NW Outdoor Explorer

As the sun kissed the Columbia River on New Year’s Day 2024, avid anglers gathered at the Hood River launch site, their excitement palpable in the crisp morning air. The sturgeon fishing opener in the Bonneville pool promised not just a thrilling adventure but also the chance to kick off the new year with a bounty from the mighty river. Our journey began at dawn, with the anticipation of a day filled with camaraderie, challenging fishing, and, of course, the celebration of success.

Launching our boat from Hood River, Oregon, we navigated the Columbia River with high hopes and a sense of adventure. The water was calm, and the majestic scenery of the gorge served as a picturesque backdrop for our expedition. As we cruised along the river, the excitement among our group grew, fueled by the promise of encountering the elusive and powerful white sturgeon that inhabit these waters.

Sturgeon fishing requires patience, skill, and a bit of luck. As we dropped our lines into the depths of the river, the anticipation was palpable. The tug on the line, the struggle to reel in the catch, and the exhilaration of a successful hook set created a symphony of excitement. The sturgeon, known for their prehistoric appearance and incredible strength, put our angling skills to the test.

As the day progressed, the efforts of our team paid off, and we found ourselves reeling in keeper sturgeon after keeper sturgeon. The boat’s atmosphere buzzed with cheers and laughter as each angler took their turn battling these magnificent fish. The satisfaction of reaching our boat limit added an extra layer of joy to the day.

The New Year’s Day 2024 sturgeon fishing opener on the Columbia River was a perfect blend of adventure, challenge, and celebration. Hood River, Oregon, served as the launching pad for a day filled with the excitement of reeling in keeper sturgeon and the satisfaction of a boat limit achieved. As the sun set on the horizon, we clinked our beer cans together, savoring the moment and looking forward to a year filled with more fishing adventures and shared memories on the water.

As the crisp autumn air filled my lungs, I eagerly boarded the fishing vessel Aquaholic at the Port of Ilwaco, Washington. Anticipation buzzed through my veins as I prepared for a day of Dungeness crabbing in the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean.

Mid-October is a prime time for crabbing in the Pacific Northwest. The crabs have molted and are actively feeding, making them more susceptible to bait. As the boat sliced through the choppy waves, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of camaraderie with my crew. We were all united by a common goal: to haul in a bountiful catch of succulent Dungeness crabs.

The crew proceeded with baiting the crab pots on the way out and once we reached our crabbing spot, they wasted no time in deploying the pots. Each pot was carefully lowered into the depths, weighted down with heavy weight to prevent them from drifting away. As the pots settled on the ocean floor, we could only hope that they would attract their intended prey.

The waiting game began. As the hours ticked by, we passed the time by sharing stories, swapping tips, and enjoying the breathtaking scenery. The rugged North Jetty stretched out before us, its beauty accentuated by the soft glow of the autumn sun.

Finally, the time came to retrieve the crab pots. With eager hands, we hauled them back onto the boat, our hearts pounding with anticipation. As we peered into the depths of each pot, our faces lit up with joy. Crab after crab emerged from the depths, their shells glistening in the sunlight.

We had hit the jackpot! Our pots were overflowing with plump, succulent Dungeness crabs. The excitement was palpable as we sorted through our catch, carefully selecting the keepers from the undersized crabs.

As the day drew to a close, we returned to the Port of Ilwaco with our coolers brimming with fresh crab. The satisfaction of a successful crabbing trip is indescribable. It is a feeling of accomplishment, camaraderie, and connection to the natural world.

As I savored the sweet, succulent meat of a Dungeness crab that evening, I couldn’t help but reflect on the day’s events. It was a day filled with adventure, excitement, and the simple joy of being out on the water with good friends. And it was a day that I will cherish for years to come.

Winter Kokanee fishing on Lake Merwin is not for the faint of heart. The cold, crisp air and icy waters can deter even the most dedicated angler. However, for those willing to brave the elements, the reward can be a thrilling day of fishing and the satisfaction of a successful catch. Here are a few tips for a successful winter Kokanee fishing trip on Lake Merwin.

