Trolling for Salmon At Church Hole

[Sturgeonbait]

I was trolling for Salmon at the church hole with two buddieswhen one of them pulled up a sturgeon. It was the strangest thing :shocked:

We didn't catch anything that day, we would like help becuase this year, unlike last year, we have little catches.

Send any info on what to use, where else close by the hole that might be good, and any other vital information that will help us. graemlins/1zhelp.gif

Thankyou,

[Miss B Haven]

Want help graemlins/1zhelp.gif - change your name to "Salmonbait". :cheers:

Sorry - couldn't resist- I'm not the right guy - I do the big blue. :grin:

[biederboat]

I have given up on the Church hole area, just doesn't seem to be producing. I keep hearing the Wash side of the bridge (so up river from you) and up the Oregon side from Hammond. I will probably go after some more 15 lb. Coho if the weather is good this weekend. I like to catch Chinook but dang it's fun to watch them Coho dance on the water.

Biederboat

[I'mThe10Percent]

If I would have kept all the tule chinook I have caught, my boat would have limited out everytime. Since I have only a few trips left down to Astoria, I'll tell you what has been working for me...Of course I'm talking solely chinook, not silvers...
Depending on the tides, I like starting at the bridge first thing in the morning. I troll with the tide, covering more water until the tide is either ripping on the incoming or the outgoing, that's when I concentrate at the bridge, down river. The fish this year are running at different depths, so you have to try different depths until you find where the fish are at that day. I start out fishing at 30-35 feet, using cut-plug w/ delta divers at 14,16, and 18 pulls.
(I'm always fishing 3 rods)
If I don't get any bites during that first pass, I start the big engine up and run back to the staring point. I then go to 40-45ft. and fish 18, 20, and 25 pulls. So far, I haven't had to go past this point finding fish :grin:
***When the tide start pumping on the incoming, the bridge is the place. I fish the 35ft. range, roughly the smaller 6th pillar from the large pillars on the bridge. (if that makes sense??) 18-22 pulls has been the ticket.***
After the incoming slows down, I run over to the Oregon side and troll with the tide. I try to troll 45ft. and 25-30pulls. However my buddy shot my theory when he caught my boat's biggest URB 39lb.s at 16 pulls. :whazzup:
.
Another thing that may help catch more fish is your herring. I cure mine up the night before. I keep them ice cold, half frozen in a cooler until I put them on my hooks. It would cost ALOT of money for me to tell my cure, but you want to herring to remain fairly stiff, yet allowing your bait to release a good scent. The water temps have been warm, and the "normal" baits tear alot easier when not cured. Therefore, causing your cut-plug to rotate in a unnatural way.
I haven't fished downriver from the Church. I mainly focus from the bridge to the Church. I also don't think there is any reason to fish at Buoy 10. Pay attention to where the well-known guides have been fishing.
I hope this helps.

Chris

[ 08-30-2002, 12:26 AM: Message edited by: I'mThe10Percent ]

[skeezer]

go to the bridge east of hammond , 4 for 13 ......8-29-02 but it was ruff out there the wind was bad............. :tongue:

[Sturgeonbait]

Thanks for the help I may try that

[I'mThe10Percent]

Ok ok ok... I'll tell ya my secret.. you have to cut plug your herring and hook it tail first :rolleyes: :grin:
That's how you get the natural roll. :grin:

[fishingfirst]

Hey 10percent..... Does a headless herring have a natural look to it???? :grin: :grin:

Good luck at the bridge, I seem to be the only one in the boat that can't catch fish there! Maybe that's my problem.....I've been fishing with that unnatural looking whole herring look!

Scott