Columbia River Springers!

Lynn Marie · Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2004 1:01 am Post subject:

Fish Smish! The chrome bright up river chinook are a prized comodity alright but they are not nearly as important as a dockside or river rodevue with some of the fellow C-Brat friends you share a trip to Cathlamet with. The most repeated story I keep reading on this site is shared by two of the biggest fish nuts of this group, Lyle and Ray. Thier story and memories of a breakfast shared on the Columbia has been posted more times than the TyBoo and B-C tale of cutting off a good bite. The river breakfast is of two friends sharing a beautiful moment, some good food, and a common love. All this and not a single fish put aboard.

That same week-end the crew that never fishes caught the most sought after prize in the water, a set of keys without a float.

No my friends and fellow Brats, Springers at Cathlamet are not the best of catches. A years worth of memories bringing about a desire to make that same trip again this year is the best thing to be found at Cathlamet on the Columbia. Judy, I, and the Lynn Marie will return; not to catch a fish but in hopes of catching another memory. That flavor is truley sweet and will last forever.

See you their,

Lynn Marie · Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2004 1:04 am Post subject:

P.S., If I catch one I might share it but I'm NOT throwing it back!

True Story · Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2004 1:39 am Post subject:

BCK, I've been watching the Cathlametstan discussion closely the last few weeks but hesitate (read can't) commit. My first grandchilds due date is on the sixth of April and my significant other has clearly and concisely arranged my priority list during this time. I'm hoping the Doc's off by a week and I'll be there watching the wakes of them springers getting out of Tyboos way. Maybe thats what all the rock talk is about? For sure, I'd be interested should you decide to go out before then or later in the month of April. I'd even run down there for a day.

B~C · Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2004 11:48 pm Post subject:

TST, I recon the birth of a grankid is a good excuse, whenever you get the urge to come down to these parts give a yell, somebody is always itchin to be fitchin, I'm sure we'll be going out plenty in the next few months.......good luck with the new grandcrumbsnatcher

TyBoo · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 12:04 am Post subject:

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

February 5, 2004
Contacts: WDFW: Cindy LeFleur, (360) 906-6708
or Margaret Ainscough (360) 902-2408
ODFW: Steve King, (503) 657-2000 ext. 246
or Anne Pressentin, (503) 947-6020

Columbia River spring chinook seasons set for sport anglers and commercial fishers
Fisheries target 500,000 salmon run * second largest on record

OREGON CITY, OR. * The states of Washington and Oregon Thursday adopted non-Indian sport and commercial spring chinook fishing seasons in the Columbia River that provide abundant opportunities for harvesting expected large returns of hatchery-bred fish while protecting wild salmon and steelhead by significantly limiting their catch and handling.

The recreational seasons adopted Thursday allow spring chinook angling every day below the Interstate 5 Bridge now until a guideline is reached in the spring. Above the I-5 Bridge to McNary Dam, the season opens March 16. The states also adopted a new rule that prohibits anglers from totally removing a wild salmon or steelhead from the water during the mainstem Columbia River fishery. The recreational angling season will close when the allowable number of "impacts" to wild fish are reached. Fishery managers hope to keep the extremely popular fishery open through April and into May.

"Because the sport fishery will be managed on impacts, the end date of the fishery is not precisely known," said Cindy LeFleur, Columbia River fish biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. "We don't have a crystal ball."

Fish biologists from the Oregon and Washington departments of fish and wildlife predict the total run of Columbia River spring chinook will be the second-highest since 1938, when counting began. About 500,000 wild and hatchery spring chinook are forecast to enter the Columbia River in 2004. Of the total run, 70-80 percent are marked by a missing adipose fin to designate them as "keepers." Biologists estimate a total mainstem harvest of about 50,000 hatchery-bred spring chinook, split between sport anglers and the commercial fishing industry.

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.

The commercial seasons adopted Thursday would allow fisheries not longer than 16 hours from the mouth to Kelley Point on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays if test fishing results from Sundays and Wednesdays indicate very few wild fish present in the river. The first test fishery is scheduled for Feb. 22, with the earliest possible fleet fishery on Feb. 24. The commercial seasons were set to target spring chinook destined for Willamette River hatcheries, to reduce wild steelhead impacts, and to minimize conflicts with sport anglers.

Commercial fisheries may include a combination of tangle net and large mesh fisheries. The number of test fisheries and the required mesh size for the large mesh fisheries were increased for 2004 to decrease the number of wild steelhead handled.

For large mesh fisheries, fishers will be required to use nets not longer than 150 fathoms with mesh size between 9 and 9.75 inches and have recovery boxes on board for any wild fish caught. During the tangle net portion, fishers must use 4.25 inch maximum size mesh. In addition, on-board observers will determine the number of wild fish caught and released. Thursday's decisions established a delayed mortality rate of 40 percent for wild spring chinook and 30 percent for wild steelhead caught in large mesh commercial nets. The mortality rate for wild spring chinook and steelhead released from the tangle nets was established at 18.5 percent.

The states also adopted commercial seasons for tribal and non-tribal fishers for shad harvest, spring chinook select area fisheries, and anchovy and herring bait fisheries.

Fish managers set the Columbia River spring chinook fishery based on the number of fish expected to return from the ocean and the allowable impact to wild salmon and steelhead stocks listed under the federal Endangered Species Act. "Impacts" are the unintended mortalities associated with handling and releasing wild fish. The allowed non-Indian impacts are 2 percent of the total runs of ESA-listed Snake River spring chinook, Upper Columbia River spring chinook, and Columbia Basin winter steelhead.

