Springer season getting close, who's going

[cavemann]

It's almost that time.  We are officially done with kids in HS spring sports and this will be the first year I can really plan something.  Who's going?

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[Blacklab]

Me me me

I struggled last Springer season. I did okay in the fall. this year I hope is better. Won’t be able to get out until the 23 of march. 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[Angus]

Just got back from Bob's, all stocked up on herring. Will be fishing out of Willow Grove and Kalama as much as possible until it closes.

[trophyhunt]

Would love to go! Hopefully my retired, single cousin who loves to fish can get off the couch!!! 

[Klickitatsteelie]

Will be starting probably the 27th of this month then it’s game on through mid June.

[WoolyRunner]

Anyone plunk for them? I’m interested in chatting with you. Thanks

[Scvette]

Can’t wait to start doing this in my new to me boat. Did a charter last year and I’m hooked.

[Blacklab]

Anyone plunk for them? I’m interested in chatting with you. Thanks

Not like I used to. Might do it this yr once or twice.

[HntnFsh]

Ill be out. Boat and bank. Columbia and Cowlitz. Maybe even a little Cowlitz plunking at times.

[buglebuster]

Anybody looking forward to the toilet bowl at drano… I prefer to call it the circle jerk 

[trophyhunt]

Anybody looking forward to the toilet bowl at drano… I prefer to call it the circle jerk 

I'd do it again in a second, but only as a guest!!  I would not want to be the captain of any boat in that chit show, but pretty fun as a client. 

[cavemann]

Drano is like a drug..  you know it's not good for your health but people can't stay away...  I'm with t, no way I'd take my boat unless I was making a gamble on early season before it gets crazy..  I've been there on someone else boat early and we did get fish.

Of all of you going, how many are trolling vs hog lining?

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[Kingofthemountain83]

Anybody looking forward to the toilet bowl at drano… I prefer to call it the circle jerk 

I watched Vlad Siryk dive Drano on his youtube and pull out thousands of dollars worth of flashers and lead balls from a tall tree snag... Was pretty impressive... Had to have been years worth...

[TeacherMan]

I'll be bank fishing the Clearwater in May and June if that counts.

[Mfowl]

I suggest we all collectively boycott the entire month of March for springer fishing and force dfw to extend the season in April with the remaining quota! That being said I will try to fish the very tail end in early April provided water conditions permit it.
The sea lions are already stacked at the cowlitz mouth and likely up and down the main river for miles. The last couple years just haven't been worth it to fish when the barking furbags have overrun the river. Once the smelt dissipate they thin out.

[Ridgeratt]

So when I used to fish little goose. The sportsman got one day a week and the local tribes would fish on the days we couldn't if a fish came to the beach it went into a cooler and never checked on a clipped fin. They also didn't stop at a single fish.
I'm not faulting the tribes that's what they are allowed to catch.

[WSU]

I suggest we all collectively boycott the entire month of March for springer fishing and force dfw to extend the season in April with the remaining quota! That being said I will try to fish the very tail end in early April provided water conditions permit it.
The sea lions are already stacked at the cowlitz mouth and likely up and down the main river for miles. The last couple years just haven't been worth it to fish when the barking furbags have overrun the river. Once the smelt dissipate they thin out.

boycott or not, there's not much catching going on anyway to affect the quota.  If I fish the Columbia for springers, I don't even bother until late March when there's actually fish around.

This year may be good depending on the amount of runoff, although it looks like we're about to get extra feet of snow over the next few weeks.

[Martinhunter]

Anybody looking forward to the toilet bowl at drano… I prefer to call it the circle jerk 

  Yeah I did the circle jerk last year at Drano, never again. Hooked 3 fish but not my kind of fishing.

[Crunchy]

I wouldn't do it too crowded.  This from the guy who fished the Puyallup shoulder to shoulder a couple of times last year and didn't bring crap home haha.  That's why I love fishing the ocean.

