Serious Springer Problems!!!!???

[rob allen]

April 04 last year 6770 spring chinook went over Bonneville dam.

This year April 04.. 908 went over Bonneville dam.

It appears to me that our respective wildlife agencies have overestimated this years Spring Chinook run. The commercial fishery should not have taken place and noe i am very skeptical about the sport fishery taking place.. Jacks the previous year are NOT!!!!!!! a good indicator of the next years run!! Unless things turn around soon you guys better be expecting and early closure.
I am not going to fish unless the numbers turn around...

If the percentage difference remains the same we will end up with 56,000 spring chnook over the dam.. B

[ 04-05-2002, 06:29 PM: Message edited by: rob allen ]

[FearNoEvil]

i thought there was a two week difference from today, and today last year?

i believe i read somthng like that a while ago on the board?

[Joe]

Don't you suppose that the extreme difference in river conditions could affect the run timing?

It's a little early to panic.

[Thumper]

Last year had ultra-low water levels. This year we have excellent vigorous high water flow. Relax. Jack counts are indeed a good indicator of total run size.

[Firedog]

Way to early to panic, the fish are coming the water conditions this year are a lot different than last. The river is still only in the mid 40's and Salmon dont move really well till the temp gts up over 50. Last year the water was really warm that is why we saw such high counts early. Be patient and they will come. As said before Jack counts are a fairly reliable indicator.

[STGRule]

Prime: They were talking about Easter being two weeks later last year. It was good fishing around Bonneville at Easter last year. This year Easter was two weeks earlier and the fishing is not quite so good. Water temp is down from this time last year. Fish and they will come.

[Pilar]

Firedog, is it the bite or the migration that is affected? The netters seemed to find some fish despite the low temps.

Hey there is an even better Buffet quote
'The weather is here ... wish you were beautiful'

[ 04-05-2002, 08:04 PM: Message edited by: Pilar ]

[whitewaterbill]

Thumper......

Water flow is very close to last year....Check out Columbia river dart....

The only thing I see is temp is colder.

They maybe still are out there....I hope!!!

I see a lot of them on the sonar.....Just not biting.

I think I side with firedog's opinion..... for now......

Don't give up yet.......

2 in my cooler today!!!!!

Good luck!

Bill

[fishbait]

It's not rocket science fellas, last year on the first of April the Columbia was around 52 degrees, optimal temp, currently the columbia is 45 degrees. As you all know(or should) springers dont bite well in 45 degree water. Ever wondered why Selwood peaks mid April, graph the water temp. The fish are there, and when they do bite lots of times they are short bites. Change all the hooks you want, bead chains, swivels, blue hooks, green hooks, it don't matter. 45 degree water is 45 degree water. Don't get too excited and remember we have 3 months on these fish. Last time we had good runoff, a buddie and I punched out and were home, bright fish cleaned and showered in time for the Hillsboro 4th of July parade. Don't get too excited and instead of fighting good ol mother nature, go with the flow and set your stratigies accordingly. Do yourself a favor , don't chase reports when you have migrating fish in a big river, don't second guess yourself or proven techniques and don't get ansie. pay attention to the temp, the flows and make the necessary adjustments.

[rob allen]

Fishbait the fish count page was the temp at Bonneville as 51 degrees.

[OldRedSled]

the numbers over the DAm are weak!!!!! The run is Deffinatly smaller this year as opposed to last year. Just look at the reports!! the F&G dept F*d up with 19.5 for commercial and they know it<-- Their trying to destract people by opening the areas above bonneville to the dalles for springers, but why not when there is nothing to catch. Water temp or lepricons, the springers should be cooking over that dam right now and there not even above 1k a day yet. Give it up man the run is tiny this year and all that talk about the 2nd largest ever was just lies.

