Messed up my spring(er) break.

[id. painter]

For the last several years the district I teach in has let school out for what is called "spring break".
I have been lucky enough to use that week to catch springers .
For years it has been the first or second week of April. Now suddenly they have moved the break to March. This year the break starts the 13th and runs till the 21st.
Can I still plan on finding some fish.
I have anchored below Bonneville , trolled cut plug on the M.C. and fished the Wind with Warts.
Will I do better to fish lower on the columbia , that early????
Any tips would be great. Thanks id. painter

[Lured In]

That's a tough call, but we were getting decent days in mid March last year. The two factors are obviously run timing, but also the netters. They are usually entering the peak of their season during this time, and can put a serious dent in the number of fish in the river. (Not slamming the netters, its just the reality of sharing).

If run timing is even a little early (peaking over Bonneville the end of March instead of the beginning of April) it could be really good. My best guess is that it takes between 5 and 10 days for the fish to make it from the Longview area (and below) up to the dam. What makes it difficult is that you don't know the fish are there unless you go (or get a report off ifish) as they haven't got the dam yet. I like the Rainier and Kalama areas, but some folks do really good further down towards Cathlamet as well.

[hookem]

In March I would fish the M channel and up to sellwood, also bellow the channel in the columbia, st helens area, and french mans bar area.

[id. painter]

Thanks ... id. p.

[Uglygreen]

My best guess is that it takes between 5 and 10 days for the fish to make it from the Longview area (and below) up to the dam.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">I was told by the guys with all the funny antennas on their boat that the radio tag studies say 2-3 days on average, some in less than 1 day.

UG

[Diehard]

Hey id.painter, how have you been? Hope all is well. In regard to your break, the MC should be good ( as long it's not blown out ). Also there is some good fishing in the columbia near there.
Send me an email and I'll go over the details.
It would be nice to fish with you again.

[slabhunter]

I believe the Willamette fish are the first run to show in numbers. M.C. or below would be my guess. Good luck!

[River Ranger]

I have done well near Wauna in march the past few years.
R.R.

[Wood N' Fish]

From past experience, I feel you got a good chance, from mid-march ---on, provided water conditions are acceptable. Fish from the new channel @ St. Johns and below. Oh Yea----give it 24hrs. from when the nets come out to fish.

[IFISH4U]

Itll still be good, no worries. Have fun.

[Lured In]

UG...I wouldn't doubt that, but I am just going off my catch results and how that coincides with Dam counts. Of course my method doesn't take into other considerations like water clarity, barometer, etc, that might throw off the bite in someway and thus make it look like the fish are not in yet.

All in all its really somewhat irrelavent as the fish show when they show and there isn't much we can do about it.

On a side note, my folks live down on the Rogue near Cole River's Hatchery. Several years ago a Springer was radio tagged at Bonneville at showed up at Cole Rivers a week later. That's roughly a 500 mile trip. :shocked:

[id. painter]

Thanks to all. Sounds like a good time if Im not in direct competition with the nets.
thanks . id. painter