Dum Question for RT or ??

[dawhunt]

I've used all the standard stuff for springers wiggle warts wrapped quickfish and prawn spinners managed to catch a few very few.Do you see any reason why a clancy or alvin wouldn't work on them.I did really good on salmon last august useing them and I guess second guessing my self was wondering what you thought??

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Bob Dawson

That's interesting you bring that up Bob, because I just read somewhere (either one of the STS mag issues or one of the BB's) that someone has done fairly well on springers with them. I haven't tired them so I can't speak from experience, but as a sort of rule of thumb, smaller lures and baits are usually used with more success on springers than on the larger fall chinooks. This is definitely the year to find out about the Alvins and lots of other ideas, because we are due for 364,000 to 500,000 springers swimming up the Columbia - including right out in front of your Washougal area spots . That's what is predicted for upper river fish over Bonneville Dam. If you count in lower Columbia tribs the numbers coming up thru the very lower river should actually go over a half million fish. However, with the river being lower and warmer than a usual spring those Clany's/Alvins are worth a try because they do pretty well on the fall fish in those water conditions. The only thing I can foresee slowing a good bite with all those fish coming is low warm water. Who wold have 'thunk' it during the normal spring runoff? But I still think the K-12/14/15 Kwikfish, both standard and Mag Wiggle Warts, and size 4 or 5 rainbow spinners (with the Cascade or Bear Valley shape) would outfish those big blades for the springers. And unlike the fall fish, the springers will hit bait really well all the way up the Columbia. Due to the clearer water this year I have heard the red pack size whole herring has been outfishing the green pack plug cuts - but try both. And of course the Col. springers love twirling prawns on up to Bonneville, and above in some tribs. Don't overlook backtrolling areas with enough current on the outgoing tide with large Jet Planners (or backbouncing with lead droppers) and long 55" leaders with either prawns, sandshrimp, egg clusters with a 'birdie', or the (ssshhh) larger 6" pink worms with small Spin N Glos and shrimp oil on them (springers and early skamania spring/summer steelhead will hit those out there!). I'm not going to post places where the best current is likely to be, because with such low water they won't be as plentiful and I will be in such areas hopefully without big crowds.

For anchorup fishing, where there is enough current (will take an outgoing tide in most places this year) I suggest using the long leader for bait or lures with a longish 30+ " lead dropper (dropper shouldn't need to be as long as some guys were using on the fall fish - but if they do let me ... ah, us know ).

As for fishing the incoming tides, most productive around the tide changes, trolling is going to be the show - especially this year. I suggest trying a little deeper water this year due to the clarity - maybe in the 20 to 35 ft. depth ranges rather thatn the more usual 15 to 25 ft. range. I would think that trolling downstream for long distance with a '00' Les Davis dodger, or hook free spinner, about mid learder for attraction would be a good thing to try after trying with just plain herring! Use whole red pack herring, green plug cuts, or light pink rolling prawns. Don't forget to try some scent additives in your baits and on your lures - bait oils &/or WD40. And hooks sharp enough to poke holes in diamonds . - RT



[This message has been edited by RT (edited 03-12-2001).]

[WildHawg]

Howdy Dawhunt,
Although I have never personally used Clancy's or Alvin's, I have seen them used effectively by the plunkers at the bulkhead in Gladstone. I'm confident that if you find the current lines like RT mentioned, you'd have a fair shot. Good luck, Hawg.

[WheresMyBobber]

I know of guys that have had success trolling Alvins in the lower river in past years, as well as hogliners at OC using them with good success. I wouldn't hesitate to use them at all.

BTW - very good post RT.

[Gizmo Man]

Bob: last week I fished with a guy who has been fishing springers for 40 + years. He showed me his old tackle box which had many lures such as the Andy Reeker and FST's.

He said that all they used until someone started using herring.

Give them a try with a double rig, when the Alvin is above the herring acting like a flasher.

Giz...

[Jellyhead]

Also, don't overlook the smaller alvin-type lures, like the "K-lure". I'm good friends with it's originator. He specificaly made this lure for faster fall flow areas, and the smaller profile is good for springers too.

Aaron

[Bait O' Eggs]

I have caught as many Willamette springers on wobblers as I have anything else. But like everything, you catch the fish on what you use. I like the Buse wobbler because it is a little smaller and lighter than an Alvin. Actually fished a wobbler today trying to change up the baits a little until I get into a springer.

Never drop anchor, Never drop anchor. Gotta keep telling myself that. Dropped anchor today and about 30 minutes later a guy pulls up all mad that I am in the wrong spot and not tied off right. Something about a 1/2 a boat length down stream to far, not using the existing rope on the bank to tie off with. He was fussing so I pulled in my side rope and tied off to the existing rope on the bank so he would quit fussing. I would like to say the guy was a moron (and he may have been) but he did land a native steelhead this morning on a spinner. GOD, I HATE HOGLINING, gonna be running the trolling motor the rest of the year. It wasnt 5 minutes after fussy got there that another boat was tied off to us.

I love hoglining, just NOT in Oregon City.

[Bait O' Eggs]

You might have something there ******. I havent hoglined in the Columbia and only a couple times in the Willamete in the last 5 years. But the couple times in OC I have found myself tied off to other boats makes me want to go home and beat my head on the wall. The crowd that flocks to OC drives me crazy. From now to the end of shad fishing it will only get worse.

[Killertraylor]

I learned to springer fish from a guy who grew up in St. Helens fishing the Mult. Channel. I only anchor fish, no trolling, and I use kwikfish/flatfish exclusively, just switching colors and sizes to what they're biting. My buddy said that they used to just use small copper bladed spinners with a few beads when he was a kid - nobody used herring. Of course there were 1 million fish runs during that time, but he had very good success using spinners. You probably have to troll them or fish higher up in the channel because there isn't enough current to run them where I fish in the lower channel. I've cought several springers in the Rogue on plain old spinners, but the water is much faster, clearer and lower than the channel. I've seen fish a lot of fall fish cought by guys using an alvin as a flasher and trolling a herring behind it - I'd think that would work for springers too.

[WheresMyBobber]

Tied off to other boats in a hogline?

I've done plenty of hoglining on both the Columbia and Willamette, and have never tied off to another boat. In my experience, hoglining in OC isn't all that bad if you know which lines to get into, are good at anchoring, and have the proper anchor and anchor line. For the most part in OC, the same people fish the same lines every year, and some just seem to attract more a-holes than others. IMO the key is knowing which lines to avoid. I've found the deadline is a good one to avoid, as well as the one that forms in the mouth of the Clack when the Willamette blows out. Just my opinion.

BTW - backtrolled from the 205 bridge down below the mouth of the Clack today from 8:30 til 10:30, thinking that the 9:05 tide change might instigate a bite. Just like magic, at 9:05 a bankie below the Clack caught a fish, and 5 minutes later a boat in the boil caught something. I was too far away to tell what it was, but it looked like a North River boat so I assume it was probably a carp. That was it for the tide change bite.




[This message has been edited by WheresMyBobber (edited 03-13-2001).]