Multnomah Channel Springers

new boat · 03-24-2001, 08:11 AM

Spent all day yesterday trolling the lower channel. From St. Helens to above Coon Island. No take downs! One strike and miss as a herring was being run back behind the boat. Only saw two landed all day, one was a native as they released the fish. Upon return to the Ridgefield WA boat ramp, Fish & Wildlife were checking and I was told she had only seen three fish all day. Does anyone have a better story to tell or are we all just jumping the gun on the "greatest springer run ever"???

Pete · 03-24-2001, 11:50 PM

I can't give a much better report as I only saw three hooked in the channel on Friday, but at least two of them were on my rod! OK, take notes, here are my secrets. I troll with the current using blue plug cut herring spinning slowly on a mooching rig with a 3/4 inch silver spinner. I use a 5 foot leader with bead chain and a 5 1/2 foot dropper and 3 ounces of lead. I keep the lead on the bottom as I work the 12 foot depth line, even if it means going behind pilings. I shoot for the last 2 - 3 hours of falling tide and fish to about an hour after the tide starts coming back in. I look for the places in the channel where there is a good shoulder on the channel. If the sun is bright I'll fish water about 2 feet deeper. Early in the day or with heavy overcast I'll fish shallower. Bait has to be very fresh. Hooks have to be very sharp. Knots have to be immaculate. Never set your rod down. If you're feeling sporty, use barbless hooks. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

new boat · 03-25-2001, 07:47 AM

Thanks Pete for the reply!! Guess the rest of them out there won't talk!!
Again, thanks [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

03-25-2001, 09:00 AM

Pete is dialed in. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

HOGTIDE · 03-25-2001, 09:32 AM

Hey PTJD,

We're not being tight lipped. The run is here...the bite simply isn't hot for the most part. From my experience, Fish were in the channel in good numbers by the third week in February.

However, they do seem to be running in tight pods. You have to locate them and stay on top of them for the tide change.It looks like a lot of folks have caught on to the downstream troll trick... but for consistant results, you need to be on top of them for the tide change. Takes a lot of searching to make sure you are lined up for the brief bite...but, it pays off. Lately, there has been a very early morning bite, too. I think surprised fish sometimes reflex-snap at the 1st offerings of the day. Know of one dumb-lucky fella that had 2 fish and saw 19 others boated by 7AM the other morning.

The fishing hasn't been 'spectacular' and it hasn't been 'easy'...but it's always been fun! Just get numb and keep goin'!

DF · 03-25-2001, 02:52 PM

Well. I fished the lower channel and some of the river. Landed 2 right at the lower tip of sauvies island. One small hatchery fish right at the first tide change. Then later on at about 6 pm or so I caught a 30 pound or so wild fish. It was a fun fight. Also caught in the same spot and at the tide change.

03-25-2001, 03:52 PM

sounds like its worth makin the trip from tacoma now, you guys seeing many other fish caught ??, thanks very much...

RichH · 03-25-2001, 05:11 PM

Fished today from coon island down to the mouth of the channel. 5 of us fishing, 3 bites and 3 fish to the boat. They all had all of their fins. I had a great time cuz I really don't feel the need to kill one anyhow. Saw a total of 9 fish caught, fished from daylight till 3pm. All were caught on plug cut green label in 14 to 20 feet of water.

Only bummer of the day(besides the weather [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] ) was watching some people try to release a fish. First they netted it, lifted it out of the water, checked for fins. Then they held is out of the water for about 2 minutes trying to dig the hook out. Once the hook was out they halfassed tried to revive it and let it go. We could see it give a halfhearted attempt to swim as it slowly sank from sight. Bummer.

dogfishboy · 03-25-2001, 07:38 PM

Fished the slough Saturday. Mark and I both hooked a native springer, one above Coon Is. and the other below Santosh. We were able to tail both fish and remove the prawn spinners from both while leaving them in the water. I too saw several - 6 or 8 - natives caught and
3/4 of the folks were using nets and/or removing the fish from the water. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] Sometimes you need to just get wet and do whats right for the fish. If they have to use a net I wish they would just leave the net in the water while removing the hook. Did see a couple "good souls" doing the right thing. [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]
Hey Dustin, nice to meet ya. Doesn't sound like you got into anything after we talked on the radio. If you go out during the week let us know what's up. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

