06/18 - 06/19 - Lower Columbia Sturgeon Fest

Helen O Larry,

I think the luck of the Irish has landed and you have a winner for a week-end. If we can get Mike to yea, nea, or post a signup thread we'll be on our way and we can get ahold of Keith at the marina to see about space for everyone. The rest would be up to B~C and the smelt kids work release for extra points.

Tim
 
Sounds good to me! This one is on the calendar and the signup list is set up.

The old semipros will tell you that the best sturgeon catching is during the period two hours before and two hours after the tide change. Slack water is good, too, but getting the boat (and thus the bait) to stay put is a hassle. The first few years I didn't follow that rule too closely, and did great. But last year, my favorite spot went flat, and the new favorite spot always was best in that tide-relative time period. So maybe we want to wake Larry up a little bit earlier than he was hoping Saturday morning.
 
Helen O":3kxxfuww said:
Now that was fast! The signup for this gathering is already posted.
Click to expand...
Yeah, but it ain't official until Tim signs up. And it ain't sacred until Raven signs up. And it ain't saintly until Dusty signs up. Right now, it's just you and me trying to ignore B~C's incessant scratching hisself.
 
I've been practicing my scratchin and spittin..can't wait...If folks enjoyed Cathalamet, don't miss this trip....ya know, I addition to good fishing, there's also some good cruising to be done on the lower river....it's drawing closer
 
Count us in.

I'm from Alaska originally, and have never done the sturgeon thing. We do pretty well on the salmon up here in Puget Sound, but I'd love to head down there, drown some bait. Besides, there's not much in the way of fishing around here in June anyway.

My canine isn't quite the noble creature that one is, but I'll bring her along anyway.

My cousin runs a charter boat out of Ilwaco, so I might have to drag him out with us to get some pointers.
 
I think you guys have come up with a plot here to keep the C-Lou's out of this weekend.

Lindsey will graduate from PA high school on June 17 (Friday nite)... Wouldn't seem right to run away on "her weekend".

Any other weekend in June or whenever works for us ! ! !

If you want the Pro-CLou's there, then we'll have to make it another weekend.

Cynthia
 
Hi CLou,

Sorry you won't be able to make the Official fest week-end but I also know that on most any given Saturday or Sunday in June you'll likely find one of us local C-Brats anchored up not far from the mouth of the Skipanon. That being said, just come on down when you can and we'll point you in the right direction.

Tim
 
Just what Tim said, just give a yell whenever the Pro-CLou crew can make it down and there can be a bonus sturgey fest...hell...one a weekend would be about right....I lurked at the calendar and durn it, I'm in the same prediciment, Friday night the 17th is the college doins and the 18th is Buckwheat's...the diffence being is that we're just up river a bit so will still be able to partake in some of the sturgy fest activities
 
I see no reason why there can't be a sturgeon fest every weekend in June. There always is, anyway!

J&CL - you gotta get down here for at least one weekend, and you gotta try to coerce Big Les and Little Les to join you. We almost had them two boys talked into it year before last.

I might be working every day of the month, but the fest will still go on!
 
Pro C-Lou she says. Dang, she out fishes the ol' man a couple of times and it's all about pro.

Yep sweetie, you're the pro but don't forget that I'm the deckhand and bottle washer. :? :love

Mike, somehow we gotta get down there in June. Those sturgeon fillets you gave us were great and I bet a blast to catch.

Jon
 
Having never done this before :shock: and being newbies once again :D Where are we to stay, and put our boat in the water? I am not too crazy about the Ilwaco stuff, but am pretty clueless about the whole Sturgeon thing. Jeff and I have done it on a comercial boat our of Ilwaco, but I am sure that you C-Brats have the real scoop on what's goin' on with this gala event! Jeff has always wanted to learn the ropes with the whole sturgeon fishing extraviganza! :thup

Can't Wait! I will desperately miss C-Lou on this adventure. :wink

Diane
 
Well, young lady, you guys can launch your boat in Warrenton, and stay on your boat at the city marina. We should be able to fix it up so all the CBCDs are together right close to where the local CBCDs have slips. The launch fee is $5, and I believe it includes parking. Don't know what the guest moorage is, but it's cheap.

Be here. You'll like it. We'll like having you here. The fish don't care who catches them, so they won't mind, either. Warrenton is 10 miles upstream from Ilwaco, and the river is very different.

I know what you mean on the J&CL missing. But we're trying to get them to come down on some other weekend so they see what it's about.
 
Mike,
Looking forward to the gathering and learning how you guys fish for those sturgeon. I still have that little tool you lent me at Cathlamet and will return it to you at Warrenton. Been on crutches for about a month with a fractured ankle, but should be rid of them by the middle of June.
Question, How heavy of a rod and reel does a guy need for this fishery? Is salmon gear a little lite? and what size line and leader?
Thanks,
Jim, Work Release
 
dangnabit, looks like well be having a family invasion for the kids graduation sturgy derby weekend....I was hoping to make it down Sunday for a bit but that aint looking to promising.....oh well, I get to watch the kid walk the plank

Mike will have all the good fish caught by the time I get down there
 
Us So Cal folk just got a real treat. The June 10, 2005 issue of Western Outdoor News has a photo filled article on a recent charter sturgeon trip guided by Paul Lindes out of Portland Ore, and has photos of one 8' long beast estmated at over 250# :shock: and the many equally impressive "oversizers" they were targeting.

OK, Mike, there's a nice retirement hobby business for ya!


Don
 
Is thing still on? Sure has been quiet. About the only thing I have heard is a couple folks who were signed up can't make it. No matter what - me and old Tim will be here. Except I will be late Friday evening because of unavoidable business to take care of.

Oh - and my streak remains unbroken! Once again, I failed to catch a keeper fish on the free fishing weekend!

Speaking of free fishing... For you WA folks, if you have a current WA fishing license and harvest tag (one that includes sturgeon), you will not need any other license to fish in the mainstream Columbia River - even if you depart and land in an Oregon port.

I went out there this morning for a few hours. It was beautiful. A little rain, but absolutely no wind. Totally different from yesterday. But, even though I would not have had to tag it, no fish.

The only smelt I can find around here that is any good is some Puget Sound stuff that sells for eight bucks a dozen. If you PS folks can find fresh frozen smelt up there cheaper than that, you might want to get some to bring with you. The crabs are still pretty thick, so the bait doesn't last long laying on the bottom where it has to be for the sturgeon. (The crabs aren't any good either - very small.)

The Warrenton boat ramp is easy to find, and the mooring basin is right around the corner from it. The launch fee is $5, and I believe that parking is included. The moorage is still $12 I think. There are plenty of empty slips in the C-Dory section. Just look for two 22 Anglers, a 22 Crusiser, and a 25 Cruise Ship. We sorta stand out from the crowd. If you need directions to the ramp, just ask out loud.

So, who is going to try this thing with us?
 
Hi Mike,
I'm sure planning on making it! Will be seeing the doctor tomorrow and hopefully get rid of the cast and crutches. Hope to leave Friday morning from Everett. I will check out the availability of smelt in this area. Is there and specific size I should be looking for? Do they use shad or sandshrimp down your way? I was also wondering that size hooks, lead, line, and leader I should be bringing? Sorry for all the questions, Its time to get geared up.
Jim, Work Release
 
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