Posts: 230
Threads: 17
Joined: Jan 2013
Reputation:
4
Wife & I went to the Columbia River again for two weeks in August for the salmon run. Said I would give a report, but didn't due to some health issues. All is well again so here is the report for those who are interested. Arrived 8/10 put "True Blue" in Marina slip and checked out all the local contacts for up to date info ... Not promising this week due to river water being 2 degrees warmer than normal. Went out 8/11 got two Kings no silvers. Broke a new 10' Lamiglas off right above the handle (they wouldn't warrant it). Next day two more Kings, but one turned out to be a Tule (white salmon) and not a keeper. Got the skunk the next couple of days and decided to cross the bar and follow the guide boats out as they were limiting on Silvers out a few miles. Well, "a few miles" turned out to be about 20 miles offshore in 8' swells with wind waves on top of that. The good news was we limited on Silvers and did the same again the next day. Wife did most of the catching while I tried to keep the boat under control. Those were hands and knees in the bottom of the boat days and we decided no more of that until the seas got calmer. Back to buoy 10 with only modest success. Salmon finally came in just as it was time for us to go.
As always it was a great trip in spite of high wind, horrible fog and a late run. Ended up with 5 Kings & 8 large Silvers to fill the freezer and give to friends. My pictures are on other computer, but I can attach some if anyone is interested. Just let me know.
[signature]
Posts: 464
Threads: 8
Joined: Sep 2009
Reputation:
1
Great report. It was worth waiting for. I would be interested in seeing your pictures.
What marina did you put your boat in? I have fished for Sturgeon above Astoria. And for Kings & Cohos on both sides of the bar. Crossing the bar can be spooky at times.
[signature]
Posts: 230
Threads: 17
Joined: Jan 2013
Reputation:
4
BSE, we usually fish between the Astoria bridge and buoy 10. It was pretty slow this year except for the early run of Kings. They migrated to about 8 miles above the bridge and then they just hung out for a while. Those guys that were up there had a good time. We didn't realize they stopped their run so we missed out on that action except for the four Kings we got as they were on their way up. Interesting that we caught all of our Silvers out in the ocean on a Fish Flash I make. A local told me to try a "rootbeer" colored Fish Flash. The closest I could come to that was a gold/orange stripe ... and it worked ... 9 Silvers up to 17#!!! I'll include a picture of that Fish Flash.
We stayed in Ilwaco so we rented a slip in the Ilwaco Marina. It was cheaper to rent the slip for the entire month than just the three weeks we wanted. Its really convenient not having to put in and take out every day. At my age I'm tired after 10 hour on the water.
We had a great time as usual and a couple of really great salmon dinners. Here's some pics:
[signature]
Posts: 317
Threads: 9
Joined: Feb 2008
Reputation:
1
Nice report and great catch! What month were you there? I fished out of Garibaldi/Tillamook for Halibut in early August and we got a few. Too early in the Columbia for Kings then. Only got one take down all day on silver/green/red flashers w/ whole anchovies.
TiteLines
[signature]
Posts: 230
Threads: 17
Joined: Jan 2013
Reputation:
4
We got to ilwaco the 9th of August and left on the 23rd. We got 5 Kings in the river from 8/10 to 8/12, but then it just shut down until the 24th. Next year I'm going up the last two weeks of August. With warmer water I think that's a safer bet.
I thought about heading down to Tillamook Bay for a day, but as I recall they shut down the Silver fishing there due to low returning silvers. Hoping 2017 will be better for the silvers. I heard they did well up River in September.
If you want to try one of my Fish Flashers next year let me know and I'll send you one. Good fishin'.
[signature]
Posts: 253
Threads: 1
Joined: Feb 2011
Reputation:
0
That looks like a lot of fun. Something I am a few steps closer to doing since I picked up a new project boat that should be able to handle the bigger water better than my aluminum boat can. How do you like the optimax engine on your boat? What year/hp is it?
Thanks!!
[signature]
Posts: 230
Threads: 17
Joined: Jan 2013
Reputation:
4
The Mercury Optimax is an awesome engine. Mine is a 175 HP, 2006 year. Hard to believe it's been 10 years since I bought this boat. It has both fuel and oil injection, consequently very low emissions. It even qualifies and is listed to be used on Lake Tahoe.
I have had good experience with it except for the time I cross threaded a plug in the aluminum head and had to have that replaced. The bottom plugs on each bank are really hard to reach for maintenance. That's probably my biggest complaint except for its idling noise. Those buggers are noisy!
It's been super reliable but if I could, I would go to one larger size in a four stroke Verado. The reason for one larger size is they are much, much quieter and the engine wouldn't have to work so hard fighting those eight foot ocean swells at 12 mph (when you can't get up on plane)
[signature]
Posts: 253
Threads: 1
Joined: Feb 2011
Reputation:
0
Good to know. I picked up a Boston Whaler 19' and its rated for a 150hp engine.
Trolling for kokes should not be a problem since we have the motorguide IX5 but running offshore is something I am hoping to do. Maybe not with 8' swells, but we'll see. When the boat is ready I will have to pick your brain on what to use, where to stay.. etc.
Thank you. Nice boat too!!
[signature]
Posts: 317
Threads: 9
Joined: Feb 2008
Reputation:
1
Yes, we couldn't fish for Silvers out of Garibaldi this year due to poor returns. In 2015 we limited trolling in from the Halibut grounds. The warm Columbia really turns off the Kings. Hoping for some Springer action about March/April. We'll go up after the Halibut in August again. Love to try your flasher when I go up. What was your lure/bait of choice?
TiteLines
[signature]
Posts: 230
Threads: 17
Joined: Jan 2013
Reputation:
4
I used 40# braid tied to a small deep6 diver. 3' of mono to my 6" Fish Flash (gold/orange stripe) then 3' to a 5 bead swivel and 3' more to the bait. For bait we used a 4" yellow/red squid ahead of two 3/0 barbless hooks slip tied. Plug cut anchovies on front hook with a couple half hitches on the body with second hook trailing. This rig got most of the silvers and was given to me by a local resident. Some times we would use a herring clamped in a Pro Troll bait holder. This rig was more effective for the Kings.
The small Deep 6 Diver was more than adequate to get the bait down the 20 - 25' for silvers and 30 ' for the kings. I really like them and use them regularly trolling for Kokanee and trout locally. Do modify them tho with holographic decals. Locally I have found that green divers work best regardless of what you put behind it.
Hope that helps. I will have my new web site back up in a couple of days and you can check some things out there, too.
[signature]
