View Full Version : Columbia river best bets
I will be in OR next month. Can anyone give me a lead or two on where to try on the Columbia river for some of those big 'eyes you have out there?
I will be in OR next month. Can anyone give me a lead or two on where to try on the Columbia river for some of those big 'eyes you have out there?
Starfish
01-24-2001, 11:46 PM
Look back a few days for a thread started by fishn_fool; last post around 1/18/01. It had some info on the Columbia around McNary Dam.
There are good fisheries below each of the dams in the winter/early spring, including Wanapum, Priest Rapids, McNary, and John Day dams. Good luck.
Starfish
01-24-2001, 11:46 PM
Look back a few days for a thread started by fishn_fool; last post around 1/18/01. It had some info on the Columbia around McNary Dam.
There are good fisheries below each of the dams in the winter/early spring, including Wanapum, Priest Rapids, McNary, and John Day dams. Good luck.
tinboat
01-25-2001, 08:43 AM
Starfish....depending on the weather etc...The area around Irrigon, OR will be a good bet. Irrigon is located about 7 miles west of McNary dam. Jigs and bladebaits are a good bet, but dont rule out 3way rigs with stickbaits. A few diehards are getting out and finding a fish or two now. It wont be fast fishing, many days you are fishing for one or two bites, but those one or two bites could be the big fish your looking for. email me direct if you need more specific info
tinboat
01-25-2001, 08:43 AM
Starfish....depending on the weather etc...The area around Irrigon, OR will be a good bet. Irrigon is located about 7 miles west of McNary dam. Jigs and bladebaits are a good bet, but dont rule out 3way rigs with stickbaits. A few diehards are getting out and finding a fish or two now. It wont be fast fishing, many days you are fishing for one or two bites, but those one or two bites could be the big fish your looking for. email me direct if you need more specific info
tinboat
01-25-2001, 02:42 PM
OOOPs just realized I replied to the wrong guy should have responded to Roy, sorry bout that
tinboat
01-25-2001, 02:42 PM
OOOPs just realized I replied to the wrong guy should have responded to Roy, sorry bout that
Starfish
01-25-2001, 10:44 PM
No problem, I'm about halfway a rookie on the winter eyes anyway. I'm happy to learn anything I can about the local area--I live in Richland WA and have most experience upriver instead of downriver. Let me know if you ever want to hook up and try the Reach.
Starfish
01-25-2001, 10:44 PM
No problem, I'm about halfway a rookie on the winter eyes anyway. I'm happy to learn anything I can about the local area--I live in Richland WA and have most experience upriver instead of downriver. Let me know if you ever want to hook up and try the Reach.
Starfish Were in the upper river is a good place to start. As I live in the Tacoma area. I would like to try some Columbia fishing arround Creasant Bar. Has anyone tried fishing for them up there?
Starfish Were in the upper river is a good place to start. As I live in the Tacoma area. I would like to try some Columbia fishing arround Creasant Bar. Has anyone tried fishing for them up there?
fishin_fool
01-26-2001, 06:34 AM
If you guys out there on the columbia had to make a list for tackle that you were going to use out there what would it be. Could you be size and color specific? I just remodled a bait store and have a lot of credit on my account. I would like to take advantage of that and bring everything I need with me. What is the most popular crank baits and sizes? What size blades? Im sure that I have the jig catagory covered but just in case what's hot out there? Will I want my down riggers while out there for the summer? Should be headed out within the week now. I will not know until Monday though and that really bites. Waiting in anticapation to hook on the boat and head out. One more thing. Is there snow out there? Thanks Guys!
fishin_fool
01-26-2001, 06:34 AM
If you guys out there on the columbia had to make a list for tackle that you were going to use out there what would it be. Could you be size and color specific? I just remodled a bait store and have a lot of credit on my account. I would like to take advantage of that and bring everything I need with me. What is the most popular crank baits and sizes? What size blades? Im sure that I have the jig catagory covered but just in case what's hot out there? Will I want my down riggers while out there for the summer? Should be headed out within the week now. I will not know until Monday though and that really bites. Waiting in anticapation to hook on the boat and head out. One more thing. Is there snow out there? Thanks Guys!
dan(or)
01-26-2001, 07:34 AM
Well, a list of tackle? Spinner blades are personal preference items, mostly #3 Colorado in silver, char, fire tiger, and then you're trying the fish for their daily menu. Another item is the spin an glo or floats that spin. Char is the main color with silver and char beads. Remember heavy line + heavier fish.
Bottom walkers from 1/2 oz to 4 oz. Many, lots of rocks!
Hard baits = billed plugs that can go from 15' to 35' yes 35' in current. Color is you choice stay with the heavy walleye favorite colors.
Or three ways you'll need lots and lots of weights 3 -10 oz and floating plugs, three ways.
There is not much selection out here in the sports shops; walleye fishing is a bad word to many of the die-hard salmon/ steelhead fisherman. If you are coming form the Midwest you’re in for a culture shock and a lot of huh? Walleye what?
Email me at home if you want more.
dan
Out in Oregon land where the walleyes grow bigger and nobody fishes for them :-)
dan(or)
01-26-2001, 07:34 AM
Well, a list of tackle? Spinner blades are personal preference items, mostly #3 Colorado in silver, char, fire tiger, and then you're trying the fish for their daily menu. Another item is the spin an glo or floats that spin. Char is the main color with silver and char beads. Remember heavy line + heavier fish.
Bottom walkers from 1/2 oz to 4 oz. Many, lots of rocks!
Hard baits = billed plugs that can go from 15' to 35' yes 35' in current. Color is you choice stay with the heavy walleye favorite colors.