The first step to a successful winter Kokanee fishing trip on Lake Merwin is to be well prepared. Dressing in layers is crucial to staying warm and comfortable throughout the day. Thermal underwear, a warm fleece, and a waterproof jacket are all must-have items for a cold winter morning. Additionally, gloves, a hat, and warm socks are essential to keeping extremities warm.

Once properly dressed, it’s time to head to the lake. Winter fishing on Lake Merwin often requires a bit more effort than during the warmer months. Launching a boat may require clearing ice from the ramp or maneuvering through snow and slush. It’s important to take extra precautions when launching and navigating the boat to ensure safety on the water.

Kokanees are known to be more active during low-light conditions, so an early morning start time is ideal. In the winter months, the sun doesn’t rise until later in the morning, so plan accordingly. Aim to be on the water at least an hour before sunrise for the best chance at a successful catch.

When it comes to fishing, winter Kokanee tend to be found at deeper depths. Utilizing a downrigger to get the bait to the desired depth is crucial for success. A small dodger followed by a pink or orange hoochie or small spinner is a great combination for winter Kokanee fishing. It’s important to keep the bait moving slowly and steadily, as Kokanees are known for being finicky and easily spooked.

Winter weather can be unpredictable, so it’s important to stay on top of weather forecasts and be prepared for any changes. Keep a close eye on the sky and be prepared to move if necessary.

One of the benefits of winter Kokanee fishing is the lack of competition on the water. With fewer anglers out on the lake, it’s possible to find a prime spot without having to compete for space. However, it’s important to remember to always follow all fishing regulations and guidelines to ensure a sustainable fishery for years to come.

Aside from the thrill of the catch, winter Kokanee fishing on Lake Merwin offers a unique opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of the lake in a quieter and more serene setting. The crisp air and snowy landscape provide a picturesque backdrop to a day of fishing.

In conclusion, while winter Kokanee fishing on Lake Merwin may require extra effort and preparation, it can also offer a rewarding and memorable experience for those willing to brave the cold. With the proper gear, knowledge, and caution, anglers can enjoy a successful day of fishing on the lake, while taking in the beauty of the winter scenery.

Going fishing the 1st day after the New Year celebration can be challenging, but every now and then, it pays off big time.

A couple buddies of mine talked me into fishing the sturgeon opener above Bonneville Dam this year. I managed to temper my New Years celebration a little and got to bed by 1am. After a short 4 hour nap, it was time to get up. Made the coffee and threw some snacks in a bag. We were on the road by 6am and made it to Hood River for a 7:30am launch.

Being the first time I have had my boat on the upper river, I needed to pay extra attention to the chart and nav aids as there were plenty of shallows to avoid. On the way down to our planned spot, there was no mystery to the popular sturgeon spots. Boats were stacked up on anchor over all the deep holes.

Landed on our planned anchor spot and got our lines out before about 8:15. We watched the boat next to us hookup to a couple shakers. It took us a little while before we started to get bit. After a couple shakers ourselves, we finally landed a nice keeper. It measured to be about 46″ in length.

The bite was pretty slow. Got another shaker before our next keeper. This one was about 41″ in length. We stayed in this spot till about noon before we decided to pull anchor and try another spot. Held the next spot for only about 45 minutes without a bite before we decided to move again.

We moved back toward the ramp and dropped anchor below a group of boats in about 90′ of water. Within 10 minutes, we hooked up. A second rod went off and we thought we had a double. After a little fight, we realized it was just one fish that tangled our second rod. Landed our third keeper and our boat limit for the day. This one was only about 40″ in length.

While reeling in the last rod to pack up and head in, a fish started to fight. Unfortunately, it came loose after a few tugs. We found a sweet spot, unfortunately, we were all tagged out. I marked this spot for the next time. 🙂

I have not been fishing much this year due to other activities and priorities like starting a lavender farm and my oldest daughter getting married. Now that the dust has settled, I am getting some good opportunities to get out and kill some fish.

This particular opportunity, I was invited out on a friends boat for a late season tuna trip. We could not have asked for better water and weather conditions for early October. There was a fog forecast that kept many sitting on their couches. This was very fortunate for us.

