sons fisrt chance for salmon?

[invader]

where at on the columbia should i try to get a salmon?? a silver would be good too!! just somewhere where we could catch a fish!!.... i can troll or anchor.... that does not matter any help will be app!!........john

[Jennie@ifish]

All you master Columbia fishermen going to help?
Jen

[Pete]

John,
You are in luck .. and so is your son! There are salmon all through the river, it's a matter of how far you want to drive.

I assume you have salmon fishing gear; rods reels and that sort of thing. I'll suggest some places and the popular techniques at them.

Where ever you go, pay attention to other boaters ... they've probably been there in the last few days and are kind of dialed in to the fishery. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

Closest to you is probably Camas. If you put your boat in the Columbia there, you can head south, towards Oregon, then a little west and fish around or below the mouth of the Sandy River. It's mainly an anchor fishery ... try wobblers like Alvins or Clancies. A spinner might not be a bad choice either.

Below the mouth of the Willamette, on the Washington side, is a popular spot called Frenchman's Bar. There are a dozen or more threads on this forum about that spot and how to get there ... use the search engine or scroll through the last few days.

Depending on the size of your boat ... if it's big enough for rougher water, there's good fishing at the mouths of the Lewis, Kalama and Cowlitz rivers ... again, there are good threads on these spots, too.

East there is the Gorge area ... very deep, fast water. Probably not the best place to take your son. However, a trip to Bonneville to watch the fish going past the viewing window is a strict requirement to convince a kid there are fish in the river!

Finally, there is the Astoria/Ilwaco area at the mouth of the Columbia. This is dangerous water ... it would be well worth hiring a guide or booking on a charter to introduce you to this water.

Hope this is some help ... read this board, there's lots of advice on what you're looking for!

[invader]

thanks pete!!....my boat is a 16 foot open bow invader and i mostly sturgeon fish.. but now they wont even let us do that!!... was looking at someplace around kalama.......john

[Pete]

John, You can fish for sturgeon, you just can't keep them.

[Phish_on]

Stopped by Bonneville yesterday, looking forward to watching some fish go up the ladder - but found the area CLOSED. I suppose that's prudent, but what a bummer!

The hatchery area is open though, you can check out the fish stacked up waiting for their opportunity to contribute. Not as good a view as the ladders by any means.

But there is a whole new "sturgeon center" since the last time I was there. New pond, underwater viewing ... highly recommended. Come face to face with a couple of BIG uglies!