Walt (Giz), Jack (Thump), and Keith (Stlhdr1) have volunteered as a 3 man team to organize Flotilla 4 this coming spring. They have suggested springer fishing in the Sand Island to Bachelor Island areas near the port of St. Helens and ports out of the lower Lewis river area. Likely around late March or early April, according to best tides. A BBQ picnic will follow in a nearby park they pick out (I think Giz mentioned a boat accessible one on Sand Island as a prosect - will it be beef or springers on the BBQs? ). I have copied the F4 posts from the F3 thread to put here. Below them add your feedback to those 3 guys for the F4 spring event. Thanks. ...

F4 posts:

RT - posted 12-16-2001 03:45 PM

Next one is Oregon's turn. I'm hoping someone like Spooled, who nicely organized this F3 makeup day, or Willierower who organized F2 on the S. Santiam, will come up with something appealing to most fishers - maybe on springers somewhere. The Willamette is expecting it's biggest run in years and will be open 7 days a week for them (driftboats work as well as the sleds in the best 2 stackup holes up there). It's an earlier run than the upriver Columbia run, so we could have one up at Oregon City in March or April. Or have it out of a Columbia port such as a St. Helens/lower Lewis ramp combo. This would be an excellant centralized location and wouldn't be the zoo of overcrowded boats and long lines that occur up below the Bonneville Dam deadline. And there will be just as many Col. springers this year but with a higher percentage of finclipped fish to keep. Anyone with other good ideas or dates post them soon enough (before January is over?) to make some plans.

RT
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Thumper posted 12-16-2001 4:42pm

Batchelor Island might make a great place to hold the next flotilla. It is great for springers and is close to St. Helens and to Pekin Ferry and Beebe's moorages on the Lewis, as well as to the Richfield ramp. That area will hold a bunch of boats too. If the weather is nice (right!) we could have a weenie roast on the beach on the island right close to all the fishing.

Jack
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RT - posted 12-16-2001 04:54 PM

Great idea Thumper. And the chances would be very high for plenty of fresh caught springers on hand for a large BBQ. Cool! Gizmo said that area was a real good producer for spingers this year too.
Since an Oregon guy (Spooled) organized the successful F III up in Washington, I nominate Thumper and Giz to organize the spring Flotilla IV. That scenario has the potential for more participants and a fun beach BBQ than the previous flotilla's combined. Fun! (By the way, I found out it's not spelled Floatilla ).

RT
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Pickled Herring - posted 12-16-2001 05:30pm

So what kind of boat could I use for this particular flot. Would... say a 14' with a 9.9 or so do the trick or am I asking for trouble?

[Edit: That should be good enough for that area of the Columbia for springers PH - unless strong winds appear. - RT]
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Seth

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" Benjamin Franklin

[Edit: Only beer plus BBQ'd springer at a beach party could be better Seth And God wants us to be happy.]
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parker - posted 12-16-2001 06:43pm

Glad you all had a good time for F3. Vision Hooks & Tackle apologizes for not showing up. Team Vision was going to hook up (pun intended) with Team Ultimate Egg Cure and put on a clinic for you all , but..... without a boat or skipper, it was called off.
Oh well, there's always F4.

Parker
Vision Hooks & Tackle Pro Staff
"Got Hooks?"
www.visionhooksandtackle.com
CEO, Sauk River Steelhead Ranch
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Gizmo Man - posted 12-16-2001 10:45pm

I would help organize a spring thing on the Columbia and would suggest that we can have a picnic and weigh-in at Sand Island which has a developed dock and picnic area. It is across from ST. Helens so folks lauching from the Lewis River, Ridgefield, St. Helens or the Scappose launches can reach it.

If there is any interest in this, post and let me know. If someone wants to help, let me know.


Giz...
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gooose - posted 12-16-2001 11:00pm

Gooose might be in for this if there's a Wa side launch. BTW RT whats your shoe size and width for your waders? Just curious?

Gooose

[Edit: Plenty of WA side launces, particularly near the lower Lewis R.]
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silver hilton - posted 12-16-2001 11:53pm

I thought I heard RT issue a F4 call, for the Willamette. I know I'm a newcomer here, but I'm also a long time Willamette salmon guy, and if there's a flotilla for the Willamette, I'll offer my services for a Noprthern Washington offensive into the rodents' home turf.
One North River sled, with room for four rods, ready to do battle against the evil beavers.

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RT - posted 12-17-2001 01:36 AM

Thanks Giz for offering to help organize a spring flotilla on Columbia spingers. I hope Jack teams up with you on it, because you two know the fishery and landscape in that area well. You don't suppose it could get rained out twice do ya?

