Was wondering how you guys/gals go about your springer fishing on Drano. I've never done it before. I have a 16 foot drift boat but no motor boat. Some fella once told me he fishes the springer by rowing with plugs in the dark. Can you do this? Is there any current, slight current, etc. Is it a super crowded fishery? Do all you guys pull plugs or do you troll cut plugs or what?? Would love to know how to do it. Thanks in advance for your suggestions. Brass

i heard people pull plugs and get them. never heard of anyone trollin cut plug.

Troll wiggle warts.

BonB, there's very little current in Drano, but you can row a drift boat dragging Mag Worts or plug-cut herring and catch springers there. It can get very crowded, but I've rarely seen it as hostile as say, Buoy 10. I've done very well there slowly trolling plug-cut herring on as long of a leader as you can handle -- I'm talking 11, 12 feet -- with a round drop sinker, 3-5 ounces, off a three-way hookup, either a spreader, or preferably and three-way type of swivel. I use a split ring with three small bead chain swivels. Drop you plug-cut to the bottom (40-60 feet) and crank up a couple turns and grind on them. I've also caught them on Mag Worts and some of the locals and guides use prawn baits off a small spinner. I do know guys that have caught springers there in the morning darkness on lighted plugs. But a more popular night fishery in Drano is in summer for steehead.

And three things never to do at Drano (other than never go there at all )

1. Don't troll against the grain, everyone trolls counter-clockwise

2. Don't troll within casting distance of the right bank at the mouth - this limited area is reserved for bankies and enforced first by cast lures and second by cast rocks

3. Don't fish with light gear or let your fish run - you will get run over and no one will yield as they can't - no room between boats. Use heavy gear and horse them in.

Or, like I said, just don't do it, as virtually any other kind of fishing is more fun

Thanks spawnout that is some of the best advise I have seen on this board yet.

Too many times I have been frustrated by a boater with no consideration for other people fishing.

I have a boat too and always remember I have alot more water available to me than the bank fishermen.

Spawnout, if you go during the week and stay away from the "circle jerk" or "toilet bowl" at the mouth, its a great place to fish -- scenic, often sunny and full of very tough spring chinook. I never fish the mouth, always stay in the main lake and catch plenty of springers. Wind River nearby is also a great, productive place to fish and offers a bit more room. You won't be alone with nature in either place for sure though...

Try this. Click on the map icon for the best trolling spots.

http://www.espn.go.com/outdoors/fishing/s/f_map_WA_Drano_Lake.html

Hope this helps . . .

Salmonbelly, been there, done that, as you could probably tell from my post. I have a lot of better places to catch springers further down the river, only went up there when nothing else was open after they closed the river in the late 70's through the end of the 90's. Now that we have the lower Columbia selective fishery I'm way more into that

Drano Lake in the springtime can be a trip to hell. The wind is fierce and relentless and can literally drive you mad!!!!! It is always crowded, less so during the week. Still though, it is kind of a tradition to go do it, kind of like climbing a mountain or playing that rugby game in 37 degree rain.

So, go have fun!!!!!

BB: if you have a drift boat with no motor, fishing near the mouth will be tough, it's that crowded. Most of the guides use spinners with whole prawns or sandshrimp. The magwarts work too, but if you are near the mouth trolling speed is verrrrry slow due to the crowd, with frequent stops while everyone juggles for room. Plugs wont stay down unless you run a sinker off a dropper when it gets that slow moving. Moving away from the bridge even a couple hundred yards loses 90% of the crowd. You can run a search on this board to see the spinner/prawn setup.