Any have this type of luck?

wannacatchem · 04-01-2005, 09:54 AM

I have 11 springer trips in this year. I started on the 4 th of Feb, (yes, that was a bit early). I have fished every Friday since then with a couple Thursdays tossed in for good measure during the nice weather. The average trip has been close to 10 hours. That�s about 110 hours of fishing. Most of it is trolling, with 18 hours on the hook fishing bait wrapped kwikies. I have used 9 dozen herring, (about 50/50 brine/no brine) and 5 dozen shrimp. I have read every springer tech tip/post and even had a very experienced ifisher (Blacktail519) come on my boat for a day and show me the ropes, seemed I wasn�t doing much wrong. 5 Fridays ago I had one on for about 10 seconds and it broke the line. I�ve always heard putting your time in is what it takes, but this is getting ridiculous.

How do I break this skunk?

KZ4LIFE · 04-01-2005, 10:00 AM

Go Steelheading the Santiam. There are a whole mess of fish to be had. No I haven't fished the Santiam but I've heard the place is Red Hot right about now. Good luck

CURADO KID · 04-01-2005, 10:00 AM

Go out fishin!

Chinooked · 04-01-2005, 10:02 AM

Keep your head up and stay confident! Only a wet line gets bit and you have put your time in. There aren't as many fish around and thats going to change very soon. Good luck and stay confident

Rich

Wreckless · 04-01-2005, 10:10 AM

Seriously, there have been spotty reports of Springers caught (Except for Mr. Kitchen Pass KILLIN' 'em

) for the past month, NOW, finally it's time to go...The nice weather we had in Feb / March really got some people goin'. But this weekend should be the first OK weekend, as the fish back fill from the gillnets(remember they don't get them all!!) and it'll get better FAST!!!

My humble opinion....

Way to hang in there though...I admire your fortitute (sp)!!! AND there were some gorgeous days on the river early in March, don't ask how I know

THIS is the beginning!!!

FastAction · 04-01-2005, 10:10 AM

You started WAY too early.. making yourself look bad.. Its ok though, I started WAY too early for steelhead.. Steelies are just now gettn good! 2 weeks- May is gonna be stellar!

Prawn spinners work good too!

Riverteeth · 04-01-2005, 10:11 AM

My advice would be to go fishing with other people. Not that those you have been going with don't know what they are doing, but do it to have variety. Its keeps the day from being "the same ol thing". Offer to take new people on your boat by posting a notice here as others have done. You'll never know who'll show (boy, that will keep life from being dull!)

weekender · 04-01-2005, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Go Steelheading the Santiam. There are a whole mess of fish to be had. No I haven't fished the Santiam but I've heard the place is Red Hot right about now. Good luck

I think this might take the cake for the dumbest statement I've ever read on Ifish...

The rivers at over 8' (up from 1.8) and very brown. I know one thing, if you take this shoddy advice, you wont have to deal with a crowd. I expect to see Willamette River Outlaw throw in his 2 cents any time now.

jet · 04-01-2005, 10:17 AM

Talk to BOE about putting in the time with no Springers.

Jet~~~

wannacatchem · 04-01-2005, 10:31 AM

Quote:

My advice would be to go fishing with other people. Not that those you have been going with don't know what they are doing, but do it to have variety. Its keeps the day from being "the same ol thing". Offer to take new people on your boat by posting a notice here as others have done. You'll never know who'll show (boy, that will keep life from being dull!)

I posted open seats four weeks in a row, no takers. I usually post on a thursday morning for a friday seat. Figure the problem is I fish fridays

I was so frustrated with the herring roll (or no herring roll) I basically begged Blacktail519 to go with me.

wannacatchem · 04-01-2005, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Go Steelheading the Santiam. There are a whole mess of fish to be had. No I haven't fished the Santiam but I've heard the place is Red Hot right about now. Good luck

I think this might take the cake for the dumbest statement I've ever read on Ifish...

The rivers at over 8' (up from 1.8) and very brown. I know one thing, if you take this shoddy advice, you wont have to deal with a crowd. I expect to see Willamette River Outlaw throw in his 2 cents any time now.

