Columbia River (Washington side)

[Sphynx]

Well, it's been a crazy couple of years and I'm sure like many fishing was sidelined mostly for real life considerations, all that aside, I landed a contract and a Washington license and am as of the last week fishing nearly every day for anywhere between 30 minutes and 3 hours on the Columbia, this is my first exposure to smallmouth and y'all, I think you can stick a fork in me, this is a whole new evolution, these fish fight like satan himself is in their bones, what a freaking rush, I think it's going to be one hell of a summer, haven't caught anything much over a pound or two, but then a river this big and strong I don't exactly expect to hammer any ten pounders, these fish are outstanding all the same. 

[islandbass]

Hello. Always wanted to fish the Columbia. Glad you also discovered the joys of battling smallies. If it were a drug, the FDA would ban it, lol. 

[RoLo]

16 hours ago, Sphynx said:

Well, it's been a crazy couple of years and I'm sure like many fishing was sidelined mostly for real life considerations, all that aside, I landed a contract and a Washington license and am as of the last week fishing nearly every day for anywhere between 30 minutes and 3 hours on the Columbia, this is my first exposure to smallmouth and y'all, I think you can stick a fork in me, this is a whole new evolution, these fish fight like satan himself is in their bones, what a freaking rush, I think it's going to be one hell of a summer, haven't caught anything much over a pound or two, but then a river this big and strong I don't exactly expect to hammer any ten pounders, these fish are outstanding all the same. 

 

Well stated.

The Columbia River is also top-shelf for trophy walleyes.

 

Roger

[WRB]

Long big River, the further you go east the better the bass fishing gets. Above the Dells and gorge area is good for bass. Good salmon River. Be safe it can get dangerous fast in the afternoon winds

Tom

PS, Glenn is your man for bass info.

[Sphynx]

Yeah, those winds are pretty stout, they have tried to keel me ded a few times already, once while I was hooked up, it certainly made my first ever smallmouth a memorable catch lol, as to Walleye, don't know the first thing about fishing for them, or Salmon/Steelhead, but that is not going to be the case 1JAN2021 if I have anything to say about it, few guide services around that are reasonably priced, and a few guys from one of the tribes has offered one of these weekends after the commercial season has ended to show me what's what, so that was pretty cool, and I fully intend on taking them up on that offer. 

[WRB]

32 minutes ago, Sphynx said:

Yeah, those winds are pretty stout, they have tried to keel me ded a few times already, once while I was hooked up, it certainly made my first ever smallmouth a memorable catch lol, as to Walleye, don't know the first thing about fishing for them, or Salmon/Steelhead, but that is not going to be the case 1JAN2021 if I have anything to say about it, few guide services around that are reasonably priced, and a few guys from one of the tribes has offered one of these weekends after the commercial season has ended to show me what's what, so that was pretty cool, and I fully intend on taking them up on that offer. 

PM Glenn

[RoLo]

46 minutes ago, Sphynx said:

as to Walleye, don't know the first thing about fishing for them

I rarely target walleyes per se, but the statistics behind the Columbia River are very impressive.

The Columbia River has produced 3 out of the 8 heaviest walleyes on record. Now that Greer’s Ferry

has fallen from grace, that places the Columbia River high on the ladder of world-record potential.

 

Roger

 

 

[Glenn]

Wait till Monday's video. 

 

They're pulling A LOT of water right now.  I mean...A LOT.  Unusual for this time of year.  If they get back to normal soon, next month it will seem like a lake.

[Sphynx]

25 minutes ago, Glenn said:

Wait till Monday's video. 

 

They're pulling A LOT of water right now.  I mean...A LOT.  Unusual for this time of year.  If they get back to normal soon, next month it will seem like a lake.

I'm all anxiety for Monday to roll around! 

[ratman]

18 hours ago, Glenn said:

Wait till Monday's video. 

 

They're pulling A LOT of water right now.  I mean...A LOT.  Unusual for this time of year.  If they get back to normal soon, next month it will seem like a lake.

Hey Glenn just wanted to bring this to your attention and see if you had any thoughts. Thank you. 

