The Smelt are in the Sandy!

[ANDYCOHO]

My Dad just called and said people were dipping for smelt at L&C. So I just called and confirmed with Jack Glass and yes they moved into the Sandy this AM!! :dance:
Heading out the door to do some dipping will report back!!

Andy

[ 01-23-2003, 12:14 PM: Message edited by: ANDYCOHO ]

[Sturgeon 42]

get out of my spot, thats what i will say when I get there...ha ha ha ha ha, they are there........ :grin: :grin: :grin:

[CATCH AND EAT]

I know what I am doing tonight. :dance:

[Lured In]

I'll be there about 430pm after my boys get home from school.

[Bill Monroe]

Jack called me this morning (he rents nets)...we'll have a story tomorrow, I think...this probably is just a one or few day pilot run, though...

[Sturgeon 42]

they were getting full buckets this afternoon??????

[SafetyChain]

Ok, New to this smelt thing on the Sandy. I know they used to come up the Sandy but didn't for about 12 years until 2000 and then none again last year. But isn't this VERY early for smelt? :whazzup:

[fishnxtc]

safteychain you have mail..........Chris

[Fisher-man]

It is the earliest appearance in recorded history by almost a month. ODFW biologists say the conditions were just right and there were smelt in the Columbia.
A reporter in the MetroEast bureau of The O is doing the story.

Also, a very good synopsis of the brood stock hatchery changeover and the seemingly late run of winter steelhead in the Sandy appeared in the MetroEast Neighbors edition of The O today.

[The Fishing Geek]

Here's that Sandy river story (http://www.oregonlive.com/metroeast/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro_east_news/1043153789265960.xml).

[GutshotApe]

So the smolts will imprint on Cedar Creek water after only 3 weeks acclimation and forget the previous two or three years on Irrigon & Bonneville hatchery water? :hoboy:

I hope it works.

[Tanner]

I don't understand why they are shipping them to Bonneville and Irrigon. :whazzup:

[finner]

I just called Jack's and they had a good run of smelt in this morning and now they are gone. Had one guy just come back to the store who was out for a few hours and didn't get a one... She said that Jack hopes they'll be back in tomorrow. Who knows what'll happen later tonight after sunset though. They weren't even staying open to rent nets..

[ANDYCOHO]

OK here is my report.

45 minutes of hard dipping and 5 pounds of smelt. The best spot was directly under the Rail Road bridge. I heard it was a lot better before 1PM.

I am at work now, here in Troutdale. If someone wants to borrow my smelt net tonight feel free to call me at:

503-407-9036

I will be at work until 11PM.

Good luck,
Andy

[Bobby Ray]

FG,
Thank you for the link,

That's some great info.

BnB

[snowball]

what do you do with smelt? We used to smelt back home, but used them for bait-- how big do they get here? do you eat them?

[ANDYCOHO]

Snowball,

You bet you can eat them. The ones I got today were up to 10 inches and nice and firm. I cook them like trout, and they have a very similiar taste.

They also make great Sturgeon bait!!

Good luck,
Andy

[jet]

Andy... Trout???

I have not eaten Smelt since I was a kid, the best that I can remember, it is not even close to trout. Cured me for life. Cooked like trout yes.

Jet~~~

[You Betcha]

Just got back from the Sandy and got about 40 smelt. From 1 untill 2:30 I got them in one's and two's. After 2:30 they just quite and nobody I saw dipping got any after that. Maybe tonight!!! :shrug: :shrug:

[SteelieDog]

I was under the I-84 bridge from 1:30 till 3:00 and got a bucket full. They kind of disappeared after that.

[Dan Christopher]

I was also under the 84 bridge for about 10 min. at 1:00 and then from 2;30 tell 5.00 and got about 5 pounds. It got slower as the day went on.

[ 01-24-2003, 05:15 PM: Message edited by: MADWIZERD ]

[Lured In]

As ANDYCOHO said the dipping seemed to be better under the railroad bridge while we were there. (430-530pm). All the smelt I saw picked up were on the west side of the river. A few were picked up on the tip of the island below 84 on the east side.

A couple guys just below the RR bridge on the west side filled a 5 gal bucket while we were there.