RT
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Thumper - posted 12-17-2001 01:56am

I'd be happy to help Giz with F4

Jack
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stlhdr1 - posted 12-17-2001 03:52am

Count me in, I'll help organize this fine event... Although, it may consist of a herring show... Guess we'll have to doctor up some herring and drop the kicker and do some trolling.. Nothing like a 20+ springer chomping at the bit. Sort of gets me excited and it's only december. Hell by then it will be short-sleeve shirts, a cold beer and shades with a fresh green label slamming on some over aggressive springers.. I can't wait!
I'm in on organizing this one...!
Keith

You ready for another whoopin Oregon, this time james and I will be there come hell or highwater..
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Gizmo Man - posted 12-17-2001 07:26pm

OK: the Wa guys will coordinate this one. Jack, Keith and I will set the event for sometime in late March or early April based on tides.
And just so there are no concerns, f4 will be an open event for sportman and women and not be an event sponsored by any bb or group. Your participation will be voluntary. We will fish and meet for lunch to share stories of the day.

Giz...
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RT - posted 12-18-2001 01:07 AM

So glad to have 3 good fishermen with excellant local knowledge to run the F4 event (your suggested springer fishing and a picnic on the Columbia). Thanks for taking up the cause Walt (Gizmo), Jack (Thumper), and Keith (stlhdr1). You guys likely already have your teams in mind but in case not I'd like to tag along on one of your teams, with local area river knowledge; and I promise not to troll a pink worm around behind a Deep Six diver .

Steve
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stlhdr1 - posted 12-18-2001 02:05am

RT,
I of most understand the issue... I've fished with you before and know that your knowledge is amongst the tops.. You remind me of my father, one who is out to have fun anymore and #'s don't matter.. It's sort of like a game of pool, when you think your one of the best your father comes out, gets serious, kicks your rear and puts you back in your place. Who cares if you caught fish, it can go either way all the time.

As for the flotilla I won't commit to anyone in particular in the boat until the event is established.. Likely it will be james, myself and a group of buddies that like to get out, have a beer and fish...

We're planning an outing to discuss the date and functions, and in the meantime a bloodbath on some hatchery winter clones.. And, no there won't be any pink rubber worms...

Keith
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bugleman - posted 12-18-2001 10:05am

I have to vouch for RT and the pink worm. Last week on a Oregon coastal river Steve puts out a diver and rotary pink worm and to my amusement after about 15 min. the thing just got hammered by a mint bright winter.
Are we taking suggestions for F IV names?

Off hand I like - Flotilla IV: Springers Revenge
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Bring on your feedback.

Would love to be join the flotilla, is it open to anyone. Would be a great chance to meet other who post here and a great time to hook a springer or two. I fish the Lewis area and had great success last spring and cant wait to go again. Let me know if there is anything we need to or how i can help.
J.R.

JR --- You bet it is open to everyone. We will make sure to match up boat seats to individuals needing a ride. Should be plenty of room for everyone.

F-4, I'm in. April huh? With 2 months to prefish I could have it almost figured out. RT should have the stink rinsed off his boat by then. :p All that dock space at Sand Island will work great. Bet we'll get a huge turnout on this one. We may have to get Cap'n Dan to cut free some PSOBs (portland yachts)for extra dock space.

Howdy:

After reading about F-3, I'd like to be a part of F-IV, but....
* I have no boat.
* I have no knowledge of the Columbia.
* I don't even know how to fish for springers.

I'm pretty much a steelhead fisherman, don't even do as much of that as I'd like, but now I'm branching out into salmon.

So, if anyone who knows how to do this thing has an open seat, I'd love to come along and learn.

I'm definitely interested in participating!

count a boat and four fishermen in!

So a boat without a pump is fine?

Bob D

Yes, this event can handle any boat you put in the water. We see folks with 10 ft boats to 30 ft boats all out there trolling or anchored up somewhere.

big boat, small boat, prop boat, jet boat, paddle boat?

Post a date and if Im free Ill be there with 2 others in the boat!

Bob D

Jack,

Cant wait, I have a boat and a full crew, "well at least full of something". If there is anything needed let me know how i can help.

Count me, & a few buddies in. Can't wait to meet all you long winded guys, and gals.

I there, should be fun.

JRfishing,

I would think the biggest need might be portable BBQ's? When the 3 guys get the count estimate they can let us all know what would be good to bring. Still a long ways off yet.

Hey Steve (Fishbait), are you going to bring your tiny camera and follow people around again?

Note: beware the new Stain'ed stocker from that other board (bored). Best to ignore and not reply to it.

RT-
Unless he works nights at Safeway, he's a 'stalker' :p

Did I win something???

Hey RT, I will bring my dig camera, but will not allow you to stick it down your shorts again. That was a fun party, and I especially enjoyed the early morning with Giz and Bait-O-eggs. Both are really great people.