Does anyone have any guesses as to whether or not the mouth of the Deschutes will provide decent springer fishing during the three day opener? I know this area to be productive in the fall, but also understand that springers won't always move in the same areas of the river. Any help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Bd, I'm considering going up there also on the Sunday 3 day opener. Without ever having tried it for springers up there it may take a little experimenting to dial in. If lots of boats show up that should happen quickly. Usually the spring runoff is much higher and colder than the fall 'nook fishing off the Deschutes mouth, but this low water year it may only be a little stronger flow. With no tides to influence current that means you should do well with most methods that took them in the lower river fishery from Bonneville down to Beacon Rock area. Backbouncing eggs and backtrolling divers with prawns, or sandshrimp or Kwikfish, or just Mag Warts should all take fish. The Deschutes gets a good run of them itself so fishing right in the outgoing plumb would be good for both those fish and upriver fish. Also, fishing in 12' to 20' of water off the south side of the island across from the Deschutes should be good for upriver fish too. A very good bet would be fishing at the deadlines below the John Day and McNary dams, as they did below Bonneville earlier. A good and less crowded sleeper could be fishing the area downriver from the Umatilla, just don't tell anyone . Good luck.

[ 05-02-2001: Message edited by: RT 1 ]

Blackdog, after my reply above I heard that boaters fishing right at the Deschutes/Columbia deadline aren't doing well on the springers. It had been a little better earlier, according to the person I talked to. Also, I noticed the dam counts have gone way down from what they were. I still think it's a decent prospect anyway, but now I don't expect it to be hot fishing. If you fish it let us know how it is. Thanks.

RT