Combat Fishing At It's Finest - PC

SKP · 09-26-2003, 04:28 PM

Instead of dragging my boat to fish a great zipper lip location, I decided to try out the Combat Zone at PC from the shore. Oh my goodness. It certainly was a zoo out there, and I know it will be worse on the weekend. The final tally was about a half a dozen fish for about 150 people for all day of combat fishing Neandrathal style. :shocked:

I did not touch a fish. I spent more time untangling line, and getting seaweed off the hook, than fishing. Yikes, this was awful. Take a look at the picture, this is after over half the crowd left, because fishing was poor.

I can't believe that that many people actually squeeze in just to try to catch the two or three fish that will be hooked in a given day.

People must have snagged up with me 75 times today, all by short casters and hardware fisherman, who don't have a clue how to fish in rythm, or who could care less if your bobber is out there, by golly, they are going to cast anyway. Or the 97 bobber fishermen who all want to fish the 12 square foot hole. This is ridiculous. [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img]

SKP

5-Cents · 09-26-2003, 04:45 PM

You would never, ever find me in a scrum like that. I am marking that place down as one to aviod. [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

Riverkeeper · 09-26-2003, 04:52 PM

SKP,

Thought I recognized an Ifisher out there, should have said hi. I'm standing furthest to the left in that picture. Couple of points I disagree with you on though: 1)that ain't crowded for that spot 2)many if not most of those guys do a good job of keeping in rythym and managing their lines. Although I was not over in "bobber wars" I didn't get in any serious cross overs, and didn't really see any amongst those of us tossing metal. I think the bobber fishermen are worse off because you have to let the rig drift around out there, and with all the little cross currents and line bellies, lots of tangles happen. Everyone seemed pretty good natured about it today 3) 2-3 fish a day? You should be there sometime when there really rolling. Fish after fish after fish.

Here's where we do agree: the seaweed sucked and it was pretty slow. I counted 4 fish on corkies, 4 or 5 on bobbers, and the guys in the boats got several on kwikfish (none on blades :depressed: ). I didn't get there till 7:15 and left at 2:30.

I have a special affinity for that type of combat fishing once in a while, and that crowd is a good one- everyone plays by the rules, no real jerks (usually), and it occured to me today that for a spot with a hundred people (fishers, family members, kids running around, tourists stopping to watch) there was VERY little trash left around.

Sorry I didn't introduce my self. I thought, "man I could have sworn I've seen him on ifish, but..."

Darian

Crabby · 09-26-2003, 05:03 PM

I'm sure not experienced enough to battle that crowd. Maybe if I took a couple of the kids with me, they wouldn't cuss as bad at me when I tangle them!!!!

[ 09-26-2003, 06:04 PM: Message edited by: Crabby ]

09-26-2003, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 5-Cents:

You would never, ever find me in a scrum like that. I am marking that place down as one to aviod. [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Come on Shane. A new place for the Carrots to challenge. :tongue: :shocked:

BonkBonkBonk · 09-26-2003, 05:19 PM

if you think THAT is bad, never ever fish the little salmon river in idaho..its probably 10x times worse, and there they are just snagging fish in the rapids..they would break fish off on 50lb test! :shocked:

5-Cents · 09-26-2003, 05:21 PM

Rick this is one thing you and I agree 100% on, no crowds for me! That's why you will never see me in that OC mess either!

Not enough elbow room to change your mind let alone your cabbage silk!
:grin:

Kentucky Hog Hunter · 09-26-2003, 07:48 PM

That is so funny.

SKP · 09-26-2003, 07:48 PM

Riverkeeper,

You should have said hi. I didn't see any ifisher hats at all today.

It was pretty crowded in my humble opinion. Most of my tangles came at high tide. There was a boat out there that tossed hardware right in the middle of the bobber crowd. For a while there about every 5 minutes people yelled, "Line Across". I bet that boat guy got me 8 times today, not counting how many others. But yes, no one yelled at him, that was good.