Looked like some of the bird activity has died down on the Columbia around 205, so maybe that was it, but we'll see. It may be worth it to hit it in the morning if you have time. Definitely go to the west side of the river.

[fisheromen]

I'll clarify for Andy (hope he doesn't mind) - they taste like HATCHERY trout. Nothing compares to a wild trout.

[fisheromen]

OOPS - not that I've ever even thought about eating any of that precious natural resource! :shocked:

[Pitch Pocket]

Just back with 25 pounds. It was slow at first, but when it started to get dark, it got quite a bit better. We filled the bucket in about 30 minutes. Almost all males (what's up with that?), but big and fresh. See you on the CR tomorrow. Thanks for the heads up Andycoho.

[talk2elk]

Just got back from the Sandy. Two of us dipped 25 lbs. in 30 minutes below I-84. Nice to have fresh bait for the weekend, but where should we use them?

[elkcamp]

just came from the sandy the smelt are in we got 5 limits in less than half hour.

[SteelieDog]

Just got off the phone with my buddy, he just got done with a friend. They were sharing a net and got their in about 25 minutes!!! :dance:

[Scutes]

Yee-haw! Sandy smelt limits in 20 minutes, We were just below the freeway just after dark. Not one empty net dip. I got bored with regular 'ol dipping and did a full body dip - fell right in! Managed to scramble ashore and after making sure no smelt were lurking in the recesses of my clothes I did one last dip- came up with 4 pounds that rounded out a limit. Shivered all the way home, but had a big smile the whole time. Thanks for the hot tip on the smelt Ifishers!

[wiser]

A picture is worth a thousand words. Just getting started.
http://www.ifish.net/uploads/44062322.jpg

[MasterCaster]

Those of you that have seen it first hand....Do you think this is just a little pilot run that is here tonight gone tomorrow or do you think it will last a bit? Working its way up the river or just holding around the lower area around the bridge? I knows its just a guessing game but curious what you thought. :grin:

Nice pics Wiser? gets the dippin blood flowin even more so.

Jon :smile: :grin: :smile:

[Fishplay]

Thanks for the reports.

[crabbait]

Males seem to lead the run...same as with some other species.

In my opinion, fresh smelt eat better than any trout! UUMmmmmmmmm....SMELT!!

[BigBeanCounter]

Awesome !! Generally. how much of a standard 5 gallon bucket is 25 lbs??

[wiser]

Well, water weighs 8 lbs per gallon... should be close to same weight as fish. Figures a full bucket at close to 40 lbs. Half bucket 20 lbs. Figures a little over half would be 25 lbs.. My bucket was a blue 2.5 gallon mop bucket filled close to full. Got it home and weighed 22 lbs of smelt (13.5 dozen).

[fishhog1]

Way to go Jim! Fresh smelt right in your back yard. I guess the trick is to dip at night. Hope they stick around till next week, as always I enjoyed the pics. Dave:)

[brshooter]

Going to go check it out this morning. Drop the wife off downtown at 6:00 and head on out. I'll give a report when I get back.

[Sturgeon 42]

I got 15 dozen last night about 5 to 6 oclock...

[brshooter]

They are still there! :grin: I had never dipped smelt in the Sandy so I stopped by Jack's about 6:35 this morning. Jack told me a couple of areas to try. Drove to a spot, put on my boots and rain gear. Back in the truck with 25 pounds before 7 am. Took about 10 minutes for a limit.

Thanks for the information Jack.

[Lured In]

Brshooter...can you pm me with where you were? I was going to try the west side by the RR bridge, but if you have another spot you are willing to share, let me know.

Thx.

[brshooter]

Lured in,
Check your e-mail.

[Lured In]

Got it thanks...gonna be heading out the door in just a few minutes. Will post when I get back.

[NWRedside]

I'm going tonight, can someone email me a good spot to try? thanks!

[AtWorkALot]

I'd appreciate some good info as well on a good spot. Thank you in advance.

Jim

[fishon]

Are the smelt still in the Sandy? Does anybody have the number for Jacks shop so I can call and ask? Thanks.

