Sandy River Springers

[Coot22]

I do not know about the rest of you but I am already getting that Springer itch. I have been hearing about the willamette kicking out a few salmon but of course it is way too early to get excited: too late. I am ready for the season to get into full swing. The estimates are at 364,500 springers up the columbia. This would create an incredible fishery as you all well know. Let me get to the point.
The sandy was good to me last year at the mouth and in the lower river for springers. In the lower river I picked up enough to keep me interested and the mouth I was getting a takedown every hour! I ended up hooking thirteen springers at the mouth trolling prawn spinners during very few fishing hours. I am curious to hear your opinions on the "perfect" prawn rig for trolling at the sandy, willamette or wherever. Any successful hints would be appreciated! As a good fisherman should, I am always looking for improvements on my techniques because there are always some fish that pass up your offering. Thanks

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"fish long, Fish hard"

[ZaQ]

Dupont spinners. Gettem everytime.

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Fish this!
ZaQ

[Pirate]

Coot
There is a great post on Jan. 29 titled " Herring vs Prawns for Willamette Springers" that has a ton of good info and diagrams that might help. Good Luck.

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B

[whitewaterbill]

Coot....

If you hooked 1 per hour at the mouth for a total of 13 you should be sharing tech with us. I have done well there also.....but last year the water was so low that the fishing was slow for me.

Bill

[Coot22]

Thank you NorthriverB for the info...it was very helpful. I always wondered about curing my own prawns as well as the catch ratio in the willamette for herring to prawns.
Bill, Yeah the water was low last year!!! If you want the tech's on what I was using I would be happy to share it with you...However, yes I was hooking a fish an hour, but, It took me four sunrise to sunset days of trial and error to pattern these fish last year. I am trying to get a head start on next year's fish by asking you guys for any advice or anything that you guys have found to be productive. Last Spring at the mouth was a tough one for a lot of people. Hopefully this year will be better. Again, if you want to know, I would be happy to talk to you about my tactics. Thanks again guys.
-Cody

[birdhunter]

Hey Cootie,
Of those fish you hooked how many did you land? Be honest now!

[Coot22]

Ben, you know I had a hard time landing fish, HAHAHA. But guess what ben, I was hooking fishing and catching a few too. Hey ben, (birdhunter), how many springers did you even hook last spring, and be honest unlike some of your other posts!!!! HAHA



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"10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish"

[Artwo]

Coot22,
I to was pretty productive last year on the Sandy. I pretty much fish this river exclusively for springers, although I mostly fish from dabne to lewis and clark since I have a drift boat. I have fished the lower river in the past and I am looking for a kicker so I can do more down low this year. Drop me an e-mail (see my profile) maybe we can trade some techniques.

JK

[birdhunter]

Cooter,
Ouch. You know I hooked two with you that one afternoon. Mistakes were made (I won't say by who) and the fish continued on their way. I'll leave it at that.
Still, whenever we have caught fish, what has the ratio been? Somewhere in the neighborhood of 3:1 in my favor. I seem to recall some steelhead and some nice upriver brights last year that fit into that category. So HA HA HA yourself. There were those Clackamas coho that one (or two) time, but I'll leave it at that.
Gimme an e-mail/call Duck-boy and I might just take you out this weekend. That's providing of course that you don't keep decieving all these nice folks into thinking that I'm more talk than walk, fishin' buddy.

[Coot22]

benny baby,

I am just giving you a hard time...HEHEHE, You are a good fishermen. I wont deny that. Anyway, I will call you later on today ok? Oh Yeah...by the way, you had one take down but no hookups...hehehe! Maybe I am forgetting some, but whatever anyway, catch you later ben.

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"10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish"

[Coot22]

Hey Artwo,

What is your email address, I would love to trade tactics with you!

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"10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish"

[Artwo]

Coot22,
You can e-mail me at Artwo60@AOL.com, also if you didn't know this already you can just click on the profile icon at the top of a post to get most everyones information includinf their e-mail addresses

JK