Columbia River Springer Report 4-10-08
Capt. Jerry Brown
April 10, 2008
Columbia River - Freshwater Fishing Report
Columbia River continues to be on a roll for chinook!!!
The Columbia River spring chinook fishery remains the hotbed on the fishing scene.
"Spring chinook catches have been pretty strong, and there was a pretty good bite [Wednesday morning] from the [Portland] airport down to the railroad bridge just below the I-5 bridge," said Joe Hymer, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist.
Anglers at the Marine Park boat ramp just above I-5 were averaging anywhere from two-thirds to three-quarters of a fish per boat.
While some of the best sport catches have been coming from the airport downstream to the railroad bridge off Hayden Island and Vancouver, further upstream places like from Camas-Washougal up to Bonneville Dam have picked up.
"The Port of Camas check showed they're still catching fish, and the best fishery has been up towards the dam," Hymer said. "One recent check showed it was a two-plus-fish-per-boat average, and Oregon was seeing the same catch rates."
The portion of the Lower Columbia from the west power lines on Hayden Island to Buoy 10 has closed, but the river from the Hayden west power lines up to McNary Dam is open for fishing.
"The Columbia spring chinook is the talk around town, and it is pretty much a no-brainer fishery," said Bryan Nelson at Three Rivers Marine and Tackle in Woodinville. "Trolling with a Fish Flash and cut-plug herring does the job, or anchor up and put down a Kwikfish."
From April 1 to 6, an estimated 24,590 angler trips were made with 4,438 chinook kept and 624 released.
"The [Bonneville] dam counts have broken 100 fish per day, but they are going to start spilling more water over the dam [beginning today] and that could spur more fish to move over the dam. That could also spur the bank fishery bite just below Bonneville, too."
We are currently taking reservations for Columbia, Lewis and Kalama rivers. Jet boat trips on the Columbia and Lewis rivers for 4 anglers are at a special price of just $580.00 and 2 person driftboat trips on the Kalama are $325.00. Hurry as the Columbia River closes on April 30th, 2008.
Additional information can be obtained online at http://columbia-river-fishing-guide.com or by phone at 206-920-2428
Columbia River Fishing Forecast:
This hot fishery closes on April 30th 2008 so don't delay on booking your trip of a lifetime.
Target Species:
Spring Chinook
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