Anyone going to fish the lower CR next week? I just found out today that my vacation is no longer pending. So, it looks like I'll be fishing this year after all.

I'll share any info as I attempt to target upriver fishes.

Hans

Walleye World and I were thinking of hitting it on the 29th and 30th. A few local contacts say they have seen nothing yet, but there are a few going over Bonneville. Hopefully a we can get into some.

Good luck.

Steve

Went last week end for the opener. Marked fish traveling at 10 to 15 ft in 15 to 25 ft of water. We were fishing just below Goverment Is. on the Wa. side. Water had great clairty there but was a lot dirtier below Kalama due to the lewis and Kalama dumping in. Most of the fish were caught on trolled herring. Good luck to you.

I'll be there with a motley crew thurs & fri next week and thu, fri the following week. Had a couple great trips last year! I'd be into meeting some board members or just sharing info.

Call me if you see fit,

Brad 206 949 8443

I am thinking about heading over there next weekend myself. I have never fished out of Cathlamet before. I assume the river can handle a prop boat no problem. Any suggestions on where to stay/fish? What is the launch like?

I have a tenative trip planned to Bonneville with a guide friend, but that may not pan out. I would sooner troll anyway because I lack the right anchor system and to be honest, I kind of hate sitting on that hook.

I'll be launching at willow grove early monday morning.

Mike,

Cathlamet is a double lane concrete ramp with floating dock on either side. It's very nice. Launch fee last year was $6. Parking isn't quite as nice. You may have to park and walk back a ways if you're not there before O'dark-thirty. I hear, but haven't used, that the Willow Grove launch just outside Longview is the best on the river.

Prop drive is fine and probably the norm. Do pay attention to the nav markers. They are for real. There are shallow sand flats that people get stuck on when they try to cut corners. Pay attention to your depth finder. Some people camp at the rough, almost a park near the launch. Aesthetics are non-existent; it's all about fishing. I've driven back to Longview for a motel, but there must be better alternatives. Maybe camping toward Chinook or something.

Sg

Thanks Salmo. I appreciate the info. Mike

Mike, I run a prop there. Just watch out for a line of floating woody debris just beyond the green can at the mouth of the slough. Don't ask me how I know this.

I run over towards Bradwood (top end of Cliton Channel) on the OR side to see which way the current is flowing. Trolling with and across the current seems to work best for me. If it becomes to crowded or sealions are on the prowl, I'll move back out to the inside corner of the main channel. The ledge at Tenasilahe Island provides access to warmer water, making fish more active.

Here is a screen shot of my sounder from the year before last.


Notice fish are suspended and also tight to bottom. When I vturned up the sensitivity the suspended fish were along a thermocline coming off of the shallows at Red Slough.

I'll be staying in an RV next to the treatment plant. You may want to PM the Doc. about a better place to stay.

I will be down there on Monday to fish the incoming tide with some friends.

I hope to be eating breakfast in town while others are waiting to launch. Look forward to seeing you there.

Sounds like it's going to be a zoo of a clusterf*ck.

I'll wait for more reports.

Thanks for the info Slabhunter. Mike

We tried to launch out of Willow Grove a couple weeks ago and it was closed for repairs(?) You might want to check with the Cowlitz County office to see if it reopened. Long way to go to have to change your plans at daylight.

Mike and others,
There is also a very nice campground at skamokawa and a pretty rough boat launch there too (no dock, o.k. launch for sleds and smaller boats). Here is the number Skamokawa Vista Park (360) 795-3453. They even have several Yurts that you can rent. Good luck to all that venture down that way.

chumsalmon

Went out today , fishchecker had 6 fish for 24 boats, We never had a take down or saw a net fly all day. The water was 44.6 degrees and a foot visibilty, although it was a nice day it was chilly in the morning. Saw 2 sea lions making way upriver so there's fish comming through you just have to work for them! Heard kalama mouth was slow ,too. I wish I could of stayed out for the incoming tide as that was hot last year ,but my honeydew list grows all the time! Skiing at White Pass this weekend with the kids (Spring Break).