Springer Fishing Around Warrenton/Astoria

Spot · 03-12-2001, 12:08 PM

I think I've harrassed the Steelhead enough for one season. Now it's time to harrass the Springers in the Columbia. Does anyone have any ideas on where the best bank fishing is around Fort Stevens, Warrenton or Hammond? Techniques would be appreciated too.
Thanks All!

Oakie Drifter · 03-13-2001, 10:55 AM

You know Spot, I would like to know this too, but Ive noticed that when this subject comes up, things get quiet.....maybe it means that it could be great and the people in the know are being mum....cant blame them either..lol. I'll be there, trying different techs. Cant go too wrong with 364,000 springers predicted!

Killertraylor · 03-13-2001, 12:31 PM

Thank's for the clarification, finclipped - I wasn't including the fall fish - I must have read my projections from a different source. According to what WDFW predicts, it looks like 433,000 total Springers coming over the mouth of the Columbia. Maybe the report I read had Young's bay springers included?

Finn-icky · 03-13-2001, 01:46 PM

I haven't tried for springers myself in the Astoria area, but if I where to try, I'd troll or anchor (tide conditions) up in the Rice Island area. This is the area that the birds have been doing great damage to salmon smolt. It makes sense that if the smolt are in this area as babes, they may just return to the same area as adults. Just a guess. Any comments on the idea.

Killertraylor · 03-13-2001, 11:13 PM

I posted a report below - weekend trip at mouth of Columbia, but I fished about 10 miles upriver from the bridge. I've talked to some gillnetters and they picked up a few springers downriver from the bridge, but it was spotty. I'd troll in the same places that you do for fall fish - I'd be suprised if the Springers took a totally different route up the river than the fall fish. I saw about 5 boats trolling in the typical fall fish areas, but don't know if they did any good. I did hear that a few springers were cought off the jetty, but it wasn't what I'd call a reliable report. By the way - there should be closer to 600,000 springers going through this area according to WDFW projections - 364,000 is the number of upriver fish.

finclipped · 03-13-2001, 11:38 PM

Not to split hairs or anything, but I think your including the Fall numbers in with your springer numbers. Check out the WDFW site, which lists both spring and fall fish.

http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/fish/northfal...ts/chinook.htm

It does indicate 364M upriver springers.

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