Mouth of Lewis

Thumper · 08-22-2001, 05:06 PM

The bite at the mouth of the Lewis continued to improve today, with the best luck in the afternoon. A good mix of chinook, silvers and a few humongous "B" steelies. Average seemed to be about 2-3 fish per boat. The hot boats used mainly #3 Backmore half % half blades on 5-6 foot leaders, a spreader, and 2-3 ounces of lead on an 18 inch leader. The use of electric trolling motors is best of all since many of the fish are in 5-8 feet of water.

[ 08-22-2001: Message edited by: Thumper ]

Fin · 08-22-2001, 06:09 PM

Jack didn't mention the 14# steelie he caught. WOW!!!

Krome Brite · 08-22-2001, 06:38 PM

Wow, good fish! Was it a hatchery? My first steelie was a 14 pounder on the North Fork, nice fish!

RipDatLip · 08-22-2001, 06:52 PM

What is the difference between "A" and "B" steelhead?

Matt

Thumper · 08-22-2001, 06:55 PM

Arbitrarily "A" steelhead normally come up first and are less than 10 pounds. "B" steelhead are larger than 10 pounds, come up in late August and September and are thought to be Idaho fish. A "B" steelhead is a very good thing.

FishinMission · 08-22-2001, 06:57 PM

Rip..the "A"'s are generally smaller, earlier runs. The "B" run is bigger, later running fish headed for the upper Columbia and Snake River. One day..while in a hog line near Troutdale, I saw probably 10 "B" run fish caught...all near or over 20 lbs. Wow!! They start coming about this time of year, as opposed to June,July, and the early August steelies.

[ 08-22-2001: Message edited by: FishinMission ]

RipDatLip · 08-22-2001, 08:20 PM

Thanx, guys. Now I know. I am planning on drifting the Lewis from the hatchery to texaco tomorrow. I keep ya updated.

Matt

DF · 08-23-2001, 12:25 AM

wheeeeew!
I live a stone throw away from the mouth of the lewis...
what am I doin sitting here!?
ah.. thats it its 1:21 am.
Must wait till morning [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

scott98541 · 08-23-2001, 12:42 PM

thumper,could you tell me what a #3blackmore is.i never heard of that one.thanks scott [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

Thumper · 08-23-2001, 03:04 PM

Scott --- spinners come in relatively standard sizes. Most often we salmon/steelhead types use sizes 3-6 or so. The size 3 blades are pretty small, but in low clear water they are the ticket. There are also about a dozen standard blade designs, including Lucky R (sadly no longer made), Backmore, Colorado, etc. So the hot trolling spinner right now is a smallish Backmore in 50/50 nickel/brass or nickel/copper, typically with hammered finish, or in rainbow paint (green tip seems to be the most common of the rainbows. You can buy these already made up or buy only the blades and make your own. Fun fun.

Krome Brite · 08-23-2001, 05:46 PM

Hey Matt, you floated it today in the rain? Fun! Rain is good for catching fish. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] I bet you got some? [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

RipDatLip · 08-23-2001, 06:06 PM

Hey, the weather wasn't to bad. Only sprinkled a little. I caught an 18lb chinook and an 8lb steely. I was suprised the fishing wasn't better.

Matt

Krome Brite · 08-23-2001, 09:32 PM

Seriously, you got two nice fish and you were surprised the fishing wasn't better? Dude, I would consider myself lucky to catch one fish every 20 outings or so! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Anyway, good job on the catch Matt. The steelie was a hatchery? Did you keep both? You probably caught more fish today than anyone else on the board [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] ( yeah, except those fishing the Buoy 10/ocean area [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] )

Oh yeah, and check your email, Matt. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

RipDatLip · 08-24-2001, 07:48 AM

The fishing seemed sloooow to me. Even for a first fish I was expecting more. I have high demands of myself and expect to catch fish. Caught a few, will catch more later. BTW, both fish were natives, and were release unharmed. Except I gave the steely a good bonk on the head with my fish bat. J/K. Didn't even take it out of the water. Keep the reports coming guys.

