Yes, we're in the middle of steelhead season so why would anyone be thinking about the Wind? I'm writing an article about the Wind River fishery for a Northwest fishing magazine to be published in the "Springer" April/May issue. Deadlines are always very early for magazines.

Anyway, I'm very interested in talking with folks who brave this madhouse every year
either out in the armada or from the bank.

Last spring I was down there with Bob D. in one of the bigger boats on the water and I'm interested in talking with those of you who do it in driftboats and especially any of you out there in the prams and dinghies.

My email is available from my profile ( bgray@adobe.com ). Just drop me a line and I'll get in touch with you as soon as possible although it won't be on weekends. I'll be fishing.

Oh yeah, let me apologize now if I'll be giving away one of your secret places .

Hope to hear from you soon,
Bruce Gray

btw - Could be a HUGE run of springers throughout the Columbia system this year.

I haven't been there for a few years, but I was fishing out of a driftboat when I was there.

I havent fished for Wind river spring chinook before but in my estimation This fishery should not take place above the falls.
Last summer the Wind river recieved 150 summer steelhead. The last 6 years or so the numbers have been below 50.
With numbers this low its my opinion that noone should be fishing near these fish having 1 die from being hooked and released is a serious problem. Ever one of these fish that makes it to bonnieville should be allowed to spawn without any harassment from salmon fishermen. I think the fishery should be totally shut down and the fish moved from the carson fish hatchery to some other facility. The loss of this fishery is nothing compared to the loss of this all wild steelhead run.

I have fished the mouth of the Wind for the past 11 years. I have never seen a steelhead caught during Springer season. I have caught my share of the Springers though.
B.Gray, your request reminded me of a funny story that happened to a driftboater a few years back. Before the boundaries were increased in size, the traffic could get pretty tight. A guy with a green 16 foot driftboat was trolling the lineup. For some reason he backed off the throttle and bent over to work on something. Following his driftboat was a 22 foot alumaweld supervee. The two guys in the alumaweld never saw the driftboater. The sled rode up the back of the driftboat, knocked the cowling off of the kicker motor, and then the bow hit the driftboater square in the back of his head. Talk about getting a knobby. It took the driftboater about a half hour to recover. Then he was hotter then georgia asphalt.
Another time a guy in a huge nw jet was learning the intracacies of his new TR-1 trolling system. Between the high winds and the traffic congestion, he soon figured out that he didn't have a clue.
Another guy had a casket with an electric trolling motor that he drove while standing up. Torpedo alert,whoop whoop whoop! DIVE-DIVE-DIVE!
Hello Everyone, I'm new here.
BEST FISHES TO ALL!

------------------

FEAR NO FISH!

Fear no fish,does it say that on your boat???
I beleive I've seen ya around the wind.Didn't you get a new boat with in the past couple years and a new old lady???
I remember seeing the green torpedo with an electric on it,sorry no thanks.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE " Welcome aboard"

Thanks Strikezone. Yep, it is the name of my boat. It is the landing craft by Harbercraft. I got the new lady on a trade in. She chews moccasins real well. We can't wait until Springer season. I have heard a rumor of possibly a 4 fish daily limit. That would be unbelievable. What boat are you in?

------------------

FEAR NO FISH!

Hey guys, thanks for all the responses I've gotten via email and also here on the board. I'll be in touch soon. Right now I'm trying to figure out where to fish this weekend since Forks is a wash.

Hey Fear No Fish, we may have talked to you last year out on the water. I was in my friend's 21' Tiderunner freighter.

Badmisterevil, I'd like to talk with you sometime about dealing with that nuthouse from a drifboat. Did you have a trolling motor or were you on the sticks? Drop me a line with your number at bgray@adobe.com if you care to and I'll get ahold of you next week.

Thanks again for your help,
Bruce

Fear no fish,
I use to own the 16ft camo hews with the suzuki and honda kicker,I've run into ya several times out there.Last year I was in
my 18ft older style north river flat bottom sled with the suzuki and honda kicker.My sled says STRIKE ZONE on the transom.
I ask ya if ya got a new one and ya said the ex ended up with it.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

Fear no Fish, what are the guys doing out there july-september??? Is that fall chinook??