[MLhunter1]

Back in the day I would have a handful of springers by now. First one usually came in mid feb. Now days I won’t feel confident until the last weekend of march. Funny how the run has changed. Loaded up on bait and gear and got the boat ready last weekend.  Might go Saturday. Good luck fellas.

[metlhead]

Anybody hitting the Columbia should get updates. This is Cathlamet on Saturday. Amount of wood coming down, I wouldn't put a boat in. Lotsa rain this week and snowmelt from EWa might put a damper on the effort.

[2MANY]

Oh hell.
Just use a bigger flasher.

[MLhunter1]

That’s ugly lookin. Looks a lot better above the Cowlitz and willamette mud. Few fish been caught at caterpillar and Davis bar this week.

[cavemann]

Hoping the weather/water conditions are better this weekend, going to try our luck Saturday..

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[HntnFsh]

Heard the river is looking much better and there have been some fish being caught. Pretty tempted to give it a try. But, dam Ive been having fun with the steelhead the last couple weeks! And I only have to go across the road to get them!

[Alchase]

Heard the river is looking much better and there have been some fish being caught. Pretty tempted to give it a try. But, dam Ive been having fun with the steelhead the last couple weeks! And I only have to go across the road to get them!

I would much rather eat a bright Steelhead than a King or Silver.

Where are you hitting Steelhead?

[buglebuster]

I would also just fish for steelhead lol

[metlhead]

Steelhead are fun to fish for but as bright as one may look, these late winter runs are only FishnChip or smoker quality at my house. Fresh summer runs, now that'd be tough to trade away.

[Crunchy]

Steelhead are fun to fish for but as bright as one may look, these late winter runs are only FishnChip or smoker quality at my house. Fresh summer runs, now that'd be tough to trade away.

I would never eat another steelhead.  Tried them twice and to me it tastes just like rainbow trout, and I dont eat those either.  Fun to catch though.  Give me my kings, coho and sockeye and halibut and lings and seabass.

[7mmfan]

Fresh June/July summer runs are about as good as it gets as far as I'm concerned. Right up there with any premium salmonid.

[HntnFsh]

Fresh June/July summer runs are about as good as it gets as far as I'm concerned. Right up there with any premium salmonid.

Agreed!


Winter runs are fun. But dont have the fat content and aren't as good of table fare. I've been giving a lot of it away.

[cavemann]

Leaving early tomorrow, anyone know how the water is looking?  Did it clear up at all around Longview/kalama area?

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[HntnFsh]

Everything I hear is water looks great and a few fish are dying. Ive been tempted but still picking up fish on the Cow. And its just a 2 minute journey and sit on the bank and relax! Brother in law got a local springer the other day!

[cavemann]

Right on..  it's been years since I've fished the Columbia for springers and good excuse to get the boat on the water after winter.  First spring empty nesting and no kids spring sports, so time to take up mine!

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[HntnFsh]

Go getem!
Good luck!

[Blacklab]

👍😉🥃🇺🇸

[huntnnw]

Anybody looking forward to the toilet bowl at drano… I prefer to call it the circle jerk 

I’ll be there for a week 

[cavemann]

Great weather and water conditions, but no fish.  Not often you get a day on the big river with no wind.  Quite a few boats, didn't see a single net fly.  Well worth getting on the water though.

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[Mfowl]

Great weather and water conditions, but no fish.  Not often you get a day on the big river with no wind.  Quite a few boats, didn't see a single net fly.  Well worth getting on the water though.

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What were the sea lions like? Are they still thick in the river?

[cavemann]

We launched out of Ridgefield and saw 2-3 seals all day on the St Helens side and south end of sand island.  Didn't see any sea lions, but judging on not seeing any fish caught, probably no reason for them to be there.  lol

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[MLhunter1]

Me and my son fished the lower river Saturday. We got lucky and caught two and missed one. Quite a few sea lions down that way but the didn’t bother us this time. 

[Scvette]

Anything happening near the mouth of the Cowlitz?

[Blacklab]

Can’t seem to get excited right now with a little over 100 going over the dam. Maybe get out b4 the eighth…… Good luck to all that do