Finally, the water temp. is dropping and the fish are showing. The river is currently running 58 degrees and 2700 CFS (other than the spawn counts that were done yesterday between daylight and 4 they had the river running about 1080 CFS, they do this every thursday). Fished yesterday from cedar creek down with the sled and seen about 10 other boats. We fished from 10:00- dark and boated 12 silver hens 2 bucks and 4 chinook, all on eggs. I'm so happy cause I finally get to join the 20+ club on silvers as I landed a chrome bright 35.5" x 21.65"=21.47 lb silver buck (On a digital scale he was 20.7lbs). There are tons of fish rolling, and tons of big fish coming you could see them in the riffles in the mid river by the hundreds.
I'd imagine this won't last forever, so go and get them and (this is no BS post)!!!
Keith

Cool, good job! Do you have any pictures of that fish? I enjoy seeing big fish pics. I sure enjoyed those pic of RICH G's fish and the one Bob posted.

I don't think the river ever gets any lower than 1000 cfs, does it? Man that's gotta be low. How long are they going to be doing the spawn surveys on Thursdays, this year? I've been there when the river was maybe 1800 cfs, but wow. Snagger's rock must be totally dry. Probably can almost walk across the river above the hatchery.

Yes, extremely low for that river. I'd love to see a rookie out there running a sled in that water, yikes. There's one riffle on the downriver side of the north island at happa crusher, at 1080 it's almost a pain to get a driftboat down, but when all else fail in the sled just roll it on!!! Yeehaaaw! It's about 3-4" deep and no more than a boat and a half wide and the best part is when you come down it you have an immediate 90 degree turn to the right. Easy going up but interesting going down.
As for fish, james was back up there tonight and said there were more fish than he has ever seen rolling around the meathole and 95% of them are chromers. We'd guess that there's about 15,000 fish between the hatchery and the mouth. Everywhere you look they're rolling.
They'll keep doing spawn counts through mid november though, and only on thursdays.
Keith

When do all the nets come out of the columbia or have they already???
Yes, I also have a digital pic of the silver but once again I'm an idiot when it comes to loading these damn things. I'll have to have someone hold my binkie for me one more time. I'll get it up sometime tomorrow or something. He's a beauty!!
Keith

[ 10-26-2001: Message edited by: stlhdr1 ]

Does that river have any decent bank access?

There is some decent bank access around the hatchery, and plenty of fish to catch legally. You can either fish off the north or south side, both sides have some great spots right from where you park and some great bobber or driftfishing water. Don't get to frustrated if you can't get a spot to stand. If you think snaggings bad where you're from wait until you get here.. But, don't get frustrated you can and will catch fish legally from the bank.
Keith

STLHDR1, You are not the only one who is computer illiterate!!!!! Now, where is my ten year old son to show me how to do this again???

Keith,
Glad to see you are still pounding um. Did not miss anything lst week. This week was pretty good. Steve

Here is Keith's beautiful fish!

Beautiful, hell I'd do Janet Reno some unmentionable favors to get a fish like.

Great job Keith!

Very nice chrome fish. How's your heart after that one?

Nice fish Keith,

Ive been seeing lots of 20+ coho rolling around out here but havent managed to get another yet. I did get an 18# on Sunday. But tomorrow im out on the river agian and maybe ill hit that 25#.