Ted Schuman holds up a prized spring chinook caught on the lower Columbia River . |
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sit on anchor find a travel lane and deploy the buoys . As we trolled along keeping an eye on the depth sounder we noticed several depressions in the sand . With each pass we would mark these spots until we had plotted out a travel lane . The fish will use the drag of the slower water along the bottom and find these troughs and cruise upriver in them . With the outgoing tide we set out the anchor and made sure our boat was on top of the marked lane . Switching from plug cut herring to K-15 Kwikfish with a tuna belly wrap the rods sat idle in the holders . Our secret spot wasn ’ t confidential for long as other boats began to line up around us . It wasn ’ t long before the hogline took shape . Another had formed about 300 yards below and yet another farther downriver , and so forth all the way down the side of the island . Trolling is still an option but you might have to stay out a bit deeper , on the edge of the shipping channel .
I broke out the binoculars and began watching the boats below us . Soon a net was flying , then another and another . It was only a matter of time before the fish made their way up to us . The boat to our left hooked up first then another boat had a double . Finally our far left rod bent over and once again we just sat and watched it until line started to peel off . This time the hooks stayed and the fish was fought to the boat . A typical 12-pound springer bound for some hatchery upriver was scooped into the net .
Springers don ’ t run big . In fact , most of them will run between 8 and 12 pounds . When you land one in the upper teens , and into the low 20s , you ’ ve caught a trophy salmon for this fishery . What these fish make up for in size , they overcompensate for in taste . The fat content gives these fish a taste like few other salmon . Throw a springer on the barbecue in March and you ’ ll quickly appreciate why people in the Pacific Northwest get springer crazed .
Winds began to kick up and a rainstorm was on its way from the west . We had our chances and even
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had a fish for dinner . It was time to head back to port before the mad dash of boats joined us . Five minutes later we were back in the protected Port of Kalama along with two guide boats that followed us . That is one of the reasons why the Port of Kalama is such a popular place to fish . It is productive for various techniques and on good weather days just about anyone with a boat can fish here . Close to a major metropolitan city and a protected marina to launch from that is only minutes from the |
fishing grounds . Kalama itself is a small town that caters to the angler with many “ Mom and Pop ” gas stations and eateries ; one of the best is the Kalama Burger Bar with great milkshakes and awesome burgers . If you feel the need to refuel with a cup of coffee then check out Kalama Koffee , another local place that always appreciates business during the fishing season . Just be ready to wait for trains and make sure to stay out of the cargo ships way when fishing at the Port of Kalama . |
jason brooks photo |