04/11 - 04/12 - Cathlamet, WA

Is it the norm that fishing is closed by the 11th?
Regardless, Capital Sea may be ready for an outing provided that a chance of some light rain or better is part of the forecast.
Do you have a drop dead date for reservations?
 
There were only two weekends with the gathering available in April. I figured in May there were several other gatherings. So this left us with April. Last year the weather was spectacular. In fact, if I recall I sat in the back of the boat with shorts on? :wink
 
Capital Sea":2gcc0dp0 said:
Is it the norm that fishing is closed by the 11th?
Regardless, Capital Sea may be ready for an outing provided that a chance of some light rain or better is part of the forecast.
Do you have a drop dead date for reservations?
Click to expand...
When the season closes depends on a lot of factors but it's rarely closed in April and this year is projected to be a very good run. That said, there's no guarantees in life and I'm not promising anything. Nonetheless, I plan on fishing for springers on 4/11,
 
The weather Gods usually smile on the Catchalimit gathering, fishing? who knows but there's usually an abundance of good times.

Mike, don't know, M wants to take the Ocean Sport, the Nordic tug is to big, so being this is a C-dory thing will be driving the usual boat :)
 
Capital Sea":sf94azx8 said:
Regardless, Capital Sea may be ready for an outing provided that a chance of some light rain or better is part of the forecast.
Do you have a drop dead date for reservations?
Click to expand...

Very rarely rains in these parts. :xnaughty

As for the reservations, we've never needed them at Cathlamet other than to let them know we're on our way. Even when they are full up we can fit another. They always give us the E Dock, and the late comers can raft - lots of room for that. The really late comers get the pumpout dock.
 
We are on the C dock this time. I advised the marina that some would arrive on Friday and leave on Monday. We're planning on coming in by water on Friday and leaving on Sunday. They have us on C dock. Good times. Bring some eats for Saturday - and I'll bring a fishing pole and maybe just maybe with a little luck and guideance from someone more experienced we can catch something..... :disgust
 
In Cahoots-Idaho would love to be there. Can anyone tell me about fishing at this time of year in this area ? It sounds like My Heaven might have some insight? I wonder if White Sulphur Springs can find his boat under the snow drift and also show up. I hear he is armed and dangerous!
 
Which means the Cathlamet gathering falls within the lower river season, right? If so, I just might have to make this one. :thup

Now I just need someone to teach me how to fish on the river. :D
 
Fishing the river for springers. I have an extensive amount of experience...................... watching people fish the river.
So, for those who may want to be effective in giving it a try, could some sage, fishing guru like C-dory chap, give up a few details.
I've got my rods & reels. Downriggers are not the thing. Looks like folks set an anchor and a float that they can detach from and come back to. What is the set up. I gots my 2nd anchor, rode and chain and a big orange float. Am I close to there?
As for rig and bait v/s jig or other offering, whats the deal?
Last, for now..., how far from where we will be staying would one need to go for a good location within the open area in terms of miles and boating time?
 
Right, my understanding is they use the anchor and float system in a hog line. Problem is, I don't know how to do that.

Where's CW when we need him? Any other knowledgable Columbia River fisherperson's on site?

Tyboo? Pat? Anyone?
 
don't do much sprnger fishing due to the crowds, but, when I go-
when the river is running out I avoid the hog lines and drop the anchor somewhere quite & away from the crowds in about 12-25' of water. By staying away from the hog lines you don't have to mess with releasing from anchor and drifting. For gear, a quick fish with about 5' of leader & a 4' dropper for lead. When the rive aint flowing, Greybeard Larry used to hammer the fish trolling dead fish with a dropper line & lead bumpin the bottom.
There is good fishing close to the marina, a person doesn't have to run far at all.

If folks aren't interested in fishing it can be plum intertaining just to watch the knuckleheads at the boat ramp
 
Didn't a mixup on a hogline once cause a pig war?

Back in 65 or so as I was on a summer trip with my parents, I remember walking down to the shores of the Columbia and watching the action. Folks were really shoulder to shoulder for 100's of yards on shore and the boats were thick just past the cast range of those on shore. When someone hooked up they yelled fish on in the way sailors yell sea room. In less than an hour we saw 10 or so large kings and several large sturgeon brought to shore, a bunch of tangled line and a full range of how people play together.
I just seek a good shot at a fish, meaning I want enough information so I have an even chance. The more local option sounds good and with less drama a bit more fun. Fishing and stress = nothing at all.
 
Most of the hogline stuff is done farther upriver above Longview, I believe. Before C-Dawg, I had a sled that I used to join hoglines and did relatively well as Springer fishing goes.

I fished one time in another guy's boat around the Cathlamet area. We worked the Clifton Channel with plug-cut herring. We used about a 5' mooching leader with a 3' dropper off a three-way swivel for the weight. We let the weight just barely drag and bounce along he bottom. Weight will depend on current, speed, etc.
 
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