While I ain't the sharpest post that ever got pounded into a fence row, I do watch the river levels a bit and have noticed that for a few days after getting a half foot of water poured into the drainage, they tend to run high and brown for a spell. Besides...I want to catch a springer from the river thats 400 yards from the house, not drive for a couple hours

Gun Rod Bow · 04-01-2005, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Talk to BOE about putting in the time with no Springers.

So what does that have to do with anything

blacktail519 · 04-01-2005, 10:53 AM

Just stick with it Paul. Your time will come believe me. Your doing things just the way your supposed to, but like previously mentioned, the bulk of the fish just arent here yet.. When they decide to show up in numbers, i have no doubt that you will put your share in the boat....Stay positive, and confident in yourself!! You know what your doing ive seen it. Keep it up, and you will be rewarded

Fast Water · 04-01-2005, 11:08 AM

Started too early? Strike one.
Fished after commercial netting? Strike two.
Haven't changed this pattern? Strike three?

Don't know really.

Have you been changing your venues?
Trying out different launches and traditional hot spots?

I hope things turn around for you on your next outing!

Dragfreedrift · 04-01-2005, 11:11 AM

Dont be discouraged...every year I see all the chatter here about the "feb-march" springer action

.....WELL.....truth be told, I think the best time is now just starting.

DFD

PATRICK 11-14 · 04-01-2005, 11:20 AM

I feel your pain!!! I got about 70hrs in this springer season (I started earlier than you!!

) and boy..talk about getting

from the wife and kids!!!! They are all talking trash, buddies keep saying "why did you give up on steelies so soon??!!) Well brother, I say stick with it!!!
I along with a few of us on Ifish are in the same boat!!
Just remember that even a blind squirl finds a nut!!! WE are the squirls trying to find the that magical nut!!

and when we do, everything will just be pie!!!
Good luck and when we all find that dumb fish that likes what we have to offer, lay the BIG

RoscoeP · 04-01-2005, 11:21 AM

Keep the faith man. All I know is you have a better chance at hooking into one out there than I do sitting here with my hiney planted at my desk!! You know what they say about the worst day fishing....

LQQKASTAR · 04-01-2005, 11:23 AM

i'm pretty sure Todd jinxed your boat. i would run right out and scrub down everything he touched!!
no just kidding, last time i went salmon fishing with him we went 7 for 7, the only bad thing was that they were all sturgeon,trolling kwikies (really happend)

dont feel bad i got as about much time as you got in, but i lucked out on my first trip

, but nothing since

blacktail519 · 04-01-2005, 11:24 AM

5-Cents · 04-01-2005, 03:41 PM

You know I have put in more time than you and my dad has boated 2 clipped fish and I have gotten 4 wild fish... of course my dad could have had another 8 or so but thats another story.... point is its way early. There was no rain which made the river run cold which even made the early fish late. Dont sweat things yet. The only reason I have been out a bunch so far is cause I dont have anything better to do... what should I do go sit at work! Puuulease!

Looking back over my log books the last two years the majority of fish/bites/action for me came in May & June. We are only a couple weeks into spring and they are springers after all. Keep practicing and if you are still fishless at the end of May then you should sell the boat and take up golf!

luguando · 04-01-2005, 04:04 PM

Wanna,

I agree with 5-Cents - he should know. He got Salmon Trout Steelheader to write an article about his springer fishing prowess. Maybe you can coax him in to providing some carrot milk to you.

I made the mistake last year of taking a lot of my vacation days off during March because I went on a guided springer trip with fellow IFISHer Fred (Yeah Baby). We fished with Clancy Holt on March 1st. We caught some nice fish that day and I was psyched to hit the river hard with my boat after that trip. I caught a few fish in March but the lesson learned was that I need to pace myself better and take those precious vacation days off when the peak hits. Use the fish passage charts to help time the runs as well as read IFISH and go fishing when you can. It sounds like you're doing everything right. There just isn't many fish in yet as seen by the lack of springers going over Bonneville dam and that the commercial gillnetters haven't got their quota of fish yet (that's not counting today's numbers

)

Keep the faith. Looking forward to seeing some success posts from you soon.

Beefcake · 04-01-2005, 04:21 PM

Wannacatchem- Been there, done that. I started fishing springers out here 3 years ago, and did great for a rookie. Then the next two years I did exactly what you described: started too early and burned myself out, and I gave up before the runs got good in April - June. This year I vowed not to target springers until April, and I haven't. Now lets go bonk a few.

