06/26 - 06/28 - Columbia River/Warrenton Sturgeon

C

Capital Sea

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At the recent Cathlamet gathering the idea of holding a c-brat gathering in June near the mouth of the Columbia was talked about in connection with a chance to Sturgeon fish near the mouth of the river.
This has long been a goal of mine and in talking with Tyboo Mike, it was suggested that I should test the waters and if enough interest was expressed we could set up an event and Mike "the sturgeon king" would share his secrets on sturgeon fishing in those waters.

So, is anyone interested???
June looks to be wide open and is also the best month for the fishing we plan on.
Would seek advice on the exact dates to target, Mike. Also, where is the best marina to gather at?

I am willing to do the arrangements with some good advice and interest. As with Cathlamet, everyone need not fish, the Astoria area has much to offer, boat museum, places to eat, etc.

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-TyBoo
 
I'm definately interested in chasing gators. Looks like some good tides on 11-13 June.

Say, aren't there a couple of C-Brats that've recently taken up residence in Chinook, WA, which just happens to be near some good sturgeon fishing? And doesn't this couple just happen to have a brand new shiney shop that would be perfect for a pot luck? And I believe this couple is taking a vacation from retirement right now up in the Gulf Islands. We could plan this whole thing around their place and let them know when they get back. :D Wouldn't that be nice of us? :lol:
 
I'm all for this idea. However, there is this little thing called work that isn't so little in June. From June 8 thru 25 I am scheduled to work 12 hours shifts every day. Those fools out there choose that time every year to do a major overhaul of the pulp mill and they expect all of the mechanics to take part. Stopping by the docks to say howdy is about all I will have time for during those two weeks. Now if it was the weekend of June 6 and 7 I may be able to get in some fishing if they don't make me go in for the prep work.

That (June 6-7) is also the Oregon free fishing weekend meaning no license or tag is required. That's not so big a deal because either OR or WA license/tags will work in the mainstream Columbia regardless of which state's port is used, and for the out of either staters it only costs $8 for a day permit. It also makes it a little more crowded.

No matter when, there should be plenty of room at the Warrenton city marina where I park because there's nothing but a bunch of poors like me living around here anymore and the rest of them are smart enough to not pay for the crummy slips. I can talk to the harbor guy (maybe, if I can find him) and see what we can work out for whatever weekend we (or you all) decide is best.

June is the best month for a chance of catching the things down at this end of the river, and the ones here have a good chance of being just in from the ocean and very lively. The only real trouble with planning a weekend is the unpredictability of the weather. A stiff breeze moves the boat around too much to keep the bait still on the bottom and if it is blowing sideways to or opposite the current it makes it pretty choppy. It should be fine, but then it should be fine right now and it is howling outside and raining sideways.

Don't try to work around my work if one the bad weekends for me works best for the rest. I'm really not that good at the sturgeon fishing, it seems. But my grandkids sure are.

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How does June 5th, 6th and 7th sound. If we go for these dates we will get into town on the 4th and hope to fish at least two of the three days depending on tide and wind conditions.
I spoke with the Warrenton Marina and they have room over this period. Costs are $15/night +$4 for power +$5 for parking. The facility has showers an improved ramp and the usual. This marina is near Astoria and just a stones throw from Cannon Beach, so for those not from the area, there is much to do and see away from the boat.

So Mike, even though you are "not really that good" at seeking these fish, right, can you come out and play on that Friday (or Monday), if we come to town?

Rick and Dave, could these dates work for you and yours?
 
