Columbia Springers Have SPRUNG!!!

[Nelly]

Eric Linde reports the first significant springer bite on the Columbia River!
There has been a definite uptick over the past three days and judging by the effort (40+ boats at Davis Bar), the word is out among the Portland crowd!
It may be "go time" for Yours Truly this week.... Stay tuned!

[Eli]

If you need a partner let me know. Lol

[Smalma]

Nelly -
Talked with a checker Saturday afternoon. He said last year February, they checked more than 70 springers; this year they did not see a fish until mid-February and checked only 19 for the month - too early to say what that means. He did say that things have picked up the last week or so. At the time I talked with him between Portco and Davis they had seen 7 fish. Should not be too long until it is game on.

BTW -
Saw a sea lion(s) take two sturgeon.

Tight lines
Curt

[Nelly]

Hey Curt,
There was a definite "flurry" early last year that fizzled as soon as the run-off began in earnest.
It's going to be interesting to see if we get an earlier returning run this year. It's my guess that we will.
Heck, after all it's leap year and we got that extra day in February...right?

[Smalma]

Nelly -
After more than a decade of "hammering" the early portion of the run I not sure that I share your optimism for an early run.

However if the run show up at forecasted levels there should be enough fish to support some decent early fishing even if the run is late. To bad it is so far to go to fish as a result I'll be holding off for a couple weeks and have blocked off a time in late March/early April for a serious attempt to collect the material for some first rate feasts!

Tight lines
Curt

[Nelly]

Won't you be too busy kokanee fishing to mess around with springers???

[Smalma]

Not too worry!

Those Lake Stevens kokanee are a very accommodating fish. The fishing doesn't really take off until late April so have lots of time to get a springer or two for the barbie.

And then there is lake Merwin down south which comes on early so a kokanee nut like me has options to get our kokanee fix on those days the Columbia is closed for the gill netters or the afternoons on those days we limit on springers before noon -LOL!

Tight lines
curt