Columbia River Springers

In Cahoots will be around Fred's Marina on the Multnoma channel from around April fourth to the eighth or nineth, not sure of the dates yet. Our cell phone # is 208 420 2502 or 208 420 0511. We can compare notes on fishing and maybe when we get our dates settled get together. They say a big run is forcast: hopefully people with more knowledge than I have will add into this thead as we are very curious and want to catch some fish
Roger and Cheryl
 
I plan on starting in the next week or two. Waiting for water visibility and temperature to improve just a little. I will probably stick with the willamette down around swan island out to kelly point park, as that is the area I am familiar with and have had some success in the past.
 
If I am out there while you are there I can tell you what I know, takes all of about 45 seconds. In the lower area where I fish the preponderance of use is trolling cut plugs or prawn spinners. I use a four ounce cannon ball on a dropper about five feet ahead of the bait and try to stay within a couple feet of the bottom, or if I am marking fish then I try to stay just above that depth. If the run is as strong as they are forecasting you will be fishing close quarters and can watch the neighbors. Take your binoculars. I haven't seen it really hot in several years but this might be the year.
 
I'll be around some of those days, weather depending (whimp). What's best at Cathlamet, staying on the boat, RV,yurt/room? Can I launch at Elochman with a 24' RV? Or more importantly...can I recover?
 
I'll be sleeping on the boat. $9/night moorage and $6 launch fee.

If I remember correctly, the ramp at Elochoman was pretty decent. However, I know nothing of 24' RVs. But if you're there when I am, I'll pull your boat out with my truck.
 
I've got 4 days with a guide on Drano Lake April 24-27. We really nailed them there last year (1 day, 3 guys - caught four adults and 7 jacks). 90lb of fish, 30lbs/person. At $20+/lb in the store, that equals about $600 of fish for $200 of guiding. A pretty good deal especially considering that spring king from the Columbia is absolutely the best tasting salmon I have EVER had. So, if anyone needs someone to take a day off of work and fill a seat (I'll pay my share of the costs, bring good food and wine etc), send me a PM.
 
This should be an unusually good year. I got an email from a fellow who caught his first of the season on...February 7th. His earliest ever.
Here is the pertinent passage



Hi All,

I needed to run the boat to warm it up to change the oil in the big inboard Ford 460. I decided (no surprise) to wet a line for a while before the big Super Bowl game.... I had to pick.... do I go for :
a moderate chance at a shaker catch and release sturgeon
a low chance at a lower Kalama River winter steelhead (something I've not had much success at)
an extremely low chance at a super - early spring chinook
I chose the spring chinook, knowing the earliest I'd ever caught one is about March 18th.... Fifteen minutes after I put that K-14 Kwikfish with a sardine wrap down, while I was messing with the stereo, the rod started half-heartedly yanking..... Once she saw the boat and the net she woke up and started taking line, making several nice runs. I was the only boat out there (near Kalama on the mainstem of the Columbia). 12.5 pounds of beautiful fish.... it is going to be a great run!
 
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