Columbia River Springers!

[Mr. Fisherman]

They are coming. I had one phone me yesterday and with the background flatulence I just know it was a big ol' Columbia River Springer asking that I give him a couple of months to herd he and his buddies past in safety. I don't think so.
Time to get the gear ready and polish up the anchoring techniques for the coming slaughter on the water.
I can hardly wait. I am goin fishing soon, very soon.
For the last two years the first Spring Chinook over Bonneville Dam has been the first week in January. Who wants ta?
Gonna fire up the Cozy Cabin heater, fry up some goodies, maybe heat up some breakfast burritos and maybe even catch a fish.
I like to fish 20 to 45 feet of water and use about a 38 to 48 inch dropper with a 40 to 50 inch leader going to my favorite Kwickfish (baitwrapped) with a little scent on it. Gotta be patient and like company as there is never a shortage.
Hope to see you out there.
Anyone wanting to come along let me know...

Springer, it's What's Fer Dinner

[Helen O]

Count me in, Ray! The powers that be are predicting the 2nd largest springer run in recent history this year. Word is that their already catching pilot run springers already. I took the boat out the week before last and was marking a lot of steelhead/salmon type fish on the fishfinder. Let's roll!

[lyle-t]

Hi Ray & Larry,
Count me in for the springers. I like useing the same style fishing as Ray but use a rainbow spinner with scent rubed on it. We used to try to anchor in 15 to 24 foot water up at Camas across from the boat launch. I am still not done with the Blackmouth in South Sound and hear they will be fishable all year at Tacoma.

[TyBoo]

I ain't going until March. Never could catch them springers, anyway.

It looks like a lot of interest shaping up for Cathlamet this spring, so when spring gets a little closer, we'll have to set something up there for sure.

[TyBoo]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Contact: Anne Pressentin Young (503) 947-6020
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us Fax: (503) 947-6009


For Immediate Release Friday, Jan. 9, 2004

Fish and Wildlife Commission gives guidance for 2004 Columbia River
spring chinook fisheries
Wolf management plan framework adopted

SALEM - The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission Friday supported
splitting the allowable impacts to wild fish during this year's
Columbia River spring chinook fisheries 40-50 percent to the commercial
fishery and 50-60 percent to the sport fishery.

Decisions on the 2004 Columbia spring chinook sport and commercial
fisheries will be made Feb. 5 in Oregon City by the states of Oregon and
Washington meeting as the Columbia River Compact. The first harvest is
expected to begin later in February.

Biologists estimate the policy guidance could result in a total
mainstem harvest of about 50,000 spring chinook, split for sport anglers
and the commercial fishing industry. Biologists also estimate that
454,000 hatchery-bred spring chinook will enter the Columbia River this
year and be available for harvest in the mainstem Columbia and
tributaries. Of those, 96,300 hatchery spring chinook are estimated to
be destined for the Willamette River.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission is the policymaking body for
fish and wildlife issues in the state. The seven-member panel meets
monthly.

The Commission also supported a pilot regulation prohibiting sport
anglers from removing wild chinook and steelhead from the water in the
Columbia River between Tongue Point and McNary Dam. The goal of the
potential new rule is to reduce the unintended mortality associated with
handling and releasing fish.


Spring chinook provide tremendous economic benefit to both the
commercial and sport-fishing industries because the meat is prized for
its flavor and it is the first fresh non-farmed salmon of the season to
reach barbecues and specialty markets.

Columbia River spring chinook seasons are set to protect wild chinook
listed under the federal Endangered Species Act while allowing harvest
on adipose fin-clipped hatchery chinook. Federal law limits the
allowable impact to wild populations from unintended mortalities
associated with the non-Indian fisheries to 2.0 percent of the total
wild run.

[B~C]

I'm going to catch me one of them buggers while at the Cathlametstan gathering. We can cook um up for dinner at the dock, or, trudge up to the restaurant cuz we have no fish as usual

[True Story]

We'd be up for the Cathlamatstan trip provided we don't need visas. I didn't realize there were any significant bodies of water there let alone slamon. Has a date been established?.

[TyBoo]

You won't need no visa. I'm sure they take American Express, and besides, it's only six bucks a night for a slip.

I don't believe anyone has set a definite date yet. The last couple of years, we have had the first CBGT there in early April. Year before last, it snowed on the boat April 4.

And hey, the Columbia River is a pretty significant body of water! About 40 miles downstream from Cathlametstan, the river flows out into the ocean for 150 miles or so. The Cathlamet Marina is on Elochman Slough, which runs into the Columbia behind Puget Island. It's about 5 minutes from the Columbia Channel. Right across the river from Cathlamet is a paper mill. That's where I work.

