Hammonds area

[odie coyote]

I am going to the Illwaco area with my 16ft. smokercraft and I was told to launch at hammonds. I wonder if there is a better place to fish than that or is that a good suggestion? How would you fish that area?

[Pete]

I might think twice about launching a 16 foot boat anywhere near the mouth of the Columbia river. The combination of river flow, tide and wind make this area potentially very dangerous. During the outgoing tide the river sometimes develops standing waves that can be several feet tall. The bar at the mouth of the river is considered by the U.S. Coast Guard to be the most dangerous in the world.

If you really want to catch fish, the good bite is out in the ocean. The best way to get there is on a charter.

If you really want to go boating, there are better places for a 16 foot smokercraft.

[bait boy]

Hammond or Ilwaco are good ramps the most sensible area to fish in a smaller boat is around bouy 14 to the bridge and around the church hole. I have been fishing the ocean every time out and last week was scary for a 22 footer. bad part of the tide to go out but we mande it out and got a limit of 10 fish for the 5 guys.

Good luck

[Phil Layer]

Ditto to Pete's suggestions.

I took a 16 foot Seaswirl out there last year and still am amazed I returned in one piece. The outgoing tide humbled me, to say the least.

I don't buy the theory that all the fish congregate around the buoy 10 marker. Surely, there are fish in the river and further out in the ocean. With your boat, I'd stick to the river as I did with the Seaswirl (and did quite well, by the way).

If you do venture out to the tenth buoy, you'll feel a sense of security as it would be hard to fall out of your boat and not into another. Just don't try to return to port during the outgoing tide.

Finally, I don't know why you were told to launch from Hammond and not Ilwaco. Although I've not launched from Ilwaco, I understand it is nice and fast. Hammond is NOT fast. And, your run out to 10 is longer from Hammond.

Best of luck. Maybe I'll see you out there this weekend.

[Phish_on]

I know we've all seen way crazier boats than a 16' Smokercraft out there!

THE WIND is the biggest factor, but yes the outgoing tide is AMAZING, and if the wind is up the water will be coming at you from every direction.

Launching from Ilwaco or Chinook is an option, Hammond is just too busy for me.

If it's too rough to cross the river (from Hammond) you can fish the Oregon side between the Skipanon River ("The Sawdust Pile") and the beach on Clatsop Spit. DO NOT go too far out along the South Jetty ! ! !

[HT Buzzo]

I have a 16 foot smokercraft driftboat with a gas and electic trolling motor, and this buoy 10 issue is something I have been wondering about. The biggest problem with my boat seems to be wind rather than tide. I've had it out to the jaws of the Nestucca, Salmon, and Alsea. I've taken it up the Willamette into the mouth of the Santiam which has alot of current and depth (I wasn't moving very fast, however). The things that stop me are either wind or a strong outgoing tide.
I've seen smaller boats out around buoy 10 and further. You just have to pay attention to wind and tide, and if things are too hairy have the consideration to come back in. You are either going to disrupt fishing by not being able to adequately control your boat or become a burden to other boats if there is an accident. Although most of the accidents I've heard of so far this year at the mouth of the Columbia seemed to involve larger boats. I guess you just have to know your limitations.
HT Buzzo

[Thumper]

Buoy 10 in a driftboat. Now there's a guy with big ones!

[STRIKE ZONE]

I've taken a 12'livingston with a twenty five
horse on it to bouy ten and did well.You just
need to know your limits.If I were you I would
launch at chinook and fish 7,the church & the
bridge area's.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

[David Johnson]

So far this season (and most) you can count on wind down here. Especailly if the weather is hot on the east side and the valley.

[scott98541]

odie,i have a 16ft.smokercraft,what i do is read or call for the bar reports,fish the mornings(usually less wind)start fishing from low tide to high slack then i leave.you have to pay attention,when you see the wind picking up LEAVE,don't think it will lay down(it usually gets worse).if the wind is bad at buoy 10,or the chinook ramp,i don't even launch my boat i usually will drive upriver and fish.i have been out there a lot and it can change real fast.a 16ft boat is fine but the conditions have to be right.oh and always wear your life jacket out there.good luck. scott

[Rubber Robin]

HT Buzzo:

In the past I have fished Buoy 10 in my 16' alumaweld drift boat with a 10 horse motor.
We would put in at Ilwaco because it is the closest put in to Buoy 10.
We never drank beer until we were off the water and we always wore our life jackets. You had to be aware at all times of what was happening around you. We would fish in between large charter boats at the #10 line. It was a thrill! images/icons/grin.gif
The first time that we tried it, I had a small gas tank (2.5 gal. approx). We had fished the incoming and had one fish to go for limits. I picked up the gas can to see how much gas was left and it was almost empty. We immediately headed back into Ilwaco and we made it on fumes. For our second trip I went out and purchased a 5 gallon tank. No problems after that. You must be alert and use good judgement. Pay attention to the conditions and don't get in over your head!

[HT Buzzo]

Good to hear from you Rubber Robin,

It is alot of fun out near the ocean in the drift boat, and it actually seems to do really well as long as you position well for the swells, watch out for the wind, and only fish the incoming tide. I think alot of times people in larger boats get over-confident and stop paying attention, but that is something you never do in a drift boat with the ocean right on your heels. I heard that as long as I put in at Ilwaco, only fish the incoming tide, watch for wind gusts over 20mph in the weather report,get off the water by noon or one, and don't fish when the swells are over 6 feet, then I'll be ok at buoy 10. Those are a lot of factors to take into consideration,but like I said before, you just have to be prepared to leave and waste some potential fishing time if things are two rough. I wouldn't want to lose my motor, rods, or depth finder, not to mention my boat. There are plenty of places upriver to fish, anyway, and I doubt I'll mess with buoy 10 until I get a bigger boat, but its still good to explore the possibilities. Are they catchin' chinook up there in any quantity yet?

The life of a repo man is always intense.
The life of a fisher man is even more intense.

HT