I've heard mention of the "canyon" at Wind river and have known people who have been quite sucessfull fishing it. I've been meaning to plan a trip out that way to do a little fishing but I don't know exactly where it is. When does the canyon start to come on strong? Are the fish biters, or is it just a total snagfest? How about crowds? Can I expect a total combat type fishery.... I mean is it as bad as Hoodsport as far as the crowds go? Any help you can give me on this fishery would be greatly appreciated.

'Zo, here is what Dan had to say about that combat zone that will erupt next month there (from the Icicle River thread):

"Just about every tributary on the Columbia will be a snagfest, and it's not just the tribal members doing it. Drop yourself into the canyon on the Wind river next month if you want to see a snagfest. With 42,000 fish expected to return, it will be a snagger's wet dream. Then, these goons won't even toss their fish's guts and carcass back into the river, so you get big pools of water cut into the rock all full of rotten fish guts and blood.......nice.
That canyon is a gorgeous piece of earth, with ripping whitewater raging through a huge bouldery canyon. It's pretty disappointing to see what happens to it when the hordes of fishermen (I use that term loosely in some cases) descend into the canyon during springer time." He mentioned he will skip it this year. And I will mention that it will have very low water this drought season and low snowpack year.

RT

RT is right about the snagging and the fish guts lying in pools of water up on the cliff people fish from. You will be no less than 3 feet from the next fisherperson. It is combat fishing at it's finest. There are also plenty of legally hooked fish. A limit last year was not hard. You will see people with trout rods and reels fishing off this 30 foot cliff. If they hook fish, the spool is on and they go home.

If you go a couple of things I would highly recommend are: Good wet weather gear. A pack or pack frame if you plan on keeping fish. Boots with lugged soles. A flashlight. Drinking water.

You will hike straight down a mountainside to get down to the river. It is usually slippery and muddy and you will most likely slide by accident down some of it. You will have to come back up this same mountain to get back to your truck. It will usually be dark when you are climbing out. You will get thirsty. Trust me on the pack frame. Carrying 2 15-20 lb fish up that mountainside is not fun without one.

If something good can be said about fish others have snagged, they usually break off and have corkies in them you get if you fair hook them.

To get there, go east on Hwy 18 out of Vancouver. Turn left at the sign for Carson and look for cars parked on the left side of the road about 5 miles up the road.

Have fun. Last year I said I would never go again. I'll be there this year.

Forget the canyon, I took three trips up there last year and fished below the deadline, and in those three trips we hooked around 35 fish, all legal and on eggs. We hooked them all on 10 lb lest so it was a ton of fun. Fishing the fastwater shoots, and deep slots with cover is the ticket, and don't be afraid to make a cast with bait next to the snaggers even though they do stur the fish up they still respond and chow eggs well. Educate people, these fish really do bite bait, all times of the day in that crystal clear low water with the sun pounding down hard. It is one great place to replenish an egg supply!
Keith

It's like these guys said, it's not too much of a problem to legally hook fish, which is why I can't understand why so many choose to snag instead.

I'm not sure I wson't wind up there again myself. 42,000 springers is a VERY good reason to put up with some large crowds. It's like an addiction, I guess. First you say you're not going to go there, then you start jonesing for the feeling of a springer chewing your bait.

You guys are pretty brave going at these fish with 10 and 12 lb. test. I usually go with something closer to 20, and I've still been slapped around a few times.

Oh I bet you've been slapped around a few times.....Even by a fish or 2 :p :p .....Hoosier Daddy......Os

Here's a couple more hints for those folks interested in fishing the Wind River on foot.

Avoid the weekends (for obvious reasons). It's a real zoo. Weekdays are better but still it's not a place to "commune with the river". It's a meat fishery with lots of folks. But the worst of the lot seems to be there on weekends.

Avoid the canyon. It's steep, a very difficult hike, and the possibility of injury is substantial. Instead, go well above Shepard's Falls. The fish aren't quite as concentrated as they are in the lower canyon but there are still plenty of places to drop a line. Above the village of Stabler is primarily Forest Service land and access is easier. It's still not easy access but it's not the killer hike that you get in the canyon.

Go there in late May/early June. Most of the fish will be thru the fish passage facilities at Shepard's Falls and will be moving upstream above Stabler. Stick to the deep holes. Use bait. Have patience with your fellow anglers. Good luck.

cohoangler-not "all" land above Stabler is public-a friend that lives there-has had trouble with this. The trash people leave is amazing.

Wow. Thanks for all the info, guys. Combat fishing or not, I'll be right there beside you guys when the fish come in..... Hey, when do the fish come in?

