Hello, fellow fanatics. Just some questions about the upcoming event. As I understand it the tourney (for fun and bragging rights)is to be scheduled for April 13, at Sand Is. boat launch,park or marina? Will the boat launch accomadate a 24' walkaround? What time can we start fishing? Will there be any pre-derby meeting or orientation? O.K. ,for the humiliating info: I have never fished the Columbia for salmon(Greenback,Virgin,whatever you want to call it)so what are the standard setup rigs? I don't expect for any of you to give me any secret tips.But, any pointers would be greatly appeciated!!! Now all I have to do is roundup a couple of my fishho buddies and fellow BB members and with any luck we'll see ya in the springer uh...I mean Spring! Thanks again for any help or info? Sid Fishious i

It's gonna be Viscious Fishious on 4/13/02, Sid. Tons of springers and fun. The planned 3:00 afternoon party on Sand Island (just a short hop across from St. Helen's) will be accessed by all the event participants with their boats. It's an island with docks and a picnic park and a little beach too. So you will be launching a big boat like yours at the St. Helen's Marina cement ramp; or a number of other nearby launches that the organizers will post during the week before this Flotilla IV. As for gear ...

I forgot to look if you are from Washington (a Wassie) or Oregon (an Oreo). If you are a Wassie, you will fit right into this thing with others from your state if you use your downriggers to drag anchovies right on the bottom; especially in sandy areas. jk - Actually, that would probably work. If you are an Oreo, you would fit right in by anchoring in a 'hog line', with guys that look like they know what they are doing, and plunk fish the outgoing tide with K-13 or 14 Kwikfish (wrapped with a small herring/smelt/sardine filet, and a small bit of Prep H rubbed on it's redish tail - really). Or use a rolling plugcut green pack herring or whole redpack or even the small yellowpack herring; or some pink cured prawns with a plastic leader clevis'd small rainbow spinner blade above it. Use about a 50" leader and 30" lead dropper. After you let out your rig and the lead stabilizes in a light tap to bounce bottom, reel in 2 or 3 cranks to get the diving Kwikfish a couple feet or so up off the bottom. This spring with higher, colder, and a bit murkier water than last year I figure on doing better fishing a little closer to shore in shallower this year - but keep an eye out to get dialed into what's working. On a stronger incoming tide it's often best to troll around, where you see boats working a good area that way. You can use the same rig ups as mentioned for anchor fishing.

Those are just some of the basics that should get you into some fish. Good luck out there. Gonna be a lot of fun, regardless of the fishing.

RT

They're not Wassies. They're wash-outs.

And Preparation H? Is that for when ya snag them in the ass?

Oh, and I'll be there. :p

Thanks RT, I am a Wassie but, I'm thinking the Oreo setup mentioned in your post will produce much better results. RT- I also have a drift boat with 9.9 kicker(no sled,dammit) would this be more suitable for the waters being fished? I hear Columbia R. and automatically think big water, big boat. If it is not necessary to drag the beast(6500 lbs.) down there I would just as soon not. The drift boat does not have the luxuries as my walkaround but, I always think along the safety first rules. Thanks again,Sid

Sid, it depends on the weather. If there is a lot of wind and river chop the bigger boat would be nice. But if it were me, I would just bring down the driftboat with the 10 hp kicker from Seattle. If you launch at St. Helen's you can troll nearby between upper Sand Island and the point of Sauvie Island, or go up around to the outer side of Sauvie a relatively short ways to a more productive trolling area where you will see a lot of participants catching fish. There are places to anchor fish the outgoing tide too. If it's windy you can go the short distance up from St. Helen's into the Willamette Channel to get some wind/chop relief; and it's the peak of the Willamette run like it is for the Columbia run during mid-April, so good prospects up there too. If you troll the really deep 50' to 60' water near the channel mouth, troll herring about 12' to 16' deep (watch your fish finder and vary the depth until you get bites). About another mile+ or so up the channel, just upstream of the outlet of Scapoose Slough (which is on the mainland side), there is a great trolling area with depths of 15' to 25', where fishing your lead right near bottom with the bait a couple feet or so up is very productive. ...

Also, you could launch at the lowest Lewis River put ins on the Washington side and fish the areas off the mouth of the Lewis across the Columbia. If the wind isn't real high, it's only about half a mile across the river to Sand Island. I think the park access is on the inside of the island, but not sure. Hope to see ya there. It really is going to be "The Really Big One" of all the Flotillas. And lots of BBQ'd fresh spring chinooks too!

I agree with RT .... Plenty of good water for a driftboat with trolling motor. The odds of a strong NW wind in April are less than 50-50. If there is no wind you would not be handicapped at all.

