Columbia Springers

1164 springers crossed Bonneville yesterday (4/21). Up from 55 on 4/15. I hope someone is out there today slaying them. There should be 5-10,000 fish moving through Portland right now.

It seems the fish came in one huge blast this year, rather than building over a few weeks.

Any one up for chasing them up river? Doesn't it remain open through this weekend up by Bonneville?

Likely to be an intense PB zoo I guess.

I think today is the last day below the dam.

I think today is the last day below the dam.

True Dat Yo!

The Willamette and Multnomah Channel are open this weekend however.

I'm off work Friday and still have some herring in the fridge.......

I finally put a "Springer Yak Fishing for Dummies" How-To on the Home Page.

Feel free to ask any questions in preparation for Friday.

Ok, One last attempt.

Launching at 6:30 @ Gilbert River boat ramp if anyone would like to join. I'll fish until 9 or 10.

I finally put a "Springer Yak Fishing for Dummies" How-To on the Home Page.

Feel free to ask any questions in preparation for Friday.

Nice! Reading now.

Spot-"Now, run the trailing hook thru the herring at the lateral line starting at the long side and coming out the short side."

So you run the trailing hook from the outside of the fish on the longside, through the cavity and out the lateral line on the shortside?

I have been running the trailing hook through the cavity and out the short side at the lateral line.

Spot-"Now, run the trailing hook thru the herring at the lateral line starting at the long side and coming out the short side."

So you run the trailing hook from the outside of the fish on the longside, through the cavity and out the lateral line on the shortside?

I have been running the trailing hook through the cavity and out the short side at the lateral line.

Yes sir.  From outside the long side to outside the short side.
make sure that there's a couple of inches of leader between the exit and the hook so that the trailing hook can dangle.  You trailing hook should reach the tail of the bait.

Running it thru the cavity works and usually gives you a little more exagerated spin but I get more consistant results with the outside to outside method.

Oh yeah, one more reminder:  Don't reach for your rod until the fish is taking line off your reel.  If it's burried but the reel's not spinning, give 3 or 4 really hard strokes and check for line stripping.  Repeat if necessary.  This will guarantee a hook-set.

Cool. Thanks dude. Am I going to see you Friday AM?

Nah, I'll have tagged out long before you ever get a proper roll on your bait. 

That's true, but i think I'm good on that end, as long as I can shake the morning dumb *ss routine and keep from hanging up 5 times in the first hour.

1990 springers crossed bonny yesterday 4/22.

Still no takers for the MC tomorrow? Should be epic.

I'm in for tomorrow morning.  See you at the Gilbert River ramp in the morning. 

With all the conversations revolving around springers lately, I haven't heard any reports - good or bad.

So how have you all been doing? Catching? Biting? Just trolling?