Short TR-Columbia Shad

I should say a very short report. Padishar Creel and I attempted to catch
some Columbia River Shad. We failed. The thought was to anchor up and try
the heaviest sinktip we could find. Creel assured me he owned the stoutest
sinktip possible. I think it may have been made from recycled Russian
submarines, but I'm not sure. I didn't try to get close as he whipped it
about.

The boat is not your standard fly fishing platform, more like a standard
deep V hull tin can (or aluminum). The shad were not impressed with either
the new boat or the recycled submarine. I tried to use the new Northriver
Seahawk like a drift boat, and letting the sinktip do the work. I decided
to stay on the anchor for the safety of all river users.

We anchored up in 20 foot of water, and attempted to cast. It was more like
letting line out and watching the pole. I attempted to cast to the side,
causing Creel to vanish inside the cabin. He had a hat, not a Kevlar
helmet. I did manage to snag the bottom and straighten a hook getting my 2
minute fly back. That proved that we were near the bottom on the swing, but
not long enough for the slow fishing.

The boats around us were not exactly hitting the shad hard. We moved to a
faster current seam, and the boats next to us were hooking shad regularly on
small DickNite spoons. After an hour or so, and a couple of comments from
well wishers, we were frustrated. One fisherman told us he had tried shad
on the fly with similar results.

At last Creel had a quick peck of a hit. That one instance took our
expectations higher. After the next painful 30 minutes the expectations
came back to earth. There was still hope, just not the realization.

Creel then let out a yell, "fish on" and I noted several heads turn from
the Sunday papers toward our boat. Creel was fighting a mighty shad and it
was struggling to rise with the titanium sinktip. The fish probably had
whiplash and promptly spit the hook. It could happen!

I will not report the rest of the trip, or whether anyone actually took the
proffered DickNite spoon from the boat next to us. There are no witnesses,
and no proof. This is, after all, a flyfishing forum.

I put a photo of a nice ship sailing on the Columbia River on the
alt.binaries.pictures.fishing group.

Tight lines, and keep the faith for the impending strike.

"bugcaster" wrote in message
...
I should say a very short report. Padishar Creel and I attempted to catch
some Columbia River Shad. We failed. The thought was to anchor up and
try
the heaviest sinktip we could find. Creel assured me he owned the
stoutest
sinktip possible. I think it may have been made from recycled Russian
submarines, but I'm not sure. I didn't try to get close as he whipped it
about.
------TR Snipped because I was there------------
Tonight, I tied up flies with two rows of lead wire substitute and the
heaviest eyes I could fine. I got my _full sinking line" out and now I am
ready to get down and deep with the Shad. Bugcaster was the host on this
trip and, not only provided a fine fishing adventure but included a lunch
fit for a King. Caesar salad (the real stuff) croissant sandwich (the size
of a dinner plate!) and Corona beer; it don't get much better than that. We
did boat two shad and saw an oversized sturgeon also brought to the side of
a boat. Judging by his head size, that we could see, I would guess he was
in excess of seven feet. All in all, a good day on the water with fine
company!

Chris

Try fishing along the bank. Find a rocky bank with a steep falloff.
They travel along the bottom and if your in a deep spot your gonna be
SOL.
IF it's early or late or cloudy I have caught them near the bank. I
think there all over the bottom it's just that you can get a fly to
them near the bank. Did you try the Lewis river?

Padishar Creel wrote:
"bugcaster" wrote in message
...
I should say a very short report. Padishar Creel and I attempted to catch
some Columbia River Shad. We failed. The thought was to anchor up and
try
the heaviest sinktip we could find. Creel assured me he owned the
stoutest
sinktip possible. I think it may have been made from recycled Russian
submarines, but I'm not sure. I didn't try to get close as he whipped it
about.
------TR Snipped because I was there------------
Tonight, I tied up flies with two rows of lead wire substitute and the
heaviest eyes I could fine. I got my _full sinking line" out and now I am
ready to get down and deep with the Shad. Bugcaster was the host on this
trip and, not only provided a fine fishing adventure but included a lunch
fit for a King. Caesar salad (the real stuff) croissant sandwich (the size
of a dinner plate!) and Corona beer; it don't get much better than that. We
did boat two shad and saw an oversized sturgeon also brought to the side of
a boat. Judging by his head size, that we could see, I would guess he was
in excess of seven feet. All in all, a good day on the water with fine
company!

Chris

"BJ Conner" wrote in message
oups.com...
Try fishing along the bank. Find a rocky bank with a steep falloff.
They travel along the bottom and if your in a deep spot your gonna be
SOL.
IF it's early or late or cloudy I have caught them near the bank. I
think there all over the bottom it's just that you can get a fly to
them near the bank. Did you try the Lewis river?

No, I've never fished the Lewis. I didn't want to do battle with the crazy
boaters in the Willamette, so I headed to wider spaces on the Columbia.
Besides, I don't have a Washington license yet.

I really think the shallower water in the Multnomah Channel near Coon Island
would suit a sinktip.

bugcaster