Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: t6 on March 23, 2011, 08:30:11 PM

Title: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: t6 on March 23, 2011, 08:30:11 PM: WTH are all the Columbia River springers? Been out twice and we've only seen three fish caught.

Now they're going to close the river April 4th. Watch the fish show up around the 15th of April as usual and our game departments in their infinite wisdom will keep the river closed.

So much for springer fishing.
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on March 23, 2011, 08:35:24 PM: LOL yep. The major numbers start heading over bon mid to end of april. Went out yesterday down lower 8) and saw 7 fish caught. our boat wacked a nice keeper. 6 of the Fish were keepers and 1 nate.
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: Rainstorm Hunter on March 23, 2011, 08:38:04 PM: Yup and they will probably be opening for the netters after the 4th.
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: Button Nubbs on March 23, 2011, 08:43:27 PM: The people who predict fish returns are worse than weather men...
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on March 23, 2011, 11:58:08 PM: Now come on, they get it right 10% of the time. The weather men are only right 2% of the time :chuckle:
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: agchawk on March 24, 2011, 12:29:16 AM: Quote from: carpsniperg2 on March 23, 2011, 11:58:08 PM
Now come on, they get it right 10% of the time. The weather men are only right 2% of the time :chuckle:

Damn it Carp, as a retired Navy Weatherman I take offense! We got it right AT LEAST 5% of the time!
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: wildmanoutdoors on March 24, 2011, 05:43:06 AM: Still too early. At least we wont be near our Quota. I'm waiting to fish after they re open it. ;) Heck Cathlamet never got turning on till about now, and lots are on the upper river which is cold and murky. Just cause its open does not mean its near prime time! The State opened it too early, but my bets are a re opening will be bonkers!
With as spotty as it is in March and fuel so high I have to have the best odds. Lol
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: Button Nubbs on March 24, 2011, 06:56:58 AM: Ok, 10% but that is every other year when they say its gonna be a huge humpy run. I could do that! :chuckle:
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: D-Rock425 on March 24, 2011, 07:12:50 AM: I have a theory on the springers and game department every year they say a huge run of springers so everyone and their dog buys a fishing license by April 1st then they shut it down to low numbers year after year. :bash:
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: Blacklab on March 24, 2011, 07:16:03 AM: Been out half dozen times only seen a few fish caught mostly from boats. As for us land dwellers even worse. I hope they reopen it when the run really starts.
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: wildmanoutdoors on March 24, 2011, 07:57:47 AM: They will open it once they get a warm fuzzy feeling on the prediction.
If the run shows true to prediction and they open it around the 15th of April it will be bonkers!
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: blacktailhunter on March 24, 2011, 08:22:25 AM: It's early and the water is cold. Fish seem to come back later and later each year. I'm no biologist but I believe this has something to do with pounding on these early fish every year. Throw in another 1000 sea lions in the lower columbia system that supposedly eat about 5 salmon a day.

Fishing won't be great on the CR by the close on the 5th. Check your logs from years past, I bet you don't have many fish punches in Mar. If you want to get some fish this season on the CR it's going to take some serious hours on the water.

Good luck, see you all on the Willamette if it ever clears.
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: t6 on March 24, 2011, 09:37:51 AM: Fished just outside the Willamette on Tuesday... It was real muddy looking. Hooked up a couple of shaker sturgeon but that was it.

I checked my card from last year... yup your right nothing on it until April 12th. and not for a lack of trying.

New boat this year so I'll be spending lots of time on the water.
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: wildmanoutdoors on March 24, 2011, 10:07:53 AM: The year before we started doing really well around the 17th, right before they shut it down. This was at Beacon.
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: MtnMuley on March 24, 2011, 10:31:16 AM: I know of a group of several people that have been fishing there for the last 8 days, and haven't had a bite??? These old guys are no rookies either. Muddy water has been the case most of the time. Gil net test runs produced 4 springers and 14 steelies and 3 springers and 17 steelies, so their season doesn't look too promising either. Eventually they've got to make the surge........I'm sure after 4/4. :(
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: Bigshooter on March 24, 2011, 10:44:48 AM: You can keep track here.

