Blue Monday or how I learned to love little salmon Fu Fu

Pilar · 07-24-2001, 08:30 AM

What an Awesome thing the Columbia river is in the summertime.

'Pilar' went out yesterday and put the hurt on a box full of fish. We got pretty silly and by the end of the day we were making up lyrics to nursery rhymes. Remember 'Little bunny Fu Fu'? We'll I didn't either but my partner was singing it all day as she dragged salmon to the boat and expertly handled the net and fish billy.

We started out at the piling hole just north of Hammond and spent two hours there looking for a sturgeon. The crab bait was bionic as only rotting tuna carc can be. We loaded crab traps and made up salmon gear. Just before time to go my partner picked up her rod, jerked once and calmly reeled in her first keeper sturgeon, hell, her first sturgeon ever.

Big smiles all around, a short boat ride and we put the crab gear in by Cape Dissapointment.

Out to Bouy 1 after that. It was a little windy but not unpleasant. As usual a few boats orbited the bouy and we saw the net dance on the closest one almost right away. Fishing luck smiled on me and a perfect chrome king bent my rod to the water first thing. We putted around singing 'Little Salmon Fu Fu' and filled up the fish box. We caught 4 silvers, 2 kings and a starry flounder.

Then back to pull crab gear. It was a dissappointment and the only part of the trip I would change. There is a lot of crab gear by the cliffs. The one trap came up with nothing in it but an untouched tuna carc. We only got 8 crabs in 7 pots that soaked for 4 hours.. .....

Is it fished out or what?

Oh well can't have it all. If you have not tried the Columbia Bar fishery yet you have missed out. This is Salmon in Oregon at its absolute best.

Killertraylor · 07-24-2001, 09:24 AM

Good catch, Pilar. Any size to the silvers yet? I haven't cought one over 6 lbs off the mouth of the Columbia yet this year. I'm debating whether to run out again on Sunday (good morning tides to get over the bar) or whether to just wait 4 more days until the river opens up. Since they are growing fast right now, maybe you cought a few nice silvers?

Mr. Fisherman · 07-24-2001, 09:32 AM

John,

How big was the Sturgeon and where are the pics?

I like pictures [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img].

Hey, check out this old thread for my latest post...

Tun~A~Lert

Later,

Ray

Pilar · 07-24-2001, 09:50 AM

All the silvers kept were pretty nice. The biggest was about 10 lbs and the smallest about 6. The one King was a 15 lb fish and the smallest at 25" was about 6 lb.

The really good news is that every fish was jammed full of feed. They are eating good and getting fat.

Oh and the gator was 42 and a little bit. It was her first one and she wanted it, so bonk and in the box.

[ 07-24-2001: Message edited by: Pilar ]

Killertraylor · 07-24-2001, 01:48 PM

There's no shame in a 42 or 43 inch gator - best size for the barbeque if you ask me! Thanks for the report - I'll be out there on Sunday if the ocean is fishable. I'm lining up a 3 day tuna trip with a buddy of mine who has a 44 foot crabber! Can't wait to catch albacore on live bait again!

Hookset · 07-24-2001, 08:34 PM

Nice fishing Pilar!! Using just divers or lead? How's the ol' freezer holding up??

KT, You really have a way making a person feel terrible.......3 day tuna on a 44 foot boat....geeezzzz, sorry life's been a little rough for you lately. Share the pain man, share the pain! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Gregg

KrystalFlash · 07-25-2001, 12:19 AM

Once again, a great day for Mr. spottytail to get in the box. It's all about getting in the right boat, huh? Peace, out.

KF
Better lucky than good
Team Sail Ugly
Team Pilar
Team Bad Salmon
Team Back Seat

[ 07-27-2001: Message edited by: KrystalFlash ]

Pilar · 07-25-2001, 10:47 AM

Hey Hook. The setup went like this.

One deep on a downrigger, big Abe & Al flasher with shiny tape on one side, 30" 25# 4/0 - 5/0 mooching rig, rotary salmon killer and a whole fresh herring. The rod was a loomis 1024c with 15# line. We ran that at 50 and on down to 100 ft.

Second rig was a 00 silver diver and 20" leader to a 10" Abe & Al, and the same terminal tackle. That rod was a loomis 932c and some white toughline, 80# I think. 10 pulls.

The last was a 0 silver diver, 20" leader and a chartreuse 00 dodger, 30" mooching rig and a fresh anchovy. They sell a bait holder for anchovies at Tackle Time in Warrenton. Had to try it. That rod was an ugly stick tiger and a 50H with 80# toughline. 10 pulls.

The downrigger and the other herring rod caught all the fish. Once again the downrigger rod hit fish as it was being set. Let the line out to watch the action of your bait and then a streak and a buzzing reel. You just can't beat it.

Greg the freezer is full of smelt, so I guess I'm going sturgeon fishing this winter. The fish is getting canned or smoked and eaten as fast as I drag it home.

Hookset · 07-25-2001, 09:45 PM

Thanks Pilar for the informative tech info. Always nice to see (or read) how others are rigging up. You cal always learn or thing to two.

Surprised no fish with the anchovy. Last year at buoy 10 we did very good with anchovies for silvers.

Again, thanks for the info,

Gregg

KrystalFlash · 07-27-2001, 12:56 AM

Pilar with a nice chromer..All hail Mr. Spottytail....

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[ 07-27-2001: Message edited by: Pilar ]

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