My Weblog
Friday, April 30, 2004
April 29: Skip fished with Kevin Desjardins and Don Dyer (541-504-4103) of Prinevill and Crooked River Ranch. It was 30 in Fossil, 34 at the river and the water was running 50 degrees, clear day, 5 clarity, and 4490 CFS. They boated their first fish at 8:57 and had 13 boated by lunch. The water clarity improved at little to a 4 and the water temp rose to 54. They ended up with 27 smallies and Don boated a nice 18" X13" trophy fish. The "bite" was a little strange and fish dhad l0ock jaw a couple of times during the day, but grubs and Outlaw Baits covered with Smelly Jelly seemed to work the best.
Thursday, April 29, 2004
April 28: Fished with friends Ron Nelson, Same and Diana Grotte of The Dalles/White Salmon area. It was 37 in Fossil, 40 at the river with the water running 51 degrees, clear day, 4-5 clarity, and 3740 CFS. Sam caught the first fish at 9:55 and they had 9 at lunch time. It was 55 at lunch and the water warmed up to 52, and they they started catching fish. Ron ended up with 22, Same 17, and Diana 8 for a new season record of 47 fish for one group. Diana caught the biggest fish, and we almost had too much fun.
April 27: Had the pleasure of fishing with longtime clients Terry Healy and Tom Henshaw of Portland. It was 45 in Fossil, 52 at the river with the water running 54 degrees, 4 clarity, clear day, and 3550 CFS. Terry caught the first fish at 7:55, and we had 9 by lunch. It was 70 after lunch and the water had warmed up to 56 degrees ( I was in swim trunks and tank top). They ended up with 30 fish and Terry caught 21 of them. Leadheads and Outlaw Baits were the secret of the day when covered with Smelly Jelly Craw/Anise.
April 26: I took the Father/Son team of Dave and Chris Fisher from Canby. It was 37 in Fossil 38 at the river and the water was running a warm 51 degrees, clear day, 2-3 clarity, and 3450 CFS. Chris and Dave both caught the first fish at 9:02 and they had 10 fish at lunch. The water rose to 54 degrees and it was a warm 73 out. They had a great afternoon of catching and Dave ended up with a season high of 35 fish. Dave had one fish at 15 1/2 inch and Chris had one at 17 1/4 inch. The water is warming up and the "DINKS" are out. You should catch good numbers of fish, but will be harder to catch the bigger ones now. We caught most all the fish on grubs and Outlaw Baits covered with Smelly Jelly Craw/Anise. It was a great day of fishing and Dave and Chris are a great Father/Son team.
April 24: Skip took friends Dick Hoverter and Doug Crews (206-284-5326) from the Olympia-Seattle area. It was 29 in Fossil, 34 at the river and the water was 49 degrees, 3-4 clarity, clear day, and 3780 CFS. They caught their first fish at 8:55 and had 5 fish at lunch. Everything warmed up and they ended up with 29 fish with some 16"is and Doug caught a trophy 18 1/2" smallmouth. They fish mostly grubs and Outlaw Baits covered with Smelly Jelly. They left to head down to Burns, Or. and shoot with Justin Aamodt of Diamond Guides, 541-573-6080. I heard back through the grapevine they shot up lots of ammo at the sage rats.
Saturday, April 24, 2004
April 23: We ran two trips today. I took old friends Royal Proctor (the only fishermen to ever get three 20" + fish in one day) and Steve Fletcher (503-661-6875). It was 35 in Fossil, 38 at the river, water was 48 degrees, and running 3600 CFS, 3-4 clarity, and a clear day. Steve caught the first fish at 8:50 and we had 8 fish at lunchtime. We ended up with 44 fish for the day and Royal set a new season one day record of 28 fish, but Steve caught a nice 18 3/4 inch X 13 trophy fish. I saw the first of the returning smolts today and an Osprey (look out smolts). It was 60 after lunch and the water warmed up to 49, but rained a little.
Skip had Charles Beith and Brian Ellis (541-383-4494) of Bend with him today. They had 8 fish at lunch and ended up with 18 (they took out at 3:30), but Brian boated a nice 19 1/2 X 13 1/2 and another 19 incher. We were both fishing on the bottom, but Brian was using a tube bait smothered with Smelly Jelly.
April 22: Old friend Jay McKendry from California was up for our annual trip. I caught the first fish, but Jay caught the most and the biggest at 18 X13. It was 30 in fossil, 34 at the river, 45 degree water, 3 clarity, 3200 CFS, and clear morning. We had 4 at lunch and ended up with 18 for the day. Jay caught two squawfish, the only reason I mention it we just don't seem to catch very many anymore (good).
April 20: We ran two trips today with me taking brother in laws Phil Filipelli and Steve Becerra from Manton and San Jose Ca. It was 36 in Fossil, 36 at the river and the water was 46 degree, running 3300 CFS, 3 clarity, and very overcast. We had a few by lunch and ended up with 20 fish for the day. We fished on the bottom and slow.
Skip had friends Jim Graybill, and David Isorwin (503-666-6707) of Gresham area. They boated their first fish at 10:11 Am and had 4 fish at lunchtime. They ended up with 20 fish also, but Dave got a trohpy 18" fish. They were fishing on the bottom and using tube baits also.
April 19: I took Phil Filipelli and Steve Becerra out today. It was 30 in Fossil, 30 at the river, water was 45 degrees, running 3530 CFs, overcast and 4 clarity. Steve boated the first fish at 9:01 and we had 5 fish by lunchtime. We ended up with 26 fish and Phil catught 14 of those, but Steve got the biggest at 17 inches. It was 48 egree water and 54 degree air temp after lunch. We spotted a Golden Eagle and had one double at 3 PM.
April 18: Skip took the husband/wife team of Herb and Carol Doumitt from Portland. They are members of the Oregon Bass and Panfish Club, and learning new techniques all the time. It was 35 in Fossil, 45 degree water, 3880 CFS, 3-4 clarity, and overcast. The first fish was caught at 8:15 AM and they had 7 fish by lunchtime. They ended up with 22 fish and some nice 16-17 1/2 inch fish in the bag. The water warmed up to 46 by the afternoon and things turned on for them. They were fishing mostly on the bottom with Smelly Jelly covered baits.
April 17: We ran two trips today. I took the husband/wife team of Chris and Kathy Copeland. They had been up in February on a steelhead trip and Kathy didn't catch any fish that day. You know we have a "Fish-on" guarantee or your next trip is free, so Kathy was back for her free trip. It worked out great because Kathy caught 5 fish today and got the biggest at 15 1/2 inches. It was 39 in Fossil, 36 at the river, with the water running 44 degrees, 4-5 clarity, 4280 CFs, and overcast. Chris caught the first fish drop shotting at 8:40 and we had 2 at lunch., but ended up with 18 fish for the day. It was 46 degree water after lunch and 57 air degrees. Chris also caught a nice 30" returning steelhead on a drop shot rig in the afternoon.
Skip took friends Wayne Bethell and Dennis from the Philomath and Lebanon area. They caught their first fish at 8:30 and had 8 at lunch. They ended up with 28 fish, and used most grubs on the bottom voered with Smelly Jelly.Dennis had a couple of fish in the 17 range, and Wayne had a nice 16 1/2" fish.