Columbia River @ Sauvie Island tomorrow 4/9

Nanook can fill in the details from earlier in the day but I put in around 3:00. What a perfect afternoon. Almost like paddling on a calm lake. The current was almost non existent and we had a very slight breeze helping us back up river, the sun even came out and made things a little warm for about half an hour. 

There was only a handful of bankies and maybe six or seven PB.  Two of those PBs hooked-up with, and landed, fish within fifty yards of us passing by. Some even had friendly albeit unsolicited advice for us. We fished until 7:00. Those four hours were the perfect time to fish as it was a more mellow and significantly less populated crowd by then. No fish or even takedowns for the yak fisherman though. Well, we still have one week left.

Hats off to Nanook for fishing/paddling from 7am to 7pm. You the man.

I wish I was catching from 7 to 7. The morning was harsh. I launched to 60-70 bankies and 12-15 PB's on willow bar, which was fine, all nice and friendly. Winds out of the south sustained at 10-12 without so much as a 5 second lull, combined with a strong minus tide made paddling back up river excruciating. I would say the river was moving downstream at more than 4 knots at peak ebb about noon. That combined with the wind made upstream progress very challenging.

I was thinking about how if you were in a SOT, it would have been impossible to make progress back up river. I'm in a 21.5" wide sea kayak, and I was hardly moving. I pulled out the beach and had lunch and waited for slack. By the time TXPadller arrived, the river was a glassy pond, and the incoming tide actually pushed us back upstream.

I probably saw 10 fish caught from 7 to 7 yesterday, and I'm starting to think the columbia salmon have something against me. I've watched a boat on my left and a banky on my right land them as I troll by.....It's starting to hurt, and I'm actually looking forward to the season ending so I can do something else and not feel like a quitter! One more week! Yippee!!!

J

I forgot to mention I had a take down and dancing rod  about 5 minutes after launch, but when I grabbed my rod to play it, it was gone. cleaned the herring right off the hooks.

That's the most action I've had in a month!

I forgot to mention I had a take down and dancing rod  about 5 minutes after launch, but when I grabbed my rod to play it, it was gone. cleaned the herring right off the hooks.

That's the most action I've had in a month!

More unsolicited advice for you.......  Leave the rod in the holder and don't touch it till the drag is screaming.  If it's bouncing, just keep paddling like normal.  When it burries, dig in for 3 or 4 strokes to set the hook.   

Thanks Spot! I remember you saying that in your article. At this point if you are getting them so easy, I have to be doing something wrong. I'll take all the advice I can get.

Thanks Spot! I remember you saying that in your article. At this point if you are getting them so easy, I have to be doing something wrong. I'll take all the advice I can get.

Take heart oh padawan.  The force moves in mysterious ways.   
Fishing is just that, fishing.  Catching involves luck, sacrifice, time and more luck.

This is everything I know about catching a springer:
- You can't catch a fish if your hook isn't in the water
- They like 15' to 25' depths
- Have a good roll (I check the roll every 20min or so)
- Don't store bait near petroleum products or in metal containers
- Added scent helps (I use herring scent)
- Keep it near the bottom (1 to 4 feet)
- Don't pick up your rod too quick when they bite

I think my next opportunity will be on the 16th.  You're welcome to join me.

Regardless, keep at it and you'll get one.

It's gotta be the luck part I'm missing, I'm doing everything else the exact same way (except when I jumped on that one strike) At this point I've had my line in the water for springers for about 60 hours. I am absolutely joining you on the 16th. Where and when?

I've been using herring on double hooks with 3ft of leader behind a 3 or 4 oz banana weight, maybe a foot or less off the bottom. How are you rigging?

I've been using herring on double hooks with 3ft of leader behind a 3 or 4 oz banana weight, maybe a foot or less off the bottom. How are you rigging?

I'd extend that leader out to at least 4ft (I prefer 5 because I feel it lets the bait roll better)  and forget the banana weight.  I'm willing to bet that most of the time you're no where near the bottom with it (Especially when headed upstream)


Try this set-up with a canonball weight of at least 4oz on a dropper line between 12" and 24".  You may have to use as much as 8oz in a heavier flow. 


Your weight should be bouncing off the bottom every so often.  If it doesn't, you're not in the strike zone.

Now go get em!!!!

Cool. Thanks. I will give that rigg a go. I've been draggin my weight on the bottom going down river on the outgoing, but it is a but harder going up river on the incoming.

Had to catch up on sleep today, but firing myslef up for next week now.

OK so HOw do you put your bait on to get a "SPIN"?   I have only ever salmon fished in a PB with a wobbler on a hog line!!  I have no clue how to do it from a yak or even thebank!!!  Looks like in your post SPOT that its kinda sorta like how you rig up for sturgeon only difff!!!  LOL

OK so HOw do you put your bait on to get a "SPIN"?   I have only ever salmon fished in a PB with a wobbler on a hog line!!  I have no clue how to do it from a yak or even thebank!!!  Looks like in your post SPOT that its kinda sorta like how you rig up for sturgeon only difff!!!  LOL

http://www.salmonuniversity.com/ol_htrh_pc1_index.html

Or you can get the little plastic mitre box.

Was that you I tooted at in the Multnomah Channel today on my way out? (4/11)

OK so HOw do you put your bait on to get a "SPIN"?   I have only ever salmon fished in a PB with a wobbler on a hog line!!  I have no clue how to do it from a yak or even thebank!!!  Looks like in your post SPOT that its kinda sorta like how you rig up for sturgeon only difff!!!  LOL

http://www.salmonuniversity.com/ol_htrh_pc1_index.html

Or you can get the little plastic mitre box.

Was that you I tooted at in the Multnomah Channel today on my way out? (4/11)

That's a good guide!

I like to run my trailing hook a little farther back.  I also run the trailer all the way thru the body (a little farther back) at the lateral line.  Changing the position of the trailing hook will changed the spin of the herring.

Don't be afraid to change the position of the leading hook or scrap a couple of baits if they're not spinning correctly.  It's better to ensure you have a good spin than fish a "dead" bait.

Oh yeah, the body cavity makes a great scent holder.

Is that Wali your using for bait ?  ... You don't use a flasher, or just weren't that time?

I thought that was a sturgeon setup with the sliding swivel

Wali, I think it was us!!!  Didnt stay long water was moving fast and I was freezing! 


OK so you guys troll your herring?  How do you know how far out to let the line?   Or are you anchored up fishing the herring?  Sorry lots of ?'s