Todd Daniels’ Latest Report: Springers!

Well, with the springer run starting to taper off it has been a pretty good year with lots of fish to be had throughout the Columbia River system. We have approximately another week left for me then it is time to stay at home (waters) with the Snohomish system opening up on June 1st. We are quite excited about the new opportunity for the Skykomish summer kings: much more section of the river is open this year and add 15,000 kings with summer-run steelies there too, it is definitely something to try out. Give me a call and get out on the river for some summer fun.

Todd
Tall Tails Guide Service
(206) 437-8766

P.S. Sorry to the weekend crews who had the dead battery issues. No photos, oops!!

Steelies and Springers Continue

With the warmer weather here for now, so is some pretty good fishing. We have been both on the Columbia and the Cowlitz rivers lately. Fishing for winter-run steelhead in almost 70 degree weather just seems kind of weird, it is supposed to be like 35 degrees and raining! But we will take it any time mother nature is willing to give it to us. I will be giving the Cowlitz one more week of steelhead fishing to finish up what is truly an amazing run so far; if you want one more crack at these steelies let me know there is some room left. Starting the beginning of May we will be down on the Wind River or Drano Lake to go get after what is going to be a record run in both tribs. I am looking forward to this year down there more than any in a long, long time. I still have dates available — let me know.

Todd
Tall Tails Guide Service
(206)437-8766

The Latest and Greatest Fishing Report with Bonner Daniels

It’s great to be back home . . . even after a NICE vacation in the Hawaiian Sun. Check out Maui Extreme Fishing if you’re ever on the islands, those boyz really know how to catch the fish. I was M.I.A. for a few days there. I sure did get home in the nick of time, as the fishing has been absolutely wonderful. How can you not love sunshine, winter steelhead and springer salmon all in one?!

The salmon season is in full swing and people who are out fishing for them are catching them. Big, beautiful, chrome bright, springer salmon between I-5 and Willamette is quite good at press time. Get some herring, or your favorite spinner and get out there!! It closes here very shortly. By the way, springer salmon is nearly $30 a pound at the grocery store!!

I have a few openings left for late-winter steelhead and spring Chinook salmon on the Cowlitz and Columbia Rivers. If you would like to book a trip, NOW is a great time. My boat averaged nine fish fought and four killed everyday this last week!!!! It’s on like kong

Here are a few pics from this week’s trips:

Sincerely,
Bonner Daniels

Bonnerfishon.com
425-281-8772

Ps. Quit wish’n and let’s GO fish’n!
Pss. Todd Daniels’ Hawg Quest episode is replaying this week . . . check it OUT!

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Columbia Spring Chinook with Robbie Tobeck

Join Tobeck on the Columbia as they land some beautiful springers!

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The Latest and Greatest Fishing Report with Bonner Daniels

It is officially springer salmon, late-run hatchery steelhead and native steelhead season. With that said, literally every mainstem river of the Washington Coast and Columbia River has fish in it right now. Big, bright, chrome fish…get out and get in on some of the action!

The trout lakes have been, or are being, planted; the walleye bite is beginning over on the Potholes Reservoir and Moses Lake; the Potholes Open is right around the corner; the Grande Ronde, Salmon, and Clearwater Rivers are overflowing with steelhead; and the Westside chromers are arriving right now. What a great time to go out and go fishing in this wonderfully mild weather.

My days have been consisting of side drifting bait for steelhead and springers out of my Wooldridge XL Jet Sled, which holds five guests comfortably. The fishing has been consistent with multiple fishONs!!! per day. This spring run has started off well, and should continue strong and even get better well into April. I am currently booked up through the 1st week of April, if you would like to get out and get after some of these chrome beauties, give me a call and lets get you on the schedule before its too late. See you on the water

Here are but a few pics from this week’s trips….

TIP of The Week: Keep On Casting!!!

Sincerely,
Bonner Daniels
bonnerfishon.com
425-281-8772

Fishery Managers Predict 470,000 Columbia River Spring Chinook in 2010

This is great news. To hear fish projections rising is very encouraging.

SALEM, Ore.—The technical committee advising Columbia River fishery managers has released its forecast for the 2010 spring chinook run. If the fish show up as projected, the forecast of 470,000 spring chinook would be the largest return to the Columbia since 1938.

The forecasted run is up significantly from last year’s final run of 169,300 fish.

Because of challenges in forecasting the spring chinook returns in recent years, members of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) had to reconsider the model they have used in past years to predict the number of returning fish.

According to Stuart Ellis, current chair of the TAC and fisheries scientist of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC), committee members were leery of the record number of spring chinook “jacks” counted at Bonneville Dam in 2009. Jacks are immature, precocious males that return after just one or two years in the ocean.

