Warm Water Nook Tactics

[Son of an Okie]

Fished below Bonneville on Saturday. The Columbia is warmer than I've ever seen this early in August, a nice balmy 72 degrees (bummer). As a result, the fish are exhibiting lockjaw for the most part. However, we watched ****** (from this board) catch a nice 27 pounder! But, sadly, that was the only nook caught at the oak tree. In previous years, we've done well, even this early in August. The only difference seems to be the warmer water. Anybody have any known secrets to share for fishing warm water kings? We did manage to catch a couple of steelhead, one nice nate and a 7 pound clipped. Only two other strikes, pretty slow for a full days fishing.

[Son of an Okie]

Maybe, but both the steelhead were caught on larger spinners this trip. Any other clues out there (besides the Willie lie).

I posted in an earlier Col. related thread that this year's big runs have a dark cloud rising over them- the warmer than usual water temps. On the trip off the Lewis with Bill and crew it was 70 and the bite very slow. If it's 72 and climbing that's not good! I suggested fishing right off the mouths of large cooler Col. tributaries such as the Cowlitz down lower or the Deschutes up higher. Another thing that can help a little is to fish in deeper water, 30' to 35' instead of 18' to 25'. Also try plugs (or smaller spinners) with really irritating faster action, and with rattle beads inside, trying to stimulate an annoyance strike from the lethargic fish. This can be more effective if you very slowly backtroll plugs into the face of a fish that is holding/resting, as opposed to having them just lazily swim around your stationary/anchored lure (this often works for fish that have become lethargic in very cold water in the 30's too). Other than that I need some ideas too. How about rigging a huge ice block onto the upper part of your anchor? - RT


[This message has been edited by RT (edited 08-07-2000).]

"Secret" is fish a Willieboat! (grin)

Downsize, downsize and downsize?

******

[Bait O' Eggs]

At Bouy 10 on Saturday my aquarium thermometer read 70 degrees at half way to low tide (good out running tide). I am sure it is not perfectly accurate, but close. I thought it was a nice temp for a short dip until I read Ospreys shark story.

[wiser]

I'd certainly rather have warm water than cold for Columbia River chinook. I think everyone is jumping the gun a bit. It's not quite time to get serious about the chinook fishery above the Cowlitz area. Give it a couple more weeks. If the reports are the same at that time I'll start believing chinook won't bite in warm(mid 70's)water.

Willie lie? Guess what's good for the gander
ain't good for the goose or vice versa,
anyway, if in doubt put the blue tip out.
Can we all hire trucks to dump ice above
our fishing spots? Anyone know how much
colder it is on the bottom versus surface
temp in deeper water? A couple of degress
maybe?