David

[ 03-26-2001: Message edited by: dogfishboy ]

Killertraylor · 03-26-2001, 04:15 PM

I fished Sunday and also today - cought two on Sunday, three today - all with adipose fins. I was one of the guys who nets the fish when I release them. I never bring them into the boat though. I anchor fish with Kwikfish and use three treble hooks - two on a spreader bar at the tail and one belly hook. It's so much easier on the fish to net it while removing three treble hooks. I agree that it's better on the fish to not net it if all you are doing is pulling out regular hooks on a mooching rig, but the treble hooks take awhile to get out. I saw four other fish cought yesterday - only one fin clipped and one other cought today that also had an adipose fin. The five fish I cought weighed approx. 22,28,12,18, and 20. Four were released very easily and swam away strong. One had to be held by the tail for about 2 minutes before it swam off - but it looked fine when it finally went. I was in the blue 23' North River with the gold Hardtop and 250 Yamaha - anchored on the west side of the channel about 1 mile up from where the Scappoose Bay slew runs into the channel. All the fish I saw released were released in excellent condition. After this string of non-legal fish, I'm beginning to wonder about the ODFW prediction for the Willamette run - I'm thinking that the guy who was supposed to fin clip all these fish fell asleep on the job. I hope I'm wrong and that we just have a super strong run of natives, but I'll bet most of the larger fish I cought and saw cought were older hatchery fish.

[ 03-26-2001: Message edited by: Killertraylor ]

dogfishboy · 03-26-2001, 08:38 PM

Killer,
Sometimes a net is necessary. When I'm alone I use the net and keep it in the water to corral the fish while I get the pliers and set the rod down.

I often see folks turn to the net in the heat of the moment and can only think about getting the fish in the boat as fast as possible. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]...

...just trying to encourage folks to think tail, not net, if it's a native. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

KT, we were in the 'Doghouse,' a 24' Reinell with a dark blue top... don't think we noticed ya. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

David

Shannon · 03-26-2001, 09:02 PM

Killertraylor,
Your absolutely right about questioning ODFW's predictions. What did they do team up with F&H News to put out a hype. The Clackamas, The Santiams and Mollalla all have great numbers of wild Springers

garyk · 03-27-2001, 10:24 AM

Pete --

Glad to hear you're enjoying success. We've got a real dry-spell going, and I'm looking to end it.

Regarding your post that the - "Bait has to be very fresh." By that do you mean when the herring are purchased? And/Or Do you mean changing it very frequently?

You also mention 'blue herring', do you use food dye or something else?

Thanks Pete! (Looks like convenient late afternoon low tides Wed-THur-Fri!)

Pete · 03-27-2001, 01:29 PM

GK
I meant frequently changed. I sure wish I meant fresh like just caught. I suspect that would be a hot ticket. Blue as in blue label ... not that I haven't dyed a few from time to time.
As for ending a long dry spell .... you should have been out today. I'm drenched to the bone, but nothing to show for it. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

03-27-2001, 11:19 PM

Three Springers to the boat Coon Island to the Gilbert, yesterday. One keeper died, two with too many fins released. Cut plug herring. Morning bite, hide tide to about half of the ongoing. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[ 03-27-2001: Message edited by: ****** ]

HOGTIDE · 03-28-2001, 03:41 PM

Fishing is staying pretty steady and showing slight improvement, so far this week. Getting fish each day.I picked up a couple fish on the downstream troll today. One was lost,the other wild fish released. Most boats appeared to have some kind of action. Cut bait is most popular right now, but I believe it will all work.

garyk · 03-29-2001, 12:41 PM

Let's keep this thread on Page1, so up to the top..

