Last year, we fished below the falls on my boat at Oregon City for shad around the end of June. We were using our springer rods with 20# test and 8# leader. My friend hooked something that ran like a springer, and almost spooled him. He was able to turn it, get it about 1/2 back to us, then it turned again, never to be stopped. It was hooked on a chartreuse Dick Nite, the smallest size. It spooled him dry, and the 20# broke at the end, and not the leader. It burned his thumbs, and we never saw it. I'd say it was a springer, but possibly a sturgeon. We decided not to pull anchor, as we did not have a salmon net aboard, and we really wanted to keep our spot, and we had a freezer full of springers already. He said it felt like the fish was in the chops, because of the occaisional head shakes.
The next day I went, We caught 3 larger (2 to 3 pound) springer jacks on a dick nite, as well as numerous shad. Also caught a couple trout sized chinook smolts heading toward the ocean.
SKP