Matt

Chris Nordling · 08-24-2001, 12:57 PM

Matt-

How was the water level? Where did you put in? I have always fished the N. Fork from the bank, but recently bought a driftboat and would like to see more of this river. Could you tell me of any possible 'bad' spots, and about how long the drift is please. Thanks in advance. Fished Herman ck. today. Some pressure(lots from bank guys), went 0 for 3, including what would have been my first steelie on the fly, first cast too. Lots of fish hooked, not too many landed by others either, extremely lively fish today, very adept at throwing hooks, especially the siwash spinners. [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

Chris [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

RipDatLip · 08-24-2001, 01:50 PM

Actually, this was the first time I have ever drifted the NF Lewis. I learned everything as I went. We put in at the Hatchery and drifted to the Island Ramp. The water has been about the same level as usual, Low. But hey, there are still some great holes. I don't know of any "bad spots" because I wasn't oar man. The only possible place was below or above (I don't remeber) Johnson Creek. I just sat back and relaxed. Hopefully someone else can answer your question better.

Matt

Thumper · 08-24-2001, 02:13 PM

Current water levels are at 1,500 CFS. That is about as low as you are likely to see, except for Thursdays in the fall when they drop the river to about 900 CFS to count fall chinook bodies. Even at 1,500 CFS there is no problem with a drift boat or a sled IF you know where to go. Go with someone who has done low water before you take your shiny new sled on the river. Later on we will enjoy levels of from 2,500 - 6,000 CFS and the slaughter will be on. To get current river levels call 800-547-1501.

There is really no bad water on the North Fork Lewis. It is all "splash and giggle" water, excellent for sleds of any type and all drift boats, catarafts, etc. You can put in in several places, and right now steelhead are well-scattered throughout the river. Possible put-ins would be (1)the upper hatchery (right below Merwin dam on the north side), (2)on either side of the river at the lower hatchery (Cedar Creek, home of the famous meathole or "sportsmen's hole")---though be aware that the put-in on the north side at the hatchery is undeveloped while the put-in on the south side can be used for larger boats and sleds, (3) at Happa access about half a mile further down on the south side (not accessible right now unless your boat can levitate over exposed dry riverbed), (4)at the golf course on the north side (good choice for drift boats and small sleds, and (5)at Island Ramp about a quarter mile below the golf course.

The fishing on the North Fork is kinda between seasons right now. The marvelous run of summer steelies is about over and those fish are mostly holed up in the upper river. The chinooks and silvers are just now congregating at the mouth of the Lewis where the fishing is pretty good on the bigger tides, and we are about one more good rain away from having those critters shoot up to the North Fork.

E-mail me or Fin if you have specific questions.

[ 08-24-2001: Message edited by: Thumper ]

08-24-2001, 06:31 PM

Hey Thumper:

Were you using the knuckle buster?

Thumper · 08-25-2001, 07:50 AM

No. If you mean the guy at the mouth who uses a fly rod and reel and catches ten times the fish that I do, I wish it was me. That guy is good. His catch (mostly witnessed by us) was 18 landed on Wednesday, 16 on Thursday and 7 yesterday when we left early. That guy is my god!

springer_97011 · 08-25-2001, 08:47 PM

Fished mouth of lewis sat. for seven hours and didnt see 1 fish landed.Also the people that fish the plume make it impossible to troll without major cluster ****!

wobble-wacker · 08-25-2001, 11:14 PM

Jack

You're talking about Scott. Yup, he knows how to catch fish and he honors the Nook Gods always. Three weeks ago he caught the biggest Nook of his life on the Lewis at a non disclosed location above the mouth of 52.5 lbs. He uses primarily spinners with secret scent and he catches most fish on the shelf. He doesn't accept anchor-ups in the trolling area and when not fishing you can assume that he is working on a new plan to make fish come to his lure. I agree. He doesn't brag. He just finds a way to Hook Up and respects the fish God with daily offerings. That's truth - not thought. Friday AM - zip for us. Scott had 7 by 8AM. Didn't see him Sat. and we got a chance to use the Nookie bonker. Water temp is the same for all of us and he knows how to overcome that excuse. I'm in awe!

Thumper · 08-26-2001, 06:23 AM

Yep, this guy is as good as it gets. But he has a tremendous advantage over most of us. He uses a modified souped-up Minn Kota electric motor (48 volt, probably about 130 lbs thrust) that allows him to sneak up on fish in the very shallow clear Lewis water. He rarely fishes with the rest of us, and I'm convinced that he gets more hook-ups trolling off by himself in the shallows that way. I'm so convinced, in fact, that I'm getting a big new electric on our little boat. There should also be a lot of use for it also up river for boondogging in shallow water.

What kind of boat are you in? Next time say hi to the guys with the Ifish stickers.

08-26-2001, 08:57 AM

It must be the secret sauce he uses, cause he said his count on thurs was 17. One of his best days. Him and the guy in the Thunder Jet could teach school on how to fish the mouth.

We had to leave at noon yesterday, how was the catch?