A Heads up,

We went out friday and this evening and the lewis is now full of silvers.. More than I have ever seen this early. Friday, we were down in the lower river boondogging and seen schools of 30-75 in tailouts, tops of runs and on the move. This eve we went up to the meathole and they were rolling everywhere. We fished from 4:30-dark and hooked 7 silvers and 3 chinook.. This morning they took about 15 silvers amongst 6 boats. Quite a few people limited out. There will tons coming from here out! The banks are lined like blue creek in the hatchery area with people snagging them like crazy.
Keith

What kinds of lures/baits are working for the silvers right now? I have only caught them in the ocean. We did very well on the steelhead this summer on the NF. Do you fish the same kind of water?

Jeff

Thanks for the info. In the past, I've done poorly on the N.F.L. even though the coho were thick. I've used mostly eggs/corkie or hardware. It's easy to believe that the presence of so many snaggers has something to do with getting skunked. But it's easy to blame someone else for my lack of sucess. So ,if you have any suggestions on what to use, it would be helpful.

They're gonna have a major hatchery excess problem again this year so it would be nice to pick up a few fresh coho for the freezer before they turn dark. I've found a few areas away from the crowds so maybe this year will be different. Thanks.

We've been catching fish amongst the whole river. All the fish we have caught have been on eggs. I was up the last two mornings and both mornings we limited the boat out with five people.. I seen a school today in the lower river that had at least 100 fish in it.
Tactic wise, you can fish them the same as you fish steelhead in the mid-lower river. But some of my best success has been fishing the deeper holes. But remember these fish act like steelhead and enjoy baits at current speed. So if you are fishing the deeper holes, turn the boat loose and float at current speed whether it's 5ft or 40 ft deep.
Keith

Yeah, I witnessed a "great" new technique when I was up there a few days ago. Put on a split shot, a very large corky and a hook. Cast it out as close as you can to the corkline up at the hatchery and waits until a fish gets near your line-then jerk like hell and snag it in the @$$. What a way to catch fish. !!

Krome brite,
Like I emailed you, good eggs are the answer there. Just do the same thing but only use eggs, forget the snagging crap. Go put on a show and get some of them A$$ rippers to switch to bait.
Keith

I was up at the meat hole last night. Jillions of silvers in there, jillions of people. I managed two fish before dark and lost a dandy chinook (damn 10# test line). Good eggs were the ticket.

On another note. I saw a guy in a blue northriver sled give the snaggers on the rock a little deucsh-down. He pulled up just a bit above them, drifted down with the current and trimmed up the pump and rapped on it Looked like he was ducking lead and got out of there up river while the verbal and lead assault was hurled at him. Way to go buddy!

Aaron

Does the Lewis River run into Oregon?
I thought it stopped around Mt St. Helens..

Rainy;
You kiddin'?

The Lewis flows into the Columbia almost directly across from the town of St. Helens, Oregon.

Gutz,
I was bein` sarcastic..*

Ok maybe you could show me how to connect my hook to one of those fish's mouth. last few days I haven't even touch a thing. I think they also ate the enitre kitchen sink. Oh, well, just give it another try tomorrow.

Matt

Take note this really works! Try a small Dicknite in brass and chrome, about the size you would use trout fishing, on a four foot eight pound leader. Cast it and retrieve it slowly and I guarantee it will work. Try it, you'll like it!

OK, somebody told me today that you can no longer retain chinook on the N. Fork (emergency regulation change). True or false? They also said the limit has been lowered from 6 adults to 2 adults. True or false? I think he's just f*cking with me, but maybe not??

Let's put it this way their are so many silvers up there that their backs are sticking out of the water by the fish ladder. Even the snaggers in the hatchery hole are hammering them during daylight. As for chinook goes there are plenty of those in the river also. We put 6 chinook and 12 silvers in the boat yesterday to fill a 3 person limit which were all hens, 39 fish boated total. I have a digital picture of it but don't know how to upload it. James and I went up this eve and hooked about 30 and took limits of hens home tonight also.
I don't see any reason to drop the limit.
Keith

Well, I'm heading up there right now, but if I get into fish, I'll only take two. That's all I really want anyway.

how is the water level in the N.F. Lewis? is it easy enough to get a sled around?

The river is running about 3500 cfs. There isn't a spot on the river you can hit with a pump, unless you drink too much and put it on shore.
Keith

Anyone plan on fishig the Lewis on monday? I plan on fishing it that day. I may have an open seat. If anyone is interested shhot me an email at driftboater@hotmail.com I wont know if the seat is open until sunday afternoon.
I you are on the river monday and see a black Willie DB with ifish.net stickers on it, Make sure you say HI!.

Do you need a partner for the entire day? I can skip first period but I have to be back for calculus that starts at 9:30am. Obviously I am not very excited about school, all I want to do is fish, fish, fish. The thoughts good, but the schedule won't work for me. I'm sure you'll find a partner.

Matt

Willie what drift do you plan on doing? I would like to drift on monday also but I need a turn around. I really like the hachery to the island drift. If we can work out a turn around I will be there.