Willapa Bay

[bigcountry]

Heading to Willapa Bay on Sat, anyone fished it recently, whats the word?  Im thinking with the little rain we're supposed to get Friday should bring some new fish in.

[BigGoonTuna]

i've heard rumors of some fish, but can't verify.  i do believe it's about that time!

[buckhorn2]

Saw a lot of boat trailers in the parking lot yesterday.

[Wacenturion]

Let us know how you do...............pictures if possible.

[bigcountry]

Yeah hopefully some good pics to come!   

[wackmaster]

It is cool there but a lot of weeds divers do not work lead does good luck hope to see some pics

[bigcountry]

Well no pics yet (left my camera at my buddys house) but Ill update ya with the story.  Went out Saturday and caught only 1 king, buddy had 3 strikes total, I had a big nothing!    Lots of boats on the water and nobody was doing much.  The bite that did happen seemed to last only 30 minutes or so...then dead.  So after that for some strange reason we decided to head out yesterday too.  Bite was better and lasted a bit longer.  We were on the water at 7 and back at 2.  I had 3 strikes, landed 2 fish and my buddy had 4 strikes and no fish.....barbless hooks   He had a really nice fish (20+) up to the boat and just as I threw the net in the water it spit the hooks.  Better fishing but still not great.

wackmaster - yeah the salad in the bay is usually horrible but for the first time there was nothing, I couldnt believe it.  I never once pulled my line up and had to knock the crap off.  That made fishing alot more relaxing not having to reel up all the time checking, and always be wondering if you're draggin a pile of weeds around. 

Pics to come....

[Knotabite]

hey big country... have you been back down to the bay recently?... I'm on the top side of the columbia where i live. Salmon are slowing a little here and are turning toward the smoker stage. Just wondering if you could share the tackle they use there?. Would like to get out that way and try but not sure if the gear used is the same or? and man does it very here.. super baits, plugs, pro trolls. Is it mostly herring out there, downriggers? Are you at Tokeland launching or inside toward South Bend? 6 hour drive for me so any info would be very appreciated.

[Professor Chaos]

standard set up is a cut plug herring behind a fish flash.  Either fished off a diver or with a lead dropper. 

[bigcountry]

hey knotabite, like prof said we generally use cutplug herring behind a fish flash or dodger, then a diver or lead.  i prefer diver myself.  No downriggers needed here, most of the fish run from 5 to 20 feet deep, shallow bay anyway.  We launch at Southbend usually.  The fish are in the river now so should be able to fish right from the launch all the way out to tokeland. I havent been out for a week or so now, archery season so that takes priority    The fish seemed to be really late this year, so Im thinking the silvers should be in thick right bout now.  Keep in mind the fishing can be really hot one day and cold the next so keep at it.  Let me know how you do if you head down....good luck