Thursday's decision splits the total 2 percent allowable impact 1.2 percent to the sport fisheries and 0.8 percent to the commercial fishers for the 2004-2005 fisheries. Fishery managers will use the test fisheries, short commercial openers and early season "checkpoints" to prevent both the commercial and sport fisheries from exceeding their allowable impacts.

The directors of the Oregon and Washington fish and wildlife departments said last week that pre-season planning for the spring chinook fisheries, should be based on the federally-established limit of 2 percent allowable impacts to wild steelhead. The states' decision today complies with that direction. Adjustments may be made if NOAA Fisheries allows a higher impact rate and the fish and wildlife directors initiate a public review process before a final decision is made.

The rules adopted Thursday for sport anglers include:
* For the mainstem Columbia River from the mouth at Buoy 10 upstream to the Interstate 5 Bridge, the season for adipose fin-clipped spring chinook, adipose fin-clipped steelhead, and shad is open seven days a week now until the allowable impacts are reached or May 15, which ever occurs first. Anglers may retain two adult spring chinook or steelhead in Oregon. In Washington, anglers may retain two adult spring chinook and two steelhead. From the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line in the Columbia River estuary upstream to I-5, anglers are prohibited from totally removing from the water any salmon or steelhead required to be released from Monday, Feb. 16, through the end of the fishery.

* For the mainstem Columbia River from the Interstate 5 Bridge upstream to Bonneville Dam and from the Tower Island power lines upstream to McNary Dam and the Oregon bank between Bonneville Dam and the Tower Island power lines (about 6 miles below The Dalles Dam), the season for adipose fin-clipped spring chinook, adipose fin-clipped steelhead, and shad is open seven days a week Tuesday, March 16, until the allowable impacts are reached or May 15, which ever occurs first. Anglers may retain two adult spring chinook or steelhead in Oregon. In Washington, anglers may retain two adult spring chinook and two steelhead. Anglers are prohibited from totally removing from the water any salmon or steelhead required to be released.

* Biologists will analyze the sport harvest and the impacts to wild fish one or two days per week April 6 * May 15 to make in-season adjustments. If modifications are necessary to keep within the allowable impacts, they will be made in the following order: 1) Reduce the number of fishing days each week between the I-5 Bridge and Bonneville Dam; 2) End the fishery between the I-5 Bridge and Bonneville Dam; 3) Reduce the number of fishing days each week below the I-5 Bridge; and 4) End the fishery below the I-5 Bridge. In addition, the fishery above Bonneville Dam will be managed to provide similar fishing opportunities as those below the I-5 Bridge.
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Mr. Fisherman · Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 6:34 am Post subject: This is the week...

Well, this is the week I start Springer fishing.
Friends have been hooking them, time for me to start catching them Wink

.

Who wants to join me?

I plan to go this coming Friday....

Lyle, Steve.... Might break down and fish for Sturgeon if it gets reel slow....

Rock-C · Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 10:19 am Post subject:

Hey Ray
I was at the coast last weekend and lookin for Sea Lion in its usual spot at South Beach marina. It was a warm & sunny day, figured you were out catchin something. Hope to see you at Cathlamet.

lyle-t · Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 12:00 pm Post subject:

Hi Ray,
I will be tied up with things around here untill after the 15th. Cry

Anytime after that I will be able to go try for those springers. Laughing

Where do you plan to launch? What time of day? What can I bring to help out with defraying the cost? I am NOT excited am I!!! How about some spinner making stuff?? I have a lot of it, just let me know what you would like to try. I have lots of red and green beads hooks, wires, blades (Mostly silver) Email me a list and I will put together a package for you. Nothing like catching a fish on something you put together yourself.

stevej · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 10:42 am Post subject:

Ray I'm stuck here at work tomorrow (what a shock). Weather is not looking too bad, fishing and some time on the water will make for good time no matter what so enjoy the day and let us know how it goes.

stevej

Mr. Fisherman · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 11:04 pm Post subject: Change of plans

Well, change of plans.
Taking the durn dog to the vet in the morning.
I'll pick up parts for my annual on the kicker. It has a frozen throttle cable...

Would'nt start cause it couldn't breath. Can't have that.

Helen O · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2004 10:59 pm Post subject:

I fished the Clifton Channel today for springers, no bites and no fish. There were about a dozen boats in the area, didn't see anyone else catch any either.
We could see fish on the sonar, they just weren't hungry. Twas' a great day on the water though.

B~C · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2004 11:15 pm Post subject:

Larry, glad to hear you're saving some fish for when the visitors show up. this would be a good evening to limber up your rock throwing arm Smile

Helen O · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2004 11:38 pm Post subject:

I spose I could sneak down to the harbor and lob a few rocks at Tyboo. Mike & Kay motored up for the evening. Nah, they'd probably turn loose that carnivorous pack of dogs on me.

Anita Marie · Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 9:50 pm Post subject:

stevej, I was at the CDory factory today and saw your boat sitting out in the yard. She still does not have any engines or steering that I could tell, not sure if they have even started on it. It is a beutiful boat, kind of looks like another one I have seen around.

stevej · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2004 11:24 am Post subject:

Thanks for the update and compliments PS_Rick have not heard that's it fixed yet so doubt that it's been touched. The motor is at the local Yamaha shop just out of Portland repaired and ready to be mounted as soon as I get her back (hopefully soon).

Getting tougher to have a unique CD here in Oregon no doubt about it.

stevej