OPENING DAY

[alanger]

Anyone fish the opening day on the columbia for salmon??? How'd you guys do?

[h2ofowlr]

Did good.  We boated a nice 40 lb URB.

[alanger]

that was from today? didnt think fish got that big in that river???

[Antlershed]

that was from today?

The Columbia opened over a week ago for Kings. Some friends of mine got a 39-pounder this last sunday.

[alanger]

I am talking from today i know they opened the head of the entiat river. up in there but for chinook and sockeye it opened today.

[PolarBear]

that was from today? didnt think fish got that big in that river???

They get quite a bit bigger, just not as common.  We have caught over a dozen 50 pound + kings on the lower Columbia. Nice king h2ofowler!  I cant wait to hit it next month at the mouth.

[h2ofowlr]

This one was caught off the mouth of the Lewis River on a spinner.  They were running sardine wrapped quick fish and nothing was happening.  Switched over and 20 minutes later bendo.

[dbllunger]

h2ofowler...Nice fish any day any place.  I love it when they call a true lower river fish an "upriver".  Is that because he/she is swimming up a river?  The upper Columbia opened today, and that is what is being asked about.  Oh yes the Columbia actually does go all the way into Canada and does not stop at the Dalles.  Yes that was sarcasm....as most people forget about the true up river fish.  From what I heard most fish were caught between Rock Island - Rocky Reach - Wells.  Above Wells a few were caught but pretty slim.  Most that hold in Brewster area already went up the Okanogan as it was -70 up to a few days ago.  The glut is coming and any place between Rock Island and Chief Joe will be good from here on out.

[h2ofowlr]

We have typically called it an URB when caught on the main stream CR.  Obviously if it hasn't been chipped you don't know.  And I don't carry the wand to tell you where it was destined for.  If we catch it in one of the tributaries, one of this size might be called a touley, King, Chinook, June Hawg, a big effing fish, etc.  Whatever floats your boat.  I just know they are tasty.  They typically don't spawn until fall.  High concentration of fat, so the meat is very red.  I think they taste better than the Copper River salmon.  I don't know where the cut off on the CR is where the name flips to URB.  Most guys throw that name out when on the middle main stream CR below Bonneville.    

[alanger]

Thanks for that dbllunger.  We might be heading out this evening get the nite bite on them. I've been checking fish counts in that area and calculating approximately how many fish have stayed in that area and gone up the wenatchee. and seen how many have gone up thru rocky reach. I heard the hot spots were up below rocky reach and the mouth of the wenatchee.  Guess I'll have to see for myself.

[ducks55]

Yesterday three boats boated 14 fish below wells. Went above rocky reach this morning got a few bites no one was catching much so we left.

[Drop Tine]

Very nice alanger cant wait till tomarrow to giv it a go myself.

[mossback91]

I know some natives caught a couple fish at chief joe a couple days ago.............

[klickman]

We have typically called it an URB when caught on the main stream CR.  Obviously if it hasn't been chipped you don't know.  And I don't carry the wand to tell you where it was destined for.  If we catch it in one of the tributaries, one of this size might be called a touley, King, Chinook, June Hawg, a big effing fish, etc.  Whatever floats your boat.  I just know they are tasty.  They typically don't spawn until fall.  High concentration of fat, so the meat is very red.  I think they taste better than the Copper River salmon.  I don't know where the cut off on the CR is where the name flips to URB.  Most guys throw that name out when on the middle main stream CR below Bonneville.    

URB's are a strain of fall chinook.  URB's historically spawned in the upper Columbia, now they spawn in hatcheries up and down the columbia as well as the handford reach, snake river, and some other mid columbia tribs.  THey typically don't show up until at the earliest Aug.  Tule's are also a strain of fall fish that are native to the Lower colubia tribs.  The majority of the summer kings "June Hogs" are destined for the upper columbia river tribs.  

One hell of a fish by the way.


KLICKMAN

[alanger]

Well we gave it a shot and we got 1 hard hit and missed it. First time out for the year and didnt really give it our all. We are going to rufus saturday and columbia sunday and monday.     


WHat part of the columbia are you fishing Drop Tine???