ReelNorthwestAnglers.Com

The Summer Steel Continues….

lipripper — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:27:55 +0000

I have had so little time to post lately but wanted to do a quick update for now. The summer fishing has been more than extraordinary for sure with multiple fish every trip but one. Last trip with Todd was a major bummer….We got to our favorite spot and with the biggest feeling of optimism started our day. First run we fish Todd hooks up and lands a hot and acrobatic summer! Oh man we were right this is going to be a stellar day! WRONG! My kicker decides to roll over and die…Back home tail between the legs knowing we would have wacked another limit easily. Anyways here a a few picks.

More Summers…I Love this Time Of Year!

lipripper — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:43:01 +0000

Hit a favorite river of mine yesterday with Steve for some summer action. Boy did we find some good fishing. The weather was spotty with some refreshing July rain….We went 6 for 10 today with a boat limit. We fished with Bob Barthlow today and he is a great fisherman and a true professional. I learned a ton from him and really enjoyed his company. I will add more later when time permits! Take it easy and tight lines….

Lots of Summer Steel Around

lipripper — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 20:11:51 +0000

Its been a fun spring with weird weather, high water, and exceptional fishing for sure. I had a hard time getting excited about springer’s this year and kept my focus on the terrific steelhead fishing we have had all year. Seemed like the winter fish just kept coming with a nice transition right into summer fish without even a break in the action. It was so good in fact that I even re-powered my sled in the middle of springer season because I would rather be in the drift boat. You heard me right a complete remodel of the sled! New Mercury with jet, diamond plate floors, and a few other trick upgrades. I wanted a fresh start to my Cowlitz season and continue this steelhead streak all summer with no issues. Lots of bad fishing reports of no steelhead and high water has made my outings very enjoyable and fishy. Last weekend I had a very popular Washington trib all to myself! Yes I said weekend…Keep that bad reports circling because I like the great fishing all to myself!

Summers or Springers? Tough Choices…

lipripper — Mon, 09 May 2011 13:43:49 +0000

Fishing this year with all the adverse conditions has been tough but also phenomenal to say the least. After the Winter Steelhead it was a slow transition to the Springer’s with all the high cold water keeping them in small numbers and lock jawed. If you looked in the right places, fished non-traditional methods, and put in the time you would get them. But in the last week things have completely turned around and even though they are late getting here the catching has been insane. Todd “DD” has been boating some really decent numbers as well as Jim and Jeff. All have been having multiple fish days with Jim knocking one out of the park last week with 5 for six! Personally I got a few early ones and have been targeting the spring and early summer steelhead. The summers are here in good numbers already and I even had a three fish morning the other day. Not bad for a half day trip! This weekend will be a two day springer bash with three new fishermen coming along for the ride.

Columbia Will Re-open For Spring Chinook

lipripper — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:13:13 +0000

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/
April 6, 2011
Contact: WDFW Region 5 Office, (360) 696-6211
Anglers get at least 8 more days
to catch chinook on lower Columbia
OLYMPIA – Columbia River anglers will get at least eight more days to catch hatchery-reared spring chinook salmon below Bonneville Dam under a decision announced today by fishery managers from Washington and Oregon.
The popular fishery, which closed for a catch assessment April 4, will reopen to fishing Friday, April 8, through Friday, April 15. Fishery managers will meet again April 14 to determine whether to allow additional fishing time.
The eight-day extension will give anglers another chance to catch hatchery-reared spring chinook still available for harvest, said Cindy LeFleur, Columbia River policy coordinator for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
“Fishing conditions on the Columbia River have been pretty rough in recent weeks, leaving the sport catch well below the harvest guideline,” LeFleur said. “These extra fishing days will give anglers some time to make up for the high water and turbid river conditions that have undercut catch rates to date.”
Through April 4, anglers had caught and kept a total of 4,500 spring chinook. Approximately 3,800 were upriver fish, compared to a 7,700-fish harvest guideline for upriver chinook set at the beginning of the season.
The area set to reopen for spring chinook fishing April 8 extends from Buoy 10 upriver to Rooster Rock for boat and bank anglers, and to the fishing boundary below Bonneville Dam for bank anglers only. When the fishery is open, anglers can retain one marked, hatchery-reared adult chinook salmon as part of their daily limit.
Anglers may also retain shad and hatchery-reared steelhead when the spring chinook fishery is open. However, all wild salmon and steelhead not marked as a hatchery fish by a clipped adipose fin must be released unharmed.
Along with the eight additional fishing days, lower-river anglers could get another chance to catch spring chinook in May, once fishery managers update the run forecast. While the preseason forecast projected a return of 198,400 upriver fish, the fishery has been managed with a 30 percent “buffer” to guard against overestimating the run.
“If the fish return at or above expectations, we will look toward providing additional days of fishing on the river later in spring,” LeFleur said.
The fishing extension starting April 8 does not affect the spring chinook season above Bonneville Dam, which is open seven days a week through April 24 between the Tower Island powerlines below The Dalles Dam and the Washington/Oregon state line, 17 miles upriver from McNary Dam. Bank fishing is also allowed from Bonneville Dam upriver to the powerlines located about 6 miles below The Dalles Dam through April 24.
Anglers fishing above Bonneville Dam can retain up to two marked, hatchery-reared adult chinook salmon or hatchery steelhead as part of their daily limit.
News of any additional fishing days will be announced on WDFW’s website ( http://wdfw.wa.gov/ ), the Fishing Hotline (360-902-2500), the Region 5 hotline (360-696-6211*1010) and through local news media.

