Multnomah channel spring chinook

Anyone up for a few experimental springer trips to the channel over the next couple of weeks? 

My paddling and fishing experience in the channel is very limited (one trip), but it seems like a spot tailor made for kayak fishing... sheltered water, lots of put in options, etc...

Next Saturday, I'd like to do at least a half day of fishing on the channel.  If I can break away from work, I might do an afternoon trip or two this week.

Anyone familiar with this spot?  Would the high flows in the Willamette affect fishability here?  Any suggestions on lures/bait?  I was thinking of trolling a spinner or mag-wart.  Coon Island seems like a good spot to try, any other ideas?

Finally, how about put-ins?  Gilbert Island boat ramp is very convenient to Coon Island, but for an afternoon trip I'd rather not burn the time (and fuel) to go all the way round Sauvies Island.

I like the second corner down river from Coon Island(first corner up from Scappoose Bay) for springers. The approx GPS numbers are N45 48.6 W122 49.6. It gets less pressure than the Coon Island/Gilbert River stretch. I've also pulled a few fish out of there. You can launch at Scappoose Bay(a kayak shop there anyway) and paddle up to the corner. As soon as you enter the channel, drop your line and start trolling up. Work the channel from there through the corner and back down. Remember that springers like the fastest route so work the inside of the bend. I've done best trolling herring, but spinners are popular and probably better for kayaks since you don't have to worry about bait. Use a dropper line of lighter leader than your main line(because you will snag) and fish just off the bottom. I like to let line out until I see it bumping along the bottom and then reel in a few cranks. I then let out line if the depth gets deeper or reel in if I see the bottom taps on the rod tip. I use 2-3ft dropper. I'd love to go but my wife works every other weekend so I'll be busy watching our kids this coming weekend.

Count me in.  Can't bring much experience to the venture, but entusiastic about trying.  The channel looks like a "safe" place to start my Chinook learning - bouy 10 will have to wait.  Hard to get away during the week for me, at least for another month or so, so I'm a weekend fisherman for now.

Got an Anchor/Trolley set-up done over the weekend so ready for trying some of these other fisheries.  I do need to get a suitable rod for Chinook and planning on doing that this week. Berkely IM7 seems to be a good choice from what I've read and is on sale right now (Joes and Fishermans).  Have picked up some spreaders, weights, kwik-fish and a Wobbler.  So have SOME hardware to throw at them, but it WILL be a leaning experience.

-= Scott

Thanks for the tips.  I called up those GPS coords in Google Earth... I'll save them to my fish finder tonight.

One thing though, it looks like it is about a 3 mile paddle to that spot from the ramp at Scappoose Bay Marina.  Has the whole length of the channel in this area been productive for you, or the area around the gps coordinates in particular.  The reason I ask is that it looks like Hogan Road parallels the channel very closely there... I wonder if there might be a launch point along there somewhere.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=N45+48.6+W122+49.6&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=16

Not just the corner, I have caught fish in the straight stretch between the corner and Scappoose bay. Closer to the corner, but in the straight stretch none the less. People tend to work bends because of the "inside corner" theory about spingers. By that theory, a corner stacks up fish since they all will be cutting inside where as a straight stretch they will spread out. The same reason people like Coon Island, it gets narrow which increases your odds of having a fish swim by your lure. But the fish change with weather, water temps, etc. I was once working the shallower(lower current) area's near shore since that's where people told me where spingers would be. And I wasn't alone, all the boats were working the same line. I'd been at it for hours. Then along comes this rogue boat down stream in the middle of the shipping channel(deepest water) and proceeds to catch two fish just in the stretch where I can watch him. So I think about it for a bit, and say "screw this, let's troll the deep water also" to my fishing buddy. So I move over to the shipping channel and turn down stream and within twenty minutes I had a chrome bright 17ish lb buck on the deck! It was a very sunny day, and it was getting later in the season so the water was warm. I think the fish had moved to deep water because of one of those two factors. So "normal" tactics are a good guide, but don't be shy to try new things or fish area's that don't have many boats. Heck you're already not "normal" because you're in a KAYAK!!!

