want to see picture proof) you caught a springer on the Nestucca, you had better go buy a lottery ticket right now!
It's WAY EARLY for a Nestucca springer. We do get springer in the Nestucca and they are not native to the system.
These fish are raised at Cedar Cr. Hatchery and released into the river.
Most of our fish show up end of May through the closure on June 15th.
Don't get too excited, I hope you didn't whack that steelhead BP!
I would love to see a picture of that one myself. images/icons/confused.gif
Deleted User
04-04-2001, 10:24 PM
Yes Marty it was a springer and I know it is way early to catch one! That's why I posted it because I've never caught a springer this early on the coast.... You are right, I should go buy a lottery ticket, just a lucky day on the river images/icons/grin.gif
Mike H
04-04-2001, 11:16 PM
BOE - I apologize for my post being a little unclear. I was suggesting that anyone catching an unclipped coastal springer to let it go. They are too valuable. As for hatchery coastal springers, by all means, whack 'em!
Fishing Magician - To answer your question very honestly I will NOT keep an unclipped (wild) fish, steelhead or salmon. Sure it's legal to keep unclipped springers on the coast but you won't seeing me do it. They are too rare and valuable to be harvested. Oh, and there are more than a few rivers with native runs of wild spring chinook on the coast. And I'm talking pre-european invasion.
Mike H
willierower
04-05-2001, 06:59 AM
Late March and early April is kinda early for springers n the coast. Its not impossible though. Ive personaly caught a springer in mid march on a coastal stream.
As for keeping an unclipped springer on a coastal stream. I will do it, but only on a couple different rivers.
The only day I ever got inyo springers on the Nestucca I landed 2. Those fishe were awesome. They were covered with sea lice. The only other springers Ive caught like that were on the Rogue and one other coastal river.
[ 04-05-2001: Message edited by: willierower ]