Have the last week of March off and have never caught a king in the river yet. Other than the Columbia, what rivers would I have a shot at kings in? Any help would be appreciated. Actually, have not fished for kings either. Thanks

Doubletake

I would put all my bets on Wind river Run mag wiggle wart 30-40 pulls out FL orangs or u20flatfish fl orange with touch of shrimp oil very deadly both of them. Good luck use drop weight on the flatfish usally about 3oz

I'd agree. In march, your best bet is going to be the wind. FL orange is definately the way to go. It can get to be crowded down there though so bring your elbow pads. Your other option is drano lake. The fishing isnt as good as the wind but there are fish in there are not as much of a crowd. Good luck.

Don't be afraid to be a conformist at the Wind, I tried being different last year until I realized that every fish I saw being netted had a FL orange wart in it's mouth!

Drano "Blue Creek Merry Go Round"

Is there any bank access on the Wind River? If so, what are some good bank tecniques that work there?

Right on! Thanks for the info. gentlemen, one last kind of dumb question, where approximately is the Wind river? LOL Sorry, I don't get out much. Thanks again.

Doubletake

The Wind is located about 30-45 mins east of Portland on the washington side. It runs right next to the city of Carson. Drano lake is about 8 miles east of the wind.

There is bank fishing access around the bridge of highway 14. There are usually quite a few people. I've never done it so I dont know how good of luck they have from shore.

Good Luck

Shhhhhhht! [quiet - last year 32K; this year 40K]

Dt, this is a very productive but ugly crowded fishery. And also keep in mind that what these guys are describing is the zone off the mouth of the Wind outside the Hwy 14 & railroad bridges into what is essentially Wind water outcropping into a large Columbia indent. So it's a bit like fishing the Columbia mainstem, but way more crowded. You can fish for these same fish, along with lots of others, below Bonneville Dam in less crowded places again this spring. They are conservatively predicting 350K up the lower Columbia and over Bonny. That number doesn't include the lower tributaries. Last spring they predicted 300K and got 440K springers! Also this year there will be about 60% finclipped for keeping, compared to 40% last spring. As for fishing the kind of rivers I think you have in mind, ....

.... as I said, the Wind R. upstream will be plugged with them again; but not just with springers, but also inconsiderate fishermen. Tough access issues also. There should be very good runs in the Cowlitz, Kalama, and NF Lewis rivers a ways south of your area. ...

How are the springer runs in recent years in the east Sound rivers north of Seattle? The last I heard, the huge runs that used to swim up the Skagit had really diminished to the point of getting the river closed. Has that changed the last couple years (getting betters runs like everywhere else, with the good ocean conditions)? How about the close by Sno'/Sky' or the Stil' and Nook' rivers these days? Do they have good enough returns for a season on them this year?

DoubleTake, One thing to remember about Wind river & Drano Lake is '2001 was the only year,I fished it in the last 25 years it opened for Spring Chinook, before April 1st.So before you make plans & head over make sure it's open in March.