Well, the 3 day forecast is for rain, maybe snow, overcast skies, highs in the upper 40's... perfect kayak weather!

I'm 50/50 for leaving work early tomorrow and/or Friday to experiment in this area.  More likely for Saturday morning.  Brrr....

Just watched the news tonight...bbbrrrrr.....

I'm out for Tomorrow and Friday, but definately in for the weekend.  Got the last few pieces of gear worked out and a completed anchor system - Hope 225' will be enough. 

If you do go tomorrow/friday and find a good launch place closer to Coon island let me know.   You thinking a early Saturday morning launch?

I'd offer to car pool, but that darn Big Game takes up 3/4 of my roof rack.  Been thinking about building an detachable multi-kayak rack for my utility trailer.

Who else is up for some Springer fishing?

-= Scott

High hoe Siliver...They're coming....

http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?p=1937771#post1937771

Maybe I should get some Herring & Smelt

Unless the surf report changes, I'll probably be fishing the M/C on Sunday.

If I can get out tomorrow or thursday, I'll probably take my Hobie and launch from Scappoose.  Got to love that 3.5-4 mph cruising speed.

I know of a spot one could launch a kayak right above Coon Island (not more than 1/4 mile) via a dirt access road behind a locked gate on Sauvies Island.  I am not sure, however, that the gate is open yet... may not open until April 15th (the general opener for the interior of Sauvies).

Sounds like springer fishing has been red-hot on the main Columbia around the 205 bridge... wonder if there is a semi-sheltered area around their suitable for kayaks?

My wife and I are planning a week long trip down to SE Oregon at the end of April, will probably take the kayaks (stops at the Warner Wetlands and Abert Lake).  I'm going to rig my raft trailer up to carry them, I think.

If you want some company, Spot, let us know where you are going to launch.  If I don't go after work this week, I'll use the time to catch up on house chores and go fishing all weekend.

If you want some company, Spot, let us know where you are going to launch.  If I don't go after work this week, I'll use the time to catch up on house chores and go fishing all weekend.

The surf report is improving for Sunday so I'm not sure at this point which I'll be doing.  It's a tough call cause the reports have been really good on ifish but this time of year, good waves are rare and worth dropping everything to find.   

Threeweight - Were you able to get out and find a luanch area nearer to Coon Island?

The weather is looking really sucky for Saturday, but I'm still planning on giving it a try, them Springers seem to be willing.  Unless that gate is open on Sauvies, I'm thinking of leaving from Scappose Bay around 8am, but don't know if I'd make it all the way to Coon Island.  Sounds like there is opportunities at the mouth of the bay down towards Coon Island also.  Never been to any of these areas in a Kayak before. 

If you want to discuss it more, feel free to give me a call on my Cell phone if you are still going in the morning, 503-421-3150. 

I dealt with house chores yesterday afternoon.  Got the kayak all loaded up and ready to go last night, to find it snowing this morning (and I left my $#@^!^&! paddle at home).  I'm going to try and peel out of here at noon, grab my paddle, and head out this afternoon.

I'm down for tomorrow, launching in Scappoose is fine by me.

If you guys are paddling up from Scapoose, you'll probably want to time your launch with the incomming tide and your return with the outgoing.  I paddled from the Gilbert River boat ramp to coon island just after high tide and it was a very slow and labor intensive trip.  Also, the chances of a hook-up are much better if you're trolling with the tide movement.

 

Got the kayak all loaded up and ready to go last night, to find it snowing this morning (and I left my $#@^!^&! paddle at home).

Lol!    I haven't forgotten my paddle yet but I've gotten to the ocean on a perfect fishing day only to find that I forgot my large hatch cover in the garage..... Doh!