Frenchman's Bar 9/8

[Tacklebuster]

Fished Frenchman's bar today and had the pleasure in sharing the hog line with Waterdog and his family right next door. The water was a little cooler than last weekend but the fishing was just about the same. The very last hour or so of the fishable current sparked a small bite. We ended up with a 14 pound nook in the box when all was said and done images/icons/smile.gif I hooked a herring of all things with a clancy. I didn't think those boogers swam that far up but I guess I was wrong.
I did manage to do a little sturgeon fishing while I waited for the "bite" to turn on. Me catching sturgeon and my wife hooking the nook. Not a bad way to spend a sunny day. The ramp by the St. Johns bridge was a horrible. I am surprised we didn't see any drop their axles. Hey Waterdog, you might want to scrub that stink off your boat. If you would just break down and bring some smelt I bet you will hook a nook! Just kidding, let me know when you are heading back out to the river. Maybe we can get SailCat into some fish.
images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/rolleyes.gif

[ 09-08-2001: Message edited by: Tacklebuster ]

[ 09-08-2001: Message edited by: Tacklebuster ]

[David Johnson]

That herring you caught was probably a shad smolt as shad are in the herring family therefore look much alike and it is about this time of year when they will be heading down to the ocean.

[WaterDog]

T,
I gotta do something. After the day the wife and I had 2 weeks ago I thought the run was here and the bite was on. The fish are there just not being very cooperative. images/icons/frown.gif We saw 5 or 6 nooks and a couple of steelhead released. Not near as many boats either. Guess everyone was at the BBQ.

Glad you got one and as always, it was fun fishing next to you. images/icons/grin.gif

The ramp a Cathedral Park was pretty bad today. Don't know why but the water was lower than it had been and recovering your boat was a challenge. I guess I'm going to have go back to Astoria at least one more time then start hitting the coastal tidewater. images/icons/grin.gif

If I do go back to frenchmans, you bet I'll have some smelt. images/icons/rolleyes.gif

[ 09-08-2001: Message edited by: WaterDog ]

[Tinman]

Got a 21# Chinook at Frenchman's Bar Saturday Sept 8th...brass Alvin, 5 foot dropper, 5 foot leader...strong ebb tide...45 feet of water. The fish had net burns on both sides near the tail. It's great to have a smaller boat (15')with these low-water conditions. The bottom of the launch ramp at Fred's is high and dry, and the water along the dock is only a foot deep.

[Tilla]

So Cathedral Park ramp is lousy and the Ramp at Fred's is a dud....how are the boats getting there?

[FishinMission]

We launched a 20 foot Willie there at Freds today...no problem, except for a little more winching than normal. It can be done, but be careful.

[garyk]

Saturday, after absolutely no one wanted to join me, I headed out to Frenchman's. To my good fortune the fish gods smiled on the solo fisherman.

The first and best chinook of the day (a 20# 4z hen) came quickly. Less then thirty minutes after putting my line out; I was still messin' around preparing gear when she banged the rod down.

No more than an hour later the second fish hit. I had planned to fish through the afternoon and the action was good, so I didn't net this one and instead used pliers to release her alongside.

The bite then moved to the inside of me where the guys in the white with blue trim Spectrum boat banged three fish in the next hour.

After getting no more hits and with the wind picking up I was wondering if my luck had run out. Then the rod tip tap-tapped and I set the hook on very hot fish. I thought maybe I'd finally gotten one of those 30-pounders that others regularly post about. As the line kept peeling off I wondered how to get around the canopy and up to the bow to cast-off and chase it? No time for that so I thumbed-down on the now-skinny spool and she finally slowed and stopped. Imagine my surprise when I her alongside and saw it was only a bright 15-pounder! (Later on at home, filleting her, I was also surprised to see the pale flesh of what I assume to be a Tule. The eggs, however, were small and very far from mature). Tagging out with her I headed back to the ramp before 3pm.

Sunday the fish gods figured I'd gotten my share and only allowed us one more for two rods. It is possible however that it was my friend's stowed-away banana that kept the chinooks off our lures.

I noted the late afternoon water temp. was 68f. With so many fish moving through it's odd that there isn't more catching happening.