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Website: Darrell & Dads Family Guide Service

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05 - I5 Bridge to Bonneville Dam Report
Washington

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03/27/2014
46° - 50°
Trolling
Chinook Salmon
Attractor
Silver
Raining
Hook & Bait
Morning
41° - 45°
03/27/2014
1
2561

I am now 0 for 2 on springers but you can't catch 'em if your aren't fishing for 'em! Met the boys at the Red Lion at the Quay boat ramp at 7am and was met with a stiff south wind in our faces. We started our troll up around the I-205 bridge and worked our way down the WA side of the river.

Around 8:30 we had our first take down and it was fish on! but it was also seal on because as soon as the salmon grabbed the herring a big sea lion grabbed our salmon and ran with it! We had to chase it up river to save our tackle but we were finally able to pull off the hooks from the fish and got the gear back minus a spring chinook.

Sea lion 1 Us 0

The water color and visibility is not too bad down there but no promises after tomorrow's rain storm so we went back at it but there are tons of smelt in the river as well as seals and sea lions everywhere.

Had the usual spring day on the Columbia with sunshine, rain, wind and a squall that blew through that about blew us off the water. About 1:30 heard a report about 2 getting caught with 1 lost to a seal and another in the box down by mouth of the Willamette river so boogied on down to find nice calm waters and some fishy looking spots and put the herring out hoping for some hungry spring chinook to come along. As we passed close to a barge that was stuck in the low tide we hit a spot that changed depth and had to hang ups so had to motor back to get our gear. As we passed the same spot, we had 2 more rigs get snagged and my rod buried down and thinking it was bottom pulled it out of the rod holder only to have it tug back but by the time I realized it was a fish it was gone! DARN!! only came up with a herring head, how do they do that?

Well that was it except for this cool barge that came by transporting juvenile salmon either upriver or downriver so I have yet to get my 1st springer yet this year but will keep trying!

See you on the water!


Comments

kyamukun
3/28/2014 8:15:00 PM
sounds like you had fun! of course, it's better if you can land one.

i'm going on a guided trip on the Columbia in 3 weeks. getting excited about all the articles i've read about epic numbers estimated this year. but so far the reports are dismal. is it still too early?

this will be my first time for springers so hoping i'm picking a good time to go on a guided trip.
salmonbarry
3/28/2014 10:30:00 PM
Yes it is early but seems like you get the bigger ones this time of year. 3 weeks from now it should be re-opened as they are planning on shutting it down on the 7th but rumors have it they may just keep it open as conditions have been poor and catch rate pretty low. You will be right in about the peak of the run and will knock 'em dead!
Fish Dawg
3/30/2014 7:17:00 PM
Sorry the seal got your fish, Barry. Better luck next time. Thanks for the quality report!
Nelly1
3/31/2014 1:17:00 AM
Thanks for the report. I'll be down there next weekend trying for one myself. How were the crowds at the launch? I assume you launched at Portco? Didn't know there was a launch at the Quay.
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Available Guide

Available Fishing Guide:
Website: Darrell & Dads Family Guide Service

Phone: (509) 687-0709