Masters of the North Fork Lewis

09-13-2001, 11:49 PM

Steve (ifish's 'fishbait') and I had the pleasure of fishing with Keith (stlhdr1/PP) most of the day on the NF Lewis. As some of you know, he and his partner James (Perfect Drift/PP) are specialists on this river, and they know their sheeyat! But with a little dial-in help from Keith, Steve and I were able to hang in there with him with our eggs and scents. Steve and I hooked 8 salmon each and Keith hooked 10, and a couple of jacks. We only landed about half of the fish we hooked. However, Steve landed the biggest fish hooked of the day; about a 30 lb. bright hen. Then James came out with us for the last hour and a half or so and hooked 3 and landed 2 (he may have snagged a 4th one briefly?), while we also contined to hook fish; making it a 29 fish on day (mostly silvers but a few chinook too). ...

Keith is right about an abundance of fish to be caught in this river - soon to be joined in that realm by several other rivers. Keith is a really good guy that is fun to fish with! And very open and helpful about NF intracices. Thanks much Keith. - Great fun!

RT

Thumper · 09-14-2001, 02:18 AM

Not much happening on the North Fork. Best to stay down on the Columbia or in Oregon.

fishbait · 09-14-2001, 09:58 AM

Great fun fishing with Keith and RT. It was nice to be back on the Lewis after about a 15 year absense. Keith is a great fisherman and knows his home river well. You WA boys would do well to get him on your Flotalla III team.
It was also nice to see RT finally land a fish (well two actually) just before we quit at the end of the day.

Keith, looking forward to re-paying the trip in my baot in tidewater this fall. We'll catch some big pigs.......

will_e_fish · 09-14-2001, 10:33 AM

What a fun river! Glad you guys had a great time. You probably didn't see the canoe with poles out there fishing,did you? I was wondering what it would be like being pulled around the river by a fish while in a canoe. Fish cops make dailey appearances but I am sure are they are overwhelmed by combat meatholers getting fish on "in the beak". I know they the tickets have cleared the rock out several times. The antics, tactics and language are like a the raunchiest of human behavior. People in boats seem more civil. I want to try it with my boat, but do I need an expert to drift from the Cedar Creek to the next ramp? The new one with a park on the south side. Yes, Thumper is probably right it would be a waste of time and the trout bite in Horsehoe Lake is really good, might even hook into the the resident sturgeon. Thanks for the advise. Ha ha ha
will_e_fish

Thumper · 09-14-2001, 01:40 PM

Will_e --- It's all pretty much frog water between the Cedar Creek launch and the new Haapa Ramp (pretty danged fancy). Back-bounce good eggs along the south side of the flats below Johnson Creek. Early mornings are good, as are evenings. The whole drift is about a half mile.

Krome Brite · 09-14-2001, 02:23 PM

Last time I checked Horseshoe had that watermilfoil crap in it. I bet it's suffocated all the fish in there. Some careless boater's responsible no doubt. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[ 09-14-2001: Message edited by: Krome Brite ]

bait boy · 09-14-2001, 02:33 PM

I was in the red drift boat.I went to try and bank fish the meat hole and this guy in a red drift boat pulls up to retie his gear out of the line of boats. I go over and start to talk with the guy and his partner didn't show up to fish with him. I asked him if he wanted an extra pole in the water, he said "sure, got eggs?" And away we went. We only got one fish in but I happily donated it to the owner of the boat that was so gracios to let a stranger in his boat.

Here I am fishing along and I see this Quickfish come out of the water. I think to myself who would be pulling Quickies when everyone else was fishing eggs. Lo and behold it is the mighty experimenter RT. Glad you guys did well The fishing really slowed down with them lowering the water from what my new friend mentioned

Krome Brite · 09-14-2001, 03:03 PM

What didn't you try RT? [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

I guess they lower the water way down on Thursdays to count spawned chinook carcasses upriver. Does anybody know just how low it gets? I know I could have probably called the hotline, but I'm just too lazy. [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

09-14-2001, 03:06 PM

Good to see you out there Rick. Yes, now I'm convinced I would hook more fish on the NF Lewis if I stuck to just eggs like everyone else. Last trip I proved the pink worm isn't as effective on the NF, and yesterday that even a K14 with cured sardine wrap isn't as effective on the NF as on other rivers. It's appearing from what I have been told by the guys in the know on that river, and now what I've experienced, that those fish are somehow a bit different in that they are so preoccupied with egg munching they don't seem much interested in anytihgn else. This isn't the case on other SW Wash. rivers, such as the Cowlitz and Kalama or on Oregon rivers, so go figure [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img] The fish were hitting a few spinners cast by bankies, sometimes even with their mouths [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] but mostly with their tails and backs. ... Next time there for me will see more eggs and less experimenting. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

