Bob Roberts Fishing Reports

Tuesday, Febuary 13th 2007

Back from the Portland show and ready to start fishing. First we went to the Western Washington Sportsman show in Puallup and then did the big Pacific Northwest Sportsman show in Portland. For alot of venders its on to the next show for me its back to fishing. We did very well at both shows so if you are interested in a trip for trophy walleye you need to call soon, I have very few openings left. The summer walleye will also start to book up fairly fast so give me a call. Ok the winner of the fishing trip raffle for two is Pat Bauer of Aloha Oregon, Pat has chosen Salmon and Steelhead at the mouth of the Deschutes river in September. Hopfully Pat will have a good day and the pics will be at next years show. To the rest of you thanks for entering the raffle and hope to hear from you about a trip. Not much for me to report on since everyone's been at the shows. I will try to put up a report in about a week as I will be on the water most of the next week. Good luck fishing ,see you on the water. Bob Roberts CBGS

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Thursday, January 18th 2007

Am I good at keeping up on My fishing reports or what. To be honest there realy hasen't been a hole lot to report on in eastern Oregon unless you like fishing in very cold weather. If anybody is reading this and wondering why I dont fish in December,January and early Febuary there are two reasons.Step out on to the Columbia river the last week,and stand in that cold wind ad some fair weather clients frozen boat ramps and you have got you some fun. The other reason would be my two son's and there love for hunting, ok my love to. From chukars on the snake to Boardman honkers to foothill coyote's winter can be pretty fun. I think I have found my older boy Austin (11 yrs) love, Honkers and yote's he loves shooting his New 25-06 ruger mark-2 at Coyotes. Austin and Tanner both love to waterfowl hunt so that is what we do in the winter. I do take a little time for myself and go with some friends every year and do some Snake river Chukar hunting for four or five days. This year the bird numbers were down but we did get birds every day and have a great time. Now It's Honkers this weekend then on to Puallup Wa. for the Western washington Sportsman show after that it is Portland for the Northwest Pacific Sportsman show . By the time I get back I will be booking in to summer so if you have a set date that you are interested in fishing you need to book early, weekends will book up the fastest. Hopfully I will see you at the show if not hope to hear from you soon. So I will do a short report as I do not know very much.
Sturgeon: Fishing is hit or miss below The John Day and Mcnary Dams.Had a friend that went below Johnday last week and got a couple keepers a 49 and a 53 seen a couple others caught. Look for the deeper slots off of the channel try useing squid or shrimp. Have not heard to much about mcnary not alot of people fishing when its this cold.
Steelhead: Before this last cold snap they were picknig up fish at Rock creek on the Johnday river using corkies and nightcrawler or bobber and jig tipped with a little piece of shrimp. The Umatilla was starting to get good below Pendleton for steelies on the same rigs. Brother Alan hooked seven fish last week below town (Pendleton) it should get good again as the weather warms and we get rid of some of this floating Ice. Wallowa also should start to pick up as the weather warms into March and the Ice flows leave. March is the best month for the wallowa,but it is combat fishing and alot of the fish have came along way and are dark.
Walleye: Fishing for walleye this time of year is not for the fair weather fisherman.You can be rewarded by some monster fish, but you are going to work for them ,and you might only get one or two bites a day. Fish the deeper slow water off the channel and fish slow and verticle you might have to hit them right in the head. If you find a fish work that area hard they are laying there in there winter haunts and there not going to move much. Blad baits or whistler jig tipped with a crawler work best. Try staying between thirty two and fourty five feet. Good luck fishing Bob Roberts CBGS

