My Weblog
Saturday, September 27, 2003
September 26: The "Fish-on Fish-off" tournament between Dan Hawkey (503-612-1707) and Doug Rauen was held today. These fishermen come up twice a year and see who can catch either the most or the biggest smallmouth. This time they just fished for fun (sure)!! The later days in September when the weather is quiet (no wind) and warm are great for catching lots and big fish. It was 49 degreess is Fossil, 58 at the river and the water was 62 degrees (up from the cold fropnt over the last 10 days) at 7 AM, running 118 CFS (so we were fishing in our Clackacraft drift boat), with 1-2 water clarity, and a clear bright morning. The top water was working right off the bat, and the first fish were boated at 7:15 AM. By lunch time it was tied at 21 each for 42 fish. The water went up to 66 degrees and the air a warm 74 with no wind. Perfect conditions for fishing slow and on the bottom. They ended up with 145 fish and Dan getting 77 of them and a nice 18 1/8" trophy fish. Top water early and slow on the bottom with all kinds of plastics was the key when covered with Smelly Jelly craw/ anise.
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
September 23: Linda and I went fishing today, and found it to be a lazy day with warm weather, no wind, and clear as a bell. We didn't launch till about 10 AM (early huh?), and caught fish on grubs, and carolina rigs till about 1 PM. Then with the dead still air and water, perfect conditions for fishing Sienko's we brought out a great set up: Lamiglas 6' 6" CS 661 rods, with Cabela's Prodigy 1500 reels, 6 pound line, Mustad 3/0 extra wide gap hooks, and 4" Sienkos covered with Smelly Jelly Craw/Anise. Linda quickly caught a great 19 1/4" Smallie, and I ended up boating a nice 19" and 21" Smallie before the day was over. That gives us 37 Master Angler Smallmouth this season (20"+), and a boatload of trophy (18"+) smallmouth. Linda wants to go again next week!
September 17th: As part of the Wild West Writers Camp that Ed Iman put on and we participated in we took Scott Staats (local outdoor writer), 541-416-9316, and David Draper of Cabela's. Great guys and Scott caught a nice smallmouth, 18 1/2", on top water lure. The water was running 59 degrees in the morning and warmed up to 63, clear, 117 CFS, very overcast day till lunchtime, and cool. Look for a story on the 2004 Ironman trip (8 day Cast and Blast), Scott will be going on that trip.
September 16th: The first day of fishing with the Wild West Writers Camp group, and Jim Reid of Coleman's came up with MD Johnson (319-482-2872), and his wife Julie. MD and Julie are from Iowa and work at the O'Loughlin trade shows (MD does a Turkey Seminar and Julie is the official photographer). They also have roots in the Northwest with Julie growing up in the Vancouver area. We had a tough day of weather and it was more like those that MD writes about when he's duck or goose hunting. Even still MD boated a nice 20 1/2" X 13 !/2" Master Angler Smallmouth on top water before lunch. It was a great fish and Julie got some great shots of it. We caught about 60 fish that day on what ended up being a very wet and nasty day.
September 14th: Took Spense Waite and his wife from Canby fishing today. We were still working through a front and fishing was off a bit. They tried everything I could think of and boated 50+ fish. The good news for the day is that the water is back up over 85 CFS and we took our trip in the Clackcraft drift boat. Boy is it nice to be back in the boat (roomy and warmer than the rafts). The water temperature was under 60 and the fish were not conditioned to it yet.
Friday, September 12, 2003
September 9th: I had the fortune to take a great husband/wife fishing team of Gary and Heidi Blazer, 503-286-6582, from Portland. The weather was still squirrelly and spitting rain from time to time. There was a definite "cold front" in the air, but they still caught over 60 fish. Most of their fish wer 12" or bigger, with Heidi boating a nice 18 1/4" trophy, and late in the day a beautiful 20 3/4" X 13 1/2" Master Angler smallmouth. We fished Outlaw Baits, Sienkos, lizards, and some top water. All the plastics were fished on the bottom and slow. Gary showed me lots of new stuff I had never seen, and it worked great. By the way Outlaw Baits has a new one out, Little Willie, and it fished just like a Sienko but with a hole in it like their Limp Stick.
I get lots of calls about Outlaw Baits, here's where they are stocked:
Fishermen's Marine in Portland, 503-283-8310
Howard's Tackle (ID) 208-465-0946
Outdoor Pro Shop (CA) 707-588-8033
Bob's Sporting Goods (WA) 360-425-3870
Sporty J's (OR) 877-577-6789
The Sportsman (OR) 541-997-3336
The Guide Shop (OR) 503-842-3473 salmon/steelhead only
Backlash Tackle (OR) 541-955-0312
Some of these will ship product and take orders over the phone. Good Luck and tight lines.`September 6th & 7th: Fished with brother-in-laws Tom Fairweather and Jim Origliosso, 541-746-3287. They boated about 140 fish on Saturday, mostly on Outlaw Baits covered with Smelly Jelly 50/50 (Craw Anise/Anchovy). But on Sunday Jim boated a nice 20 1/4" X 13" Master Angler Smallie on top water, and was it exciting. It was 62 degrees at 5 Am on Saturday in Fossil and 52 on Sunday. The water was 71 degrees in the morning and warmed up to 79 on Saturday afternoon. The flow was around 62 both days.
September 8th: Fished with friend and ex-trounament fishermen Jay McKendry. As usual Jay caught more fish on his drop shot setup, but I boated a nice 19 1/4" Smallie on top water. Yes, that's right even an ol' guide can catch a fish once in a while. This was not a commercial trip so I get to fish once in a while.
"September 2nd: Fished with a top notch Father/Son team of Jay and Dan Hawkey, 503-612-1707. They both boated over 100 fish with Dan getting 117 and Jay 108. They did a great job with plastics (Outlaw Baits) on the bottom, and Dan boated a trophy 18 1/4" Smallie.
Monday, September 1, 2003
August 27th-29th: Took the team of Tom and Aaron Hainline on a three day trip. These are the guys who caught 500 fish in June. They beat their June mark by four fish, and ended up with 103 each on the first day (that made a total of 41 100+ Club members this year). We used mostly Outlaw Baits (5" ripple worms) covered with Smelly Jelly.
Agust 25th: Took the husband wife team of Bob and Donna Lunt from MacMinnville. Thye boated lots of fish with Bob getting a nice trophy, 18 1/4", while fly fishing top water slider in the morning. Great folks, lots of fish, and sunshine. Does it get any better?
August 19th: Skip took the Father/Daughter team Jim Richardson and his daughter. They had never been fishing and boated ovedr 50 fish on grubs and plastic covered with Smelly Jelly.