We all gathered in Ilwaco, WA for an early launch. We had to wait for the bait dock to open. With the live bait comfy in the tank, we headed out. The seas were relatively calm and there was a light fog. Visibility looked to be about 3-4 miles. We headed west to about the 30 line where we started our troll.

It was not long before we got our first screamer. Tried to get a second on, but no luck. Tossed a few handfuls of chum in the water and started our live bait action. Tuna started jumping around us and the show was on. This action lasted about an hour or so. About twelve on the deck before it shut off. We did a little cleanup and processed the fish while getting back on the troll. Minutes later, we found the school again. This time, live bait, iron, it did not matter. Whatever we threw at them, fish on. Again, this lasted about an hour or so before it turned off. This time, fifteen or so on the deck. Rinse and repeat, a little cleanup and processing while on the troll for a few minutes before the next hookup and frenzy.

Because this boat has a self bailing deck, we tried to keep as much blood off the deck, but it was so crazy at times, there was no way to prevent it. Eventually, the sharks came. We had what looked like to be about a 10 ft blue shark started circling us. He stayed with us the rest of the day. It made for some interesting times bringing in the tuna.

We had one stop one of our crew was magic with the iron. We started calling him ‘Ironman’. There was a school about 50 ft off the bow and they would not come to us. Ironman would toss over some iron and within a twitch or two, he had fish on. He would hand off the rod and grab another to toss a jig over. Seconds again and fish on. We repeated this process for quite some time. My arms were getting so tired, I had to take a break and man the gaff. Before 1pm, we had as much as we could hold on the boat and had to stop. It is a sad day you have to leave jumpers.

We heard others on the radio to the south of us that seemed to be struggling. We happened to be in the right spot at the right time. The ocean was flat that made it easier to spot the jumpers and the fog never showed up. I feel very fortunate to have experienced what tuna fishing is supposed to be like.

On the ride back in, we hit a shark and had to remove it from the prop. The entire day, there were young sunfish in large schools jumping tricking us to think they were tuna from afar. We even had a whale jump out of the water in front of us and we had to stop to make sure we did not hit it. It was an incredible day.

We are starting a new chapter towards retirement. We have decided to grow lavender on our property for both aesthetic appeal and hopefully generate a little income. Our family organic lavender farm will produce dried flower bundles, essential oils, soaps, lotions and much much more.

We are located in Ridgefield, WA just off the Lewis River. To start, we will be planting a couple acres of different varieties of lavender to produce the different products. The varieties will initially include Grosso, Melissa, and Royal Velvet. Our first planting season will be Spring 2022.

We had originally planned on procuring lavender clippings from another local lavender farm and rooting them our selves over the winter. We had ordered our greenhouse in May of 2021. Due to the recent covid pandemic shipping delays, we did not get our greenhouse till late November and missed the window. This forced us to purchase plants from another wholesale lavender provider to keep to our original plan of planting in spring 2022. This will get us started and we will start rooting our own plants next winter.

The greenhouse turned out better than I imagined. We purchased it from acfgreenhouses.com. The model we selected was the Grow More Greenhouse with an extension. That gave us an overall dimension of approx. 13ft x 20ft. It is constructed of sturdy aluminum beams and some of the thickest polycarbonate available. It took some time to assemble between winter rain storms, but my wife and I got it done. It will be put to great use I am sure.

We plan to start attending the local Saturday markets to get this little venture off the ground. Hope to see you there. We will also have a website up soon, but for now, if you have any interest in any products, please do not hesitate to reach out to us here.

I am sure many are relieved to put 2020 behind them and look forward to 2021 and beyond. From the pandemic to all the inconsistent rules and guidelines about masking and social distancing. The most outrageous of all the restrictions was the fishing closure. How much more social distant can you be when fishing by yourself? Really??

Enough of all that, springer fishing is upon us and it has been a tough season so far. I have not been seeing many posts on social media of multiple fish, let alone single fish days. I have asked the fish checker each day, “How many today?” and the reply was often 1 out of 13 or 0 out of 20. Some people have managed to find them for sure, but the majority have been struggling. It seems the run is just a little later each year and this year feels no different.