Springers Are Around Even In High Water

lipripper — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 13:50:14 +0000

Springer’s have been a little hard to tune into this year but over all the fishing is good if you know where to look. It certainly wasn’t like years past so the game needed to change a little. Been fishing with Todd, Brent, and Jeff over the last weekend going 2 for 3 on the Charlies. Its been a lot of fun and of course it converts to a remarkable reward at the table. I will get this new recipe up for you all in the next few days. Although some believe the season is a bust or its over I feel differently. I believe this will be an epic season with great water temps and opportunity through June!

A Quick Look Back!

lipripper — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:04:41 +0000

I get really busy trying to juggle the demands of everyday life so the site is pretty low priority these days. Hey I have a great job, terrific family, and some of the best water in the world to share with all my friends! So recently I received an anonymous email about not updating my site regularly. I appologize…I am also very flattered that you frequent the site often so thank you! Keep sending the emails they are very entertaining.

The other day I began trying to organize my picture file with literally thousands of photos taken over the past couple of years. Wow! I thought why not put a short together with some of my closet friends and coolest pics. So I did just that and I have to say thanks so much to all the people I get to spend my time and the passion for angling that we share.

Big Jim & The Bobberdown The Band With Another Hit!

lipripper — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 18:03:04 +0000

Jim has been on a tear this winter steelhead season with what I believe is a perfect season so far. What I mean by perfect is that he is undefeated on all trips so far this season with out a skunk in the box… Pretty damn impressive considering his trips have also included some minor equipment failures and lots of mid-week river pressure to boot. Hats of to you Jim, Keith, and Gail! You fella’s are definitely in the 10% club for sure. This pic is of a huge hatchery brat from yesterdays float on a local trib. They went 3 for 5 and last week they were lucky enough to donate a 18lb native to a local guide that submitted it to the broodstock program for them. Nice addition of good genes to that program no doubt!

WinterSteel Has Just Been Terrific This Year

lipripper — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:23:10 +0000

Good Friends and great fishing has been the norm so far this year and I expect it will only get better. Water has been low and recently and that has slowed the fishing for some. But if you look in the right places the fish are there. I have only had one fishless day this season and don’t expect to have it happen again. Also wanted to introduce you all to Joey Penneman! He is new to the group but fits right in for sure… Take a gander at the new video its a little rough as Im getting used to new software. Its a little complicated but it will improve with time.

High Water and Rough Slides

lipripper — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 03:44:15 +0000

Recently if your willing to drive, beat the boat up a bit, and fish off color water it can pay off. Sitting at home waiting for internet predictions of when the water will be perfect is a waste off time. Go high when the water is high…Yep and back to the basics! High water means that fish are gonna boogie upstream no two ways about it. Where are you going to find the clearest water after a few weeks of relentless down pours and mudslides? Generally upriver! Draw backs will be technical water so better be good on the sticks. High fast water and mine fields can ruin a day fast so be careful and use your PFD….Hit a coastal river with Jim and Todd and landed three gorgeous fish with a few more opportunities . Here is a shot of Todd fighting a nice nate that just pounded a plug in off colored water. Been using these line counters instead of bobber stops. Really working out good and so much easier! Here is a monster Chinook Jim and Barry tied into a few weeks ago on the same trib.