Big Blue on 7/14?

TundraIII · 07-11-2002, 02:15 PM

Anyone going over the Columbia Bar on Sunday? I will be putting in in Hammond in the morning
and was curious if anyone else would be doing the same. First trip over this year and usually feel
a little apprehensive about it. Went over about 15 times last year with out a problem in my 18 ft
Motion. I wont go over if the conditions dont look right. I would be interested in learning more
about the Garibaldi area and going over the bar over there. I havent fished that area since I was
a teenager on my dads boat. Anyone willing to give me advice on that area would be greatly
appreciated. I have a VHS but no GPS yet. I dont get out as often as I would like since my son
was born (usually just one day a week), which causes me to end up going to the same place I
always go. Boy do I need a mentor :grin: Thanks guys Mike

black magic · 07-11-2002, 02:27 PM

Tundra,
I would be careful at the Tillamook Bar on Sunday before low tide at about 10:30 AM. There is a strong ebb in the morning before 10:30. Moderate swells are also predicted which will probably result in breakers or sloughing breaks during the ebb.

Pilar · 07-11-2002, 02:42 PM

Mike, avoid the ebb at either bar. Go out after the low tide and have a better trip.

Garibaldi Salmon is cheesecake. Just go NW from the bar towards 180 ft of water. You should end up somwhere off twin rocks. Use a down rigger, flasher and bait. Drag it at 100 to 120 ft and follow the 180ft line south down the coast.

Make sure you check your spin and let out 50 to 100 ft behind the boat before you clip into the downrigger. Prolly 1/2 the kings I get in the ocean hit it while I'm dropping back before I lower to the depth.

Check your speed as well. Run the gear next to the boat before you set it and watch for consistent spiral on the bait and pole tip bobbing action on the flasher. The Abe & Al chrome flasher, biggest they make is the best IMHO.

RSK or Rotary Salmon Killers are an easy way to get the spin you want without witchcraft. I feel really unlucky if I am Salmon fishing in the ocean without them.

Ask questions ... everyone on the BB knows something.

seasquid · 07-11-2002, 03:51 PM

Tundra,

I grew up on T. Bay bar -- even with the ebb and if the swell sticks at the 5' prediction, I would say you have a chance, but certainly not a sure thing. I'd give it a try, but be sure you have something to fall back on. Remember the wind is suppose to be pretty strong out of the NW later in the day, so early a.m. is the time to go. My guess is the Coast Guard will have it restricted to anything less than 20 or 22 feet -- but again, that is just an educated guess from experience.

You also have to be aware of the Triangle off T-Bay that is restricted to only finclipped chinook. Check with Jeff at Garibaldi Marina, he can give you the latest -- but if you follow Pilar's advice and get up to Twin Rocks and out to 30 fathoms you should be in good shape -- just don't find yourself off of Cape Mears in 20 knot NW wind -- ouch, that's a nasty ride back.

good luck --

ss

corrirod · 07-11-2002, 08:34 PM

Tundra,

I don't think you'll have a problem out of Garibaldi if you get out early. There's enough light to start the journey to the bar a little before 5 o'clock.

I had excellent results in the same water that Pilar suggested. I also had good results in shallower waters 120-130 ft. We didn't seem to have any trouble getting fish to bite close to the boat but I'll give Pilar's suggestion of letting 50-100ft of line out behind the boat. One other suggestion for anyone running downriggers is rather than tying on all the flashers/dodgers and crap to your fishing pole line, tie it to the ball on your downrigger. Then just run your downrigger clip/release about 3-5 ft. above your ball, connect the line from the pole and let it sit behind the flasher 10-15ft. back. This way when you get a hookup it will be you against the fish and not the fish against you and your flasher/dodger, etc.. The fish fight better and your smile gets bigger! :grin:
The other suggestion I would have is to change up your troll direction. We sat in basically one area that we hit a fish and trolled in a circle and hooked 3 fish, lost a couple, and had several takedowns.
I may head out there myself and if I do I will email you.
If not, just head NW out of the jetty and get directly west of twin rocks or the Nehalem jetty.
Good luck.

blast and cast · 07-11-2002, 09:11 PM

Regarding Tillamook, the bar has been closed the last two days (wed and thurs) from daylight to well past the tide swing. Today it was so windy you would not of wanted to be out there. You can call 503.322.3234 to get a recording of the bar conditions.

Booja 1 · 07-12-2002, 06:57 AM

Hey Pilar..Just wanted to ask your advice..You said you let out 50 to 100 ft of line before you clip into downrigger..Is there a reason for that much line or just personal preference?? Also do you think it matters as to what color the rotary salmon killer is (red or chartreuse)?? Thx alot..........

corrirod · 07-12-2002, 03:20 PM

Blast and Cast,
Thanks for posting that phone number. I'll make sure I use it the next time I go out there. I'm glad I decided not to go out there on Thursday! Hopefully Sunday will be better.

Pilar · 07-12-2002, 11:06 PM

Booja1, the main reason I do this is because I believe the fish avoid the boat. It's a presentation thing. The other reason is I often hit Chinook while trying to set the line back that distance, right on the surface.

The down side is that you have to react quickly on a strike. The only way I have found to consistently convert strikes to fish on deck is to speed up the boat on a strike and remove the slack in the line when a fish pops you off the downrigger.

Sorry forgot to do your last question. Chartreuse or clear for me. I also use a 4mm chartreuse bead on the leader between the hooks. This will finish off any bait shredding strikes. Let slack out after a miss and they come back and kill the bead. Try it, it works.

[ 07-12-2002, 12:57 PM: Message edited by: Pilar ]

CATCH AND EAT · 07-12-2002, 11:34 PM

With a cooperative bar on the Columbia I will be heading out by 4:30am to take a look. If it is not pretty then I will sturgeon fish for a while until about 8:00am and run up for another look at 8:30am(low slack time). Still no good? back to sturgeon. See ya out there. I monitor channel 68 and answer to Cindy Lou.