RT

fishbait · 09-14-2001, 03:11 PM

Steve, does that mean that you will leave the carp jigs and crappie lures at home....... You know what they day....When in Rome....... Fishbait

09-14-2001, 06:46 PM

Steve, you spelled it wrong; and I only bring good jigs, not crappy jigs. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Even though the famed pink worm didn't do well the previous trip, I got 2 strong strikes with head shakes on a few seconds with a jighead with rubber grub body jig in red with yellow colors and a curly tail; presented with rodtip jigging action. I believe in rubber! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] But the way silvers strike fast and short you may lose more marginally stuck fish than using them for steelhead and chinook.

RT

First Bite · 09-14-2001, 07:04 PM

Hey Steve did you get any strikes with the pumpkinseed, banana scented rubber lizard. Or how about your chartreuse/watermelon crawdad shrimp scented rubber worm. Steve's favorite words at the "rubber" salad bar for bass..."Hey, this looks fishy don't you think"?
Mark

Krome Brite · 09-14-2001, 09:01 PM

Or how about those Hula Poppers. Do they work, RT? [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

fishbait · 09-14-2001, 09:20 PM

Hey, don't pick on RT too much, he actually did catch two silvers, and on his own eggs.

First Bite · 09-14-2001, 09:57 PM

fishbait
Not picking on RT at all. In fact Steve and I experimented with different stuff all last season and caught steelhead on all sorts of rubber things. That's half the fun of fishing...trying new things.

Mark

09-14-2001, 10:48 PM

No prob at all Mark, or 'Bait either. But allow me to get even with Steven for his jig dig [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] . A true scenario from yesterday (did you catch this one Rick?):

Fishbait's a fun guy, but after he dropped an egg cluster down my plumbers butt when I was bent over I got him back a bit later when he was turned the other was, right in the Meathole (hey - the river) in front of many onlookers, I yanked down his Reebok shorts to his ankles faster than a 'ho can steal your bait! [img]images/icons/blush.gif[/img] Yikes - he's got on skin colored speedo style underwear! [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img] Don't quite know what to make of that. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] ... Stew? Roy? Any ideas whazzup with that?!? [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

RT

Ramstrong · 09-15-2001, 03:59 AM

Ho's stealing bait? I thought you hadn't been to Thailand before Steve. How would you know about that? [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

Bait O' Eggs · 09-15-2001, 05:24 AM

Skin colored speedos [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img] What are you talking about, that is his real flesh.

He is kind of like a barbie doll, not anatomically correct, well not correct for a guy anyway. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

fishbait · 09-15-2001, 10:47 AM

Here are some pics. First is Keith with an old spawner and then two doughballs he picked up on the river with a fish they found floating by the boat ramp.

[ 09-15-2001: Message edited by: fishbait ]

09-15-2001, 06:46 PM

Ryan (Ramstrong) has become the NF master his last 2 trips out. Previously he didn't hook a fish with Troy (Spooled) and I, then he hooks 7 on a trip with Thumper and today he hooks 6 with Troy, John (Rippenlips), and I watching him in pure awe! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] As usual [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] , I got the biggest fish though - well except for 'bait's 30 lb. hen in the pic above. Hey Steve, what happened to the digital of your "Golden Moment" in the meathole? [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] ...

And Troy just plain needs a hug after today. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] He trusted bringing some other guy's eggs with him and ... well, it's just too sad of a story to tell here. ... Very fun day again. But due to the Columbia nets, seemingly no new batches of fish have been coming up thru the lower river for a few days; and the ones above are getting thinned out or a bit stale with the bite. Get the nets out and some rain will make it hot again. Likely same for the Cowlitz and other rivers.

[ 09-15-2001: Message edited by: RT ]

Spooled · 09-15-2001, 07:46 PM

No hug needed RT. Ryan certainly had the smokin' reel today. He definately had a great day on the Lewis today. You didn't do so bad yourself, considering running the boat and choosing from an array of "if this doesn't work I'll eat goose crap" weapons. If you just stuck to eggs.... [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] . As for me (skunked), I will bring my own eggs next time, instead of trusting someone elses "killer eggs". They killed me alright. At least it happened today, instead of on the upcoming Flotilla. Oh well, thats fishing. I enjoyed the day nonetheless. It was nice meeting John.
The highlight of the day, other than Ryan's fish show, was a guy hooking a fish in the "meat hole" and falling out of his boat. He fell ALL the way out, and they fished him out with the net, and proceeded to land the fish. FUNNY. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Thanks for the boat ride Steve.

