Northwest Fishing Reports

Anyone picking up good amounts of springers right now? Also I only have a little 14' Alumminum boat with a 6hp motor, where would be a good place to fish soon for those salmon or where would a good bank spot be? Any info would be helpful. Im all new to this salmon thing, been strickly steelhead for a couple years.

By boat: Drano lake starting in about 2 weeks and through May.

By bank: Cowlitz from now through May. Wind river canyon May/first half June. Be careful in the canyon. If you fall in its hard to get out alive. Also being in Kenniwick don't forget the Yak. If you get them early enough their in decent condition.

Alot of springers is relative. The Cowlitz has some, saw one caught there last week before high water. They are around. The Duc has a few but the southern rivers are where it's at. Running low on eggs so they need to get here now.

Thanks guys ill give that a try!

wolverine wrote: By boat: Drano lake starting in about 2 weeks and through May.

By bank: Cowlitz from now through May. Wind river canyon May/first half June. Be careful in the canyon. If you fall in its hard to get out alive. Also being in Kenniwick don't forget the Yak. If you get them early enough their in decent condition.

How long is drano lake open this year? I cant figure out these damn regs!

I wouldnt be in a big hurry. This is the WDFW fishchecker report for days 4/8-4/10 on the Columbia, the lowest catch rate since 2000. Page down to the bottom to see the spreadsheet for boat anglers and look to the right.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/creel/region ... 1_2011.pdf

This is the Bonneville fish passage for springers. It is early but the count is way behind last year and the 10 year ave.

http://www.fpc.org/adultsalmon/adultque ... esults.asp


I was born/raised in Portland, and I still have friends I fish with every year for Springers. In the C and the Willy. They have been going out 4-5 days a week. My friend Paul has 3 fish, he had 73 springers in his boat last year. My buddies tell to me wait awhile. Last year I fished the Willy twice, second week of May and third week of June, got 3 each time.

I actually prefer the Willy. There are good runs in May and June, the river is empty as most guys give up after April.

http://www.fpc.org/adultsalmon/adultque ... esults.asp

recent springer report from one of our guide sponsors:

Columbis River Springers

I believe the rule of thumb for Drano Lake is , don't even bother until there is several days with 1000 fish passing Bonniville Dam. We are a long way from that.

Yesterday nearly 5,000 adult spring nooks passed through bonneville dam, bring em on!!!7

Over 15,000 went over Bonne yesterday, so Drano should be turning on soon.

http://www.fpc.org/currentdaily/HistFis ... Adults.htm