http://www.fpc.org/currentdaily/HistFishTwo_7day-ytd_Adults.htm (http://www.fpc.org/currentdaily/HistFishTwo_7day-ytd_Adults.htm)
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: MtnMuley on March 24, 2011, 10:52:02 AM: I have a habit of visiting that site daily. ;)
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: bullcanyon on March 24, 2011, 09:14:56 PM: Since when is fishing good this early? Seems like the last few years the fishing isn't worth the gas money until the 25th of march on. Take in to consideration the extremely cold muddy water and the fluctuating flows. You just aren't going to see many fish caught on a consistent basis. Two years ago we got our first fish march 24th and only seen a few caught that day. Fished the following week and were off the water by 9:30 with 4 fish. Unfortunately we are looking at an early closure which sends us down to try and get one before we can't even try. Hopefully we will get a few days when there are a few more fish in the river and the conditions are more conducive to catching. Until than I'm staying on the cow.
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: huntnnw on March 25, 2011, 12:28:40 PM: Ill be waiting till may for the clearwater and salmon rivers in ID ;)
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: dc on March 25, 2011, 12:50:45 PM: Managed to put 2 in the boat and miss 2 this week on the lower river. 3 trips 2 fish. Better than the average from what I have been hearing. Better to be lucky than good.
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: bullcanyon on March 26, 2011, 07:51:05 PM: Well it sounds like the 25th was the day to be there. Lots of fish caught. Three buddies went down today and caught 6 by 10:30. They had to sort through 3 natives to limit out. I'll be down tomorrow draggin headless herring around till the boat is full of stinky ol springer.
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on March 26, 2011, 08:47:07 PM: Were they on a guide boat? that sounds like part of a post on ifish with a guide that limited out by 10:30 with 6 fish on the 25th? Been some big springers getting caught. I heard a 32lber got caught today :yike: a few 22-28 as well. I plan on fishing with my cuzz this next weekend if he will get back to me and tell me a time :rolleyes: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: huntnnw on March 26, 2011, 10:11:49 PM: alot of 5 year fish this year... i know of several 30 lbers caught
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: sisu on March 27, 2011, 09:20:43 AM: Quote from: Button Nubbs on March 24, 2011, 06:56:58 AM
Ok, 10% but that is every other year when they say its gonna be a huge humpy run. I could do that! :chuckle:
Humpies! You guys actually eat these fish? I'll keep some females if fresh in salt for a smoke or all boned out for dog food, but really humpy fishing is catch & release in my opinion.
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: cohoho on March 27, 2011, 03:30:55 PM: Quote from: sisu on March 27, 2011, 09:20:43 AM
Quote from: Button Nubbs on March 24, 2011, 06:56:58 AM
OK, 10% but that is every other year when they say its gonna be a huge humpy run. I could do that! :chuckle:
Humpies! You guys actually eat these fish? I'll keep some females if fresh in salt for a smoke or all boned out for dog food, but really humpy fishing is catch & release in my opinion.

In true Alaskan spirit!!!! :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: Your the best Sisu!!!! :yike: :yike: One of these days we have got to go fishing together... Before you head back to the Wonderland, I so miss, especially from about a month from now till Oct 15th.....
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: TheHunt on March 27, 2011, 04:51:55 PM: Humpy fishing... I will keep some fat hen's for their eggs then will smoke them up. Only way I can eat them and keep the eggs with a clear conscious.
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: Button Nubbs on March 27, 2011, 05:34:10 PM: Who ever said they eat them :dunno: :chuckle:

I gét the eggs and neighbors/co-workers/friends get some "fresh caught salmon" :chuckle:
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: bullcanyon on March 27, 2011, 07:40:36 PM: No they were fishing on their own boat. We hit the same exact stretch today and counted 3 fish landed in 6 hours. The wind was blowing us over 4 mph at one point so we bagged it and hit the barrier on the way home with diver and bait and got nada. Just wasn't our day. Guessing it wasn't many fishermens day unless it turned on after 1.

Why do people anchor up right in the middle of 50+ boats trolling? After one does it several more follow suit, and pretty soon ya get a maze of idiots to troll through. Which is pretty tough with the wind.
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: blacktailhunter on March 28, 2011, 08:59:27 AM: It was tough fishing yesterday in that southeast wind. I had my bow mount electric on yesterday so I could slow down and control the bow of the boat. Luckily I happened to put my herring in front of a biter yesterday and boated my 1st of the year.

bullcanyon we also had boats anchoring up in the trolling lanes where we were fishing or might have been on the same troll as you. Saw lots of flashers lost to anchor ropes.

Good luck out there everyone, unfortunely with the season dates it's all about time on the water and getting into a pod of fish that will bite.
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: bolsen on March 29, 2011, 07:43:54 AM: fishing is getting better as of this last week, saw probly a dozen caught yesterday around us. we picked up this one trolling herring.
bullcanyon, were you who ryan came down to go fishing with? i didnt even go out that day it was so nasty out.
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: Dustin07 on March 29, 2011, 11:43:26 AM: Quote from: Button Nubbs on March 24, 2011, 06:56:58 AM
Ok, 10% but that is every other year when they say its gonna be a huge humpy run. I could do that! :chuckle:

thats this year! and I'm already drooling!!!
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: bullcanyon on March 29, 2011, 07:28:15 PM: Yep. That be me. I seen that pic yesterday. Nice fish. That one you guys got friday was REAL nice!! We are debating on if we are coming down thursday or waiting for the weekend. Gonna hit the cow if not. That was the worst day I've had trying to troll in that mess. Probably should of gone down lower and hid with some kwikfish.
Title: Re: Columbia River Springers MIA?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on March 29, 2011, 10:58:57 PM: Nice lookin fish. I have been out only 1 time this year our boat got one. Been watchin all the talk on a few other sites. It has been very marginal and the nets are in/going in and the season shuts down the 4th :bash: Plan on fishing this saturday or sunday on my uncles boat. Might try to bum a seat on another boat the day before I head out with them.