SAUKit2em · 09-15-2001, 08:09 PM

Good job out there on the NF, guys. RT looks like he got real "excited" as usual over those chromers. Look in the second pic at the spot on his right leg. Jeez, RT, try to contain yourself next time [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

Just kiddin' ya, RT, way to go and I'm glad you guys put the hurt on them. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Justin

[ 09-15-2001: Message edited by: SAUKit2em ]

boater · 09-15-2001, 08:20 PM

ya we know, rt hooked the fish and handed the rod off lol. [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

09-15-2001, 08:25 PM

Hey J, I've never seen such a big feesh in my life. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] I either drooled on myself or got a bit wet netting that mamma. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] ...

BTW, I wasn't aware that Fishbait marketed a dry powder chem egg cure way back before anyone else. His eggs work too! But he is sooooo old! ... In fact, he left only a half quart of them in Keith's boat and on the way home along the south side of the river he suddenly remembers it. "AAAAAAAARGGG! My eggs!" I thought he was going to do a James Bond style 180 degree bat-turn in his Tahoe SUV right there on that narrow road, trying to go back and catch Keith; who had turned off on another road south. After I calmed Steve down by assuring him that Keith wouldn't have his eggs anylized at a high tech lab, he decided to just cell phone him and threaten to have his hit man go after him if they found any evidence of tampering with the jar lid [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] . ... [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] Some guys are just so touchy about their eggs man. Why? Whazzup with that?

Chris Nordling · 09-17-2001, 10:52 PM

Hey guys we were out there on Sat. What a bite we found! Twelve fish came to the boat legally, I got a limit after releasing a nice "native" that I was sure was a Chinook,but my buddy convinced me it was a silver w/o even checking the mouth! Estimated at fifteen #'s [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Oh, well I proceded to hook back to back fish to secure my limit. Mostly bucks(4), but a few nice hens as well. Not all these fish like eggs, only 2 of ours came on them, but they are seeming to enjoy some kind of drift fishing.... Saw RT scoot by us in his sled, I was in the Valco driftboat. In fact I think I landed a couple of fsh just after he went upriver.
I have one ?...If that fish was a nook(it had one really nice adipose fin), could I have kept it?
I don't know if these fish get stale or go off the bite, but time of day did not seem to matter, only PODS of fish seemed to be the way to avoid snagging them! Anyways, it did seem pretty slow for most everyone else I could see, except for some boats in the "meatline".
Beware for those of you trying to bank it, tensions are always high this time of year and I have heard of at least two people having a knuckle sandwich for supper, and the tanglers from across the river and down the lines seem worse this year than the past two or three I have fished below the hatchery. Good luck to all of those that choose to brave the crowds here, with all the people you would think that limits are the rule, and truthfuly they are few and far between from the people ihave spoken with. Tight lines!

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

Hooray for America!!!!! [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Krome Brite · 09-18-2001, 03:52 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR> If that fish was a nook(it had one really nice adipose fin), could I have kept it? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yes. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Chris Nordling · 09-18-2001, 05:17 PM

Krome Brite:
Thanks, next time I will check the mouth very quickly myself ! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Tilla · 09-18-2001, 05:19 PM

No ones mentioned cut plug herring! Anybody else see those cut plug guys? [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

HarpMan · 09-18-2001, 08:39 PM

Is this the same Keith and James that used to fish with John Turley and haunted FMSI way back when.... I fished with you fellas long ago when you were youngins on the East fork with John.

CATCH AND EAT · 09-18-2001, 08:57 PM

Hey Troy, if you need some real eggs just give me a call next time [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Did you try that top water tactic that I told you about?

Hey guys, Nice fishies!!!! Troy, skunked? Shame shame shame [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] You better put in some more practice. Give me a call. My phone still works. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

stlhdr1 · 09-19-2001, 12:48 PM

Well boys I decided to check out this Ifish forum. Looks great with tons of excitement like the other BB I follow. Anyhow Plunker it is us that used to fish with turley on the lewis.
Fishbait you shouldn't show off those spawners, and thumper there still isn't any fish in the lewis... Must be kegged up at the mouth or something [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
Keith

Thumper · 09-19-2001, 02:24 PM

Not much happening in the North Fork....But maybe soon.......

09-19-2001, 02:50 PM

Hey Jack, have you thought about ditching the Power Bait balls and trying real eggs? Maybe something will happen soon after. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Steve

HarpMan · 09-19-2001, 10:48 PM

Stlh1, what are you up to these days. Looks from the photo's that your still getting into some fish. I'm an old shirt tail relation to John Turley and happen to fish once in a while. Wondered if you were still alive, is James in the pen?