This week, it started to turn around for us on the Aquaholic. We targeted a new spot and seemed to have pretty good luck each day. Maybe not one in the box each day, but we did see action. Sunday was an extreme weather day. High winds and downpours. We were all sitting in the cabin keeping warm by the heater and after some time, my rod buries a couple of times. I get to the rod and reel in to find a stripped hook. The fish got lucky that day. Unfortunately, it was a one takedown day. Got out again Tuesday and the weather was much improved, but it was still a one takedown day with nothing in the box. Wednesday was a slightly different story. Same location, another one takedown day, but this time, we landed the sucker. First springer of the year! It was not a trophy, but it was a fish in the box. Hit it again Thursday in the same location. Today’s hookup almost got to the boat. It breached the water, shook its head and it was gone. Total bummer. We did not get out again till Saturday. Same location again, same one hookup day, but this time, we got our second springer to the boat. Unfortunately, it was a native and we released it.

Sunday was a whole new story. It was the last day the Columbia would be open for springer’s and Easter Sunday as well. We got to the ramp just after 6 am and it was almost completely empty. There were only 4 trailers in the lot. People were either sleeping in, taking the day off for Easter or thought the Columbia was closed. Either way, it was a nice surprise to launch without any congestion. We got to our spot in short time and had our rods in the water by 6:30 am. The wind was blowing pretty good and I decided to troll with the wind opposite of all the other boats instead of fighting it. About 35 minutes into our troll, my buddy’s rod buckles over. He grabbed the rod and the fight was on. The fish made a couple good runs, but could not avoid the net. It was a pretty good size fish. Definitely bigger than the previous two I caught earlier in the week.

Ok, one in the box, now I need to get mine. We finished our first pass and decided to turn the other direction for our second pass. The wind started to die down a bit. It was probably about 45 minutes into our second pass and my rod buckles over. I grabbed the rod and started to reel. I got nervous at first. It was reeling in too easy and I did not feel a fish. It turns out, he was just running to the boat. I started to feel the shakes again. It got close to the boat where we could see it before it made its run. It was a nice one. My heart started pounding about now thinking I had better not lose this one. It dove straight to the bottom then ran out about 75 feet. Thank goodness there were no sealions around. I managed to get it back to the boat and it decided to take a run under the boat. I quickly stuck my rod in the water to not let the line scrape the bottom. I got it from under the boat and my buddy quickly scooped it up. That makes two in the box and we were done for the day. Not even two hours, it felt really weird. We had not even started snacking yet. My buddy had not finished his coffee and I was only on my first beer. We were in unknown territory. The feeling was incredible.

Our first fish was a very nice fish, but when you get them side by side, I felt grateful. The second fish measured out to about 34″ and weighed in at just over 17 lbs.

We took notice of the wind and wave forecast and started planning for this trip about a week out. If all the stars and planets aligned, we could potentially get into salmon, tuna, halibut and bottom fish all in the same trip.

The day before, the forecast improved even more. We were expecting less than a 5 mph wind and swells about 2 ft @ 12 seconds. Well, reality was not quite rainbows and unicorns. 🙂 The wind felt like 10 mph + and the swells were more like 3 ft @ 5 seconds. It was quite choppy. I managed to find a speed and trim that allowed us to travel without getting too beat up.

We first got the salmon rods out and baited up. We tried at depths of about 100 ft and a second at about 150 ft. We think we had one drive by, but after 30 minutes of no action, we called it thinking we would try again on the way in.

Unfortunately, the tuna water pushed too far off shore and we could not fish tuna this day. We got to our first halibut location in about 75 minutes. This was more of a scouting spot. Our buddy boat was a little slower than us so they just continued to push on to our primary halibut spot. Water depth at this location was 700 ft. We dropped our lines and begun our drift. After about 30 minutes, we managed to pull in one good sized black cod (sable fish). We fished another few minutes with no action and decided to pull lines and push on to our primary location.

After another 45 minute run, we arrived at our primary halibut location. Our buddy boat already had two halibut in the boat. The water depth here was 900 ft. We dropped our lines and begun our drift. It took some time to get our first hookup, but it was worth the wait. We had our first halibut in the boat.