Pete · 03-29-2001, 03:30 PM

Watch out for me, I'll be throwing a BIG wake at everyone Friday morning as I head out to hook, net and release a bunch of natives on big, barbed treble hooks ... or not.

03-29-2001, 04:17 PM

Hammer' em Pete. Save me one without
the extra fin! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

dogfishboy · 03-29-2001, 04:28 PM

What shape is the channel in after the rain on Tuesdays and Wednesdays? Seems like it use to take about three days or so before she starts to turn.

dfb

[ 03-29-2001: Message edited by: dogfishboy ]

HOGTIDE · 03-29-2001, 07:02 PM

I did not fish today. But, 3 reliable reports (Coon Island to Warrior Rock tell me fishing was rather s l o w . Couple fish here and there, but fish were hard to come by. Most boats faired poorly....but does that matter?....NO!!!!

I'll be out in the am. My SuperVee is making it's Swan Song excursion. It's shiney new replacement is being fitted and rigged at Stevens...ready to take over those long hours of trollin' duty. I hope the new boat floats!????!

Fish Hunter · 03-29-2001, 07:17 PM

Spill it Hog, what new boat are you buying? Don't be shy. I want specifics.
Fished the Channel below Coon Island for a couple hours till dusk and got skunked. My buddy in another boat had two on though.

dogfishboy · 03-29-2001, 08:03 PM

Been fishin' a double rig the last few times out on the channel. The last couple of fish to the boat have been on prawn spinner combos. Wrapped Kwikfish, Warts, herring, and spinners have been on the other part of the rig. The prawn rigs have hit twice, not to mention several takedowns with prawns missing. Anyone else had much success with prawns on the channel from Coon Is. down. I usually reserve them for OC.

Hog One · 03-29-2001, 08:56 PM

Fished below Trogan wed.for springers.Seen one caught and kept but that was it.

new boat · 03-29-2001, 09:25 PM

OK Pete & Hogtide, I'll be out Friday AM as well. Will be running the 23' White Thunderjet with the hardtop. Wave or say HI!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

HOGTIDE · 03-29-2001, 09:40 PM

Well, I already shamelesly bragged on the Stevens thread. You can look for me in a white 20' Intruder with a sportjet. No more watery eyes and headaches from my tiller SuperVee. I finally had to admit I've gotten older and buy a boat with a few more comfort features...like a WINDSHIELD!

Should have the thing on the water by next weekend.

Fish Hunter · 03-30-2001, 04:16 PM

Sounds like a fine setup. INCLUDING THE SPORTJET!!! Got a look at part of North River's production schedule and it looked like all they were making were Sportjet models for months. Will be looking for you. Following you [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] Snagging your lines to see how your rigged [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] What works: new boats. Break it in with a fish. I actually broke mine in with a springer limit in Feb. what great luck. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

03-31-2001, 06:44 PM

SATURDAY Coon Island Report

TWO 18 pound too many fins,
bottom of Coon Island to the House
at the Gilbert. Cut plug herring.
Slow though. Maybe Sunday will be
better. High slack was 0900 on
Saturday at Coon Island.

HOGTIDE · 03-31-2001, 07:08 PM

To Continue ******'s report; Few fish showing on the FF from Gilbert river down to the mouth of the slough. Only fished three hours; Only saw 2 fish caught. Many Boats!

Scooped up a wild fish that was flailing and side finning just under the surface at Santosh. Tried to revive it for about 10 minutes...no luck. Another victim of a bad release job, maybe?

fishchaser · 04-01-2001, 09:43 AM

Scored yesterday. Had one boat up in the channel past the island bridge hooked 2 fin clipped both in the boat. We were down sturgeon fishing, yes I said sturgeon fishing. We saw no salmon caught so we were sturgeon fishing. We hooked 4 keepers and let 2 loose. Our friends who were up on the channel heard we caught fish we heard they caught fish. They came down and fished with us and all three of them got keeper stugeon too. Not too many people can say they went out salmon and sturgeon fishing & bring home both.
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