View Full Version : Columbia River, Irrigon Area
Has anyone fished in this area within the past 10 days? How's the fishing, water temp, and water color?
Scott D
03-22-2001, 07:07 AM
There's another thread from yesterday about it.
Sounds like yesterday's discussion was about the fishing below John Day. I was asking about the fishing below McNary.
Fished Irrigon on Monday (3/19). Caught 2 fish, one small, one large fish (12#)!!! The big fish was released. As I understand, the fishing has been very good, however Monday we could only get 2 fish.
Thanks! Anyone heard how the tournement went today (Sat. 3/24).
Scott D
03-26-2001, 06:04 PM
Sean, here is the report I was refering to: (Too bad you didn't read it. Jason had some good info.)
Hells Canyon Sport Fishing Mar-21-01, 11:01 AM (CST)
5. "RE: columbia river"
March 20, 2001
Hello fellow fishermen,
Got Walleye? We do, and big fish at that. Fishing last week on the Columbia River near Irrigon, Oregon treated me and my clients to some of the best trophy walleye fishing I've ever seen. I'll tell you... it's about time. The first two weeks of March with low river flows and cold 40 degree water temp made fishing more than just a little tough. What a difference a couple of degrees in water temp have made! The water temp has jumped to 43 degrees, and with this change the fish have gone crazy. We boated over 50 fish this week with lots of 10's and several fish between 12-15 lbs. Even the males are averaging 7-9 lbs!
Right now the fish are really good biters in the first 2 hours of the morning and the last hour or two of the evening. I see it everyday where most of the other fishermen start their day out at first light. They might hook a fish or two, but after the morning bite comes to an end they just keep on hammering away at the river. By about 3:00 pm and 6 hours fishing without even a bite they are so burned out they pull off the river. What I like to do is hit the morning bite from 5:30 - 10:00 am, then pull of the river for a mid-day break. Then go back out from 3:00 - 7:00 pm when most all of the other boats have given up. The evening bite has been great this year and hardly anyone has been out to take advantage of the opportunity. Lets face it...Why waste your time in the middle of the day when you will literally catch 95% of your fish in the first and last hour of the day!
If you hit the Columbia River here in the next couple of weeks vertical jig for fish in the 45-25 ft zone. Use blade baits, jig and crawlers or jig and plastics in the 1/2 oz - 3/4 oz size. Chartreuse is a great color to start with. Search different spots and depths until you get bit. Once you find a spot don't be afraid to work it hard. The current is slow this year and it takes a long time to cover very much water. You are better off making short drifts on a known fish holding spot over and over again than drifting from the top of a hole all the way to the bottom. If you catch a fish in a spot there is a reason that fish was there. After you catch a fish in a certain spot you may make 4 or 5 more drifts without a bite and then on your 6th pass pick up a fish. These fish are so inactive the may pass up your offering until it is literally dropped right into their mouth. Week days will be better fishing with less competition and more flow being released from McNary Dam.
I am taking the rest of this week off. Seems like a good time to be off the river considering that the Smoker Craft/Sylvan Spring Classic Walleye Tournament will be held this weekend,
March 24th & 25th. Too much pre-fish boat traffic to provide a good quality guided trip for my customers. I will fish this weekend in the tournament with my partner Jason Bauer, and then after a day to let the fish settle down I will be back into walleye action until the second week in April. Until then keep a sharp hook and a tight line!
Jason Schultz
Hells Canyon Sport Fishing
208-750-1100
hellscanyonsportfishing@home.com
According to some reports going around, only 12 boats caught any fish and part of the tournament was delayed due to weather conditions.I think they had about 63 boats in the tourney.
WalleyeJason
03-27-2001, 07:49 AM
The Tournament went well for those that were able to find fish.
On day one there were 29 fish caught, big fish for the day was like 13.4 lbs.
On day two the tourney was delayed due to weather. The boats finally launched at 8 am. However the storm that passed thru, shut the fish down. There were only 14 fish caught on Sunday. The winning team had just over 30 lbs of fish (3 fish)
Funny story about the winning team, they fished out of an older Smoker Craft boat. Not quite as fast as some of the other boats that raced past them at blast off. It happens to be a Husband-Wife team. The Mrs. Kirby told us that the water was quite rough going out in the morning, and that the boat was doing a lot of side to side motion, she mentally planned her escape if the boat was to "tip over"
Mr. Kirby made a Joe Nameth like proclamation on Saturday morning. My partner Jason Schultz, The owner-operator of Hells Canyon Sportfishing, Offers a fully Guided Steelhead fishing trip up Hells Canyon to each of the Winners on the Columbia River Walleye Circuit. Mr. Kirby, Right before Blast-off walks up to us and says that he will be going on that trip this year! As he walked to his boat, he said, "I guarantee it!"
Wow what a prediction!
Anyway you look at it, it was a great Tournament. My props go out to The High Desert Marine crew. They put on a fabulous Show.
We had a good laugh when on the stage Mrs. Kirby told everybody that you dont need a fast-big boat to win. Then she proceeded to point out a fellow competitor in the crowd and said "We kicked your A**" I think they were in a fast Big boat!!!
Anyway you look at it, it was a great Tournament. My props go out to The High Desert Marine crew. They put on a fabulous Show.
Well already I cant wait for next year.
WalleyeJason