I live on the Umatilla River in Eastern Oregon. Each year thousands of coho stack up at the mouth of the river (where Umatilla meets the Columbia) in late September and October. The fish remain there until flows begin to pick up at which point they move upstream to spawn. My question to you guys is how do I catch them? The water is nearly slack, virtually no current and less than 10' deep in most places. The fish are literally rolling everywhere, no exageration, and yet I cannot seem to get a one of them to bite! Several times I have tried spinners and incidentally snagged several of them...that's how many there are, but none were caught in the mouth. I'm wondering if it's because they are so far upstream they just won't bite anymore. They do look great tho, bright as can be. Any suggestions?

Thank you!


RM

You might try a thin blade spoon (like a needlefish) below a float. Sometimes the coho will take that as you slooooowwwwly reel it back in. Perch or rainbow trout colors are what I've had the most bites on.
Good luck!

If you're nearly slack I'd try the float technics too. I've had success with cerise (darker hot pink), hot pink, and chartruese. Thin blades like "Wicked Willeys" or "Dick Nites" in size small. I'd also give egg clusters the size of a dime on single hook with no corky a shot too. Suspend it about mid depth to start. I'd try early morning first light on these guys.

Dick Nite. 50/50, size #1.

Run that on about a 6 leader. Rig up like a standard drift gear.

Use a 9' rod - something like a 1082s. 2000 series spinning reel spooled up with 10lb. test. 8lb. leader.

Tie the Dick Nite (it won't have a swivel on it) directly to the leader. No swivel.

Leader goes back to a swivel. Put a small piece of pencil lead on the swivel. Just enough to cast out.

Cast out in to, and past the fish, and retrieve SLOWLY to you.

I can not over emphasize SLOWLY! Like Africa kinda SLOW. So damn slow, that it hurts. Did I mention SLOW? SLOW DOWN - you are still WAY TOO FAST!

99% of the people I see fish the Dick Nite, and who are not catching fish, are retreiving them too fast. SLOW. Did I mention SLOW?????

Test the Dick Nite at your feet. Put it in the water and pull on the rod. You want the spoon to wobble back and forth, but not spin over on itself. If you do that at your feet, you will easily see what SLOW is and what I am talking about.

It really doesn't take too much pull to get that spoon to over wobble and not fish correctly.

Any stop, twitch, or tick, set the hook.

If they are really biting it, they will all be hooked in the snout.

If you are flossing them, they will all be hooked in the corner of the mouth (inside or out).

Some really great ideas guys, I intend to give all of them a try!

Thank you very much for your time, sincerely appreciated.

RM