Let me start off by saying thank you for your response! Now I have a couple more questions so I'll try not to press my luck. I have found St. Helens on my gazetteer as well as Sauvie Is. but the only Sand Is. I seem to locate is across from Vancouver hatchery near Gov. Is. is this the spot? Tight lines!

Yo Sid --- Nope, that is not the Sand Island we are referring to. The F4 picnic/meeting place is on an island that is about a tee shot from the boat launch in St. Helens.....just downstream. On the Oregon side of the island is a nice moorage, public toilets and picnic area. You can moor your driftboat there (or pull it up on shore), or your 44-footer will fit nicely too. In a driftboat here you can fish the mouth of the Multnomah channel or the Warrior Rock area of the Columbia (a tee shot upstream). Or if there is no wind you can putt across the Columbia and fish the mouth of the Lewis. All very good springer water.

Normally when I fish that area,I stay in Woodland .I would love to attend the after party but don't really want to cross after partying with maybe a good blow going.

Can anyone suggest a good,clean,and most of all,secure motel in or near St Helens? It doesn't need to be fancy.

Also, I will bring bait with but if there is a spot for fresh, that would be Super!

Looking foward to meeting you all down there and having a good time. Bigdog out.......

"Can anyone suggest a good,clean,and most of all,secure motel in or near St Helens? It doesn't need to be fancy."

I don't know about security, but motels in the Woodland area include the Best Inn (360-225-6548), Best Western (225-1000), Hansen's Motel (225-7018), Lakeside Motel (225-8240), The Lewis River Inn (225-6257) and the Scandia Motel (225-7860).

"Also, I will bring bait with but if there is a spot for fresh, that would be Super!"

Try Fisherman's Depot, just east of Woodland on the North side of the Lewis (225-9900).

Bigdog, here is a tip about something that often outfishes even fresh herring. Sometimes not. ...

From my post reply in the 'Hey RT' thread:

N.E.N.,

During last year's springer season on the Columbia River the water was relatively low and clear, due to the drought like conditions. Kwikfish/Flatfish were really taking a lot of chinooks out there. In the clearer water, size K-13/14 work real well in most of the chrome based various stock patterns. My blue "RT's Injured Baitfish" pattern works great! This custom painted and taped variation has been deadly on springers and fall fish for me for many years; especially in clearish to medium colored water - with both Kwikfish and Wiggle Warts. When the water gets more colored then the chrome or white based Kwikfish with the chartreuse and green two-tone color accents, and baitfish filet wrapped, often work best.

To make these, start by getting all chrome or nearly all chrome Kwikfish and Testors spray enamel (from hobby stores) in the "Blue Saphire Metalic" color. Then masking tape either the right or left side from front to back, on both the top and bottom. Then after rubbing off any hand oils present with rubbing alcohol, spray paint the unmasked half of the chrome, with one or two brisk spray sweeps from about 8" away. Do a few of them at a time (both Kwikfish and Warts). Carefully take the tape off after a couple minutes. Then I hang them on lampshade wires to dry/cure for a couple days; leaving the warm lightbulb on some during the day. ... Then put one lure tape fisheye on the underside of the forward bill, on the painted blue side. Also cut out a small 3/4" long arrow shaped chartreuse or flame red piece of lure tape and put it on the under side back by the tail end; arrow pointing forward. That's the killer color pattern. ...

Another tip: Since a lot of Kwikie hooked fish come unbuttoned due to hooks flapping around, try putting on a swivel beadchain (4 beads) hook extender and large treble with a floatant on it's shank (such as tapered foam or drilled out 'cheater' for neutral bouyancy on the larger Kwikfish's heavier treble). Attach them with split rings. Same for the Warts, except no floatant is needed with their smaller hook. This unique rigup leaves an extended and stabilized hook straight back in the current right in the 'strike zone'. You should lose less fish with this rigup. Otherwise, replace the 2 stock treble hooks with one size larger Owner brand treble hooks.

When you tune these to dive straight, with good action, and put them in the right places, the 'nooks can't resist them! ... Have a good one jout there this spring.

RT

Thanks RT and Thumper.I'm cleaning the metalflake blue off my hands as I post.Guess I shoulda wore gloves!

I think I will stay in St Helens.It just seems more convienent.I'm sure I'll have to get a 3 day Ore. lic.

I hope you are going to be able to make F4 RT(Gee, that looks kinda funny). Anyway thanks for the tip. Bigdog out.....

Please set me straight! I'm so pumped for my first salmon experience on the Columbia R.- April 13th, then I go to the State of Washington sport fishing rules pamphlet and ....sssss deflation. It states Rocky Pt. to I-5 bridge is open from Aug.1 to Mar.31 for salmon. Say it isn't so! Drag me naked through the streets of St. Helens just tell me I'm wrong!

Aunty M, thank you for the info! I had faith someone would pull me out of my tailspin.