Fishing was "Gorge-ous" This Weekend

[pdxfisher]

I hit the Columbia this weekend and the gorge was in fact gorgeous. It was a beautiful day on the water and the only things that would have made it better were more and bigger fish. It was not a terrible day, 11 bass with the big one being 17.75" and a big pikieminnow, but this time of year I feel like I should catch a 20+" bass every time out.

 

I had my chance right off the bat. I started out tossing a zara puppy and in short order a pig of a bass blew up on it. Not once, not twice, but three times on the same cast. That fish wanted to be caught so bad but somehow I was able to deflect all its attempts and getting hooked. I actually checked the lure after that cast to make sure it did have hooks! 

 

Not the best start to the day. After throwing everything I had at the spot where I missed that fish and getting no response I headed downstream with nothing to show for my efforts. After that miss I did switch from the Zara puppy to a Berkley Choppo (my normal choice on the Columbia). I love the number of strikes I get on stick baits but man do I have a lot of fish strike those without getting hooked. Usually when they hit the choppo it is a hookup.

 

The next spot I hit was a small rocky clear spot surrounded by weeds. It is often good for a fish or two.  I had a nice blow up on my choppo that stuck like it was supposed to and ended up landing a nice 17" bass. 

 

 

 

Now that's a pretty good way to get the skunk off. However that was the only biter I could find at that spot. The next spot ended up being a bust. The frustrating part was that a bass came through chasing bait but by the time I switched rods to my topwater and got a cast out there it was gone. I was amazed at how fast that fish (or school) was moving as they came up chasing bait in three different spots, about 50' between each one and only a handful of seconds apart.

 

After that I switched spots again and this one produced a nice chunky 15.5" bass and a smaller one both on a drop shot.

 

 

 

Those two fish came within a couple of casts of each other and then it was crickets so I moved again. The next spot was where my buddy and I did most of our damage last week. Within a half dozen casts with a drop shot I hooked a nice fish (best of the day) and after a good fight I landed a nice 17.75" bass (2lb 14oz).

 

 

 

I figured I was going to have an epic day at that point on that spot but I could not buy another bite off that spot. I fished the heck out of that spot with several different lures for over about 2 hours without a sniff.  I eventually realized this spot was not going to be the deal. Just kind of sad that it took me so long to figure that out.

 

So it was time to move again. I hit a mid-river hump that tops off at about 15' and is surrounded by 40+' of water. After fishing it with the drop shot for a while I decided I need to change things up. Searching with a drop shot is just too painstakingly slow if you are not on fish. I picked up my wobblehead rod and on the first cast I caught a nice chunky 16.25"  bass. Maybe I was on to something!

 

 

 

I fished with that wobblehead for a while and eventually picked up another bass but that was it for that spot. By now the wind was starting to kick up out of the West. I was happy about that because it meant that I would have the wind at my back on the pedal home. I was trying to decide where to fish when I made a command decision to make a big move and pedal an extra 1/2 mile downstream to where there are a few small islands. I had only been that far downstream one time before but I remembering liking that spot.

 

The only reason I mad that run down there was because I knew I would have a tailwind on the way back. So I pedaled my little heart out and made the run. I got to the first island and on my first cast (with the wobblehead) I landed a nice chunky bass.

 

I kept the wobblehead rod in my hand. A short while later I had a hard thump and could tell this would a good fish! After a good fight I was a little disappointed to see a 2' pikieminnow on the end of my line. Oh well. I went back to dragging that wobblehead around and picked up 2 more bass around that first island. By now the wind was starting to get really stiff so made a quick pass around the other islands and then headed back.

 

It was always fun having that strong tailing wind when heading back to the ramp. I was going about 3.5mph and the waves were passing me by. Each time they did they would give me a little extra push. It feels like someone is helping you

 

Once I was most of the way back I did stop and fish one spot because as I zoomed by I marked some fish. It was in about 25' of water and I was right over the fish so I picked up my drop shot. Within a few minutes I felt a thunk and some weight as I was bobbing up and down in the 2' waves. I set the hook and after a fun fight I landed a fat little bass. I decided that was enough for me and I headed the rest of the way back.

 

When I got to the ramp some folks on the dock asked if I saw the otter. They said it was right as I headed in but I was busy stowing gear as I pedaled so I missed it  It always fun when you get to see those guys but I guess this was just a day that started with an almost and ended with an almost.

 

Here is some video from the day:

 

 

 

 

[MIbassyaker]

My brother moved to Portland, OR just a couple years ago and all I can think about watching your reports is "how can I turn a family visit into a fishing trip"?  It's a long way from MI and I have only flown, not driven, but he would be totally into it if we could plan properly....gonna figure it out eventually!

[BigAngus752]

9 hours ago, pdxfisher said:

That fish wanted to be caught so bad but somehow I was able to deflect all its attempts and getting hooked.

A great defense is the best offense, right?  LOL

 

Great write up and I'm incredibly jealous of your views out there.  What a great day.

[Swamp Girl]

pdx, you are such a persistent fisher. You try a spot, come up empty, try another and another and it seems like you always eventually find fish. I admire persistence and enjoy your trip reports.

[pdxfisher]

2 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

pdx, you are such a persistent fisher. You try a spot, come up empty, try another and another and it seems like you always eventually find fish. I admire persistence and enjoy your trip reports.

 

I just outlast them

 

Smallmouth move around like crazy. Spots that are loaded one week are empty the next. Even seems like over a period of hours the fish move in and out. If I move around enough I can usually run into some.

 

This last trip I wasted way too much time fishing a spot that had been my best producer the previous three trips. It is so easy to fall into that trap. Smallmouth prey on our weakness

[pdxfisher]

5 hours ago, BigAngus752 said:

A great defense is the best offense, right?  LOL

 

Great write up and I'm incredibly jealous of your views out there.  What a great day.

 

Some times when I am out on the water I just look around and can't believe how lucky I am to get to fish in a place like this!

[Swamp Girl]

1 hour ago, pdxfisher said:

 

I just outlast them

 

And ^THIS^ is why I admire you. I try to outlast them too. I know it looks like I always and easily catch fish, but I caught one bass in four or five trips this past spring, but I kept plugging and even now, when the fishing is easier, there are times I get stumped, when I, like you, try the spots I caught them the week before, and catch nothing. So, I go looking until I find them. We keep grinding, like this guy: