Sandy River Report

[Smily]

A nice drift this afternoon. I finally managed to get a hook up. The Rod went down and I picked it up and started reeling it in. This was probably the biggest fish I ever got into. It fought and swam back and forth on each side of the boat about 4 times. I brought him up to the boat, he swam down again. Did this again. I thought he was getting tired cause I sure was. I stumbled over to get the net in my hand and when I got the fish back up to the boat I showed him the net he Broke My leader!!!! My heart was broken as well. images/icons/frown.gif It definately was missing a fin. My guestamation is, it must had been a 20 lb salmon. Could of been a big steel head. I am not sure. IT WAS BIG!! He was this close into my boat. Or should I say landed? images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif
Did I say, biggest fish I have ever been into? Well that's my story and I'm sticking to it for now. Can't wait to go back and try again next chance I get! I have been using 10 lb line and leader. Should I be using something heavier?? What do you guys use for leader and line weight?? Any help would be apreciated.
images/icons/smile.gif Thanks, Smily images/icons/smile.gif

[Mrdorkfish]

Smily, Myself and the gentlemen i plunk with on the Sandy use anywhere from 10 to 15lb leader.....That is plenty enough....the fish seem to stay in the hole more often from the bank....at least for us....so we just let them run and jump themselves out. So sorry to hear about the one that got away.....there is always another day images/icons/smile.gif

Better luck next time,

Mrdorkfish

[Artwo]

Hey Smily,
Way to go on the hook-up, it was probably a springer from the way you descibed it. What did you hook it on ?. Since I to do allot of drifting by my self I like to use 20lb thin diameter mainline with 15lm maixima leader. The reason I go so large is because when you hook one by yourself you have to play them a little more so you can get your boat anchored and it's kind of tuff netting them by yourself. I typically keep a pretty good constant fource on them while I'm getting situated and this heavier line lets me do that. The springers are not leader shy so my advice would be to move up a little heavier. I won't be out there this weekend but will be out the following, hope to run into you. Good luck
JK

[fatfish]

I had to work today, but my son took the driftboat down from the Stark St bridge. Had 6 hookups with 3 keepers in the boat. Keepers were 31, 18 and a nice summer steelie. Bait divers and shrimp and leave the rods in the holders until line was peeling off the reel. Why is it that the hot bite days are the days when I have to work? Oh well, retirement is coming up soon, so look out Mr Fishie. images/icons/wink.gif images/icons/wink.gif images/icons/wink.gif images/icons/wink.gif

[Firedog]

Fatfish, it is hard enough waiting for my new driftboat to get here and you tell me reports like this makes it harder images/icons/smile.gif images/icons/smile.gif I guess I will have to get up there on the bank next week and have a look see in some of my favorite springer holes. Thanks for the info.

[wiser]

Any spring chinook may be kept in the Sandy River. A large percentage of the hatchery stock (I believe it is near 70%)is clipped but not all of them until next year. You can bet that most of the smaller non-clipped spring chinook in the Sandy River are naturally reproduced but you are allowed to keep them the same as clipped fish.

[Ranger]

Any spring chinook may be kept on the Sandy River. Same as Wind River and Drano Lake.

[NWaddict]

Congrads on the hookup. I was just wondering about something you said in your post about the adipose fin being clipped. It was my understanding that adipose rules only applied in the columbia and willamette and not in some tribs like the sandy. As far as I know (I haven't been out this year) the salmon going into the sandy aren't fin-clipped and wont be for a year or two. The regs don't say anything about them having to be fin-clipped either. If anyone could shed some light on this I would be very much appreciative... i plan on getting out on the sandy very soon. Oh, and 15lb maxima leader is the only way to go.