Recommendations for mid-March

[bsteves]

Regarding winds in the Gorge..
I've used this site (IWindSurf) in the past for other regions and it does an okay job with prediction.  At least it's more detailed than the NOAA predictions.  I'm curious to see how well it does for the Gorge.

http://www.iwindsurf.com/windandwhere.iws?regionID=218&siteID=248&Isection=Forecast+Graphs

[polepole]

Regarding winds in the Gorge..
I've used this site (IWindSurf) in the past for other regions and it does an okay job with prediction.  At least it's more detailed than the NOAA predictions.  I'm curious to see how well it does for the Gorge.

http://www.iwindsurf.com/windandwhere.iws?regionID=218&siteID=248&Isection=Forecast+Graphs

I'm sure some of the windsurfer shops/sites would have some great intel on winds.

-Allen

[bsteves]

That was my thought... this site wasn't perfect for NorCal, but I was often surprised how often it helped me sneak out on a calm morning I would have otherwise missed because the NOAA forecast was calling for strong winds all day.  Of course I did have the opposite happen once or twice.

Anyway, I'm just hoping it does a decent job up here.  Maybe Alkasazi can do some ground truthing for us.

Brian

[Alkasazi]

i should know more about wind predictions, but I tend to just look out the window & see what it's doing. Iwindsurf.com seems to be popular on the windsurf & kiteboard pages for predictions. Webcams can be handy as well. Here's one for Stevenson:

http://www.saw.net/scenic/image.jpg

and the Hatchery across from Hood River:
http://www.hatchcam.com/

A bunch of the johnnies used to carry pagers for wind alerts, that was always entertaining.


Brian

[bsteves]

The ODFW just released a bunch of new salmon regs for the Columbia River.
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/fishing/reg_changes/columbia.asp

Here's an excerpt..

From March 16 through May 10, 2008 angling for adipose fin-clipped Chinook and adipose fin-clipped steelhead will be open from the Tower Island powerlines (located approximately 6 miles downstream of The Dalles Dam) upstream to McNary Dam plus the Oregon and Washington banks between Bonneville Dam and Tower Island.  Boat angling between Bonneville Dam and Tower Island powerlines is prohibited.  The daily bag limit is two adult salmon or steelhead.  Catch limits for jacks remain in effect as per permanent regulations.  All non-adipose fin-clipped Chinook salmon and non-adipose fin-clipped steelhead must be released immediately unharmed.

I'm a little confused on whether the new regulations apply to our plans to fish Walleye near Hood River (between Bonneville and Tower Island) mid-March.

Does this reg mean we just can't keep/fish for chinook in this area at this time? Or does it imply that no boat based fishing at all will be allowed?

Any ideas on how to interpret this?

Brian

[Pisco Sicko]

I'd check the regular regs  first; if they don't restrict boat fishing in that area regularly, then I would presume the restriction is just for the springers.

[polepole]

Feb 21 issues F&H has an article about 'eye fishing below the Dalles.

It talks about fishing the full moon cycles (Mar 21, Apr 20, May 20).  If the water is between 48 and 52 degrees, even better.  Start up high below the Dalles Dam on the Oregon side.  It has a "fish here" area from the Dam down to the boat launch in The Dalles, quite a large area.  Fish the outside edge of the islands along the current seam or in the calm water below them.  Jigging works well.  Find a gravel bar that comes up to 2-3' of water with 20-40 feet holding water nearby.  Fish the holding water.

Let me know if you guys don't get a chance to pick up this issue and I'll send it to you.  A large portion of this issue is articles about 'eye fishing up and down the Big C.

-Allen

[bsteves]

Allen,

Thanks for pointing that issue out.  I don't currently get F&H News, but I'll see if I can't find a copy at a local sports shop.   If I can't find one, I may take you up on that copy.

Brian

[polepole]

Brian,

PM me your address.  I'll send it to you anyway.  I got it free at the Sportsmen's Show this weekend.  You'll get more use out of it than me.

-Allen

[Pisco Sicko]

What did I read, recently, about walleyes? "Night is right, for walleye." I want to try it this spring, or summer.

[steelheadr]

Sweet! I'm off work that whole week, so most days should be good for us. Wind out here is always the trick, but sometimes you can find wind-free pockets. I'll poke around on spots. I haven't fished up by The Dalles, but I'll see what I can find out. Here's the NOAA map for the area:

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/18532.shtml

Not familiar with Tower Island, although I see a spot on the map that is likely it. Rowena's across from Lyle & the mouth of the Klickitat.

I know land based maps inside out but these water charts I am lost on. Are the depth numbers in feet, meters, fathoms???  I'm guessing feet.

Thanks,
Jay

[coosbayyaker]

they are in feet.