Monday, September 25, 2006

Monday, September 26th


Glad to be back home fishing,it's been along August, September. I did have alot of fun fishing down river though. Astoria started out realy slow so we started going out on the ocean. Thats were we finally started getting into some nice fish. The fish were fat and crome bright,oh ya and very hungry. These fish silvers and chinook would just inhale our baits,it is something you just have to do. By the last week of August we were finally getting fish inside around Hammond and the bridge. After labor day it was back up to the mouth of the Deschutes River for Salmon and Steelhead and to do the writers camp with Ed Iman. What a great bunch of guys and gals,from the writers to the many sponcers to the cooks it was the who's who of the outdoor world,and I was very happy to get to be apart of it again this year. The fishing was ok we caught fish it could have been better could have been alot worse. Biggest salmon around 25#s biggest Sturgeon 7' biggest Steelhead 16#s biggest walleye about 4#s biggest bass around 5#s but out of all the fish that we caught it was the camp that is truly amazing. From the food to the drinks to the writers and sponcers the storys went on and on. I am truly starting to under stand that fishing itself is A small part of how this buissness works. Thanks again to Ed Iman for inviting me back and to the writers and sponcers that make this camp such a success.
Ok back up river to the mouth of the Umatilla area for Salmon steelhead walleye. Its starting out a little slow for Salmon and steelhead but as the water temp drops into low 60's upper 50's it's going to get alot better. I look for it to get good around the first of October. Hopfully they will open Salmon season back up as soon as they get there excapement by us. Its funny close it here leave it open were they spawn (Hanford) they will probably even raise the limit up there. Steelhead is open and they should start hitting better around the interstate bridge, mouth of the Umatilla and above Mcnary Dam.
Walleye bite has been a little slow to. All those little shad smolt are coming down river about a billion of them. As soon as they flush down river the bite should start to pick up pretty fast. It is happening a little slower than last year. This time last year the bite was on a little better. So by around the first of the month look for the fall bite to start. I still have some good dates for October,November steelhead and Walleye Umatilla area or lower Jonhday Steelhead in November give me a call.
Good luck fishing and with your fall hunts. Bob Roberts CBGS

Monday, June 12, 2006

Monday, June 12th 2006

Been very busy fishing for walleye, Spring chinook and a little sturgeon. Just got back from the Johnday Dam. We have an annual shad fishing party down there for four days,and as always its a kick in the pants. This is something that is more for the kids than it is for adults,although we have a great time also. We caught shad,cats,bass did not catch any salmon but saw some caught. With the new sturgeon santuary we could not do are oversized fishing off the platform, but thats ok we understand that those fish need to be left alone to feed and spawn. Another thing that I wanted to mention is the use of stainless steel hooks for sturgeon this is something that I realy didnt think about untill earlyer this year when a guy menioned going diving. When you break off your tackle and your weight is caught in the rocks your bait is still fishing and if a fish grabs it,it can not get away. With a stainless hook it will not rought and the fish is trapped there to die something to think about. You need to use a bronzed hook that is not a real heavy wire. Anybody that is interested in a summer walleye trip should call soon I still have some good dates open for July,June is booked up I do have a couple seats open on the boat June but its getting tight. July should be very good for walleye. My best day last week was 16 my worst was 6 so it is realy starting to pick up. I leave for the mouth of the Columbia ,Astoria the 12th of August and will be there through Labor day then back to the mouth of the Deschutes River for Salmon and Steelhead. So if you are interested in Chinook or silvers give me a call, I have rented a house near Astoria for that time and have a couple house days still open.I also will be doing the writers camp again with Ed Iman thats a real blast. After that I will be back up at Irrigon doing fall walleye late september through mid november.I will also be doing Steelhead in the lower johnday river November targeting those big Idaho B runs.Then its waterfowl and upland birds with friends untill the shows start.

Sturgoen: Fishing has been hit or miss with the high water and new regs that they have put on.

Salmon: Head for the coast for fresh fish the fishing is going to be good this summer and just get better as we get into late summer and fall. Head south and work your way up the coast to the big CR

Walleye: Fishing is good and only going to get better as the water warms into July. Look for them in 18 to 24 feet of water off the current breaks

Bass: If you can hit the water with about anything you can tie on you should be able to catch bass. Boardman to Arlington is a very good area,also Lower Johnday river. I like three inch plastics or for bigger fish go deeper and through Yakima Bait TimberTigers

