Rigging for Columbia River

[bshillam]

So the wife and I want to try our hand at fishing on the Columbia. My experience in fishing stops at a bobber, worm, salmon eggs, power bait and that's it. I understand that different fish go for different bait, but lets start with the basics. Has anyone had experience on the Columbia? This next weekend I'd like to head out. We have two good rods and reels - they are medium and heavy action as I wanted to have enough rod/reel to fish salt too. Some suggestions on bait as well as how to rig would be greatly appreciated. I know once we start catching the "big ones" :smileo we'll both be hooked! Thanks much Brats!

 

[CW]

Congratulations on the new CD-22. I am envious. I don't have time for a full description of how we fish for salmon near Kalama right now, but will reply later. We've enjoyed some success (see my photo album) catching several over 30 lbs. these last several years back bouncing 10-16 oz. weights off a 4 ft. long sliding dropper with a Kwikfish and sardine wrap for spring chinook in Feb. - May, or a large wobbling spoon called an Alvin or a Brad's Wobbler (either kind of lure should be chrome and chartreuse) in August-Sept. tied to a 4-5 ft. leader of 40 lb. test; preferring braided 80 lb. mainline. Use anise scent. Most chinook are gone now and coho are thinning out too (google the Bonneville Dam fish count), and winter steelhead aren't here yet. Maybe try the mouth of the Cowlitz River using spinners as an option. I'd go for sturgeon instead, using large barbless hooks on braided dacron leader with an 12 oz. weight (no drop line) on a slider, baited with sand shrimp or smelt, again, anise scent. Any sporting goods retailer can set up up with this typical set up. Since my boat is in the shop, there is nothing I'd like better to do than ride on your boat and show you how we do it. C.W.

 

[CW]

Did you go out fishing? We did a cast and blast trip today, fishing for sturgeon and Canada Goose hunting. Lots of geese but they stayed high. We caught 5 sturgeon in two and a half hours on the afternoon tide just upstream from Sandy Island (across from Kalama marina) in 31 ft. of water. All fish were hooked on sandshrimp, they didn't want the smelt. Pictured is my friend Joe with his fish. C.W.

 

[bshillam]

We went out this last Sunday, fished the Columbia out in front of St Helens - very happy we had the Wallas! We caught three, all of which were under 42". Great experience though, lots of fun and we're heading out today. Great way to spend Thanksgiving!!! :thup They were caught off pickled squid and anise. Going to use the same. I'll be posting pics here shortly. Take care and have a great Thanksgiving. :tea

 

[bshillam]

CW -
A friend and I were out this weekend. Two separate boats. I was fishing for sturgeon with pickled squid and we went all day without hooking any. First out of three weekends with the same bait. My buddy was hooking them four total off anchovies. I learned a great lesson - always fish with more than one bait. I think I also need to increase the number of lines off the back to improve the odds. I've only got two - I think four will be in order soon.
:wink

 

[Doryman]

I think I also need to increase the number of lines off the back to improve the odds. I've only got two - I think four will be in order soon.

Won't you have to take three passengers along also (1 license per line)? Sounds crowded to me...

Warren

 

[bshillam]

Yeah - crowded. I'm going to hold off on that kind of crowd until spring/summer when we can spread out. When we go cruising though that wouldn't be too many. :thup

 

[CW]

That last trip (Wed. before Thanksgiving) I forgot to mention that two of the fish were keeper sized (43 & 45"). We only killed, kept and filleted one of them as I don't care to eat much sturgeon and it takes them 17 years to reach that length, but they are great fun to catch. I went again last Sunday and again, sand shrimp outfished the smelt as bait. But the same hole that worked 4 days earlier didn't yield one nibble. We shifted down to deeper water (about 85 - 100 ft.) in the "Trojan Hole" about a mile downstream and got two little "shakers", both on sand shrimp.

I just got home from a Columbia River Citizens Advisory Group meeting (I've been an appointed member for about four years now) with the ODFW and WDFW and this coming year should make for interesting fishing. They are predicting high numbers of Columbia River Spring Chinook, the best in four years and extra low numbers of Willamette Spring Chinook (the big ones that arrive early). Sturgeon is likely to remain open four days per week all year for those that want to retain one (5 allowed killed per year) or, if like me, you don't keep them, you can fish 365 days per year. I got my boat back from the shop ( just $1,449) and am happy to be back on the water. Now the only thing is... can I muster the courage to sell my boat while it works so well? C.W.