In years past, I've been there when its fish after fish after fish. That's fun. However, the crowds aren't getting any smaller. Oh well.

The crowd was pretty good today, I'll admit that. But there were a couple jerks too. When families and kids are there, I really don't want to hear potty jokes. That's just not right. Just out of respect, people should keep it cool when families and kids are around, especially little girls. I'm sorry, but little kids don't need to hear potty talk.

I was with my friend that had two boys there. You probably saw them fishing for a while to the left of you casting north from the rocks. The youngest boy hooked one near high tide on the boat ramp on a spinner, but it broke him off. He got one in the morning, about a 21 pounder.

When 50 bobbers are flying, I understand everyone makes a bad cast once in a while, but there were a couple of guys today that just didn't have it together, and were messing people up. You have to let your bobber drift out if you short cast, not reel everyone in. Well, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that they were beginners. We've all been there.

I don't know if you noticed, but only one boat did all the hooking on Kwikfish. They hooked 5 and landed 3. No other boat even hooked one on a Kwikfish. They must have had some secret scent or bait wrap.

Anyway, it was better then some of the days I've seen.

I wish the bite would turn on, though, like it did on the Columbia River this year. Perhaps some rain and cooler weather again will help.

Well, anyway, it's still hard to fish like that, but I know it can be rewarding too. I wish I had a jet sled. Maybe some day.

[ 09-26-2003, 08:49 PM: Message edited by: SKP ]

Bobby Ray · 09-26-2003, 08:26 PM

I learned how to bobber fish off that point, now everything else comes easy.

By the way I think a few more guys can squeeze in there.

Bobby

fisheromen · 09-26-2003, 08:41 PM

Forgive my ignorance, but where is that?

Steve

Riverkeeper · 09-26-2003, 08:42 PM

Quote:

However, the crowds aren't getting any smaller. Oh well.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Such is fishing these days. And you're right, there were certainly some guys who should have watched and learned for a while before elbowing in.

I saw your buddy's boy get that first fish, that was great.

Bobby, I half expected to see you out there today.

Next time guys.

rebell · 09-26-2003, 08:47 PM

And my buddies wonder why I have pretty much given up on Salmon fishing this time of year for Bass fishing.

The picture explains why. But hey, everyone continue to go rub elbow's and cast over each other's lines. Make's more room on the water for me this time of year.

And if the Salmon crowd's get to be to much for you, TAKE UP GOLF!!!! :grin:

Riverkeeper · 09-26-2003, 09:01 PM

Oh, and speaking of combat fishing at it's finest, next time your down that way, stop in at Ron's shop in Hebo. There's a picture on the wall of the hatchery hole on three rivers on a busy day. Wow!

RvW · 09-26-2003, 10:22 PM

10 hands in a cookie jar with 5 cookies on the bottom.

SturgeonKing50 · 09-26-2003, 10:38 PM

That looks like a colossal waste of time and money. At the least its not fishing. You can buy fresh Gill net caught silvers here in Forest Grove for $1.25 a pound.I certainly cannot afford to run my big North River sled all day and catch fish that cheap. I know it sounds bad but it is the truth. Besides that is not the only place that it a zoo. Try the Lower Columbia River the last few weeks. I am just saying that a person could buy fish cheaper rather than put up with that. I wish I would not have told my wife that because she is eyeing my sled and saying I told you so. But that is a discussion for a later day.

jocose · 09-26-2003, 11:07 PM

s king you can always use the sled to haul bark dust...
or park it in the front yard and grow tulips in it. joco

crabbait · 09-26-2003, 11:38 PM

Fisheromen - That is the Bob Straub boat ramp at Pacific City and that is not crowded for that place. By the way, there will be at least that many folks just out of camera range to the left fishing the "pogey hole" and at least as many to the right, off camera, fishing from the launch itseld and a hogline just downstream throwing hardware and sometimes "fly fishing".

