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When it comes to salmon fishing, do you consider yourself a
planner? I confess to being a planner, in many walks of life, but
especially when it comes to looking ahead to salmon fishing trips
now through the fall of this year.
Planning produces the opportunity to lock in my schedule, and make
reservations for accommodations, moorage and team up with fishing
buddies and friends. Sometimes, I find myself having too many
friends when it comes to salmon fishing. In a perfect world, as a
giver, I would like to take everybody salmon fishing and share
what I have learned from the sport in the last 50-plus years, but
it doesn’t work that way in life.
Back to planning. My planning begins with the northwest salmon
forecasts, which are being unveiled now by the Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife. These forecasts ultimately are
sculpted into the salmon fishing seasons from May 1 through April
30th, 2011. I combine the forecast information, logically focusing
on run strength, by area and apply my experience and knowledge of
when and where to be at geographical locations and open the office
for business. My business is whacking hatchery produced Chinook
and Coho salmon southbound from Alaska and Canada entering
Washington waters. Step into my office.
At this writing, let’s take an early look at what we should expect
to realize this year for Chinook and Coho salmon returns. Before I
perform my swan dive into the early numbers, remember these
numbers will stick to the board in the form of seasons announced
around the end of the second week of April. Further, the early
numbers I will share in this writing focus on Chinook and Coho
stocks, bound for the Columbia River that not only drive the
fisheries at the mouth of the river, but provide the backbone of
fishing seasons in the ocean from Ilwaco to Neah Bay. The inside
piece, from Neah Bay to Olympia, is yet to be unveiled and I will
attempt to flush that information out in my April column.
Okay, here is what I know, starting with Chinook. Don’t you love
that word? Chinook, big king salmon, chrome bright, fights like a
Brahma bull after eating a case of energy chocolate bars. And
don’t forget about the crippling effect when you put a piece of
king salmon between your cheek and gum, fresh off the grill. Knee
pads are an option.
The 2010 forecast, of all “fall” Chinook stocks, bound for the
mouth of the Columbia River is 652,000 king salmon. What does that
mean? Well, last year, the actual return to the Columbia was
418,000 kings, a very respectable number. I recall the record year
of 1987, when somewhere around three-quarters of a million
returned to the Columbia. It was amazing. They chewed the boulders
off rip-rap along the north and south jettys along with
non-stainless props off fishing boats. Fishing from a freighter is
an option. Are you getting my drift? The forecast of 652,000 is
not a record, but for contemporary Chinook returns, I think I can
work with this number.
Some anglers have asked me why the big return? From a simplistic
interpretation, thank Mother nature and fabulous ocean conditions
resulting from great upwelling the last two springs and summer.
Payoff time, baby, take a number.
July should be outstanding from Neah Bay to Westport, and the
chances for an earlier Chinook salmon season, possibly in June, is
still up in the air. I will give you an update a month from now.
I like to be at the mouth of the Columbia River throughout the
third week of August. Historical catch information for king salmon
entering the Columbia suggests the third week of August and the
beginning of the fourth week is the time to have your worm in the
water. When my worm is in the water, the office light is “on!”
If Coho is your game, the show will go on along the entire coast,
particularly in July and reaching crescendo peaks during August.
Back to the data. The data suggests peak migrations into the
Columbia during early September. Now, may I have the envelope with
the numbers please? The forecast calls for 556,000 compared to an
extremely strong run last year of 1,323,000. Dude, 1.3 million!
Check 2009 as a big mark in history for Coho survival and this
year, it’s something we call normal.
So, while you are digesting these numbers, staring at the calendar
and thinking about making some reservations, don’t overlook the
next “big show” of salmon fishing in the lower Columbia River
beginning this month for Spring Chinook salmon. The forecast calls
for 559,000 Spring Chinook and the season opens on March 1,
scheduled to run through April 18. Most Tuesdays are closed in the
lower river so know the rules before you hook up the boat and go
south. What does 559,000 Spring Chinook mean? It means it’s the
largest return since 1938 which is a lifetime ago. Don’t you hate
it when that happens?
I’m headed for the calendar, checking the tide book and ready to
dial up some salmon fishing reservations for the months ahead. And
you thought Christmas was a big deal. It’s about to be Christmas
for this cat and I don’t care who is coming down the chimney. I’m
going fishing. See you on the water. |