Good luck fishing, give me a call Bob Roberts CBGS

Monday, February 27, 2006

Monday, Febuary 27th 2006

Ok time to start talking about the 2006 fishing season. Well it is starting out kinda hit and miss.A couple weeks ago the water temp was up forty one forty two and the walleye and sturg were starting to bite. Then we have another week of cold,cold weather and back down go the water temps. Its been kinda slow for the sturgeon both below the Johnday dam and above at mcnary. As the water temps start to climb the sturgeon should inprove with it. I do know of some being caught but mostly just a shaker here and there. Walleye is starting to improve,but it to is hit and miss Saturday We put four fish in the boat a couple nice ones,Sunday was worse I dont think I saw a net pulled. I lost a couple worms to suckers, but got to help feed the sturgeon. The reason that I despose of Suckers is that I believe that they follow the female walleye into the nest and eat there eggs about as fast as they can spit them. The reason that I believe this is because the closer that it gets to the spawn the more the females and males smell,the males are spitting that white junk on your boat, the females are starting to loose eggs,and I go from catching one or two suckers every couple days to maybe four a day.Anyway Trophy walleye season is here and its time to get on the water and start trying for that World class fish.The water is slowly climbing into the forty degree mark again and with this mild weather hopfully it will be forty two by the end of the week. I have about four days left open for march and I think about six or seven for April,so if you want to fish out of my boat you need to call soon. Remember to handle those bigger fish carefull and slip them back in the water to let them spawn,and so someone else can catch there dream fish. I will start talking about the spring chinook when there is something to talk about.I dont think anybody has a clue at whats coming yet we know ODFW doesn't. Hopfully there will be good numbers and we can all go out and get a couple to eat. The Grande Rhonde,lower Wallowa is pumping out some nice steelies on bobbers and jigs along with the normal bait rigs. Best advice I can give you for this fishery is dont go on a friday saturday or sunday it will be a fishing zoo to say the least. Tip up:Bob Roberts CBGS

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Wednesday, January 11th 2006

Happy New Year. Been a busy couple of months hunting in north eastern Oregon. Have been out for Pheasant Chukar Elk Duck and Goose. Been pretty good all the way around the freezers are full of meat and now its time to start thinking about the fishing season that is just ahead of us. I am heading to the Puallup Sportsman show (Western washington) in a couple of weeks then on to the Pacific Northwest Sportsman Show (Portland) . I will be back on the water mid Febuary for two months of Trophy Walleye. Then on to Sturgeon smallmouth bass hopfully Spring Chinook Salmon, Shad and summer walleye. This year I will also be doing two weeks at the famous Bouy ten area to Astoria for fall chinook and silvers. This is going to be from August 21st through Labor Day Peak of the season.If you are interested in any of these trips I am starting to book up so figure out the dates you would like and lets get them on the books soon. I dont have much to say on the fishing since I have been off the water for a couple months so I'll just kinda tell you what I think. The rivers in the western end of the state are to high to fish ya no ---t. JohnDay river is high Umatilla river doesn't look to bad if you want to go after the 300 fish that are in there. You have to be pretty board to fish this river untill mid Febuary when the numbers get up over a thousand fish. Columbia river is pumping out some hit and miss Sturgeon fishing My brother Alan got a keeper Saturday. Hearing hit or miss action on Sturgeon and Steelhead at both Johnday Dam and Mcnary Dams. Give me a call and Lets go fishing. See you on the water Bob Roberts CBGS

Monday, October 31, 2005

Monday,October 31st


Just got back from a week of Elk hunting up in the Blue Montains. Lots of fun but not many elk to be seen,did see some big bulls but only one spike that my brother ended up shooting. Finally got my new boat two weeks ago so I am trying to learn how to run it with out smashing into everything. Its like going from a pickup (my old boat) to a semi (new boat) you kinda half to do things a little sooner than you would in a smaller boat. It is learning to catch fish already though and thats a good thing. Need to get some hours in it before trophy season in Febuary March. The problem is that its Rooster season now pritty soon its cow elk season for my wife,Waterfowl for my son,and my addiction winter Chukar hunting whitch I just cant get enough of. So the new boat is going to get worked till the end of November then go in to storage till after the Sportsman shows. Have not desided if I will take the boat to the shows yet or not,Probably will. Not a hole lot to report on this time of year up here in the Basin but I will try to write a short report.

Salmon:Slow to no go. Been gone a week so dont even know if it is open. You know the one thing that gets me is that they close the Columbia river till the fish went by then opened it back up. If they were worried about the upriver fish Why in the world did they close everything but the spawning grounds at hanford. Close the river leave spawning grounds open I guess that makes sense.

Steelhead: Mouth of the Deschutes river should be good this time of year for the B's have not heard a report. Johnday river mouth below the falls has been slow got a weekend report last night and it was'nt good. Up river Johnday has been good for native fish as far up as Cottonwood. The mcnary area mouth of the umatilla up to the interstate bridge has been fair better if there running turbins. The aded current is helping. Above Mcnary dam it is hit and miss one day its good next day you would'nt know there was a fish in there.

