Springer fishing this weekend?

I plan on putting some slime in the kayak this weekend... will be likely head to Gilbert River boat ramp on Multnomah Channel at least Saturday, maybe Sunday to.

Anyone interested in joining me?  Assuming my herring brining exercise works, I might even be willing to share some bait.

Don't be afraid to use them right out of the package.  If you get one that mushrooms, change your bait.

Oh yeah, review the salmon U tutorial on Plug Cutting before you go.  It's easy to end up with a herring that doesn't spin..... Don't ask how I know....

Have fun and remember to work WITH to tides.   

Oh yeah,
Inside corners
Check the action on your bait
~ 19'
and
slow slow slow

I'd like to give it a try.  I'll try to free up my Saturday (and maybe Sunday).

Brian

Count me in for Saturday.  Gilbert rivers sounds good to me, but I'm working with the tide this time 

What time you thinking of launching? 

-= Scott

If I can get my rod holder installed by Sunday, that sounds like an interesting idea. Nothing like jumping into this head first   

Jay

I got a little yellow plastic "jig" for cutting herring for the spin.  One side says "king", the other "coho."  I'll give it a shot and see how it goes.  Worst case, I also have a few Kwikfish.

Looks like low tide is around 9 AM... lets try and meet at the boat ramp at 8 so we are on the water to fish the incoming.  If the weather is nice (and I don't limit out  )  I'll probably stay through high slack at around 2-3:00.

I may try to do the same on Sunday.  My wife is in grad school and has study group meetings all weekend, so I have a get out of jail free card.

Jay, I'm in the process of rigging up my OK Big Game as well... I installed two flush mount rod holders on the black center hatch thing (one for the fish finder, one for the rod).  My suggestion would be to set the kayak on the grass and sit in it, and see how far forward you can mount the rod holder and still comfortably reach it, then mark it.  Set your fish finder up just in front of it (slightly closer to you.)  Make sure you use some oversized fender washers to brace the screws so they don't pull out.

I just installed a center hatch on mine last night, anchor system and cleats come next.

Jay, I'm in the process of rigging up my OK Big Game as well... I installed two flush mount rod holders on the black center hatch thing (one for the fish finder, one for the rod).  My suggestion would be to set the kayak on the grass and sit in it, and see how far forward you can mount the rod holder and still comfortably reach it, then mark it.  Set your fish finder up just in front of it (slightly closer to you.)  Make sure you use some oversized fender washers to brace the screws so they don't pull out.

I just installed a center hatch on mine last night, anchor system and cleats come next.

I'm a bit away from adding a fish finder yet (I'm still fishing blind). I plan on picking up a spin/cast rod holder and a fly rod holder from Scotty, mounting one base in the middle and swapping holders based on conditions. Rather than using the screws to mount the holder, would it be more effective to use a bolt/washer/nut combination?

Jay,  hope you can make it.  Might be blind leading the blind, but the more poles in the water the better our chances.

I definately would use Stainless Bolts (Phillips Oval Head), Fender Washer and Nylon Lock Nuts.  I've found Fishermans Supply, and West Marine (Tigard or Janzen) have a good selection of SS, but a good hardware store might also.  Nice thing about mounting in that tray on the Big Game is that even if you screw up you won't leak into the interior of the boat.  I found an adhesive called lexcel that works great with these plastic boats, but heard "Marine Goop" also works for sealing up any holes etc.

Regarding rod holders I also found that I couldn't fit my bigger poles (Sturgeon/Chinnook) in the Scotty base as the big handles got in the way.  Scotty sells an extension that elevates the mount for just this purpose.  Might want to do a "test" fit with your pole in the holder where you plan on putting your mount to make sure it doesn't get in the way.

-= Scott

Rather than using the screws to mount the holder, would it be more effective to use a bolt/washer/nut combination?

YES!! Screws by themselves would be a very temporary installation.

I found an adhesive called lexcel that works great with these plastic boats, but heard "Marine Goop" also works for sealing up any holes etc.

I'm sure most sealants are the same kind of silicone but Goop is actually an adhesive that works great on our plastic hulls. If you have a non-textured hull (like Hobies) make sure to rough up areas that you're going to adhere something to w/ sandpaper. It's helps a lot w/ adhesion. BTW if you can't find Marine Goop, Plumbing Goop is essentially the same thing... if not exactly the same.

Lookin' forward to more Chinook pics. Go get 'em guys!!

Z

Thanks for the tips. I've ordered the Scotty holders from Outdoor Play and will install them soon, hopefully before Sunday. I'll look locally for SS hardware. I've thought about the holder extension but decided to wait until I have a rod that would actually need it. My salmon rod is a Berkely Buzz Ramsey IM7 rod I won at a Steelheader's meeting. The handle isn't all that long.

I think I'll be mounting the holder in the middle of the center black cover. That way, if I decided to turn the cover around the other way, the rod holder will be in the same place.

Jay 

You can get quality stainless steel screws, washers, nuts, etc... pretty cheap at Lowes as well.  Not sure of Home Despot carries it.

I second the vote for marine Goop... can get a tube from GI Joes pretty cheap.

Be careful with where you position the rod holder.  Don't get it too close to you, or it may place the rod such that it interferes with your paddle stroke.

Be careful with where you position the rod holder.  Don't get it too close to you, or it may place the rod such that it interferes with your paddle stroke.

Good point. Also you don't want it too close since when you do land that nice fish you need a place to put it when unhooking etc. And some of these fish will do a number on you when you get them out of the water! When it comes to Halibuts they don't call it a lap dance for nothing.

Z

Looks like low tide is around 9 AM... lets try and meet at the boat ramp at 8 so we are on the water to fish the incoming.  If the weather is nice (and I don't limit out  Cheesy)  I'll probably stay through high slack at around 2-3:00.

I'm still trying to figure out tides around here.  Where are you getting your tides ThreeWeight and which station are you using?

I use an online Tide/Current predictor that uses the XTide program.  It's always worked well for me in the past, and I believe a lot of other tide sites actually use it as well.  I also have XTide on my palm pilot and it has the same results.   Anyway, I created the following two tide charts for this weekend.  The first is for Rocky Pt, Multnomah Channel where the low is at 1:26 pm on Sat and the second is for St. Helens where the low is at 1:32 pm on Sat.  I figure Gilbert River should be somewhere in between the two.

Brian

I was using saltwatertides.com, looking at the closest station's to Portland (Settlers Point, Harrington Point) then guestimating what timing would be upstream.  That site shows low tide at 8:30 on Saturday for Settlers point, and at 9:20 on Sunday.

I make no claims to accuracy.  My excuse is I read it on the internet, therefore it must be true.

**** DOH!!!!****

I just checked the tide calculator on Westfly, and it agrees with you.

http://www.westfly.com/cgi-bin/tide?location=multnomah&state=OR

April 5, Sat
      
Low - 01:49 a.m.
      
High -05:38 a.m.
      
Low - 02:23 p.m.
      
High - 06:07 p.m.
      

April 6, Sun

Low - 02:27 a.m.
      
High - 06:10 a.m.
      
Low - 03:08 p.m.
      
High - 06:58 p.m.

Looks like the morning might be good for Sturgeon, Anchor Fishing or Backtrolling.  There's no such thing as a bad tide.  Just bad technique or gear.