There is a small river near were I live every one fishes the heck out of one hole near the mouth.I have fished up stream within a mile of this hole and had no luck.the bite is great for an hour after light and then it dies completly.do you think those fish shoot up stream? will springers hold in holes further up? should I try to go further up river.I get tired of fighting the croud geting there at 3 am and having somebody show up at 6:30 and stand right next to me!!!

I used to live by a small stream that got some springers.

My plan of attack was to sneak up on a 'secret' hole that I had found that held fish. I would expect an aggressive attack on my silver spoon on the first cast. If I missed the strike, they would suddenly get lock jaw - and game over. I don't know if this is true on most waters, but it was like clock work on my stream. Kinda hard to do if you are competing for first water though...

On another note, the biggest one I caught nailed a small silver spoon that I was using to catch SRC. I had worked the deep pool by my house for 10 minutes, then just as I began to pull the lure out of the water and leave, a hog of a salmon came out of the dark, grabbed the spoon, and headed back to the bottom. I won't bore you anymore with the details, but I did land the fish on my 5ft rod with 6lb line - and I was one happy kid.

Good luck!

Oh, and I would say that the salmon will go much farther up the river than you'd think. Go explore!!

Hey desert,

What a great post, have wanted to ask the same question of those on the board more knowledgeable than myself. Although I have been very succesful on steelies have only been fishing springers for one year. Since you and I live in the same neck of the woods it may be that we are talking about the same river. I find here that altho there are some "sweet spots" it definitely pays to explore. Last year we caught one springer on a plug, four others on eggs in about 15 trips out. I have noticed that alot of mainstem (Columbia R.) fisherman focus on using plugs but it seems that once they get "in-river" they are looking more for bait. Last year we had virtually no snowpack which meant the water temps rose quickly and thus fish were put off by late morning. I am hoping that the cooler water temps this year will extend the bite later into the morn a bit. Realize also that unlike summer steelhead, these fish move rapidly through the system (I did a 4 yr telemetry study on the Umatilla River in 92-96). This study found that spring chinook on the Umatilla River moved an average of about 5 miles a day, so don't feel bad about waiting for them to "come to you". Watch the fish counts if they are available, then find a narrow spot in the river where you know they must come by, it's just a matter of time. Hope I said something that helps. Thanks!!

RM

Since the water is usually low and clear I like to throw spoons mostly. I have had good success on silver (mentioned above) and a metalic green finish. I've also got a few on small orange mepps spinners (also catch trout so you get more action). Once the fish seem to slow down go to a fly or a small corky and yarn. For fly's I've done well with purple leaches and these black and white ones that look like a skunk. Be sure to be quite and stay out of the fishes view as much as possible.

hi desert drifter,
im definately no pro on springers for i have never even caught one but ive only fished for them one trip anyways.. but over on the clearwater in idaho, they use a slip bobber and a 1/4 or 3/8 chartruese bucktail jig and it seems get alot of springer, you may even have luck with bobber and eggs for them..and try the pink worm, ive heard that can catch fish when they are turned off..if sometime you wanna hook up and go springer fishing, im game.. **berkley boy**

Find a couple deep hole up river from the zoo. Fish these hole using eggs with very little wieght. If the water is slow enough 1 small split shot will work. Ive taken many spring and fall chinook this way.

Not every hole will hold springers. There are a few things to look for will trying to find a "good" salmon hole. Look for rock shelves that drop into deep water. Salmon are lght sensitive and they gravitate to places that provide shade. Also look for deep boily back eddies at the top of a deep pool, the turbulent water gives the fish a sense of security and they will hold in there.
Springers are wierd when it comes to the "bite", All of a sudden they will turn on than just as fast they shut down. There will always be the occasional biter, You just have t be presitant and keep after them. Also try using different scents. Anise is by far my favorite for springers. shrimp/prawn and sardine are also good bets.
Hope this helps

I just remembered something else that seemed to be really effective. It requires a slight change in both gear and tactics but it can be accomplished for relatively cheap. Now you either need a broom stick or a bottom fishing pole. About 15 feet of decoy line (for the broom stick) and a big trebble hook with some pencil lead wrapped around it for extra weight. (If you choose to use the fishing pole a cheap reel from the pawn shop and 50lb braid will work). Just cast into likely holes and wait for them to hit. If you feel the line start to move set the hook (extra hard) and back up quickly to bring the fish to the bank. I see this alot on some of the small rivers I fish for kings but it should work in most places.

thanks for the replys every one I plan on hiting some holes that I know of that I dont think get fished.

Hi DD I dont know what your river is like but I would look for a heavy rapids or a falls upstream .Chinook usually move at night and will often stop in the first pool above heavy water. Spoons are very productive when these fish first hit such a pool but once they have chased everything else out of the pool they settle down and are then best negociated on fresh roe or eggs.

I picture the fish going through the river in waves they obviously enter the river at night evening and early in the morning do you think it would be a better idea to fish the same hole untill they get to you instead of hunting for them like I normaly do for steelhead.