C-Dawg":38aluh24 said:
The tides that weekend are flood in the morning. Don't we want to fish an outgoing early, before the winds pick up?
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The old saying that the 2 hours before and two hours after the tide turn being best is actually pretty accurate for sturgeon fishing down here. Slack water is kind of difficult to fish unless you use the kicker motor to keep the boat straight, but I usually swap spots at slack water because I have my superstitions about where to fish which direction. If you're early risers, the tide times for that weekend aren't too bad. The end of the ebb down low on the sands, around the corner across from the chip barge (it doesn't really matter where, but saying all that sounds cool and erudite) should be good from daylight to low water. We'll probably even see a jumper or two around then. That is a neat sight when all five or six feet of the critter comes straight up out of the water.
 
mark&diana":1w4e6b8p said:
We would love to join you - but unfortunately I'll be out of the country most of June. Hopefully we can do again at a later date?
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Mid to late July has the best conditions for sturgeon fishing in the estuary. Lots of bait and warmer water to bring in the bright guys from the ocean and the big fellers from upstream. However, the keeping season closes right after the 4th of July. Catch and release is still OK, but hardly anyone does it. Ocean salmon will be open then if you can afford the gas and the weather cooperates. The infamous Buoy 10 river salmon season opens August 1.
 
I'm familiar with sitting on the hook and fishing the outgoing, but how and where do you fish the incoming for sturgeon down there?
 
Oh well, OK. I fish the incoming using the exact same tactics, bait, depth and patience as the ebb, except I like to do it on the Oregon side of the channel. Usually I go to a spot (one of a few) on the flats near the entrance to Youngs Bay. They call it Stinkhouse Flats because there used to be a fish processing plant on pilings near the area and legend has it the smell was not too pleasant. The fishing method is no different - anchored in 8 to 20 feet of water and the bait on the bottom. The best spots change every year because the underwater topography changes over the winter and the shoals where the dead bait fish are likely to end up change. But it doesn't really matter precisely where you sit - if the fish are looking for food and they smell your bait, they'll find it.
 
So how about the 26,27 & 28th of June? Are the tides more to liking and are their more fish in the river? If we go to all this effort, place our bets so to speak, then we want the best odds we can get, right?
 
I just checked with the marina and they have plenty of space at the end of June as well. So now we just need to know tides and see if TyBoo Mike can get all his motors rewound, belts repaired, parts degunked and so on, so he can come out and play.
 
Per TyBoo, salmon rods are Med, Med heavy and heavy right? He says to use a heavy and a salmon reel with 25-30lb line. The leader is 100lb dacron. You use a slider and pyramid drop weight. The idea is that the really big fish will run out a hundred yards and sit in the mud. you want to break the knot in order to get your line back. A keeper though will run and jump and spit and kick, so you want some flex in the pole and you want to see the nibble nibble nibble action as they gum your bait.

Bare in mind, I have never fished for these prehistoric beasts but this is what master Mike told me.
 
You got that just right, Steve. Here's a pic of the sturgeon rig my late great best friend in the world Tyler Boothe (hence, TyBoo - get it?) gave to me to learn how to set up. Actually he didn't give it to me, he said there was a pole already rigged in the back of his truck at work and I went out and cut the rig off. I still have it as a wall decoration.

One reason I use 30# line is because I also use the poles for salmon boat poles and I'm too cheap to buy new reels or change line. Some people use dacron line. What I liked the best was 30# Maxima Chameleon because it is very tough and a lot stronger than 30# line, but the salmon can be spooked by the color (some old guy told me it looked to them like jellyfish tentacles). So I use Ultra Green for both. But being able to break off the line at the terminal knot on purpose for the oversize or accidentally without losing the whole spool is great. Makes it more sporting to bring in a 50# fish with lighter line.

The later weekend in June will work great, as will the first weekend. For some reason the sturgeon haven't shown up down here yet - but they will - so the later weekend might be more productive. It will also be more crowded, but it is a really big river. I'm good for either one, and it is nice how you're talking about working around my pesky little job.

I saw our old friend Tim of the former Lynn Marie out on the water yesterday, and he expressed some interest in making it up here when the crew is here. Cool. All I have to do is get his account working again and send him his password.

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It looks like we are shifting to this date. More folks on the water but more fish in the river and TyBoo can make it.
As soon as I figure out how I will set up a sign up and change the heading for this thread so it does not confuse.
 
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