Walleye: The fishing has picked up in the Umatilla to Irrigon area.The last couple of weeks I would call it fair to good. I have been averaging about six to eight a day. Not finding the bigger ones yet but will be on the water most of the next two weeks so hope to start getting in to the big fish. I was staying with the spinners till the first of Nov,but now will start to do more Jigging and Blading. The Trophy season is looking like it is going to be very busy (Feb 20th to late April) so if you are interested in a trip start figuring out your dates and give me a call. With my new Boat there is going to be a two person minumum,four person minumum to get the boat with out putting another party on with you. With jigging for trophy fish I have found that the more rods the more fish,its like creating a feeding frenzy. Get a lot of jigs moving around like a bait pod. My boat will fish six people pretty easy so get your freinds and find a date and lets go fishing.

Bass: Deep and slow

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

September:21st

What a month I have been chasing Salmon from Astoria To the Deschutes river and now back up to Mcnary Dam. The fishing was good at Astoria and fair at the Deschutes. Spent the last week at the third annual Western writers camp (Fish Camp) Over at Peach Beach (Mary Hill) taking writers from around the country out fishing.We had walleye guides Salmon guides Sturgeon,Bass and Steelhead. This is quite the event put on by a guide friend of mine Ed Iman and sponcered by some of the top manufactures in the outdoor world. The food was amazing the drinks and the fishing storys flowed through the week leaving everyone not wanting the week to end. I took my sons Austin and Tanner down for a couple days.There highlights were getting a supply of bass gear shirts and hats from Outlaw baits and meeting Chuck from Cabela's. Not to mention the clubs that they started with the writers like the clamsters,whitch to join you had to eat clams the kids and myself had a great time. Thanks Ed and to all the Sponers Like Lamiglas Rods,Yakima Bait Company,Cabela's,Worm Glo,Outlaw Baits,Garlic Gourmet,Foulby Rod holders,Duckworth Weldcraft,Coast knifes,Daiichi hooks,Columbia sports and Nates Baits. Sorry if I forgot someone trying to remember all of the sponcers is kinda over wellming. It was a great time and I will see you all again next year same time same place. I will have my new boat the end of the week. It was supposed to be done before the writers camp but they told me they were taking there time on this boat because there is not going to be any flause in a Customweld boat. This is why I am buying Customweld there attention to detail. They could have hurred through it and got it down there and got the press off of it but that was not there goal. There goal is to build a boat that is first class and that when other people see it thay are going to say thats a sweet ride. Cant wait to see it.I dont even sleep at night. Ok enough of the bull time to try to do a long over do report.

Salmon,: Fish are all through the system from the lower river to the Hanford Reach its just a matter of were you want to fish. Drano the Deschutes Umatilla river Behind Mcnary the Yakima river should all be a good bet. Fishing techniques will very depending on the areas that you are fishing. Best bet is to ask one of the local sporting goods shops what is being used or email me and I will try to tell you. Lower river Spinners Drano Plugs Shrimp, Deschutes flat lining plugs Same at mcnary area. Hanford reach they are back on the herring just like down river Astoria. This I have not quite figured out. Lower river there on Bait still feeding,up through the mid Columbia we cant get them to take herring get up to hanford there back on the herring go figure.

Steelhead: Same as Salmon they are all over the Columbia river system. The bigger fish should start to show any time. The Lower sandy right at the mouth, Drano lake with shrimp and a bobber or the mouth of the Deschutes and up the river using plugs, jig and bobber or spinners is my choice for this month.

Walleye: The walleye bite slowed from late August through mid September. This is a shock to a lot of people. I have been getting emails wanting to know were all the fish went. They never went anywere there full of shad smolt. This happens every year thats why I dont guide walleye from the middle of August through late September. You can catch them but consistency can be tough.By late September as the smolt flush through I can catch them again and it usully stays good the rest of the fall. Look for fall walleye to be in the 21 to 26 foot range and as the water cools into November look for them back down in the 30 foot range. I run deep diving cranks in the morning till about nine or ten then go back to the down river spinners and worm rigs. November I will be back to using more of the blade baits and jigs.

Bass: Fishing for bass this time of year can be great. Look for them in fifteen to twenty five feet of water. Same places that you found them this summer just move out a little bit. I know some guys that are getting them on top water late morning and evening,as they move up to feed. If you can get in on the top water bite your going to have a great time. Good Luck See you on the water Bob Roberts CBGS

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