Pacemaker Fishing Forum

Bob B · Aug-09-12 5:42AM

My wife and I moved from Reston VA to Vancouver WA in 2010. I used to fish "back there". Sometimes I still look at this site and write
a post about fishing "out here". So, here is some of what I've been up to recently.

We mostly fish on the section of the Columbia River which is the border between the states of Washington and Oregon.

Right now, summer steelhead are migrating up the river.

I started going after them on July 9 by going 70 miles downriver from home to meet them as they started to come in

More recently there are enough of them this far upriver to fish closer to home.
July 25

August 8

I mostly get fired up about fishing for salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon... but I occasionally try for walleye too. I got a nice one on
August 1. It was a new personal best for me at 24 inches.

During June I was targeting sturgeon. Sturgeon come in three sizes... undersize, keeper size, and oversize. There seems to be a
shortage of keeper size sturgeon due to folks keeping them. Near home and upriver we can only keep those that measure 38 to
54 inches. Further downriver keeper size is 41 to 54 inches.

Went dowriver a couple times in June without getting a keeper myself.

40 inches was released, as well as 39, and 37 and several a bit smaller

60 inches was released

But on a trip upriver we got two keepers at 39 and 44 inches.

We have decent numbers of salmon migrating up the river in spring and in fall. So, in April and May I was targeting those.

Fishing for fall salmon should start getting good around the end of August.

jumping jasper · Aug-09-12 6:01AM

Bob, I hate you.
Just kidding, you are a very lucky man to be able to live in such a beautiful place.
I remember seeing you troll the washington channel on your pontoon not that long ago. Things have changed for you.
Thanks for the update.

Last edited by jumping jasper (Aug-09-12 6:02AM)

Curly · Aug-09-12 6:07AM

All I can say is...........WOW!

Bryan · Aug-09-12 6:48AM

Very nice fish. The blood on the salmon in the last pic makes it look like a big rainbow trout.

Ernie · Aug-09-12 7:13AM

Bob- many thanks for your reports. They are a pleasure to view....great fishing indeed.

If I ever get out that way, I want to get out on the water with you.

Houli · Aug-09-12 7:24AM

I think Curly about summed up what i was thinking .....

Thanks for sharing!

captmikestarrett · Aug-09-12 8:19PM

Great pics and fishing too... but being a curious fellow I have ask.. the second pic shows you in a double jacket and the guy next to you in a cut off t-shirt..

I can almost smell the pines and the sweet aroma of those steelies.

Thanks again for sharing..

Capt Mike

Bob B · Aug-11-12 1:11PM

"being a curious fellow I have ask.. the second pic shows you in a double jacket and the guy next to you in a cut off t-shirt"

That fellow did some shivering that morning. He didn't realize that it's cooler downriver near the coast and that it's cooler out on the river than on land.

And even here near home, we have cool mornings. Even on days where the high will be 90, it is rare for it to get above 70 before noon.

captmikestarrett · Aug-11-12 8:14PM

Brrr I hate cold weather..

Capt Mike

Bob B · Aug-11-12 9:35PM

I don't like to freeze and I don't like to melt. I like the climate "out here". We have warmer winters and cooler summers than "back there". Here's a January comparison from one of my previous posts.

I went out on three fishing trips this past January, and got a keeper size sturgeon on one of them.

GregF · Aug-13-12 5:37AM

I absolutely love that area of the country. Beauty every direction you look. I was lucky enough to be travelling out there on business several times a year for a few years. Never got to go fishing though. Great reports! I need to put that on the bucket list.

Pacemaker Fishing Forum

#1 Aug-09-12 5:42AM

Fishing "out here".

#2 Aug-09-12 6:01AM

Re: Fishing "out here".

#3 Aug-09-12 6:07AM

Re: Fishing "out here".

#4 Aug-09-12 6:48AM

Re: Fishing "out here".

#5 Aug-09-12 7:13AM

Re: Fishing "out here".

#6 Aug-09-12 7:24AM

Re: Fishing "out here".

#7 Aug-09-12 8:19PM

Re: Fishing "out here".

#8 Aug-11-12 1:11PM

Re: Fishing "out here".

#9 Aug-11-12 8:14PM

Re: Fishing "out here".

#10 Aug-11-12 9:35PM

Re: Fishing "out here".

#11 Aug-13-12 5:37AM

Re: Fishing "out here".

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