A thumbs up start to my Clackamas River springer season!

[David Johnson]

What a great start. I've started my Clackamas River season of targeting springers and was rewarded nicely. I have fished three out of the last four days and we have hooked 24 fish and landed 19 springers. And some beautiful ones at that.

The best day was the first day, last Monday. Ron the birthday boy booked the boat for his birthday and boy was he hot. The morning started off with his nephew Evan putting out his diver and asking, "Hey, is that a fish?" before any one else even had a line in. Even got the second fish on the very next pass and then it was Ron's turn, again and again. Ron hooked the next eight fish in a row, he could do nothing wrong! The day ended with eight keepers and one release as well as loosing three others.

The high light of today was our double. We had just lost a nice one and were going back through for another pass. I had reeled in and rebaited and just as I dropped it to the bottom Jim started to get bit. I made a few bounces and min started to get bit too. We waited for line to be peeling on both and drove the hooks home! Two fish, one net and fast water, talk about a hand full. We finished up today with six in the box and one released.

Leader material- For those of you who have been on the river you know how clear it is right? Well, after having two fish bite through 25# I jumped up to 40# leaders on my backbouncing rods and the fish are still hitting them just fine, even in that clear water.