It's windy as all get out over here in S.E Portland. As I was driving over the Hawthorne Bridge around 10:30 I noticed every flag I could see was at full sail. A buddy called to see about fishing for awhile and I had some free time so he met at my place. We talked about putting the top on the boat so we didn't freeeeze out there. We decided to just tough it out. When we got to the Clack it was a wind free zone. I was surprised to find it was so nice out. We Fished below the mouth of the Clack today from around 12:00 to 4:30. There were two Springers caught from the bank(Black top). One kept(10 or 11 lbs.) and one released (18 to 20lbs.). The boat next to me had great take down that pump the rod 4 times before the hook was set. Nothing but Wifffffff. No fish. It sure looked awesome though.
Before I trailored the boat I had to look at the first rapid above the 99 bridge to the left of the island. Island. There shouldn't even be an island this time of year. As I nosed up into the rapid before it got too skinny my buddy looked over and said "Yep, looks like a three hundred dollar bill to me". Well we surveyed the situation a moment or two longer then drifted back under bridge. I decided to give it a go and off we went up to high rocks, just because. Right through the skinny we went without so much as bump. It's real hard to say how much water was under the boat but if there was more than six inches I would be surprised. I would not recommend shutting down until in the holes. It looked too skinny to get back on step. While up by the bridge I spoke to another fisherman in a sled. He said he hooked into a 15lb. native alittle earlier. After that it was back through the skinny again. This time I did find the bottom. Just a slight tap on the right chine. Going up is easy. It's the coming down that gets ya.
You've got to run those skinnies really hot coming down. Going up you have that upstream lift from the current going against and under you. Coming down you have the current running under and with you (current settling effect). Get hot and push the bow way down befoe entering the shallows and run her hot all the way well through the bottom. Good for you going up and looking it over first. Hope you also had on your PFD's of choice.
Good luck on the springers. Someone has to be out there and get those first few.
Oregon City / Clack report 17th.
ANDYCOHO
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