has any one really done much plunking on the big C. for spingers? I knew a few people who said it was outstanding last year just below bonneville dam. I know most people just use #0 spin'n glows w/o bait . How much lead? Should I pick up a longer rod (12' +) I'm tired of busting my hump on the Wind.

Hey w. coyote, maybe you should call Kent at Three Rivers marine and tackle. (425) 415- 1575. He's seems very knowledgeable.


P.S. Don't forget about the Bill Herzog seminar there on the 28th at 7pm.

Also check out www.ifish.net. Sounds like the Oregon side might be better near Tanner Creek and one day lic = 8 bucks.

cap Q

I think I can do better.

Hope that 'Hohwiian' chimes in for you. I know he gets 'em there on the WA side plunking.

Off to this place I heard of, called the olympic peninsula this morning, to find and catch this fish I heard of, called a 'steelhead.'

See ya.

J.D.

I would go to ifish and do a search. You will find info on it. I remember reading about guys doing it around Longview. Ifish has the Columbia info you're after.

We've done it a couple of times off of the Washignton side. Right below Bonneville turn into the access road. Park in the parking lots that parallel the river. We did best directly across from the downstream end of the big Island that Boneville is actually attached to. 8oz of lead is a minimum and 10-12 works better. Big spin'n'glos, heavy rods, but the casts aren't very far. Very boring fishery, but we did catch fish.

I have done a fair amount of plunking on the Columbia for springers and a good portion of that has at Bonneville..

1.. There is a particular area that is FAR more productive than the other areas.. Drive down the access road to the end and walk downstream!! The fishing down there is always much more productive than along the road. I don't know why. Hotspots within that area change from day to day.

2. expect to throw a MINIMUM of 8 oz with 12 being much better. Watch guys who are cathing fish and note their lead line and leader length... The right length changes from day to day.. Also lots of guys use sandshrimp but i have hooked plenty of fish with just a straight spinglo.. size 00 and don't forget a couple small beads. This may sound cheezy but a bell is a good idea and it sure adds to the excitment.. Plus when yours goes off it makes you the denter of attention *L*. Lots of guys use their sturgeon rods but a lighter surf rod would be ideal


3. explore Bonneville can be quite crowded with fouling othre anglers lines quite common.. Approach the columbia like any other river of you can find an area within casting distance where there is a seam the fish will travel up it. For instance below islands or anything that breaks the main flow and causes a seam..

4. Although it looks like a slow river it is quite fast and VERY powerful expect to lose lots of lead.. I'd say for beginning but 20 leads , hooks and spinglos.. Buy them early in the season . As the season progresses some of the more popular gear gets sold out in area retailers.
Good luck probably see you up there..

Big game plunking! Up at Bonny you will need a rod that will toss 10-12 oz and live. The current is so strong that it'll rip bait off. If you want to use bait put it in a mesh bag. Bring a stout rod holder. No doubt about it when you get one on.

Don't foreget to use a prawn with your spin-n-glo's Springers and Steelhead love them .....Ross

Rail Road Spikes for lead

Fished the fishery a couple years ago, and did fairly well. Very snaggy on the northern bank of Bonneville. There is an underwater rock ledge that likes to grab your weight when you reel in. There were a few times I lost my lead on every retrieve .

I would recommend a light sturgeon rod of at least 9' in length and add a reel that can handle perhaps a heavy mono or braid. Did most of the damage on the fish with a multi-sherbert colored / kelly Grn headed spin-n-glow and a prawn tail on the hook.

Didn't make it last year, did Cascade Is. ever open up again after the 9/11 security fishing shutdown?

BD

When we were poor college kids and plunked below the Dams for Streelhead we used old rusty 6" to 12" bolts that we would find at garage sales for weight. We would get a box of them for $1. We could care less if they broke off and believed they were better than lead for the river.

You guys ever tried a side-planar and plug?
I tried it one day but was not productive.
Any suggestions.

Thanks

There is also a park along the hiway from Longview to Long Beach that people plunk from. Not sure of the name, but you can't miss it. It'll be full of RVs, and you can see the rods from the road. I'd guess it's 20-30 miles west of Longview. Quite a bit closer than Bonneville if you're coming from the north. Never fished there, don't know how good it is. But about 200,000 more fish go by there than go by Bonneville.

SH, I belive that is County Line Park.

The one time I fished it, I used my loomis sar1265C with a 400 shimano and 30lb braid, and it worked fine for lobbing a 8-10 oz pyramid sinker out there. (No success that day for me but my partner got one and so did some others. We used #0 spin&glows w/shimp.)

County line park is about 10 - 15 miles from downtown Longview.
It is a great spot for summer run steelies,pretty good for fall chinook,and o.k for springers.Plus you can pick up the occasional sturgeon.

There is a nice sandy beach,with quite a bit of room for fishing.Its also a great place for the kids to play in the sand aND WATER WHILE FISHING FOR SUMMER RUNS.

We were losing lead every cast. Was using 50 lb tuff stuff for main line and I ended up using 15 lb mono for a dropper going to the weight. Whenever you went to reel in, just pop the weight off and the rest will come right in.