Count me in for a trip in the morning! Need to hear some clickers sing.
It's been a long ten days since I caught my last king.

 

Count me in for a trip in the morning! Need to hear some clickers sing

I figured I could bait ya in!

 

Hope you’re slaying em Brandt!

 

It was great to get out on the water and fish for river kings again. Fished solo (as is my normal way) and got one. Good start to the new season!

The pups enjoyed getting out. They're eager for bird season though.

The reach is trending well below the ten year average. Passage over Bonneville are trending up... McNary on up not so much.

 

"still cut orange" 🤣🤣🤣🤣

 

Is that a picture from October 31, 2024?

 

Not much fishing pressure in the Reach. Between low river flows and 70 deg water temps, most fishers are staying home. I can't seem to get a bite after throwing the kitchen sink at them. I don't remember such low fishing pressure for September 9th. The fish checker at Snyder launch reported NO fish checked at 1 pm today.

 

The fish aren't here..... Yet? Idk man. Kind of a scary pattern of counts so far.

 

When is the next CCA Meeting in the Tri Cities?

 

Thanks for asking! We’ll send out a note soon for the general meeting scheduled next Tuesday, September 16 at La Bella Vida in Richland at 7pm.

 

This concerns me greatly ...

What is going on with the Fall run on the Reach? Has it completely collapsed?

The lower river is on fire from everything I've heard. I don't get it.

I can't believe they'll even leave the Reach open if things don't turn around quickly. There's not enough fish for a fishery.

 

We could definitely use more rain to stir things up and bring the water temp down. but... i'm not holding my breath...

 

My daughter (with help) got a good fish to enter into the local derby! We will see how she places. High class tackle blade spinner.

 

My daughter (with help) got a good fish to enter into the local derby! We will see how she places. High class tackle blade spinner. View attachment 1073993

View attachment 1073994 View attachment 1073995

Man I sure like the looks of that spinner blade.

 

Anyone attend the CCA meeting last night in Richland?

Curious what the fish biologist had to say about the run.

 

Here is his weekly email

 

Todd reported that they tasked the fish passage center with checking temperatures at the fish ladders and found a strong correlation with the warm temperatures (up to 75 degrees at John Day) stopping passage. They are optimistic that the cooling temps will allow the fish to move as we’re starting to see. Fingers crossed.
Also, save the date for King of the Reach live capture angler broodstock collection on October 24-25. Signups are available now at www.ccawashington.org/kingofthereach
Like last year, it’s a non-derby format- just volunteer and catch fish and turn them in to the collection trucks. Super fun and super important for keeping the hatchery production going with good genetics.

 

Todd reported that they tasked the fish passage center with checking temperatures at the fish ladders and found a strong correlation with the warm temperatures (up to 75 degrees at John Day) stopping passage. They are optimistic that the cooling temps will allow the fish to move as we’re starting to see. Fingers crossed.
Also, save the date for King of the Reach live capture angler broodstock collection on October 24-25. Signups are available now at www.ccawashington.org/kingofthereach
Like last year, it’s a non-derby format- just volunteer and catch fish and turn them in to the collection trucks. Super fun and super important for keeping the hatchery production going with good genetics.

Don if I can break away from hunting for a day I will! Always enjoy the fishing and for a great cause!

 

Warm temperatures are causing 220,000 fish to hold between bonnie and the Dalles dams?

no those fish didn’t go up the deschutes either

we all know where those fish went. And add in the fact that the snake run is going well and our fishery at the reach may not get to escapement goals

 

~188,400 are expected to stay in the Bonneville Pool this year. And. The tule stocks tend to start earlier than the brights. So. There's still a bit of hope.

Upriver anglers always forget how much hatchery production occurs below McNary and especially below the Dalles. Disappointment and blame are an annual event.

 

There is less than 24,000 fish in the 70 or so miles of river between mcnary and priest rapids That’s why fishing sucks

 

With slow passage to the upper river (the most important fish) why allow more lower river killing for the local PDX fleet. Blows me away all these expert decisions. Those fish will get slaughtered by the guides and nets. Also blows me away how certain groups whine and cry about their share of fish and I know guys who already put fifty kings in their freezer…..kill em all
Attitude

Derrick

 

With slow passage to the upper river (the most important fish) why allow more lower river killing for the local PDX fleet. Blows me away all these expert decisions. Those fish will get slaughtered by the guides and nets.

