Mighty Columbia/The Dalles

My Buddy and I will be hitting the Columbia tomorrow 6/4 below The Dalles Dam.  Going after great whites and smallmouth bass.  We will put in at the County Ramp just below the bridge.  I'm hoping to break in my new Cascade Pro XT Lamiglass rod.  Anyone able to hit it with us is welcome, Red/white Ford with matching canopy...and two yellow yaks up river in the shaker hole.  We will be on the water about 9AM.
 -Scott

Looking real good for smallmouth around here.

Good trip on the Columbia.  We were on the water at 9am and paddled straight for the shaker hole.  The water was pouring out of the dam so the water level was very high.  During the paddle up I saw an oversize (8ft.?) explode straight up out of the water about 100 yds away!  We anchored in 35ft of water and deployed squid with 8 oz. cannonballs. 

We were having plenty of taps and missing the hook set.  I caught one that came in at 37 inches and later landed another small shaker.  My buddy landed one small shaker and then lost his anchor.  We dragged the bottom trying to hook his line,  but no recovery. 

I did use the quick release on my anchor system one time.  My anchor lodged on the bottom and I began the sideways yaw into the current, so I opened the carabiner and tossed the line, line spool, and float over.  I had not tested the system in the current and was very happy to see the float did it's job.  A few upriver paddles to retrieve the anchor and I got it back. 

Yeah, there were lot's of bass anglers hitting the rip-rap and flooded willows.  I spent all my efforts on the sturgeon, right up until mother nature came looming over the horizon.  We pulled out and made it to the ramp just in time to avoid a real wind blown thunderstorm.  Sorry, I promised pics but did not get any.  We saw one other sit on top, a yellow shorty, parked on a rock island.
It did not have any rigging.

There were no shad to be seen, but a few boats had hooked oversize and we suspected they brought some fresh shad with them.  We scanned the water for a floater shad to use as bait, a preference, but did not see any.

The new rod worked great.
-Scott

Be real careful using an anchor on the Columbia, some of the currents and eddies there are as dangerous as it gets.
Ever try fishing for walleye up there around the dam? I hear it's pretty good but nobody fishes for them.

I totally agree, I'm very particular about when/where I put the anchor out.  I know where the fish are hanging but I'm opting out on most of those places for safety sake.  Mighty Columbia=Mighty Dangerous.  Gotta be responsible or else, right?
-Scott

There's always swimming........