Brad,

Thanks for the information on how to treat walleyes that you are going to release.

I do the following:

Measure the fish for length before they are placed the livewell for the first time. Pump all the water through the livewell I can. I use a 750 gpm pump, 500 gpm are standard.

I measure the girth in the livewell with a sewing tape. Sewing tapes are very flexible. I recommend the use of sewing tapes for girth.

I weigh the fish in the net after it has fully recovered in the livewell. I don’t like to see a fish weighed by clamping onto its jaw, can’t be good for the fish. Then Iput the fish back in the livewell.

Then we set the stage for the picture. Gloves on so you don’t drop the fish, coaching on how to hold the fish, get an idea of the angle for the picture and background wanted. I try to always support the fish in two places and never hold them by the jaw.

I get the fish out and take a few pictures and back in the livewell. Allow the fish to recover in the livewell.

Check the pictures and if all is well, when the fish has recovered, I get the fish in the water and pump the fish holding the tail until the fish swims toward the bottom on it own. I have had great success releasing fish. Treat them well and they will swim away.

Even after all of that care we are never absolutely sure that they will live. But I feel like I have done everything I can to ensure a successful release to provide another fisherman an opportunity to have the thrill of catching a big fish.

I am open to any suggestions. 99% + swim away. I have had 2 fish over the years that I could not revive. The warmer the water the more recovery time is needed.

dan or

This is the guide recommended by a fisherman I respect.

http://www.columbiariverfishing.com

I have no knowledge of sturgeon fishing as I only fish for walleyes. We do hook up occasionally with a big sturgeon …. and usually lose our gear.

dan or

Let me do some checking.

Dan or

I agree. I wear the PDF just in case. I fish mostly at night by myself. I find myself thinking every once in a while… ok if I fell in … NO ONE but barges are out on the water to help or hear me.

BTW I am not a pro …. no where near as good as some other guys out here on the Columbia.

dan or

Lots of luck,

pm sent

dan or

I release all fish over 24″

dan or

… not well! In fact the slowest year for big fish in the fall or number of fish either eaters or trophies. We talked with a couple of guides and they are turning down trips… can’t find fish.

We managed a few eaters and 5 fish over 10 lbs over the last month. Very frustrating fall. I could go into a lot of excuses.. but we couldn’t get them to bite! Schooled, we were!

Fish in the picture 11.7 lbs and 30″…

dan or

Still trying to figure those toothy critters on the BIG C

Here a recent fish my buddy Steve caught = 12.5 lbs 32″ Released.

Full moon is coming!!!

dan
Our in Oregon Land where the walleyes are bigger and the big ones get netted and sold by the pound….

Still alive and well! Did not fish as much as usual this summer. But did manage to catch a couple 10+ lb fish

The big river is just starting to cool down, it is full of shad smolt right now… the walleyes are swimming around very full, fattening up for the winter.

dan (or)

Out in Oregon land where the walleyes grow bigger and the really big ones get netted and sold by the pound…. sad real sad ( hope this is PC approved?)

We pulled spinners and plugs behind the boards. All the bigger fish came on spinners.

dan or

we released both fish

dan or

I guess this is how you do it ?

dan or

some ice we ran into fishing

dan or

I have not been out since November. I am having some issues with that too! too much work, not enough fishing….

Water temp is about 40 degrees and dropping, so the walleyes are slowing down. Fishing becomes spotty, hit and miss thur march….

dan

trash fish Coho

fish 5

fish 4

fish 3

fish 2

April is ok, like the midwest in the spring… a bit spotty. Sturgeon are a real kick too!

late fall and full moon

dan

here is the latest fish

Dan

I fish from Portland to Umatilla = about 200 miles of river. The fish pictured are in the pool above The Dalles Dam.

Waldport is about 3 hours SW from Portland.

dan

and one my good friend put in the boat

dan or

They are still out here. Here is one my daughter put in the boat this summer.

dan(or)

WRong email address for my brother

the right one is:

[email protected]

Sorry about that! Thanks for the replies

dan or

My fishing partner Michael Dever, holding one of the boys. BTW, he kicked butt all weekend! Way to go MD!

dan

From the Oregonian (oregon’s biggest newspaper kinda like the DM R&T)

An unusually large number of fish with kinked spines, fused vertebrae and other deformities first gained notice in 1992 in a stretch of the Willamette River near Portland. And for the past 10 years, state agencies have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars searching without success for the pollutants or other agents that might be to blame.

Here is the link>

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/front_page/1074084929175221.xml

dan
Out in Oregon land where the walleyes grow bigger and nobody fishes for them.

I caught several fish like that on the Mississippi many years ago. I had the same thoughts but after filleting a couple and finding that the backbone appeared to have been broken and then healed, I dismissed it as prop injury. Maybe a barge or outboard dinged the fish as a very young fish… That opinion and a buck gets you coffee at Rufus, Oregon.

dan

Snowing(very rare!) out in Oregon land where the walleyes grow bigger and nobody fishes for them.

maps

Here is a site that has the river altas. That is what I use when scouting out or comparing notes on the Columbia River.

Looks like they start at 26 bucks or so. It goes from the mouth up to Lewiston Idaho…. beyond that like Lake Rosevelt someone else will have to chip in.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0945265123/102-1748612-6642551?v=glance

dan
Out in oregon land where the walleyes grow bigger and nobody fishes for them:-)