Derrick

The river ends at Bonnie. Travel to catch them and join the slaughter. If the government tells us we can then why wouldn't you. Your just jealous you don't get to rip them off their redds. Who wants to catch those boots. How dare you, you racist. If there is allocation left, why can't we have access to it?

These are all reasons and excuses and shaming I've received for such questioning. Sucks to have such division but then again what's different in the world at this point?

 

Am I reading this correctly at Ringold?

Min. size 12”. Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults including no more than 1 wild Chinook may be retained. Release all salmon other than Chinook and coho.

So a guy can keep 2 adult chinook if one is miraculously clipped? Just have never seen this before. Thanks

 

Let's be honest, it makes a lot more sense to harvest these fish in the lower river when they're in prime eating condition than it does to harvest them in the upper river when - as admitted by those who participate in this fishery - they may or may not even be edible.

Personally, I wouldn't even participate in a fishery where a certain percentage of the fish I kill aren't edible. Even the good ones are "smokers" by most people's account (aka not of high quality). Killing fish and denying them the opportunity to spawn only to dump it in the garden as fertilizer is morally wrong by my judgement.

Ok, flame away.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

 

From the Tri cites up to Rock island dam, who's getting excited for Das boot fest to start?

I'm heading out tomorrow to find out what I can find out at the crab of creeks. Tight lines!

I'm a transplant from the lower river area, knew that well. Now I'm in Pasco within 15 minutes of dropping in at the Columbia Park launch. Troll for walleye from the mouth of the Yakima back down to the park. Is it worth dragging a stuffer bait along the same stretch for a chinook, or later for a coho? Or should I anchor somewhere on a current edge with something wrapped? Totally different here, but would be nice to find a big tug or two.

 

Downhill stuffers for sure.

 

It sounds like you are describing fishing just off of Bateman Island. People definitely catch chinook there trolling downstream with "stuffer" gear. As far as anchoring I don't know that there is enough current this time of year for that to work.

 

Any local Tri Ciy guys fishing Vernita area, and have report? North Richland and Ringold area super slow.

 

Any local Tri Ciy guys fishing Vernita area, and have report? North Richland and Ringold area super slow.

 

It’s been hot and cold for us at Vernita. Alternating between limits and a struggle for one or two fish.

 

Are you in a new boat haven’t seen you this year

 

We showed up at Vernita yesterday at about 2:30. Fished until 5:00. 4 rods, backtrolling plugs. Went 1/1. A big hen that cut great. May go back again this afternoon. Going to try Ringold this morning. Last Thursday we got blanked at Ringold. Not many boats there and likewise not many fish.

 

We saw you coning in on 24 when we were leaving the bluffs. Divers and eggs seem to be the winner, powerlines has been productive. Good luck!

 

The reports I’m hearing is the hatchery fish are more congregated up near the damn and that’s where most of the guides have been doing ok. I had a friend fish Monday and the fish checker said zero fish at the ferry landing Monday. The weather has been beautiful the sunrises are epic but the fishing is hit or miss

 

We got one at the landing Monday, on the water for a loooooong time. Low water is not helpful. Actually caught it hover fishing in the middle of the hole.

not only are the fish later/lower numbers, there’s nothing to slow them down.

 

The last time they shut down the govt. they couldn’t wait to lock the gate at the ferry landing fast enough. Anyone fishing today? Will be curious if they locked it up

 

I drove by it twice yesterday, morning and afternoon, and it was open both times.

 

We went 3/3 yesterday (4 lines). First near Ringold, then about noon we pulled out and drove to Vernita, got two in a couple hours up there. One of the three cut edible, the other two not so much.

 

How did you do today? Saw you around noon. We were on the struggle bus today. First pass my buddy’s 78 year old neighbor Judy had a nice bright fish right at the net but had a hard time lifting it up so I held off netting it a few times. And on the third lift the dang mainline broke at the swivel, losing the fish and flasher. And then… zippo for a long day. First October skunk I’ve had in a lot of years.

Of course I’m kicking myself because I hadn’t retied that rod in a loooong time