Columbia River (Hammond) Report 8/26

Camped at Fort Stevens this weekend with the girlfriend and the kids.  I hadn't intended on fishing the Columbia but had my yak along just in case the ocean calmed down.  It didn't...

Sunday morning broke with no wind.  The waves didn't look very exciting so I thought I'd just scout around Hamond and see how the boats were doing for salmon.  Found a little park just north of the Hammond boat ramp with a sandy beach that entered the river thru a breach in the jetty wall.  Hmmm...  Nice little trail.  Hmmmm... An hour past low.  Hmmmm... 

I ran over the the CG station and asked if I'd be crazy to take my yak out there.  The person I spoke with said he'd seen it done before and the conditions were good.  BINGO!

It took all of 10min to get suited and rigged.  Luckily I had a wobbler and a 3oz. bananna weight in my gear bag.  The walk from my car was maybe 50 feet. 

I dropped my line in the Channel and paddled out to the green can.  What a beautiful morning!  I made 3 passes, each about a mile long.  On my last pass I had a driveby which whacked me in the head with my pole but didn't stick around.  I was trolling with my rod in a center mounted rod holder, pointing over my head so that it didn't put me on an angle.  Is this the right way to do it?  Anybody?

The trip back in was a lot of work as the current was really starting to pick up and the winds were now blowing from the SW.  The bite was picking up too but I decided I'd leave it to those with engines.

Apparently I was a novelty out there.  Lots of boats changed line while on plane to take a closer look and lots of people took pictures of the idiot on a pool toy.   

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the idiot on a pool toy.

Hey! I resemble that remark!
Sounds like a great day! Sweet find!

I troll with my rod angled a bit forward and out (habit from paddling instead of pedaling). You might want to loosen your drag a bit and/or use the clicker in freespool. I would'nt be too concerned about being pulled off axis unless your hooked into 400lbs of Salmon shark

So you fished through the bottom of the tide and the outgoing current got bigger as it went in? I don't think I understand.

I would'nt be too concerned about being pulled off axis unless your hooked into 400lbs of Salmon shark

I wasn't worried about what a fish would do.  I just don't like having to paddle twice on my right for every one on my left.  Oh well, there's no way to miss that bite when it's beating you on the head.  It's better than a bell. 

So you fished through the bottom of the tide and the outgoing current got bigger as it went in? I don't think I understand.

I was fishing the incoming.  It was perfectly slack for the 1st hour or so but by the time I made the trip to my take out, the water was filling the bay quickly.  The Channel that the big ships use on the Oregon side was flowing inland pretty fast.  I considered changing my line and shooting for the Hammond boat dock but the thought of spending $5 to take my yak out of the water kept me going.

The channel was by far the worst part of the trip.  I was making very slow progress.  I had to wait out a couple of HUGE barges and to top it off, I saw several boats hook up right in the channel as I was battling toward my gap in the jetty.

Did you see this guy out there?   

A few guys on ifish are calling you crazy ... http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?p=1646197  I asked them why?  Just getting some perspective.

-Allen

Did you see this guy out there?   

A few guys on ifish are calling you crazy ... http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?p=1646197  I asked them why?  Just getting some perspective.

-Allen

I think a lot of those PB'rs have the Hummer complex.
"I have big car (boat) I go where want, will crush compact car (kayak) w/o remorse."
There's a ton of water and plenty of room for all of us... Where's the love???

Z

I've had PBers offer me "help" in sloppy conditions. Silly people- I was dressed to get wet. They were wearing cotton and no PFDs.