Snohos!

It was my turn to make dinner last night.  My wife told me, "We don't have anything in the house. You'll have to go to the store to pick something up."  The thought of bumping thorough a crowd stocking up for the first "snowpocalypse" of the season at the local Safeway didn't sound appealing.  So I chose plan B.  I went fishing for silvery protein.

I headed out at about 2 pm.  The hills in town were slick with a couple inches on the ground and snow falling.  The Columbia River bridge was surprisingly not much of an issue and I made it over to hwy 14 without sliding.  Hwy 14 was not plowed and had very light traffic.  Once I made it through Bingen there was no one in front or behind me.  Drove easy and made it the 10 miles to Lyle in 15 minutes.  On the way there I was wondering how busy it would be at the mouth.  It's been a zoo this season with heavy PB pressure much later in the year than normal because of the great fishing.  I arrived at the launch and got.....

First Tracks!  I guess PBers don't like snow. 



I quickly unloaded and headed out into the calm grey waters of the Columbia, drifting with the current towards the fish zone while I rigged up.  I felt lucky about the lack of wind.  Looking at the forecast I didn't think there would be much, but in the Gorge you never know for sure until you get there.  I'm sure this view looks familiar to many of you.




I didn't hook up on my first pass down or back up.  I wasn't marking much on the depth finder and was starting to wonder if the season was finally over.  On my second pass I hooked into this hen of about 6 lbs.  I'm 99% sure this fish was a Chinook.  It had a nook head, nook spots, nook tail, nook coloring....the thing I'm unsure about is the old never fail look at the mouth test.  This fish had a blackish center to it's tongue fading to very light grey on the outer tongue.  The coloring around the rest of it's mouth including teeth and gum line was just how it looks in the photo.  No black or grey at all.  More like a light olive mocha. 

I'm sorry there aren't better photos but it was a little beat up and I had a feeling it was going to have some pasty flesh so I let her go.




On about the fourth pass I caught my first coho and about that time my only company for the afternoon came by.



I know temps were sub freezing because in order to let my line out I would have to jerk back on it right in front of the reel to pop it out of the frozen tip top.  Then quickly free spool before it would freeze again.  My reel felt like it was going to freeze up a few times but taking a couple cranks of line always cleared it. 

A couple more passes and I caught my last one for the afternoon and headed back to the launch as it was quickly getting dark.  They weren't big.  I think the hen was about 6 lbs and the buck about 5 lbs.  Ended up at 3 out of 4 for the day.
   


You've got to love chrome in mid November and 180 miles from the salt.  Both fish cut great.



It was a little hard taking good photos.  I had to hold my breath or they came out like this.



I forgot my head lamp but the snow diffusing light from beautiful downtown Lyle and the near by tribal compound gave plenty of light to load up.   Although the depth of the snow and ruts were deeper the drive home was as uneventful as the drive out.

Back in the Hood before 5:30 with dinner .



So the details.

If you are headed out tomorrow I'd suggest driving on Hwy 14 as much as you can.  Hwy 14 has a Southern exposure so it melts off and dries out quicker than Hwy 84.  Hwy 84 will probably be a cluster tomorrow morning.  Afternoon might not be too bad.

I was fishing shrimp spinners behind an inline flasher with 3 oz lead.  I don't think color makes much of a difference.

One thing about yesterday I found interesting was there were fewer fish around but I think the ones there were very aggressive.  Two of my fish hit once and as I was lifting the weight to check for bottom, then came back and smashed it as I was pulling it away from them.  I also had one hit right below the surface as I pulled it up from the bottom to check my bait.  I was trolling pretty slow but thinking back on this if I had more time yesterday I should have went up to 6 oz lead and tried trolling faster.  I think it might have triggered more hits.

Water depths, deepest fish was caught at 24 feet shallowest at 12.  I always fished a foot or two off bottom.  I did mark some fish out in the 25-30 but didn't give them much of a try.

Good luck everyone.  Say hi if you see me out there.

Drive safe.




 

Awesome report!!  Thanks for sharing!

Well I guess you are a certified snopro!

awesome!!!!!!!  Way to fish the cold and produce.  Definitely the right choice!

Great report and what an awesome time fishin in solitude! I'm sure your lady won't mind if you hit the river instead of the store in the future. This fishery is great, from the beautiful scenery, great fishing, hot springs, & all the breweries in between.
Hugh

Nice report.  Fish don't mind snow.

That's just killer.

Right On!  That's how it's done.  Days like that you'll remember for a long time.  Good for you! - Alan

Wonderful report. What a hardcore fisherman. When I saw the pictures I assumed it was going to be pmmpete but I guess we have more than one cold weather specialist here!


We are headed up around Cascade Locks but I suppose it isn't as bad over there. Will stick to the Washington side anyways. Thanks for the tip.

That's sweet

What a great day!  Thanks for the detailed report and taking the time to snap the beautiful pics...hmmmm....Seahawks or salmon fishing....maybe I'll see you guys Sunday!

Awesome report snopro!  I love the backdrop.
Great pic of chrome on snow too.

-Mark-

Man I would of kept that nook. That is fairly bright chinook and they are cutting as well as the coho there. Here is a pic of a two coho and nook I pulled out of there last week. Great looking meat.

Fishing there this time of year you never know what you're going to get with nooks.  Two identical colored fish can cut totally different.  If the Coho are chrome it's a sure thing they will cut well. 

I didn't want to take a chance on the quality when I knew the odds were good of catching two bright Coho that could be possible upgrades.

Fishing there this time of year you never know what you're going to get with nooks.  Two identical colored fish can cut totally different.  If the Coho are chrome it's a sure thing they will cut well. 

I didn't want to take a chance on the quality when I knew the odds were good of catching two bright Coho that could be possible upgrades.

You can keep three fish at the mouth of Klick as long as one is a nook.