I AGREE WITH RT, IT IS A REAL PIG FEST DOWN IN THAT CANYON. COMBAT FISHING I CAN DEAL WITH, BUT THE ROTTEN FISH CARCASSES, FLIES AND TRASH ARE DISGUSTING. IF YOU SEE SOMEONE ON ANY RIVER CLEANING HIS FISH OUT OF WATER AND LEAVING THE GUTS ON SHORE, TELL HIM SO, ITS YOUR RIVER TOO..ALSO, BELIEVE IT WHEN THEY SAY "WEAR LUG SOLES", FELT SOLES CAN GET YOU KILLED ON THOSE TRAILS IF ITS THE LEAST BIT WET. YOU GOT TO BE A BILLY GOAT TO CLIMB SOME OF THEM. GOOD LUCK GUYS. DH null

I fished the lower end last weekend. Lots of people but everyone cooperated. My group did real good (19 fish hooked), but we had "local knowledge". I'll be back though.

I fished the lower end last weekend. Lots of people but everyone cooperated. My group did real good (19 fish hooked), but we had "local knowledge". I'll be back though.

The rains muddied the Wind R. yesterday. It clears fast and I fished well up the river with Nick and 'Fly today and fish were caught despite still high water; and rolling as they came up thru tailouts. Lookout for fish and fishermen this weekend! With so many fishing it I bet there are a number of sparser springer opps with as many fish per fishermen elsewhere. ... Where? Don't ask, don't tell. (see below)

RT

[ 05-04-2001: Message edited by: RT 1 ]

Hi RT1. No disrespect intended, but you ask for fishing reports on another thread (Clackamas) and then post "don't ask don't tell on this one" as per fish caught. I don't think the Wind is a secret nor is the "canyon". It seems by your post that you did well up there today, and are trying to steer others away. I think you should be consistent with giving and receiving information.

I hope you did do well up there, as I can tell by your posts that springers seem to be you favorite prey, and it is good to see people get what they like.

No misrespect taken Spooled. I'll take it as a lack of insight on your part - and no disrespect intended to you either . If you go back and read the Clack and Sandy report post of mine you'll see I requested a generalized report; not numbers or places. That's what I gave here about the Wind for you guys. There are fish in there now and the water conditions will get better quick, as I mentioned for ya. I was a guest of one of the guys I went with and both guys mentioned a preference for me not to post where we were or numbers. Thus that statement; while still trying to help out fellow BB members that are willing to fish in crowds where a lot of fish are. With the amount of info that I put out to guys on here for free, and considering the relative lack of interaction and return reports, I won't lose any sleep with you wrongly feeling slighted.

RT

OK, so we hear how bad the Canyon is to get into. I'm just curious for comparison sake, how does it compare to say heart attack hill on Eagle Creek? Just curious, I guess I'll find out on Friday.

So RT went to the Wind with 'fly and Nick, huh? RT, how's about droppin' me a line via email?

Hey RT, what were you using for bait?

OK, more detail. Just plain egg clusters, some with a small corky, were getting the strikes both drifted or floatfished (as usual on that fishery). And it was Nick Amato and 'Fly getting the fish on with Nick limiting out on a pair of mid-teeners. They both lost other bigger ones almost impossible to stop in that fast gradient river with the water up. This turned out to be a disasterous hike for me with my bad left ankle. I did some egg fishing too, mostly sitting down on rocks and didn't do any good - not because of sitting or the eggs (using the same eggs the same way), it just wasn't my day and couldn't get a bobber down or driftfish take when I used them. They both stayed with the eggs for our half day fishing, Nick staying in the first good hole we came to and 'Fly taking a very long hike up to another good hole to fish. I tried to hike up with 'Fly but couldn't make it and wound up doing most of my fishing in pockets in rapids by myself. I spent quite a bit of my time on outcroppings using both bright red w/ black tiger stripped Warts and chrome/chartruse Warts, in both reg. & Mag sizes with scent, fished right on the seam edges mostly, but also casted and swung thru decent water. I still can't believe the springers moving thru those seams weren't smacking the Warts. They normally will in those conditions and even more so when the water drops and clears. I guess the only good thing I got out of fishing apart is that you can now see I could've said I hooked fish while by myself for a long while, but won't do that - same with 'Fly as he reported no hookups in the upper hole (I did see a couple fish hooked by my friends, but Nick's landed fish did the talking for him). If I ever attempt sections of that river again I will park myself down and fish only the closest good hole - mostly with good eggs. Or maybe I'll kamikazi cataraft it . So there is your details except for the section of river, which I told the guys I wouldn't post. Not a big deal, there will be fish crawling all up and down the whole river soon enough. People too!

RT

[ 05-03-2001: Message edited by: RT 1 ]

RT if you decide to cataraft down the lower wind canyon let us know in advance so we can watch. Also remember to wear a floatation device and a helmet so we can retrieve you when you and the cataraft become seperated. That would be quite a show I bet.