[Firedog]

Pilar, the water temp effects the bite and the migration. Too cold and they don't move well and are a little lazy to bite and to warm they are hauling ass up the river. It is something we deal with on the Willamette every year once the water gets pretty warm the fish really start to move. When they are realy moving well they dont bite as wel either. Last year if you look at the counts, I dont remeber the day but the day of the highest counts over bonneville wasnt a very good day up at the dam. Everyone thinks that high Daily counts are what is best. The best would be moderate counts spread out over a longer time period so we have more shots and these fish.
Roballen, if the counts page is listing the temp at 51 deg, my question would be where is that temp being taken? On the upstream side it would be warmer on the top of the river because of the lake. The water that comes through the dam comes from the bottom. I Was out on the Columbia twice last week and both times the temp was in the low 40's. It takes time if you truly believe they aren't here or coming then don't fish for them. It is only early april.
Also the commercials did take quite a few fish that would have been added to the counts. So you have to factor in those 12-15 thousand that aren't there anymore. Between the cold water and the nets, the fish are just slow to get here. I will be out every week day next week and the week after that. And I expect the fishing to take off any day now.
Another good indicator that there are fish around is the number of Sea lions in the river. I was at Bonneville last week and ther were half a dozen or more just working the Bradford Island area and they were doing quite well. The Sea lions wouldn't be here if there weren't fish to eat.
I kind of like the fact that the fishing has been slow early thins the crowds out a bit and leaves more for those of us that will be out there anyway :smile:

[ 04-06-2002, 06:24 AM: Message edited by: firedog ]

[casteal]

Well this is year 52 that I have been after springers. What have I learned? It starts the first of March (if you try hard). You fish 4 or 5 pulls out (guess what they discovered this year!). The nets always win. When the water is cold the fish wait till it warms and come through all at once. The fishing sucked the last 25 years. A few years ago the fish count was very low. The only year that was worse was 1964. Well in 1964 the fish averaged 30# and were easy to catch. Rob one of these years I will stick to my promise and only fish spring bass. But then the catch and release tournament crowds have screwed that up to.

[ 04-06-2002, 07:01 AM: Message edited by: casteal ]

[GoFish]

I measured the temperature of the Columbia just below Chinook Landing on Friday 4/5/2002 with a good mercury thermometer. The temperature was 44 degrees, at the surface, all day. Still a little too cold I'd say.

[Drachir]

I know at Willamette Falls, the fish don't start passing over the falls until the water temps are in the low to mid 50's. Once the water reaches 55 they will be going over by the hundereds. I'm sure this is true for the Columbia as well. :grin:

[TJB]

If they are waiting for warmer water temps where are they waiting? If they are out in the ocean it would seem that ocean fishing or buoy 10 would be pretty hot right now?

[FISH-RAT]

Hy,,
I have fished this area all my life,, I have fished below Meglar bridge, where the gill-nets
got hundreds a day,,but did not catch any spring
Chinook,,I believe that Springers will not bite in the brackish water,,as soon as they clear the saltly or brackish water,, they will bite,,as I
start fishing & catching them at Harrington Point,,&,,above,,& I ALSO THINK the Big part of the run is still below ASTORIA,,
jUST ONE OL-FISHER MAN'S THOUGHTS,,
Later,,,,

DONALD,,, [img]graemlins/program.gif[/img] :grin:

[Grass Hopper]

As far as I am concerned the run S$%^'s! Been fishing the columbia for years and This is a slow one!! Don't care what the water level or temp is. FISHING RIGHT NOW IS WORSE THAN AVERAGE! Hope you guys are correct with the late run!! PRAY FOR FISH!

[bellinghamangler]

For everyone's information, the water temp at the Wind this morning was a cold 43 degrees.

Jack counts are a very good indicator of next years run size. These fish are on the way, there are no conspiracies or black helicopters.

I saw only two fish caught this morning, both by the same boat. It looked like they were using a spinner with a smelt for bait.

[FishinMission]

Rob.....Water temp in your area today was 43-44 degrees. Be patient...since when did salmon start watching a calendar, or looking at a watch?? Trust me..they'll be there.

Mark

[SandySteel]

Someone remember to bring this post back to the top in July and let's see who was right.

[CATCH AND EAT]

I don't think the sky is falling. Be patient Rob and all. They are on their way. Just a little late when everything else was early.

As far as you not fishing....more fish for me to catch and keep or catch and release or "CATCH AND EAT". :smile: