Longview Bridge

[stryker17]

The wife wanted to go fishing , so we loaded up the boat and headed for Buoy 10 actually Hammond Ore, as we were crossing over the big bridge at Longview we noticed a ton, and I mean a ton of boats fishing below and up and down by the bridge. My question is how is this area fished? I noticed that they were anchored, what type of gear would the be using, also is there R V camping close where we could put the camper , launch and motor to the area to fish. It would be closer than coming all the way to Astoria. Any info would be helpful might be a different change of pace from here.....Thanks

[Larry3215]

I havent fished that area in a long time - and that was for sturgeon, not salmon, so I cant help much with that part.

As far as anchoring in the river, it is really important that you have a good system and know what you are doing. Its extremely dangerous if you do it wrong, have the wrong or inadequate equipment or dont know what the hazards are and how to handle them.

Google "Columbia River Anchor System" and read up on the hows and whys.

[BARCHASER10]

Absolutely. In Sept the water is warm, so migrating Chinooks are deep, 40 feet or so where the wtr is colder. The tide flow on an outgoing tide is very strong. You need a specialized rocker style anchor with 4-5 feet of chain. As Larry said you also need the large buoy system to get the anchor in. To give you an idea, the recommended anchor length is 7 times more than the water depth, so.... 40 FOW is almost a football field length of anchor rope. You need to know what you are doing. Getting in a hog line and tangling your anchor rope up with another guys rope can be quite thrill.

If you don't want to go through all this, and buy the equipment.. you can troll. It is pretty good trolling in the shallow area around the Cowlitz mouth where the water is cooler ...with spinners. Or troll deep in the main river with 15 oz of lead or so, a fish flash and a wobbler, Clancy, Brads etc.

Suggest you check out Ifish, they have a lot of discussion this time of year mostly fishing the C for URBs, lures, gear etc.

I usually fish URBs in a buddys boat who lives in Columbia City, Oregon, but I have some family things going on and didn't make it this year.

Launch at either Kalama or Rainier Oregon.

[BARCHASER10]

Check it out, non buoy 10 Columbia, 714 posts since early August.

http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=1283298" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[stryker17]

Thanks guys, does't look like its for me....have never fished with an anchor.............but that seems to be what we have here at buoy 10 area, 2 days with no bites have seen only one fish caught, wind was a little strong this am ( wife is still healing from heart surgery, did not want to hurt her ) so we came in early, will try this P M if it drops down.....Fish checker reported only 6 fish checked in,,,,,,,,,,real slooooooow.............

[stryker17]

Thanks guys, does't look like its for me....have never fished with an anchor.............but that seems to be what we have here at buoy 10 area, 2 days with no bites have seen only one fish caught, wind was a little strong this am ( wife is still healing from heart surgery, did not want to hurt her ) so we came in early, will try this P M if it drops down.....Fish checker reported only 6 fish checked in,,,,,,,,,,real slooooooow.............

[BARCHASER10]

Actually, trolling inside the mouth of the Cow is pretty mild. Trolling in 10-20 feet of water, 4-5 oz, on a slider with a spinner, not a combat fishery at all, calm water. A lot of URBs and migrating Silvers duck in there for the cool water from the Cow. Even up towards the Cow bridge can be good or even into Carrolls Channel. My buddy who lives in Columbia City that I fish with, his boat, he doesn't really like the deep water hog lines, too much hassle. He mostly trolls inside the Cow mouth. It is a lot more mild than Buoy 10 for sure.

[Larry3215]

Actually, trolling inside the mouth of the Cow is pretty mild. Trolling in 10-20 feet of water, 4-5 oz, on a slider with a spinner, not a combat fishery at all, calm water. A lot of URBs and migrating Silvers duck in there for the cool water from the Cow. Even up towards the Cow bridge can be good or even into Carrolls Channel. My buddy who lives in Columbia City that I fish with, his boat, he doesn't really like the deep water hog lines, too much hassle. He mostly trolls inside the Cow mouth. It is a lot more mild than Buoy 10 for sure.

Im out of touch with the acronyms - Cow = Cowlitz river? URB = ?

I know Carrols Channel

[4n6fisher]

URB=Up River Brights and yes Cow=Cowlitz