I'd like to catch up with you one of these Fridays. Your boat or mine. I remember seeing one or two of your open seat posts, but I was too busy at the time (heck, I've been promising to buy Wootersen a beer for about two months now, and I can hardly find time for that). I'll try to remember to PM you mid-week next week, but feel free to give me a shout if I forget.

Fshklr · 04-01-2005, 05:11 PM

I see alot of posts mirroring yours. As the posts above say..IT'S EARLY. Hang in there..they are comming.
I have about the same # of hrs and trips on the water via open seat trips and another 50 to 60hrs on the bank (including 5 today) for 2 keepers, and 1 was a hand off

but I have the need to be out there trying!!!

I don't get excited about Springers until the Cottonwoods bloom

!!!! Then it's on!!!!!!
We are a good 3 weeks away from serious Springer beginnings and all will be well in Springer Ville.

May should be when the Springer Armada is in full swing.

NorthRiverRick · 04-01-2005, 05:29 PM

I think we all got excited and started extra early this year 'cuz of the weather

Heck, I even headed down to my favorite spot the second week of February and the duck hunters chased me out

That made me back off a bit.

If you're doin' it right, and it sounds like you probably are, as soon as you get it in front of one of those springers he'll open his big yap and give you that pound down.

The next two weeks are gonna kick it into gear

ANDYCOHO · 04-01-2005, 06:17 PM

Quote:

How do I break this skunk?

My advise is to find a technique and stick with it. I see that your going through a lot of Herring. I'm sure Todd showed you how to properly rig one. So stick with it and keep trolling. Don't be afraid to keep trolling while others start to anchor up and run Kwikfish.

As soon as you put more and more fish in the boat, you should start testing different techniques....Spinner fishing, Kwikfish, Back Trolling, Diver and Bait and Back Bouncing.

It's not too early! But your results will definately improve in April. In 2003 I had 8 fish in the freezer by this time. This year I only have 1 in the freezer.

Hang in there!

Uglygreen · 04-01-2005, 06:44 PM

Keep trying. It will change.

Brad

fineline · 04-01-2005, 08:15 PM

Keep going. I will begin fishing for this years springers next weekend. It just doesn't pay to burnout before the fish get here. The worst dry spell I had was 7 days. Not a good feeling. Make sure your ready for them.

Navigator · 04-02-2005, 11:39 PM

I fished Springers for 25 years off and on - the last 15 on (mostly bank), the last 5 really on - and I finally got my first one last year (whew!). I did a rough estimate and I figured I had over 200 hours during over the last 5 years.

It can and will happen!

I have yet to go out this year. (Now that I caught a Springer, I am now working on how not to catch steelhead).

Tacklebuster · 04-03-2005, 08:55 AM

I am pretty new to springer fishing. My first year I really tried, I really didn't have much faith in the techniques I was doing and I put in a lot of time trying. I started way to early and was really burned out before the "run" started. I think I had 12 trips in before I finally "lucked" out and scored 1

The next two years I spent paying attention to what was going on and last year I was finally able to fish with confidence in what I was doing. This year I decided to not bring any sturgeon junk and focus 100 percent on catching the chrome. I love action and fishing for ocean Salmon and estuary Sturgeon makes me a little crazy and sometimes makes it hard for me to work at something for so long without any action. Anyway, my advice to you is not to burn yourself out to early, find a technique you have 100 percent confidence in and stick with it. So far this year I have made 6 trips out for springers. Those 6 trips have yielded 4 hatchery fish and 1 native for my boat. Even though most people are saying the fishing is slow, I think it has been pretty good for me with the conditions being what they are. It's still early and every day brings more fish to the area you fish. Give it some time.

Enjoy the journey, it will make your first fish of the year that much more enjoyable

judyfish99 · 04-03-2005, 09:09 AM

You know I have been trying hard, too! No luck so far...and I thought Salmon liked the scent of a woman :whazzup:

fishin condition · 04-03-2005, 09:39 AM

I also have ben out 11 times,got my first chinook on feb.3rd and the second on feb.7th, so you didnt start to early, but i had to wait till mar.25 for #3. Just stick with it. Sometimes when i have a streak of skunk I totaly gut my boat, wash it down,then wash all my gear. I have even run all my tackle through the dish washer. seams to work for me.