I was just leaving Bernie's store one time (the combination Sporting Goods/Radio Shack/gas station) during the peak of the fall run when a fella came in asking how to get to the boat ramp. Seems he had a bus load of Boy Scouts that he had promised to take salmon fishing and he wanted directions to the Bob Straub ramp. I couldn't do it. Feeding 30 or 40 young scouts to the ramp beasts was just not in me.

I sent him to the gaurd rail hole instead. They had just as much chance catching a fish there and they had a much better chance of coming out alive! :shocked:

Pyramid · 09-27-2003, 02:17 AM

The fish photos on my website (profile) were caught at that ramp. Back in the day when I'd get up at 2am to try to get a rock to stand on, then freeze for 3 hours waiting for daylight.

Hogback · 09-27-2003, 04:39 AM

I bank fished a lot and as bad as it may look to the uninitiated it is a good learning experience. If you can fish PC, the hospital or the blue hole you learn how to fish in unison with others which will benifit you and everyone you fish around no matter where you fish. I have seen just as many rude and stupid people in boats. After the initial learning curve you become a better fisherman in any situation. Its kind like taking a defensive driving course. If you are going to fish in Oregon you can be in the middle of the Columbia and people will anchor next to you deal with it. IMHO if we tried helping each other instead of giving each other the stink eye life would be better for everyone.
Randy

DB_Cooper · 09-27-2003, 05:29 AM

That is not "fishing". imo

Smj · 09-27-2003, 06:08 AM

I've seen the Pipeline hole on the Sandy look like that on any given WEEKDAY when the winter steelies are in. Do the guys on that point at PC get to longline( and other improper combat fishing techniques) without hearing about it from the crowd like they do at the Pipeline hole?

Smj

SKP · 09-27-2003, 08:24 PM

Hogback,

Where is the Blue Hole? Never heard of that one.

By the way, we stopped to fish this again today. [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] It was about the same - 2 or 3 fish for 50 people fishing the point at low tide. My boat is temporarily out of service, so we had to again humble ourselves.

I didn't get any, but a friend of mine who was down there got a 35 pound buck on a bobber. We drove to the Siletz, just to look. I didn't see any fish on.

We didn't fish, just watched.

We drove by the other zoo - the 101 hole on the Salmon River. We didn't even stop, because we would have had to hike 3/4 of a mile just to get back to the bridge. Now that's a lot of cars parked on Highway 101. I did see a sheriff's truck, so I'm sure the snagging activity was again low today. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

We stopped back by the PC ramp at high tide, and made a few casts. There actually was not a lot of people at high tide, because of the lack of fish. I hooked one on my first cast, but it came unbuttoned. I had another one dunk my bobber, just to see if I was awake. Steeeeerike two. There were only about 4 taken on high tide. The seaweed wasn't bad today, and there was no wind, just fog.

We then went up into the upper Nestucca tidewater area at the first part of the outgoing tide, and fished a hole that not a soul was at. My friend had two bobber downs, he missed the first one, and next cast, he hooked one, and it spit the hook about 2 seconds from the net. Oh well, we went home empty handed.

Combat fishing - oh the joys.

SKP

[ 09-27-2003, 09:25 PM: Message edited by: SKP ]

Chacal · 09-28-2003, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SturgeonKing50:
That looks like a colossal waste of time and money. At the least its not fishing. You can buy fresh Gill net caught silvers here in Forest Grove for $1.25 a pound.I certainly cannot afford to run my big North River sled all day and catch fish that cheap. I know it sounds bad but it is the truth. Besides that is not the only place that it a zoo. Try the Lower Columbia River the last few weeks. I am just saying that a person could buy fish cheaper rather than put up with that. I wish I would not have told my wife that because she is eyeing my sled and saying I told you so. But that is a discussion for a later day.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">I gave up the economics of sportsfishing about 20 minutes after I caught my first fish.

Here is my rant:

First off, that picture sucks. No way I would even be caught dead near that zoo. Fishing for me is about being in the boat (haven't done bank fishing yet) and enjoying the surroundings and solitude.

It drives my dad crazy, but whenever we go out he heads for the hoglines and I always say -- "Let's go over there...by ourselves."

