My Archives: March 2004
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
Ok, so maybe I was a little off on when the Salmon were going to start there run up river or maybe im just excited about the near record run that is on its way. Anyway they are on there way. Samon fishing in the metro area is finally starting to pick up. Wait another week or so and the runs should start to pick up at Bonneville and on up the river. The fishing should be good at the wind river drano bay area by the first of April. Wait for the runs to get up to 3 or 4 thousand over Bonneville then it will be worth a trip to the gorge. Salmon should start to pick up at the Johnday and Mcnary dams by mid April. I will start fishing the mouth of the Umatilla the 16th of April. Sturgeon fishing is starting to pick up below the Johnday and Mcnary dams with good numbers of keepers being caught. I was at the dock at Irrigon on sunday and the fish checker told me that he had checked 7 keepers that day. Squid and roll mop are two top baits to have in your boat good luck. Walleye fishing is still good and should stay good through mid April ,then will taper off for about a month after the spawn. Look for the fish in the 31 to 40 foot range, if the wind kicks up or they start to spill water over the dams move in to the 24 to 29 foot area. Big fish are being caught if you put in your time. I have heard of one 18 pounder and some 17ns and 16ns. I have got two in the 15# range and several over 10#. Bass fishing is still slow you really have to put in your time. Unless you are a real fanatic wait till the water warms in mid April for your best shot. Keep your tip up. Bob RobertsMonday, March 1, 2004
Finally Im back on the water chasing the wiley walleye around. The walleye fishing has been very good in the irrigon area the last couple of weeeks. I took three trips this last week with three over ten pounds and seveal eater sized fish boated. Look for it to just get better as we get in to mid march and the water temp starts to climb. If you are interested in a spring trophy walleye trip you must book soon. I have only about ten opening till the end of the season. After the fifteenth of april I will be doing Spring chinook salmon. The sping chinook are just starting to be caught in the lower columbia and mouth of the willamette river. Fishing around the Boneville dam and wind river areas should start to heat up by the middle of march. Mouth of the deschutes Johnday dam area should start to get good by the first of april. I will start to fish for them as soon as my trophy walleye season is over after the 15th of april in the Mcnary area mouth of the Umatilla. Sturgeon fishing has been slow but should start to heat up as soon as the water temp climbs and they start to release some water through the dams. I will be fishing sturgeon after the first of may through july. Bass season will start the first of may also as the water temp climbs and the fish start to head for there spawning beds. I will be fishing for bass in the Boardman to Arlington areas. This is a fun family trip fishing the riprap in about four to eight feet of water around the little inlets and islands. Right now though it is a total walleye deal fishing blades and jigs is the best bet. I have been catching my fish in the 35 to 40 foot range below Irrigon toward the Boardman area. This site will be up dated every couple of weeks now through the season. Keep your tip up. Bob Roberts CBGS