In the past few years, forecasts relying heavily on jack counts from the previous season had overstated the actual return of adult fish by an average of 45 percent. An accurate preseason forecast is necessary to set commercial and recreational harvest levels that meet treaty obligations under U.S. v Oregon and conservation mandates to protect fish runs listed under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Ellis said this year the committee considered several additional models that took into account other factors such as ocean conditions.

“The number of jacks that returned in 2009 was four times greater than anything we’ve seen before, which made the number a statistical anomaly,” Ellis said. “At the same time, we know the environment for young salmon appears to be changing and we needed to account for that.”

“We’re still projecting a strong return for upriver spring chinook salmon next year, but we needed to temper last year’s jack return with other indicators of spring chinook abundance,” he added.

The seven models chosen by TAC generated a range of predicted run sizes from 366,000 to 528,000 adults. The committee members agreed on 470,000 as an average of the models. This forecast will now be used by the managers to develop preseason fishing plans.

The Technical Advisory Committee was established under the US v. Oregon and includes representatives from Oregon, Idaho and Washington fish and wildlife departments, the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (on behalf of the Nez Perce tribe, the Umatilla tribe, the Warm Springs tribe and the Yakama Nation,) the Shoshone-Bannock tribe, the National Marine Fisheries Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

For the full story :: go HERE

photo: eyeini

Columbia River Fishing Trip with Elmer Hill

December Steelhead

The full swing of winter steelhead is here. The middle of the month we had some of the coldest temps you would want to fish in — pushing single digits in the morning. But those who were willing to go out were rewarded with some fantastic fishing. One of my favorite moments is getting to watch some of my clients catch their very first steelhead. That is something quite special, and we have had the chance to do that a lot lately. Now, the temps and river levels have moderated. The Snohomish River System has picked up lately, as has the Cowlitz. Look for the Chalais system’s to kick into gear any time now as well. It’s not too early to start thinking SPRINGERS. A predicted run of 470,000 in the Columbia should be an awesome fishing season. Mean time, still plenty of Steelhead to be had. Give me a call.

Sincerely,
Todd Daniels

Tall Tails Guide Service
206.437.8766

Walleye Fishing Update with Elmer Hill

Walleye fishing is at its best right now; and will be for the rest of July through the first couple weeks of September. Daily limits are being caught on Hot Lips, plugs, and bottom-walking spinner worm harnesses…. Most of the best fishing is at Umatilla, Irrigon, and Boardman, Oregon and fishing depths of 35 to 38 feet. Trophy walleye are being pulled everyday. The last day we were out, July 20th, we caught 19 walleye of assorted sizes, three over ten pounds and one 13 pounder. All the big fish are putting on their food bags to get ready for fall and winter. With a late spawn this year a lot of the fish haven’t gotten to feed like they normally would in the spring after spawning, so it’s making the fishing easy. The currents in the Columbia River are slowing down as well, which also makes the fishing easier–your presentations of bait are slower and that allows you to keep your bait in the spot you want longer, encouraging more hook ups per day.

Pictured above are some spinner worm harness rigs to view. All of them work well. If you have any questions on what to use contact www.mackslure.com for more details–they have it all when it comes to walleye fishing gear. As far as rods are concerned, I prefer to use Fetha Styx 8 1/2 ft 10-17 lb steelhead rods. Not only can I switch up easily to catch steelhead, but for the size of the walleye we target this rod is the perfect strength, and, furthermore, the sensitivity of the rod allows you to catch more fish.

By Elmer Hill / Mid Columbia River Guide Service

www.midcolumbiariver.com

(541) 969-253

Sturgeon Update from Elmer Hill

Oversize sturgeon fishing is fabulous right now, with multiple hook ups on fish eight to twelve feet everyday. We are fishing depths of up to 100 feet deep. The currents in the Columbia have slowed and the water temps are coming back up: sturgeon thrive on this. They will seek deeper water in the day to cool off–shallow water at dark and early morning. Some sturgeon are spawning right now, so if you know where to go catch them after they have spawned out that’s an option. Their tummies have been full for a long time with eggs, now empty and with a small shad run the fish are hungry. I do not try to catch them on the spawn, but I do know lots of areas where they feed afterwards.

Using whole shad, fillets of shad, salmon belly meat, or fresh non-pickled squid you will be rewarded. The oversize sturgeon fishery will last into September, with August being the peak of the fishery for the summer.

Multiple species trips are possible, with an 85 percent chance of catching limits in just a few hours of your day.

Keeper sturgeon fishing has slowed a bit, but we have been fishing in some areas where it’s catch and release and have been averaging upwards of 35 nice-sized four to five feet fish. The oversize and catch and release fishing at Umatilla, Oregon will continue to be at it’s best through August.

Elmer Hill – Mid Columbia River Guide Service

www.midcolumbiariver.com

(541) 969-2537