Now, if there are people you know out there, I am willing to hang out. But for the most part I like just being on the river. It is relaxing. Heck, if I could get away with it, I would just throw a weight out some days and forget the lure and relax.

I have a montra that I have told my dad over and over...

"I'm not here to catch fish. I am here to relax. The fish is a bonus."

That is why I have avoided B10 and other combat fishing zones. I ride with other people in those areas if invited, but I just don't like the hassle. I deal with ignorant, mean, thoughtless people too much at work.

</rant>.

Chacal

Plum Crazy · 09-28-2003, 08:26 PM

Spent last week at Fish Camp 03' in PC crowd was light at the ramp hole but strong. 1st time PC was not good to me, usually good fishing. Fished all day up around and above woods without a take down. Moved to the mouth next day and saw 0 fish on the incoming. Fish Camp turned to Crab Camp and we went home with LOTS O crab and some clams from the low.
any hoo Fishing at PC is a Fall event for me. See ya on the River.
Fire

Kentucky Hog Hunter · 09-28-2003, 08:59 PM

SKP,

The Blue Hole is on the Wilson below Siskeyville boat ramp and above the Mine Field.

happybrew · 09-28-2003, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Crabby:
I'm sure not experienced enough to battle that crowd. Maybe if I took a couple of the kids with me, they wouldn't cuss as bad at me when I tangle them!!!!

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">That actually works! I took my kid with me a couple of times, and the people there really watched their language,and nobody yelled at us when he cast over someone else's line. Try it!

happybrew

6horsekicker · 09-28-2003, 11:11 PM

I was there as well that day. I'm the one out on the point, just left of center in the photo in the black jacket ant black hat. I had a couple of feet on each side of me. That day did suck, not many fish and was not worth getting up for. I was there on Monday though and landed a 22 lb hen on a Alvin. That's why I went again. I didn�t notice you SKP, but I was just trying to concentrate on the casting.

I did not stay until high tide that day, I took my boat over to T-Bay and fishing the Ghost hole at high slack and crabbed for an hour. I did not see any fish caught there for the 40 boats fishing the Ghost Hole and only got 3 keeper crabs. But the weather was great, no wind all day.

-6Horse

Pilar · 09-29-2003, 04:39 AM

Mind if I print that picture and carry it with me? That way when someone asks me if it makes sense to drive the 17 miles across the ocean to the rockpile to catch a Salmon ... I can let a picture speak a thousand words.

There is no way in hell I would stand on that jetty with all those yaa hoos to have a chance (however miniscule) at catching a fish. What you are most likely to catch is a blast of horse puckey from one of the friendly natives or a hands on demo of stupid human behavior.

No thanks .. Where's my tide table . time to find a good tide for bar crossing.

Premo · 09-29-2003, 06:36 AM

Kind of reminded me of Tillamook Bay this weekend.

SKP · 09-29-2003, 12:11 PM

Go ahead, print away. If you need the 2.0 megapixel picture, give me an email, and I'll send it to you. This one was reduced to fit on ifish.net.

SKP

Chrome Bumper · 09-29-2003, 03:39 PM

Nice weather, can't beat that.

weekend warrior · 09-29-2003, 06:34 PM

The crazy thing is, thats not even close to as bad as it gets. You can't see the giggers in the pogey hole or the people fishing the sandbar or the boats anchored in the hogline fishing kwikies.
I normally would be fishing it by now but I've been breaking in the new DB. Yuh no though, I would rather fish the point then fish below bonneville when the counts are really high for springers.
Believe it or not there is somewhat of a system to keeping everyone from tangling up as hard as that may seem it can be done. But there are definatley some outlaws fishing down there.
Looks like this is going to be a BYOR type of year. Bring Your Own Rock.

Later Geoff

Surething · 09-29-2003, 06:45 PM

looks like to much fun

rpnsteelheadlps · 09-29-2003, 07:21 PM

20 years from now with the population growing as it is all of our favorite spots will look like that. That is if the 3 toothed snaggers don't beat them to it.

