Columbia Springer Tech for unusual conditons
We have some very unusual conditions for fishing spring chinook salmon on the mainstem Columbia this year, to say the least. First, we will have a mainstem season from I-5 up to Bonneville deadline for the first time in 28 years. Good! Secondly, we have from 1/3 to 1/2 a million of 'em coming from Astoria on up thru that area! Great! Third, we have a drought underway that will cause much lower, clearer, and even warmer water than a normal spring. Not good! I posted some suggestions for this to a question by Bob in another thread. I will post it here also, and hope you other good springer fishers will have some ideas for the throng of fish on there way right now. There are lots of fish to go around and the Columbia is a very big place to angle, so let's get in a sharing mindset here to take best advantage of this opportunity, that will close after April 30th. Post your ideas here now, and some things that are working better as this thing progresses. Thanks guys. - Steve ... Post follows:
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 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).]
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