The 2021 Columbia River Springer Fishing Season is just achieving lift-off! The smelt are gone, and the fish are coming in and starting to trickle over the dams. Let’s go!
I just got back from a nice two-day trip up in Sekiu, WA and while I can’t wait to go back up there sometime in April, I have springers on the brain this week. I’m getting all my gear ready as I’m planning to be down there on the Columbia for a solid week starting this coming Monday (3/29).
As with most springer seasons, it’s going to close just as it gets good, so your best bet is often just before that. If we do really badly, they will probably re-open later in April for a day or two, but this is the kind of fishery where one fish a day is enough to keep a smile on my face.
We are talking about the best-tasting salmon on planet Earth here! I try to explain it as a cross between salmon and bacon. You can’t buy it, you need to go catch your own, and our detailed page on Columbia River springer fishing will help you.
Where are we at though on the ideal springer conditions? And what will we do for bait with no green-label herring available? Let’s break it down.
Conditions shaping up for springer fishing
A reading above 45 is the go-zone and we are going to get there by this weekend, no doubt. Lots of sunshine and temps in the 70’s in central/eastern WA should bring temps up which will make those springers a bit more snappy and allow us a decent shot.
The above dam counts are always a few days behind and keep in mind these fish don’t just show up in the lower river and immediately cruise over Bonneville.
There are lower tribs they are headed for as well. Watch these numbers jump up in the next week, but we’ve done just fine with only 10-20 heading over the dam/day. There will be more fish than that to fish for, for sure.
No green-label herring, so what’s the bait plan?
I’ve got a bit of green label from last year, but my primary plan is going to be to use mostly smaller herring whole. You can use the toothpick method for getting the right spin in the water (give the herring a slight bend and jam a toothpick along the spine to hold the bend). Look for more details on rigging to come.
I’m also using some new bumper/dropper leader setups from Cold Water Strong Tackle to avoid the typical “arts and crafts” moments that slow us down. Cannot wait to highlight all of this with a few football-shaped springers on the boat next week!
Springer Fishing Update – How did we do?
As many did, we struggled early in the week up near Port of Kalama, but on our last day of fishing, we went down to Cathlamet and had a fantastic day hooking 4 fish and getting these 2 dandies. Still, most we talked to had a really tough time of it Wednesday as well.
We heard it really picked up Thursday and Friday and into the weekend. Hopefully, it will re-open to give us another chance in April when the run is really going strong.
Right now the run is underperforming the forecast, which is not a great recipe for a re-opener, but I’m hoping that will change soon.