[Sphynx]

26 minutes ago, ratman said:

Hey Glenn just wanted to bring this to your attention and see if you had any thoughts. Thank you. 

There is also serious concern in OR/WA about the aggressive advances northern pike are making towards the main Columbia River, there are some estimates from state/tribal scientists that have projected the pike to establish themselves within the next 5-10 years and it won't be long before that impacts native salmon family numbers...all in all not good. 

[ratman]

Big difference between smallmouth and northern pike minnow.I just think instead of trying to kill off an excellent game fish,which will be impossible to get rid of maybe they should focus on hatcheries.Largemouth in there to.

 

[Sphynx]

I am not sure how much effect bass have had on trout/salmon populations, I have caught several of both species standing in the same spot fishing the same lures so from where I am standing they are in at least some competition for food, but they behave very differently and seem to coexist fairly well, I hope there is a solution where both species can be allowed to exist and provide enjoyment for years to come 

[Glenn]

The only study regarding bass predation on salmon showed for 10 months of the year, salmon smolt comprised less than 2% of a bass' diet.  The other 2 months? 5%.  So....their own study showed negligible impact to salmon.

 

There have been no other studies.  Certainly none that prove bass predation on salmon has ANY impact.  None.  Nada. Zero. Zip.

 

So the ordinance to wipe out bass in the Columbia is absolutely 100% political, designed to appease "save the salmon" folks and show them that "something" is being done.  Total smokescreen at the expense of bass, walleye, and catfish.

 

Btw, the same people that say "save the salmon" are anglers, tribal members, and commercial fishermen that kill salmon. If they really wanted to "save the salmon", then they need to stop fishing for them!  Derrrrrrr.

 

That's all I'm going to say about that.

[WRB]

We have the same problem with San Jaquine Delta  (California) Sacramento River save the Salmon polical folks wanting to remove all non native fish including Largemouth, Smallmouth, Stripe bass, Crappie etc.

The whole west coast is under attack from these well funded and represented groups.

Looking forward to Glenn's vedio's always well done.

Columbia River system is a special fishery.

Tom

PS, Northern Pike not Pike Minnow ( Sqaw fish).

 

[Sphynx]

42 minutes ago, Glenn said:

The only study regarding bass predation on salmon showed for 10 months of the year, salmon smolt comprised less than 2% of a bass' diet.  The other 2 months? 5%.  So....their own study showed negligible impact to salmon.

 

There have been no other studies.  Certainly none that prove bass predation on salmon has ANY impact.  None.  Nada. Zero. Zip.

 

So the ordinance to wipe out bass in the Columbia is absolutely 100% political, designed to appease "save the salmon" folks and show them that "something" is being done.  Total smokescreen at the expense of bass, walleye, and catfish.

 

Btw, the same people that say "save the salmon" are anglers, tribal members, and commercial fishermen that kill salmon. If they really wanted to "save the salmon", then they need to stop fishing for them!  Derrrrrrr.

 

That's all I'm going to say about that.

It never surprises me when politicians pick and choose which science to follow, I will refrain from getting too political here but an observant person wouldn't need to look very hard to see that particular elephant in the room, of course, the use of "encouraged to" rather than "required by law to" means that I can gleefully disregard that particular ordinance and have no interest in keeping any bass that hasn't done something silly like choking a jig and gut hooking or some other can't get around it mortality event, I do so love disappointing the suits running our lives ?

[skekoam]

I was born and raised in portland.  My dad was a chef at a restaurant right on the river named Barts Wharf.  Not sure what's there now.  He even had a boat down at the dock.  So sad we weren't into bass fishing at that time.  Had no idea how good it may have been. 

[Sphynx]

2 hours ago, skekoam said:

I was born and raised in portland.  My dad was a chef at a restaurant right on the river named Barts Wharf.  Not sure what's there now.  He even had a boat down at the dock.  So sad we weren't into bass fishing at that time.  Had no idea how good it may have been. 

It's pretty good all in, won't be finding any 15 pounders out here like some fisheries, but the river and several lakes around the state offer fantastic numbers of fish, if you haven't already discovered it, search for dead memories Portland if you want a trip down memory lane, lots of Portland stuff from bygone eras there