Chinook Springers

[Jim]

You folks have always impressed me with your knowledge. Heres a question. In August, thousands of boats and people flock to the area below the Astoria Bridge to Buoy 10 for Fall Chinook. With the huge run of Springers coming this year why aren't huge numbers of people flocking to this same area??

Jim

[Joe Schwab]

Probably one reason is that Springers don't mess around getting upriver till they hit an obstacle. Hence the first touch of good fishing is usually in the OC area. Ive often wondered about this myself. there are probably many places that would sustain a fishery if someone got out there and experimented. We all go to the tried and true though. Put 500 boats there at the right time and springers will be caught. Back in the 60s and 70s when the river was open there were loads of hot spots. Not too many people had boats though as they do now.Good times may be in the making with numbers rising.

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[FishinMission]

They gotta get from "Point A to Point B". And they usually stack at "Point B". So consequently...do the fisherman. Personally, I like to avoid the crowds, and fish where there are not cluster****'s. If you can figure out where the fish are moving between "Point A and Point B", you might have yourself a little secret area, where you can relax, have a better time, and catch fish where no one else knows!! And then be sure not to say anything about it here!! And as to people heading to Astoria to catch fish.....well in August, you can catch them right here in the Portland area. Why drive for 2 1/2 hours to a cluster**** when you can fish right here??

[WheresMyBobber]

Good points FishinMission.

There are many, many, springers caught long before they reach Oregon City. A little searching and time spent to learn some spots from the channel upstream will pay dividends. These fish bite all the way up.

[Jim]

OK Fishin Mission...I got my incogneto sunglasses on...

I agree with you 100% I guide full time and you don't see me posting where I fish...I don't like crowds and neither do my clients...there are times when we go with a different mind set for example the Wind...but that is an exception. The rest of the year we fish relatively alone.

As soon as the boat is done though...I will be giving that area a shot.

Have Fun!

Jim

[Richter]

Back when you could fish the Columbia for springers, it was not uncommon to see 100-200 boats in the Rainier area. I personally know of people fishing springers as far down as Deep river. There are a lot of good spots between Longview and there. The fish have to come through the lower river before they get to OC, and they bite just as well.

Rich