If nobody comes up with a date that works for you - pick your own! Almost gauranteed that Helen O Larry will meet you there - even if he just shouts howdy from his porch.

See ya there!!

[Helen O]

There won't be any shouting from the porch! I'll be down at the harbor welcoming y'all. C'mon down. I'm looking for excuses to fish or cruise.

[B~C]

not getting cabin fever in that new place allready are you Larry?

[Helen O]

I've got cabin fever because I'm not in the new place yet. Our new home is supposed to be completed next week. The weather set the builder back some. We're getting close though.

[TyBoo]

NEWS RELEASE
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, Washington 98501-1091
Internet Address: http://wdfw.wa.gov
OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
3406 Cherry Ave NE, Salem, Oregon 97303
Internet address: http://www.dfw.state.or.us

January 30, 2004

Contact: WDFW: Cindy Le Fleur, (360) 906-6706
or Margaret Ainscough (360) 902-2408

ODFW: Steve Williams, (503) 947-6209
or Anne Pressentin, (503) 947-6020

Allocation set for Columbia River
spring chinook fisheries

Following the direction of the Washington and Oregon fish and wildlife commissions, the directors of the states' fish and wildlife departments today announced that sport anglers in the Columbia River spring chinook fishery will be allowed 60 percent of the incidental impacts to upriver fish listed under the Endangered Species Act and commercial fishers will get 40 percent.

In reaching their decision, the officials noted that fisheries managers are to approach season planning with these percentages as hard targets. Both states directed the sport and commercial fisheries to be closely held to the agreed-upon percentage allocation. However, as in any fishery, a minimal amount of flexibility will be allowed to respond to unanticipated changes in run timing, river conditions or other factors, the commissions agreed.

"These fisheries are set very conservatively to protect wild fish—while allowing harvest opportunity for healthy, hatchery stocks," said Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Director Jeff Koenings, Ph.D. "As always, conservation is paramount in conducting sustainable fisheries."

The allocation figures will be used to set fishing seasons for what is expected to be the second-largest spring chinook run on record. Those seasons will be determined Thursday, Feb. 5, in a Columbia River Compact meeting in Oregon City, Ore.

In addition to setting the upriver-impact allocation, the directors reiterated the importance of avoiding conflicts between recreational and commercial fishers when setting seasons. The directors agreed pre-season planners need to emphasize commercial fishing opportunities earlier in February and March to avoid gear conflicts, as much as possible, with anglers during recreational seasons in April.

The allocation figures reflect how the allowable impact on wild fish is shared between non-tribal sport and commercial fishers. Although all fishers target hatchery-produced chinook, some wild fish are inadvertently caught and die from handling stress. Upper Columbia and Snake River wild spring chinook are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act and the allowable "impact" on wild fish is limited to 2 percent of the wild run in non-tribal fisheries.

Koenings and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Director Lindsay Ball stressed that pre-season planning for the spring chinook fisheries also should be based on a federally-established limit of 2 percent incidental impact to wild steelhead. This figure reflects incidental catches of wild steelhead that occur as the steelhead co-mingle with spring chinook during a portion of the fishing season.

Koenings and Ball credited past efforts to develop selective fisheries for the opportunities that await anglers this season. Noting that avoiding impacts on wild steelhead will be emphasized in setting upcoming fishing seasons, the directors called on commercial spring chinook fishers to step up efforts to avoid handling wild steelhead.

"The commercial fishery has come a long way in becoming selective, but we want to continue to work with the industry to be creative in finding ways to avoid handling steelhead," Koenings said. "In doing so, we are creating the stable, sustainable fishery so necessary to develop high-value harvests."

This year's total run of Columbia River spring chinook is predicted to be the second-highest on record since counting began in 1938 at Bonneville Dam. More than 497,000 wild and hatchery spring chinook are forecast to enter the Columbia River this year.

Koenings also credited federal funding for Columbia River hatchery operations as an important factor in providing overall fishing opportunity, but noted the federal Mitchell Act funding that mitigates negative effects of the hydropower system is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain.
# # #




Information and Education Division
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 947-6002

[True Story]

Well I think this is good news isn't it fellers? I could make a couple of smart ass comments about promises to reduce kill rates of wild kings and to reduce handling of wild steelhead but I wont. It does sound like some of the campaign promises I've been listening too on the news lately though.

Anyways, I am thankful for the opportunity and plan on hanging with some of you south end guys in the near future so you can show me the ropes. Tim

[B~C]

T.S., ya oughta pencil the Cathlamet gathering on your calander, that will be prime time springer season + Larry will have all the hot spots mapped out for us...but...like Mike said, with the B~C and the Tyboo boat on the same chunk of water, fish will be scarce

[Helen O]