Freakwater · 09-29-2003, 08:13 PM

In most cases I avoid combat fishing, but if a group like that could keep a fishable rythem, I think that might be alot of fun. Haven't you ever been on an ocean fishing charter, shoulder to shoulder, fish on! and having to weave between other rods, while the deck hand is yelling at everyone?.......some of the best fun I've had. Haven't always had the option of splittin' the bankie scene in a boat either.

Freak

deschutes2 · 09-30-2003, 08:43 AM

I hooked my first ever bobber chinook at that very location. My mom and I stopped for an hour. I fished just around the point towards the mouth for about an hour. We got there, I made my way to the only piece of open ground next to someone who wasn't all that happy that I was going to stand near him. He said "fishing is slow and you are wasting your time." I make my first cast, nothing. I make my second cast and my bobber starts swimming against the current. I rear back like only a 8 year old can do, Fish On! I have the fish on for about 15 mins and finally lose it because I have no net and noone offers to help me and my poor mom. Pretty sad. I guess it was because mine was the only fish hooked all morning :smile:

FastAction · 09-30-2003, 03:53 PM

that has nothing on the Meat hole of the NFL.. NOTHING! Especially when the word is out!

Doryfisher · 09-30-2003, 03:58 PM

Being a regular at PC..... My son and I often stop by this hole to kill an hour or so watching the mayhem and occasionally partaking in the craziness. The day this picture was taken we skipped the ocean and put our dory in at the guardrail hole. We fished just below this area and managed to hook into two nice chinook..... one of which was on a fly..... My sons first this way....... Anyways my weigh in on A**hole point as it is fondly referred by more than a bunch of people I know is this...... It is a good place to fish if there's nothing else available. I fished there for years before I was fortunate enough to own a boat. Good luck to all you guys out there who choose to partake in this area. Say hi if you see me around. Silver tundra with a PC DOrymans sticker in the rear window.

Miss B Haven · 10-01-2003, 12:40 PM

Shoot -that isn't anything. I've stood elbow to elbow, two deep on the river bank several times and waited my turn to cast. When someone hooked a fish or hung up and had to retie the back row stepped in.
Kinda reminded me of the old war scenes in a movie when you had ranks of black powder muskets taking turns at volleys and reloading. :whazzup:
Also reminds me of why I bought a blue water boat! :grin:

[ 10-01-2003, 01:41 PM: Message edited by: Miss B Haven ]

Hogback · 10-01-2003, 02:37 PM

Pilar
Sounds highly inflammatory and very pc. Me a yaa hoo, I'm crushed! Now if I could figure out how to put one of those little face deals in here I would feel vindicated. You know the one looking up and shaking its head.
Randy

salmonman · 10-01-2003, 02:38 PM

[ 11-04-2003, 09:01 AM: Message edited by: salmonman ]

Kentucky Hog Hunter · 10-01-2003, 08:18 PM

You tell em hogback. We were all standing on that back at one point in our life.

Heck, you didn't know me back in 1992 when I embarked in this state but boy did I get the stink eye when I decided to troll around in Tillamook Bay in my Bomber Bass Boat.

I figured out then I was fishing on &^%$#@ secret hole. I respect the bank anglers because I know I was once there and that allot of those people are damn goof fishermen & fisherwomen.

By the way here is your Instant Graemlin

time2fish · 10-01-2003, 11:16 PM

We were ther Saturday Sept 27th (One of the Kwikfish boats). Both my fishing buddy & I were commenting on how "civil" thing had become at the boat ramp. We fished most of the day & didn't hear any of the usual comments. The boober guys were civil to the spinner guys, the spinner guys never yelled at the hogline nor did the kwikfish guys yell at the bankies. I was one of the lucky ones that day with a 40+lb Buck on a kwikfish (I'd post a picture if I knew how). The place used to be a lot rowdier than it is now, in fact it was downright civil on Saturday. I won't disagree that it was crowded though...