I have a question about the managment of this year's lower CR springer season. I understand, correct me if I'm wrong, the season has been shortened to protect the Willamette fish, and that the main focus of this year's fishery will be above the I-5 bridge. That makes sense to me, what I do not understand is, if they are so worried about the low numbers on the Willamette why is that river open seven days a week with a one fish limit? I am not familiar with that fishery but it seems to me that has the potential to be much more detrimental to that run, than in the main CR. From what I have been told and exprienced myself their will not be very many fish around during the 12 day lower river season. Because the access to the river is so limited above I-5 is anybody else going to skip fishing this year? Any light shed on this will be greatly appreciated.

They are allocating 5 or 6000 fish to be harvested "in" the Willamette. They don't want those fish to be taken in the Columbia...

Keith

Politics. The ODFW didn't want to close down a popular Portland fishery. WDFW pressured ODFW to allow some of that allocated Willamette harvest to be used to keep the lower columbia season open for short time.

ain't politics great!! How many fish are really going to be caught during the 12 day season?

During that time of the year with the run predictions there could easily be 1000 fish a day taken from the Columbia. I can assure you that the fishing pressure will be obsurd, there will be 10's of thousands of people out their each day trying their luck.

But if the fish don't show in the #'s expected we won't see the results.

It's a bit spooky that as of March 4th 2008 there's only been 4 Springers over Bonneville. By March 4th 2002 there had been nearly 150 over that dam by this time. Too top it off they did a test net fishery in the Columbia and the nets only found a few Springers. The fish aren't here yet and it's getting kind of late to shape up into the type of run that is being suggested by the DFW...

Keith

Thanks stlhdr1

I hope to be one of the 10's of thousands, bring on the fish!!!

If the fish show in the #'s that are suggested it will be some great fishing. Whether you troll herring or anchor fish, you will see some fish being hauled in.

Keith

I was looking at the jack returns from last year and compared that to years before and if that is any indication we are in for some serious #'s. Just wish it wasn't so far to drive to get above I-5, gas prices and all.

Jack numbers are relative. DFW channged the dates fish are counted as springers.

Also hatchery practices could tend to keep fish from becoming migratory. The Blackmouth fishery in the Sound has been proped up with fish, held, until the migratory instinct is supressed.
So when the hatcheries hold and feed the fish beyond a certain element; they produce more jacked fish.

Those fish on the sound are purposly raised to remain in the sound, but most hatcheries try to release their fish when they are smolting and are ready to migrate. A large jack return is suposed to indicate good ocean survival, I really don't know how accurate that is but it is something to think about.

Jack #'s are relative but when you consider a Jack, in my opinion they're fish that are 2-4 pounds tops and a good indicator of survival in the ocean for the following year.

A ton of the fish I was seeing in the Bonneville fish viewing window last year as well as pictures of fish taken above Bonneville dam appeared to be a large % of fish that were mini-adults and not jacks. Mini-adults are what I would consider the worst sign of all, they're fish that are stunted in growth due to quantities and quality of food in the ocean...

I don't forsee the #'s that are expected this year, I hope I'm wrong though...

Keith

Before last summer I was used to Jacks being 2 to 6 or 7 pounds, but this summer up on the Nushagak the bio's considered fish between 20-32 inches a jack, some would weigh as much as 12 to 15 pounds. They were saying " next year should be big" just like they are predicting on the columbia for springers.

I think the ocean conditions and what we have going on out there is a big factor in what we are seing as far as returns to our rivers. Hopefully like Keith said "hopefully they show up". 4 fish over the damn isnt looking too good at this point, it still is somewhat early....

The moon will be full on the 21st. If the water temerature is above 7°C the mainstem will have fish moving through.
I hope to take some time off to fish it again this year in the limited lower river season. You know, if I hook a light face springer I'll probably just set it free. With only being able to keep one per day I'll be looking to bonk some upriver, dark faced fish.

I'll be suprised if there are very many lower river fish caught in the 12 day season. The fish have been showing up later and later the last handful of years. I just don't think there will be good numbers until april. I hope I'm wrong, because I'm planning on being down there for a couple days. Too bad the working man only gets 2 days to fish. I feel bad for the guys that work a 5 day schedule.

Kris