Thursday, June 26, 2008

Chinook Report- Bonneville Fishery



We went up to the Bonneville dam early in the day, to show my brother and a friend, the fish ladder, viewing window, etc. The fish counter lady was there and was SOOOO informative! I'm impressed with what those people can do!


She was there at her keyboard, just counting everything that went by, and I mean there were ALOT of fish that went by!



She, and others there, have been blown away at the Sockeye numbers, and are totally excited to see such numbers. (I figured she WOULDN'T be too happy because of all those numbers she has to count. )
I'm glad to see these counters enjoy what they do and are VERY willing to talk, and tell you anything you'd like to know.

After being held up by a barge running through the locks, we headed down to the Fishery to launch.



Saw quite a few bald eagles and ospreys, and multiple confrontations between the two.


This one, I was fortunate enough to catch on film! Great aerial displays by both.



I noticed the osprey liked staying above the eagle, while continuing to bombard it, mid-air. The eagle would spin upside-down to ward off the threat. Great to watch nature in action!



We tried a few areas with no success. Later we ran up toward the Shad Rack, and hooked a few shad, and had a few oversized gators breach near our boat.


My brother hooked one nice chinook that took off and POP!...was off. After pulling up the gear, we noticed that it straightened out two of the hooks on the treble. Thought it might be a gator, but we could tell by the way it fought it was a salmon.


We decided to call it, after hearing it was fairly slow up there for other boats as well, and headed back to Salem.




Saw some great scenery along the way, and had an amazing time, even without the bonus. Sure wish the season was longer... Oh well, I hope to get up there for URBs!


...Until next time, Chinook!!!....

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Astoria Sturgeon and Battleships



I was fortunate enough to get an invite sturgeon fishing out of Astoria with RODACTION (Ken), and his friend Doug, last week. Two Great guys to fish with! My brother went along, and we made our way up the coast to Astoria. One great part of being out there when we were, was that the United States Navy ships were coming in...so it was nice to share the water with such powerful company.


This next shot looks almost like another shot I think I've taken...just not a battleship below that copter...


We had to move around in the morning on the outgoing tides to different depths. We finally moved into some deeper holes and started getting some action. The fish were breaching all over. Was great to see those things come out of the water.


After a couple upper-30"s, let go, My brother gets into one that was 44 1/2"

Close but no Cigar...

Here he his with his fish. Look at that Loomis bend...


It had sores on the top of the head, along with the majority of the others we caught. We weren't sure what they were bumping up against, or rubbing on, or what... Here's one that we released, you can see the spots.


Just imagine if this was what you saw when diving and it was a 15ft'er!!


The bite turned on during the incoming tide, later in the day and we scored the rest of our keepers. I got into my first keeper here. Thanks Ken!~



The bites were few and far between, but the ones that stuck, were of quality fish. All fish were caught on sandshrimp and anchovies. Ken had a great way of putting that boat right on the fish. Its definitely good to go with someone that has it dialed in. We were the only boat back at the dock with limits that early.


All four fish were between 49-53"
We had a blast fishing with these guys! Hope to do it again soon! Btw, he has a Kicka$$ boat!