Well the fish are here and they are saying we will have a record year. Talked to ODFW yesturday and the said that if we can get some rain to raise the river up we might get up to 5000 springers in this year. In previous years we only got between 1200 and 1500 fish. The original eastimate this year was 3500. This morning was great. We hooked 5 fish and landed 3. I caught 2 of them . 35 incher and a 33 incher. They are in very good shape this year. Crome for this far away from the salt. These are the brightest fish i have seen caught on this river. :> ) Nothing is sweeter then fish in your back ward. No 100 to 300 mile trip to catch good fish. If you have good roe and some knowledge about salmon fishing you should be able to do well here. The kid i am fishing with has gotten 6 in the last week and he is bouncing off the walls with joy. Well have a nice day, and take a kid fishing.
Steve Bruning FISH ON!

Wow, sounds like a great trip and thanks for the info Steve. I live in Kennewick, and just spent the weekend down on the Wind. All I caught were rocks. Maybe I need to stick closer to home. I have never fished the Umatilla River. Do you have any advice as to where there is good access for a bank fisherman.

The most of the river has access. There is very little you cannot fish. Ask the farmers and they will let you fish. We picked up another fish today and lost 2 :> ). Life is good!
Steve

Steve, Can you fish at the mouth in the Columbia? Or is the Columbia still closed to salmon fishing? Thanks

Jeff, the Columbia is still closed as is the mouth of the Umatilla River. We picked up another 3 springers yesturday floating roe under bobbers. The fishing has been very good. The best i have ever experienced on this river. I wiill be fishing 4 days straight starting thursday morning, i can hardly wait. Hope Everyone else is having good fishing as well. The only bad thing about this season is a snapped my Lamaglas rod last week and am playing hell trying to get them to actually stand behind their warranty. I got a new one coming via Fishermans supplies in Oregon City. Makes these fish kinda expensive at $179 a rod. Have a good day, and take a kid fishing.
Steve

Well, what a day. we landed 7 more springers on the Umatilla river. We are fishing the upper river around Pendleton. Bobbers and roe have been the ticket. There are now over 2300 fish in the river with another 2700 projected. LIFE JUST DOESN"T GET MUCH BETTER> Steve

New Zealand,

I have been fishing down at Drano and have caught a few nice springers. I would love to drift eggs or bobber fish the Umatilla. I work in Kennewick but live in Selah. Let me know if you need a partner to fish with and I would love to fish with you sometime. You can call me at 585-4509.

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Steve, Thanks for the information last week about the Umatilla. I headed up there about mid day last Friday and within the first 10 minutes had my first springer. A nice 12# hen. You have quite a stream up there and thanks again.

Troy

This fishing sounds like what I use to do many years (8-9) ago on the Icicle river in Leavenworth. I have Thursday off and would really like to go. Since I have never been are you guys in a boat or on the bank? I have been fishing the Wind with the sled and wouldn't mind not listening to the kicker all day. thanks trout

Where would the nearest tackle shop be located so I can get an Oregon license and get pointed in the right direction?

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There is a Texaco station right as you cross the bridge into Oregon at the McNary Dam, I know they sell bait and tackle and I think licenses as well. I fished the lower river down near the town of Umatilla. I do not know the river all that well, but it is my understanding you can fish the majority of the river.

There is a dam about 3 mile up from the mouth of the river and I know that you can not run a boat below the dam as far as above I have no idea. I hope this helps.

Troy

Well another good day. Not as good as yesturday, but still very enjoyable. We hooked 3 and landed 1. It was a 38 inch crome buck. My father got to fight one fish before it broke him off. That was a joy to watch. Well, am headed out in the A.M. to slam a few more. Hopefully i will get my father into his second fish of the year tomorrow. I hope everyone else is finding fish, and have a nice day. Steve

Steve,

Glad to hear you're scoring good numbers of fish in your neck of the woods.

Hey, I'm in desperate need of some of your jigs for summer-run fishing (opens June 1) so check your email and let me know if I can get some before then.

Keep pounding those springers......


Fish on....

Hi Dan,
I can get those eagle claws out asap. I will get the price hopefully before this weekend is over so you can get that check sent and i will get those sent out. Then i will finish the rest of your order and get those sent out in a second package. Hope you are hammering fish up there.
Steve