December Smallies

[Tommy T]

Okay, this is my first start of a posting.

Went fishing the Columbia above the Dam Saturday. MAN IT WAS COLD!! We fished from 10:00am-4:00pm and landed 18 fish and lost about a dozen. Most fish were in 40' of water. The first cast, my partner landed one 5lbs. The smallest fish was 2lbs with the average fish above 3lbs. Some beautiful fish, all released to fight another day. If you can take the cold, and find the spots where the winds not blowing, you can catch them year round. Water temp was a steady 44-45 degrees. Fished plastics with split shot or drop shotting. The key was slow and on the bottom. Hard to pick-up the bites with cold hands (or gloved) and 40+ feet of line out. That's why we missed so many fish. Left our share of lead and hooks on the bottom too. Would do it again though given the chance.

Well, haven't seen much postings lately, so I thought I'd share my good fortune. Brave the cold, it was worth it. No other boats out, just shotgun echoes every so often.

Good luck to everyone!!

TT

[rob allen]

Above which dam?

[Tommy T]

Above Bonneville. The dam typically breaks the east wind. Wind was gusting and ALL white caps all the way up to the dam. Go a ways past the dam, and it really breaks the wind and it's like a lake. We were east of Hood River with 1-3 mph winds. The only waves we saw were by a passing barge.

[Wannabe]

Very nice...thanks for posting. December is the month where my boat is covered with Christmas boxes from the attic. May have to try if we keep getting this mild weather. Would hate to be up that way if a front came in....thats an ugly road.
Tight Lines
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[shalom]

Thank you for posting . It was a joy to read .
Merry Christmas .
:angel: :jester: :dance: :yay: :dance: :angel1:

[Willie83]

Just when my fishing addiction was finally on idle, you have to get me all revved up again. Thanks! :jester: :jester: :jester:

I doubt you've ever been accused of being a fair weather fisherman. I imagine the temperature feels a few degrees warmer everytime you land one.

[Striper Club]

0

[Knot in leader]

Using my boat for a work bench this time of year. :laugh:

[elcsports]

Tommy T - YOU DA MAN!! :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: If you can still get those darn fish to bite in December more power to you :cheers:. What was your bait selection? to get them to go? :shrug:

[Tommy T]

Mostly I used a Zoom 4" Ring worm, Pumpkin with a #2 split shot lead. My buddy was using mostly Zoom 5" lizards, Pumpkin/Green and drop shotted with a crawdad same color. My pumkin zoom worm had a little better success. I experimented with a black lizard and salt & pepper worms, but no success. The water visibility was good.

My buddy wanted to go sturgeon fishing, but I talked him into trying our luck with the smallies. No regrets. We're used to catching more fish, but the quality of the ones we caught made it worth it.

I'm just getting back into bass fishing. I can't wait for the spring fishing, when the fish move into the shallow waters for spawning. I understand 100+ fish days are pretty common then, as long as we keep releasing our catches.

My goal is to go out each month, and see if I can catch them in January & February too. I'll keep you guys posted.

[elcsports]

Thanks man. I will try and get my boy out and find these fish up there. I've fished that stretch a lot and know a couple of deep holes where there are good breaks to 40ft.

FISH ON!! :dance:

[Wannabe]

Tommy....
Jan marks when I'm hitting the water....probably for largemouth though. But this time of year is mostly jig tying and tackle readying. Have quite a few tourneys comin up so lots of planning needs to be finalized.
Tight Lines
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