[The Fishing Geek]

Did I see adipose fins on some of those smelt, wiser? You'd think that a RANGER would know better. :hoboy: :grin:

[CATCH AND EAT]

just got back "0" going on. just 7in 20 minutes. Got to learn to count to I guess. Lots of folks there and very little catching. This was at 9:30 to 10:15am Bill I guess you got there at the right time.

[ 01-24-2003, 11:31 AM: Message edited by: CATCH AND EAT ]

[10 lb line]

Got limit smelt this morning, started 9a.m. took about hour was on the west side of bridge in Troutdale.
Good dipping

[SafetyChain]

Went out last night around the RR bridge, only got 7. I obviuosly wasn't in the right spot. BTW, :cheers: and thanks to AndyCoho for allowing me to use his net. First time for the kids to do this and they had fun anyway. :smile:

Went this morning before work, smelt are still there, only had about 10 minutes but picked up about 3 pounds. Did not have a net but a guy that was plunking and already had his smelt limit let me use his. :smile: :smile:

While I was using his net, his buddy hooked into a nice hatchery broodstock steelhead. I would question the finclip, but that discussion is on another thread. Anyway, first time I had ever seen a plunker catch a fish, I guess it does work :bowdown:

Anyway, fishnxtc, got some bait for tomorrow :dance:

[Blue Water 23]

Just got back as well. Slow up and down the river. I would say about 12 hours a limit. That's about 11 1/2 too many. Hopefully they'll be back tonight.

[Lured In]

Dipped from 940-950am and I was limited out (2.5 Gallon bucket). Even after breaking my net. Everyone I saw was doing well. Some spots were better than others. Definitely hit the west side.

Thanks Brshooter! :cheers:

[brshooter]

Way to go Lured In! Glad the dipping held up after daylight came around. I sent Pete to the same spot. Haven't heard back from him.

[CATCH AND EAT]

Also met Blue Water out there this morning. Good to meet you Jesse.

Might try again this evening. Bill, don't waste bait by eating it. I tried the stuff smoked and fried and did'nt like it either way. :depressed: Just say no to bait.

[NWRedside]

brshooter, where were you at? I'm gonna go tonight...thanks!

[NWRedside]

Anyone know if you can dip at night, or are the same regs in place as other types of fishing?

[Sturgeon 42]

lower river west side.....look for cars.. :grin: :grin: :grin:

[bucketmouth]

Just got back form the River. East side only. people getting 1 to 2 fish every 3rd or 4th dip. Lots of work. No limits seen but some buckets at least half full.

Where is best place? Intend to go again tonight.

[oregondak]

Just curious, how far up do the smelt run? Do they make it up past oxbow etc?

[4 REEL]

Just got back from the west side below I-84. Dipped at about 1 p.m. and filled a bucket in 15 minutes. :dance: Perty cool... that was a first for me. Will prob. make a run up in the a.m. if anyone from Salem wants to go. Plenty of room, have a suburban.

[Got Fish?]

Little Bros and I might head up there tonight but is it like washington (where you don't need a fishing license to dip) Also can someone tell me where some popular spots are, you don't have to mention secret honey holes. :rolleyes:

[will_e_fish]

I went last night and so few it was not worth it. I was on the east side between the Bridges. Today went to the West side only getting ones and twos. Smelt were fast and net shy making it harder. Then it tuerned on more that could be seen swimming shallow and near the bank. Sure got some big ones for the most part and it was fun with some guys down there tag teaming the escapees.

[fishchaser]

Went down today w/old man and a couple of friends. We saw Wiser down there. We did OK, but we had to work at it. We only got one limit, but we are going back tonight. :grin:

One of the guys I went with fell in the water so, after he got his breath back, we decided to buy him a coffe mocha and get him warm, so we left early. Thank goodness we had some extra clothes and a good heater. graemlins/stupid.gif

[Drachir]

Tracy,

We're going out there tonight also. What time and place, give me a call on the cell phone!! :grin:

[Mad Mikey]

I don't fish for smelt but sure am glad to see em'. Especially in the Sandy.
Old timers will tell you a good smelt run coincides with a good Springer/Summer fish run.
Wait until March, this is probably just a precursor of things to come. :cheers:

[Scutes]

Dipped from 4:00 to 5:00 below the freeway bridge, west side this afternoon. I got a limit- but had to really work at it. As it was getting dark they seemed to be getting a little closer. Those with extra long poles were doing the best. Good luck.

