Multnomah channel spring chinook

Spot, I'm not great with tides, but I found this site:

http://ocean-tides.com/tides/Saint%20Helens,%20Columbia%20River,%20Oregon.html

If I read this right, tomorrow low tide is 4:28am and high tide is 9:51am (St Helens).  Since were paddling up river, that would be coming in on the incoming tide and a good thing right?  The next low tide is 6:55pm, so as long as we go back after 9:51 we are going down river on the outgoing tide, so that is good as well correct? Basic question I know, but never been a tidewater captain.


Threeweight - The launch in Scappose is at the Marina where the Kayak store is correct?  If you find that Gilbert River Boat Ramp is open and want to do that launch, let me know.

Spot, I'm not great with tides, but I found this site:

http://ocean-tides.com/tides/Saint%20Helens,%20Columbia%20River,%20Oregon.html

If I read this right, tomorrow low tide is 4:28am and high tide is 9:51am (St Helens).  Since were paddling up river, that would be coming in on the incoming tide and a good thing right?  The next low tide is 6:55pm, so as long as we go back after 9:51 we are going down river on the outgoing tide, so that is good as well correct? Basic question I know, but never been a tidewater captain.


Threeweight - The launch in Scappose is at the Marina where the Kayak store is correct?  If you find that Gilbert River Boat Ramp is open and want to do that launch, let me know.

You are correct for the most part.  Just remember that tides are relative to location.  The tides for Rocky Point on the Multnomah Channel are shown in the pic I attached.  I got that info. here:   http://www.almanac.com/tide/97056

BTW: The Gilbert River Boat Ramp is open.

I blame my forgotten paddle on the fact that I took the Hobie today.  Was obsessed with not forgetting the mirage drive... brought it, forgot paddle.

I got out to Scappoose at about 2:45 this afternoon, was on the water by 3:00ish.  No fish caught, but I did face every possible weather scenario from bright blinding sunshine to pouring snow and wind and low visibility.  Water temps were around 47 degrees, air temps 39 degrees.  Brrrrrrrr.....

For  kayak fishing, I don't think this launch is ideal as the paddle out of the bay takes a good 30-40 minutes (that was in my Hobie, cruising at 3-3.5 mph).  Figure 45 minutes to an hour to get to the fishing spot. 

I am going back tomorrow, joining Slbrow6 to launch at the Gilbert River boat ramp on Sauvies Island.  Figure it might be a little more crowded, but we'll be able to fish as soon as we leave the boat ramp.  If anyone else wants to give it a shot, we aim to launch at 8 AM.  Weather forecast is for merely miserable conditions (high of 48 or so, rain) as opposed to downright appalling (as it was today).

I just got back from a week in Fresno, CA with my in-laws.  I was hoping everyone was going out on Sunday, but after 12 hrs in the car today I doubt I'll make it out fishing tomorrow.   Good luck.

Brian

Despite rain, cold, wind, sun, more rain, more cold, ripping current, etc... we made it out.  Slbrow6 and I launched from the Gilbert River ramp on the channel and trolled for several hours, heading first down towards the spot recommended last week, then working our way back up past the ramp towards Coon Island.

We marked a number of fish, but no takers.  Did not see anyone else catching anything (other than a sea lion, not sure what he caught).  I started out with a spinner and a 3 oz cannonball, and quickly found that trolling that sucker was a problem in the current (going downcurrent, I had to cruise screaming fast to get it to spin, going upcurrent it was getting pulled up off the bottom).  Would probably have worked well anchored, but I don't have an anchor rig set up yet on the Big Game (took it instead of the Hobie this morning).

I swapped over to an orange hot shot and trolled it the rest of the day.

Slbrow6 was working a quickfish.  His boat is a finely rigged and appointed machine now.

I'd like to try that area again in nicer weather, preferably with someone who has fished it more and can offer a few pointers. 

Also got to see a lot of geese coming off the Suavies Island wetlands in the morning, sanhill cranes, osprey, cormorants, etc...  Despite the weather, it as a nice day on the water.

Well we promply ignored the tide when we went out on Sunday and initially went down river, then I decided to try for Coon Island, about halfway there the tide turned and now I see what Spot was talking about.   Between the tide going out and us going up channel, the wind in our face and trolling a big Kwik Fish and weight, it was hard to make much progress up to Coon island.

Then the weather started looking iffy and I gave up.  Of course by the time we loaded up, the wind died down and the sun came out.  Could almost have thrown the yak back in try again.

So Sunday I was still itchin for some fishing, so headed out to the Cedar Oak ramp on the Willamette on Sunday afternoon.  While loading up, I was able to "fix" my fish finder (guess you have to turn "on" the fish alarm in 2 places...stupid thing).  I explored a couple of popular anchoring and trolling areas near that ramp and marked a ton of fish, but no takers (Sardine wrapped Kwik Fish).  I did see 3 sea lions getting lots of fish for dinner though.  Ended up "paddle anchoring" near some other boats for an hour or so.  No takers though.

I also found a couple of 50-60' holes with some fish on the bottom (Sturgeon?) that look good to check out.  I really like that area, cause the ramp is very close to home, and not too crowded and you have some good variety of places to fish.  Also found that the back current about 2' from shore makes it much easier to travel upstream, just got to bring in my "Kwik Fish Anchor".

Need to try an hit it after work in the next few weeks,  if the weather would cooperate.

I started out with a spinner and a 3 oz cannonball, and quickly found that trolling that sucker was a problem in the current (going downcurrent, I had to cruise screaming fast to get it to spin, going upcurrent it was getting pulled up off the bottom).  Would probably have worked well anchored, but I don't have an anchor rig set up yet on the Big Game (took it instead of the Hobie this morning).

Perhaps sort of back bounce when these conditions are encountered.  Paddle against the current, but not enough to move forward.  Point upcurrent, but paddle just enough to keep the spinner working at the desired depth while working downcurrent.  I think I like this presentation more as the spinner will work while going downstream, right into the faces of the chinook which are pointed into the current.  This will also hold the spinner in the zone longer, hopefully just long enough to pester a chinook into biting.  If you're paddling downcurrent, your spinner will just fly by any holding chinook.

-Allen