Or three ways you'll need lots and lots of weights 3 -10 oz and floating plugs, three ways.
There is not much selection out here in the sports shops; walleye fishing is a bad word to many of the die-hard salmon/ steelhead fisherman. If you are coming form the Midwest you’re in for a culture shock and a lot of huh? Walleye what?
Email me at home if you want more.
dan
Out in Oregon land where the walleyes grow bigger and nobody fishes for them :-)
Starfish
01-26-2001, 08:11 PM
Rob-- I'm not familiar with Crescent Bar. I'd suggest below Wanapum Dam, near Beverly. It usually gets good in February through April.
Starfish
01-26-2001, 08:11 PM
Rob-- I'm not familiar with Crescent Bar. I'd suggest below Wanapum Dam, near Beverly. It usually gets good in February through April.
Starfish
01-26-2001, 08:23 PM
I think Dan's the man for info on the walleye scene-- right on the money. I especially like the chartreuse or clown spinners that have a spin-n-glo or Beau-Mac cheater in them, with about a 2 oz. bottomwalker. But that's mostly in summertime.
Don't forget a selection of blade baits-- Sonar, Cicada, and Ripple Tail are good.
I have good luck in some of the lakes with 1/4 oz Hot Lips in rainbow trout, metallic red, clearwater flash, and crawdad colors. Likewise with Hawg Boss in perch and crawdad. And of course Deep Jr. Thunderstick in hot tiger.
I'd highly recommend bringing the downriggers if you still intend to stay till fall, because the fall chinook are not to be missed.
Good luck, keep us posted when you get here. You can also email me on mcbridedj@prodigy.net.
Starfish
01-26-2001, 08:23 PM
I think Dan's the man for info on the walleye scene-- right on the money. I especially like the chartreuse or clown spinners that have a spin-n-glo or Beau-Mac cheater in them, with about a 2 oz. bottomwalker. But that's mostly in summertime.
Don't forget a selection of blade baits-- Sonar, Cicada, and Ripple Tail are good.
I have good luck in some of the lakes with 1/4 oz Hot Lips in rainbow trout, metallic red, clearwater flash, and crawdad colors. Likewise with Hawg Boss in perch and crawdad. And of course Deep Jr. Thunderstick in hot tiger.
I'd highly recommend bringing the downriggers if you still intend to stay till fall, because the fall chinook are not to be missed.
Good luck, keep us posted when you get here. You can also email me on mcbridedj@prodigy.net.
Uncle Walts "Squiders" are one of the most produtive spinners Iv'e ever used in the Columbia. Best when the waters warmer though.
Uncle Walts "Squiders" are one of the most produtive spinners Iv'e ever used in the Columbia. Best when the waters warmer though.
tinboat
01-29-2001, 11:49 AM
Bring everything you got....LOL
tinboat
01-29-2001, 11:49 AM
Bring everything you got....LOL
Do you fish up by the dam? What side of the river is best? As I have never fihsed the Columbia. I alway fish banks lake or the potholes. I would need lots of advise for river fishing.
Thanks .
Do you fish up by the dam? What side of the river is best? As I have never fihsed the Columbia. I alway fish banks lake or the potholes. I would need lots of advise for river fishing.
Thanks .
tinboat
02-02-2001, 08:59 AM
Hey Starfish....Is that you Donnie McBride?, if so how you been?
tinboat
02-02-2001, 08:59 AM
Hey Starfish....Is that you Donnie McBride?, if so how you been?
Starfish
02-02-2001, 07:14 PM
Yup, that's me! Who's this?
Things are OK here, but not much fishing lately--my mother's very ill. Mostly just steelhead on the fishing front. Thinking about a Potholes trip soon.
Starfish
02-02-2001, 07:14 PM
Yup, that's me! Who's this?
Things are OK here, but not much fishing lately--my mother's very ill. Mostly just steelhead on the fishing front. Thinking about a Potholes trip soon.
Starfish
02-02-2001, 07:19 PM
There's some good fishing right at the deadline below Wanapum, also on the north side of the river a mile or so below the dam, and right above the railroad bridge in the middle of the river and north shore. I'd suggest stopping or calling Pollywogs in Desert Aire to see if they have more up-to-date info.
tinboat
02-05-2001, 08:24 AM
Starfish.....Its Donnie...from Banks Lake, and Umatilla...see you at the Yakima show
tinboat
02-05-2001, 08:24 AM
Starfish.....Its Donnie...from Banks Lake, and Umatilla...see you at the Yakima show
Hey guys. A couple friends and I were planning on heading to the Umatilla area this weekend. Anyone hearing any reports from the area?
Hey guys. A couple friends and I were planning on heading to the Umatilla area this weekend. Anyone hearing any reports from the area?
Starfish
02-08-2001, 10:43 PM
I've seen a few boats working the mouth of Patterson slough, but I don't know how they did. We got a bunch of steelhead off the mouth of the Umatilla (6) last weekend but they were all wild. (Fun though)
Starfish
02-08-2001, 10:43 PM
I've seen a few boats working the mouth of Patterson slough, but I don't know how they did. We got a bunch of steelhead off the mouth of the Umatilla (6) last weekend but they were all wild. (Fun though)
Thanks for the info. We were getting varying reports so we fished Rufus Woods instead. Had really good luck. The fish were all holding in the slack waters and hit jigs and spinners. Can't wait to get back over there.
Thanks for the info. We were getting varying reports so we fished Rufus Woods instead. Had really good luck. The fish were all holding in the slack waters and hit jigs and spinners. Can't wait to get back over there.