[CATCH AND EAT]

Hit the Sandy late this afternoon with the advise of two generous i-fishers. Thanks Bill and Dan :cool: :cheers: Appreciate it very much.

Managed a limit in 50 minutes. Worked hard for them and they seemed to come in spurts.

Yo Tanner, good to see ya again. looked like you were starting to do okay. BTW folks You got to look out for Tanner. he is real aggressive when smelt dipping. Matter of fact he tried to low hole me with his smelt net. :shocked: Actually his bail came off an floated past me. Pinned it on a rock. With the help of a fellow netter below me we managed to retrieve the bail for him. Hope you did'nt loose it again Tanner. Glad to see you and the young'in out there together. Somebody had to fill the bucket for ya. :wink:

Seemed like the fish were thinning out a bit at dark. Go luck to those trying in the morning.

[HeavyMetal BankFisherman]

So the smelt are in? I remember dad bringing them home back when I was a little troublemaker in the early seventies. Don't know if he dipped them or bought them. But he used to cook them up. I remember him and his buddies chomping on big plates of fried smelt. Being a young lad I always ate whatever dad was eating whether I liked it or not. I don't remember liking the smelt.

Well I told dad that I heard the smelt were in. I want to take him out dipping. Kind of a father son thing. Think they will be there Saturday? What kind of net and where can I get one? I know the locations on the sandy from all the posts.

Don't think i'll eat any. It will be fun just to spend time with dad and then laugh while he stinks his house up cooking that bait. :laugh:

He already knows he's in for trouble.

[Dan Christopher]

I finished my dipping for the year tonight.

BUT


Get this, I caught a steelhead in the smelt net tonight.
I was dipping on the bottom off a ledge 2 feet deep right next to shore in the dark, when I felt what I thought was a stick. I pulled the net up to the top of the water and I see a chrome steelie 1/2 in the net. I lowered it quickly and the steelhead booked across the surface about 8 feet before it went under. Man I felt like an Indian. About 25 minuets later in the lantern light I see a nice size fish run though the slot I was dipping. Pretty cool end to my dipping year. :cool:

[brshooter]

HMBF,
Just stop by Jack's. He think he has nets for rent there. Someone told me 5 bucks an hour.
Best dipping is dawn and dusk. The fish seem to be closer to the bank during the dark. Can't guarantee how long they will be in. They can disappear as fast as they show up.

[JCJ]

OK,how about a mildly dumb question.Whats the best way to hit the west side coming out 84 towards the gorge,Get off at Burns Bro and go through Troutdale or????

[JCJ]

Hey Lured In,thanks for the directions,appreciate it .Think I will try to get out there later today.Again,Thanks.

[Walleyed]

Hit the stark street bridge and Troutdale between 8-10 slooooow.dipping was just to much work.people were shinning there lights into the water and snaging them up with the net one and two at a time.need to put in some time to get a limit right now.But where talking smelt so by the time I write this it's going to be old news.

[Small Fry]

We dipped Firday night Took us 2 1/2 hours on the first bucket and only 30 min on the second one. Vac packed 42 dozen today. Now I need to go fishing.

[riverrat]

dipped saturday night from 7pm to 7:30pm....2 limits....north of westbound I-84 bridge.....westside

[ 01-26-2003, 04:55 AM: Message edited by: riverrat ]

[fishhog1]

Dipped from about 3:00 AM sunday till 4:00 on the west bank about 150 yards downstream from the I-84 bridge and the smelt were all but gone! I guess I should have been there yesterday and I almost was as I had all my gear loaded in the truck and was ready, but after a brutal 11 hour graveyard shift on friday night I was beat so I drove home and got some zzzs. Hope it picks back up and I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. the fishhog

[salmonking]

HEY CHUCK, WHERE WERE YOU THIS MORNING?
OUT AT 5AM...... HOME BY 6AM WITH LIMIT.
BY THE WAY...........ARE YOU READY TO EAT, DRINK, AND DO MARY? ERRR....A.........I MEAN EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY? SORRY MAN....
:>)