COLUMBIA RIVER SPRING SALMON: The End is Near

On Thursday, April 9th, I launched my kayak from Willow Bar at 7 AM. The wind blew a steady 12 mph as storm clouds gathered over Portland. I pushed off the beach and paddled out about 150 ft. from shore. I dropped my herring down to the bottom, and reeled it off just a little. As I was getting situated in my kayak, my rod tip doubled over and began dancing! A strike! I could not believe it! My excitement quickly turned into disappointment; The fish shook off as I pulled the rod from the holder. I have never felt more jinxed.

I paddled upstream, trolling herring until the tide changed around 8:30. When the tide turned to ebb, I drifted downstream with the current to social security beach, then paddled back up to start the run all over again.

I had high hopes for this day. I had committed myself to a minimum 12 hours of fishing, or until I caught one, whichever came first. As I turned my kayak to return up river for my third pass, I realized that the minus tide predicted for today meant business.

I don't know if it was the fact that I am physically exhausted from this season, the fact that I skipped breakfast that day, or that the minus tide which had the river flowing at about 4+ knots at the peak ebb, but I had no desire to paddle up river against the strong current and 12 mph of wind. At an average forward rate of 5 knots, it would have taken 3 hours for me to paddle the three miles back to the top of the bar. I pulled out on the beach and had lunch while I waited for slack.


When the river laid down a bit, I trolled slowly back upstream to the top of the bar, where a friend met me around 3PM. His company lifted my spirits, but did not produce any fish. I pulled out after 12 hours on the water tired, frustrated, and ready to give up. There is only one week left in the season for the lower Columbia, and I have to say, I am ok with that.

The big push of fish has still not shown, although I do believe it is coming (The week after the season closes). Salmon passage over Bonneville dam has increased from 10's a day to around 100 a day, but those 2-500 fish days at Bonneville (indicating 10's of thousands in the Portland area) still have not happened, and I don't believe we will see as big of a return as ODFW predicted.

The late, or lack of returning salmon is of concern for environmental reasons, but is really no excuse for a lack of catching. Every time I've been out for the last month, I have seen fish caught within 100 yards of my position, but for some reason they are not hitting my presentation. I have tried every bait, lure, and attractant under the sun, but at this point, it seems to be about luck more than anything, and I don't have it right now.

As far as I know, only one salmon has been taken from a kayak angler this season around Portland, and the bankies and power boaters strike out more often then not, But still I am frustrated by the amount of time and effort I have put in without so much as a real hook up to show for it.

I need to get back to kayak fishing for fun, not for determination. The fishing god's are trying to tell me something, and I am starting to listen. Spring is here, and summer soon to follow, and I plan on getting back to the Oregon coast and fishing for the joy of it, rather than jockeying with hundreds of bankies and powerboats around Portland and getting frustrated.

I am still not willing to give up yet, and plan on going gangbusters this last week. I'm going to put in the hours and see what happens. At least I can walk away from this season knowing I am not a quitter, even if I have no fish to show for the effort.

Until next week,

Jason