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Author Topic: Springers 2023  (Read 27867 times)

Offline Mfowl

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Re: Springers 2023
« Reply #15 on: February 27, 2023, 06:42:09 PM »
Summers are my favorite to fish for as the weather is better, they seem to bite better and are bigger on average than the springers. BUT the springers are the best eating salmon that swims in our waters. Sockeye hold their own as well.
Fish hard, hunt harder!

Offline Blacklab

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Re: Springers 2023
« Reply #16 on: March 07, 2023, 05:53:44 PM »
Finished with my setups. From koke rigs to salmon. Minnie cut plugs to hootchies. The salmon mooching rigs. This is what I finished with. Diggin the colors Hoping the Springers do as well :tup:
Hey! I'm not a complete idiot I have parts missing. Though sometimes I wonder.

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Online metlhead

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Re: Springers 2023
« Reply #17 on: March 07, 2023, 06:44:20 PM »
I kept it very simple last year and did better than ever. No flashers and a red label herring.

Offline JBG

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Re: Springers 2023
« Reply #18 on: March 07, 2023, 06:53:52 PM »
Summer chinook are fantastic, but they aren't spring quality.  It makes sense, they stop eating when they come in and essentially breed at the same time, so those that come in earlier need to have more fat to survive longer in the river.  May or may not be scientifically correct, but that's what I always thought.
I've spoken to a biologist turned fish monger and this is their same sentiment and idea for why they taste better.  That being said this particular person preferred sockeye over everything else. 

Offline Blacklab

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Re: Springers 2023
« Reply #19 on: March 07, 2023, 07:06:10 PM »
Methead that’s interesting. Good to hear you did well. I’ve always used some type of flasher. Not sure if I have  the confidence to fish naked :yike: :yike: :yike:
Hey! I'm not a complete idiot I have parts missing. Though sometimes I wonder.

If you want to make God laugh tell him your plans.

Offline 2MANY

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Re: Springers 2023
« Reply #20 on: March 07, 2023, 08:21:00 PM »
Blue brined red label.
Or not.

Offline Blacklab

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Re: Springers 2023
« Reply #21 on: March 07, 2023, 08:32:01 PM »
I do both using procure igreen/blue. On the Green Lable.
Hey! I'm not a complete idiot I have parts missing. Though sometimes I wonder.

If you want to make God laugh tell him your plans.

Offline 7mmfan

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Re: Springers 2023
« Reply #22 on: March 08, 2023, 06:59:53 AM »
If you get the red label bent just right, they spin like an absolute top and those chinook just can't lay off. Greens are great too, if they're lean enough. Often they're just a little to fat and need to be cut plugged. I agree on blue. If you want to really mix it up, find some purple...  :yike:
I hunt, therefore I am.... I fish, therefore I lie.

Offline castie2504

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Re: Springers 2023
« Reply #23 on: March 17, 2023, 02:42:37 PM »
Any springers being caught below Bonneville yet? I don’t fish below the dam but I’m anxious to hear them showing below it, that means it won’t be too long before they are up towards me!
Life's a garden, Dig it!

Online metlhead

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Re: Springers 2023
« Reply #24 on: March 17, 2023, 02:59:33 PM »
Two fish over the block without any for weeks. Not optimistic yet.

Offline Mfowl

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Re: Springers 2023
« Reply #25 on: March 17, 2023, 03:40:18 PM »
Sounds like the water is COLD! 39 to 42°. I saw some pics of a few caught in the lower Willamette but only heard of 1 in the big river. It will happen! Just got to get the temps up a bit. Usually I would make my first trip about this time in March but early has not been good to me the last couple years. Holding off to hit it harder towards the end of the lower river season. C'mon spring! Let's get on with it!
Fish hard, hunt harder!

Offline Encore 280

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Re: Springers 2023
« Reply #26 on: March 17, 2023, 07:18:13 PM »
Hundreds and hundreds of sea lions by Cathlamet the other day. Friend of mine has been there for a couple weeks now. Sent me a video of the sea lions. You wouldn't believe how many there are down there chasing the smelt and Springers!! :bash: :bash: If you want to see the video, PM me your number and I'll text it to ya. It's unbelievable!

Offline Mfowl

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Re: Springers 2023
« Reply #27 on: March 17, 2023, 07:56:28 PM »
So are the smelt late or have they done their thing and are now being washed down river to the ocean? Last year the sea lions were thick all the way up to Portland. The Cowlitz mouth looked like a scene from National Geographic in late March. Hundreds of them on the sand bars there. You could see them chewing on smelt and the occasional springer up and down the river.
Fish hard, hunt harder!

Offline Encore 280

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Re: Springers 2023
« Reply #28 on: March 17, 2023, 08:20:13 PM »
My brother was down there the other day and said there's a lot of dead smelt that the sea lions are chowing down on. Don't know if there's another run going up river or not.

Offline CastleRocker

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Re: Springers 2023
« Reply #29 on: March 17, 2023, 08:34:45 PM »
I think there are some smelt coming back up the Columbia, just judging by the amount of Sea Lions showing back up.  They all left the Cowlitz and Columbia in the Longview area around the last week of February.  They (Sea Lions), have been showing up again this last week, but all I've seen them eating is Springers.  Not too many birds returning yet, but they are usually later, as they only pick the spawn-outs still swimming or dead ones.
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