We got a couple lings, a few more black cod and a rock fish in about the same time our buddy boat got two more halibut. What the hell were we doing wrong? Fishing the same gear with the same bait on about the same drift line. We started to doubt methods about the same time our one and only manual rod got doubled over and line was getting pulled out. 🙂 FISH ON!!!

After about 20 minutes reeling this manual rod, I was starting to feel a little like an episode of Wicked Tuna. My wife and I took turns reeling. Our arms were starting to feel like wet noodles. This fish was fighting pretty good most of the way up. I do not know exactly how long it took us to reel that fish, but it felt like hours. It was well worth it. It was the biggest halibut of the day. I seriously doubt I will fish halibut again without an electric reel. They are not cheap, but after this, it would be worth every penny. 🙂

Our buddy boat managed to get all five of their halibut and started to head back. At this time, we had three in the boat and were looking for our last. We continued fishing for another 45 minutes before we decided to call it. Unfortunately, this pushed us well beyond our window to fish salmon on the way in.

Going back always seems to be smoother sailing than coming out. Dialed in the trim and flew back at about 30-35 mph. 10 miles from shore, we hit something without warning and cut the engines. It was quite a thud and I was nervous to see the damage. Raised both motors and saw a carcass float off. It looked to be a shark. Luckily, there was no damage to the motors and after a short piss break, we were back on plane and heading in.

It was a great day on the water with some good friends.

Who does not like an early boat limit of nice sized coho? People who fish like fishing, but they do not necessarily want to spend all day doing it unless they are just out to catch and release. This was not one of those days.

We pulled away from the dock just after 7am. Executed a quick stop at the bait dock on the way out. It was an outgoing tide, but not a huge tide change. The bar was relatively calm. We got just outside of the south jetty and dropped our lines. We spotted a boat next to us with a net out and within minutes, we had our first fish on. It was a nice sized coho and a keeper to boot. Not much longer, we were getting bites and more fish in the boat. We could see the bulk of the fleet on the horizon as we were trolling toward them. We had our limit well before we got to them. By 10:30, we were on our way back to the dock with our boat limit. The tide was still going out. 🙂

The early coho fishing this year has been great for a number of anglers so far. I really hope they do not decide to close the ocean like they did last year.

When the ocean salmon season opened up a week ago, I was reading a number of reports about early limits of both chinook and coho. Due to weather and ocean conditions, we decided to wait. It was a hard week of anxiety for sure.

It was finally time. Had an early wake up call and hit the road by 5am to get to Ilwaco by 7am. We got to the Ilwaco ramp as planned to find a long line. Apparently with the extreme low tide, two boats broke skegs on one lane of the ramp, so many were reluctant to use it.

After about 30 minutes, we were finally on our way out to the Big Blue. It was low slack tide and the bar was relatively flat. We took a turn to the north with hopes of finding some chinook. Conditions were good for about 30 knots to the hunting grounds. Got our lines in the water and were trolling by 8am. We tried deep and shallow by the condos and beyond with no luck. We spent the better part of an hour before we decided to call it and change locations.

We were hearing spotty reports of catches down by CR. Again, the conditions were good for about a 30 knot transit and we were at the CR within minutes. The fleet seemed to be concentrated here and we did some a couple nets flying, but it was not hot by any means. We dropped our lines in the water and tried our luck. Again, we tried deep and shallow with a few drive byes here and there. A couple of native coho were let go before a couple hours passed.

The fleet had thinned out and we were virtually the only boat left in the area. It was like the light switch turned on. We were all getting bites and before you knew it, we had five in the box. The school dissipated after some time and bites were farther apart, but we had two more in the box. We only needed one more for a boat limit. The two hardest fish to catch sometimes is the first one and that damn last one. 🙂 We spent another hour or so trying to find that last biter, but had no luck. We had to call it a day with one short.

The ocean was still relatively calm and allowed for a quick trip in over a high slack tide bar. We got docked and started the wash down. With the boat now moored for the ocean season, no more waiting for fools at the ramp.

Overall, it was a great ocean opener for the Aquaholic and fingers are crossed for more to come.