Tides confuse me

[rob allen]

I am sure this question has been answered in part throughour several threads over the lase few weeks but I am goona ask anyway.

Here is what makes sence to me. Fish move into tide water during high tide. The water flowing upstream makes it easier and safer for them. I would think that the best fishing would be during an incoming tide or slightly after high tide. Given enough water in the river I would assume fish wouild move through tide water and into the river where they hold in the pools.
I would think that during low tide there would be few fish in tide water having already moved up the river.


Could a coastal river expert please explain tides and how fishing relates to them? Also what is los slack and high slack? Does that indicate a period where the tide is transitioning from incoming to outgoing? How long do such periods last? It's probably to late fro me to benefit from this info this year but i'd still like to have a working knowledge of tides. Thanks

[fishbait]

Rob, low/high slack is correct....

Remember, the fish don't just come in and go up the river. They move in and out (up to 2 -4 miles +/-) with each tide. They will flush up with the tide and then flush back out. Some may stay and get congredated in the holes at low slack. Some come in, go a few miles up the creek, then go back out to the ocean for a week or so then come back in. Some come in, hang out for a day or two and then slowly move up the river. SOme come in and are 12 miles up the river within 24 hours. DEpends on tide height and rivel temp/level. IF anyone knew exactelu what these fish did they would be rich. Hope this helps.

[Pilar]

Rob Allen, you have hit on the crux of the whole bobber fishing thing. The tides influence the movement of fish in tidewater. The only place I know much about is Trask tidewater. The preffered tide there was ebb or outgoing. The time right before low slack was the best and the low river level in the hole concentrated the fish in the deepest channels.

[HOGTIDE]

Figuring tidal bites in saltwater estuaries can be rather complex stuff with many variables. For example in Tillamook/Trask country, I believe the common belief is that your best bet is found fishing the lower end of the bay on the 'incoming' and the upper tidewater/river-proper on the 'outgoing'. The middle section, Memaloose stretch, follows this logical pattern, sometimes producing on both or neither!

My personal reasoning for this situation follows:

LowerBay=Incoming: By nature, salmon have been conditioned to feed at the head of tidal movement where bait is kicked up due to tidal hydraulics. This becomes very evident if you have ever watched complacent fish simply cruise through and ignore large schools of non-agitated bait in the ocean. The freshest fish follow the stirred-up feed into the bay and they are on-the-bite! The motivation of these fish is bait.The pure ice-cold salty stuff usually pours into T-bay in great volume apx.up through the Ghost Hole. So, to that point, I prefer the incoming, bait stirring, reflexive bite.

River Tidewater=Outgoing: By the time fish have negotiated their way over the Trask Bar and into Hospital Hole country and above, I believe they are operating on a different set of principles. Bottom countours, structure,cover, depth and current speed play a large role in their ability or desire to move through the river's trench. It most often seems that it is the end of the outgoing when the bite turns on. the water pressure has been reduced. The current speed has slowed and fish have the notion of moving. When they think about moving or do, in fact, relocate (in front of your bait)their propensity to bite increases! The same thing is true at the tide change, as fish re-adjust and shift to meet the change of current direction. Active fish are the most likely biters!

Mid-Bay= Who Knows?: Part of the problem in the mid section is the multitude of variables related to the bite there. How large was the last incoming tide? What is the streamflow of the river? What is the related water temp? How long have large numbers of fish already been holding in the lower bay and are anxious to shoot past with any major tide series or minor freshet? Can you even park your rig anywher along the hiway without getting a ticket? So fish that one when you get the urge or the good report.

* And as always...lucky fishermen, unlucky fisherman, huge runs, small runs, weird fish and 3,000 other variables can totally trash my above reasoning. But, always take note of the tide and what its doing, when the bite goes on. It is a very useful tool.

[rainycity]

Hmmm,
Interesting, time for a little more experimenting in mylocal tidwater.

[Nanook]

Nicely done Hogtide. (As if you needed me to tell you that). Save me a spot in the channel, K? images/icons/grin.gif

[HOGTIDE]

Got an inside corner especially marked for you, ******!