Frenchman's Bar, Part III

[garyk]

For the third time we returned to Frenchmans Bar, on Sunday morning with our lines out by about 9am. The tide was running out with low tide coming after 1pm or so.

At 10:40 came our first takedown on my rod rigged with a half/half silver-gold Alvin, which gave us our evening dinner - a nice sized, fat, chinook jack.

A bit after 11, my wife's rod with a silver Alvin went down. She was rewarded with a 21# bright hen.

The final take came around 11:30 on our friend's, Lucky Larry, rod – again the silver Alvin. This was the best fish of the day. Another chrome bright hen between 24 and 25 pounds.

For the half-dozen or so boats close to us, we saw one hooked and lost and another landed.

We fished very slack water until 4pm trying Quickfish, wobblers, and even trolled herring but without any takers.

A beautiful, calm, uncrowded day with a bright fish for each rod - it doesn't get much better.

Again, we marked very few fish moving through and I have to wonder how much longer this run will last? The jack was a surprise as I thought they generally came in early?

[MoJet Driver]

Right on GaryK!

I tried to dodge the surf on the Columbia this weekend by heading up to the downstream side of Bonneville dam(n). The first couple of miles the wind was hell but it came out of the east so it wasn't the "puker" waves.

We only hooked up one fish on a chrome and blue Brad lure (compliments to Mr. D. for the tip). A dozen or so other fish were hooked and some landed off of Tanner Creek. Appeared that most were taken on Kwikfish with a sardine or herring wrap. And they were back trolling. Oh yeah, the large metallic blue Jet Planers seemed to be the trick. A lot of fish rolling but not biting. Hmmmmmmm.... is there a pattern developing? Good to hear the 'nookies are still coming through!

From the sounds of it, I saw more fish hooked up than at T-Bay. Some were very bright too!

Now all I have to do is get Mr. D to show me how to catch them Sandy silvers (hint hint).

[WaterDog]

Ok Gary,

Where the heck were you? We arrived and was fishing by 0630 and had not one take down at all. We left at 1300. I was fishing across from the restroom at that park, pretty much in the middle of the river.

Your right, it was a beautiful day however.

Added on edit: Counts at Bonneville have really slowed down. Only 512 adult nooks' passed on Sunday.

[This message has been edited by WaterDog (edited 09-25-2000).]

[garyk]

Hey Waterdog,

Sounds like the same place. The three of us were in the black 179 Hewescraft. There was an identical boat anchored to our right. On our left was white Jetcraft w/two guys.

For once, our boat was identifiable by the rods being bent with satisfying frequency.

We may give it another go this Weds. afternoon.

[WaterDog]

Ok, Saw your wife catch that fish. Nice and bright. Looked like she has done that before. COOL!!!!!

I was in the blueish colored boat w/ grey top below you. Let me know how you do on Weds. Not sure if I'll go out on Saturday yet. Good Luck!