I have been working on my brother in laws' kitchen up in Portland all week and had the opportunity to share my fishing life with him and his family, fortunately I was able to get them into some pretty good fishing. They don't have the opportunity to get out and do this kind of thing very often, primarily because they aren't obsessed every waking moment with it like the rest of us are! Had a great time getting the brother in law, his 5 year old son, and my father in law into some shad Thursday evening.
We put in at Chinook landing about 6:30 and ran up to Camas. There were only half a dozen boats there so pressure was light. Anchored up above the main hogline to see where the shad were running through and caught 2 or 3 pretty quick. A spot opened up below us so we slid down into it and started picking them up fast enough to keep 5 year old Ryan (scoop) occupied. He had not caught a fish before so this was something mighty strange and new to him. We got him to reel in 4 or 5 with a bit of assistance which he seemed to enjoy, but I think it was the netting part of the program that he enjoyed the most, thus the nick name "Scoop". We'd get a fish on and holler "Hey Scoop" and he'd be right there ready and waiting with the net over the side. So much fun! It is really one of my biggest pleasures in life to expose young kids to something like this. We stayed until 8:30 or so and got to watch the barges go by, a Bald Eagle getting harrased by an osprey, and even a few more fish come to the boat. We ended up dragging home 17 for the crab bait coffer and some pictures.
Saturday we got up way earlier than my brother in law is used to and headed down to Astoria to try for some hot estuary fish. Beautiful morning drive, even got to see a couple of elk just west of Clatskanie, a bull in velvet and a cow, hanging around one of the cottonwood groves alongside the highway. Got to the John Day ramp about 7:30 and was suprised to see that there were very few places to park, in fact had to park on the grass over by the restrooms as instructed by the county worker, who was very helpful in facilitating all the goings on. Hooked up with a friend and his crew that came up from Corvallis and proceeded to wale away on the sturgeon. Used the same light rods and wire leaders as last weekend in the same general area and had a ball. Mike and I only caught about 15 or so fish but we did manage a couple of 46" inch keepers. My buddies ended up with one about the same size and two others much larger, the biggest went 56.
Once again, sand shrimp was the ticket. There were plenty of others in the area and I know some were getting irritated at our success and I'm sorry, but we were the only ones using sand shrimp. That just seems to work better in the shallow water down there than fish bait (bait fish?). I learned about this area last year by observing one guy out there doing exactly what we are doing and I went back the next day and emulated what I had seen and started catching fish. Any ways, had another memorable day with some great company , lots of laughs. what more could you ask for?
I saw on another post somebody was talking about having a clinic of sorts for sturgeon fishing the estuary. I am planning on fishing down there next weekend both days and if anyone wants to hook up that weekend I would love to meet some more ifish contributing members. Lurkers need not apply. Post here or email if interested. I'm not sure if I'll have any seats open in my boat, but I would sure welcome some other boats in "my" area of the river! I think this may be my last weekend there as I plan on chasing silvers in the ocean closer to home for a while. Tight lines to all.
[ 06-17-2001: Message edited by: aye fsh ]
Shad, Astoria sturgeon report
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