Travis: Snake River 7/27

I got the chance to spend a day on the water with a regional legend for fishing the Snake.  His name is Larry. 

I've spent a fair amount of time on this body of water in the last year or two, however, I showed up with my listening ears and my learning hat on.  I don't know of anyone else in my social circles that has pulled more big fish out of that body of water, than Larry. 

Had it not been for this special opportunity, I would have cancelled this trip due to the winds forecasted, AND the forecast was innacurate... (Thanks Greg)  The forecast called for 15mph winds in the morning, settling down to 10-12 in the afternoon.  That was not the case, as the winds only increased and/or remained strong throughout the day.  I bet we counted about 4 boats on the water, all day and we were the only ones ignorant enough to fish up the by dam. 

We started the day at 10AM, where Larry picked me up at TX Rapids.  We got out on the water and immediately knew that it was going to be a very challenging day.  There were big rollers topped by white caps that met us, as soon as we exited the little sheltered cove at TX Rapids.  Within 2 minutes the bow of the boat was soaked as we tried to get up on plane.  Down by the TC River, things were much more calm so we started our day, down there.  Within the first 30 minutes, both Larry and I hooked and lost BIG fish!  I don't know if it was a light-bite or performance anxiety on my part, but we both lost a big sow on the line.  We continued to do a couple of passes, but to no avail.  At 12:30 we decided to go up and fish the dam as it was about to be what I call Magic Hour.  (1-3PM) 

The nice thing is about the Snake River is that you can get out of the wind, but you may not get to fish where you want to.  By far, the most dangerous spot on a windy day is up by the dam.  That strong current being released by the dam, pushes against the wind causing the water to rise up turning 2 foot waves into 4 foot waves. They had 5 spillways wide open and the fishing up there was downright dangerous.  I would've never tackled it in my boat (16 ft) nor fished it alone in a bigger boat.  We were in Larry's 19 foot with tall gunnels, and we still had waves coming over the bow.  Unfortunately, that is also where the fish were most active.  They were taking advantage of the disruption caused by the waves and the chaos in the water, caused by the strong, swirling current.  I've witnessed more fish on the graph however,  than on this trip.  There were feeding walleye, EVERWHERE!!   In three passes up by the dam, we bagged all eight of these fish, and we were never able to fish past the weather-measurement unit in between the last set of powerlines and the first picnic bench, simply due to the size of the waves coming through there.  I would estimate them at a steady 3 1/2 - 4 footers with chop, due to the swirling current. 

Knowing from past experience, copper and purple pay the bills up by the dam.  I put on a copper colored bandit with a red head and Larry had on the trusty Purple Hell Cat.  Both baits were custom-painted by Wicked Custom Jigs and Baits.    In 3 passes, we pulled all eight of the day's take.  The copper bandit pulled six of them and the Purple Hell-Cat pulled the other two.  All fish were in 18-22 foot of water and they were active!! 

However, after the third run, both of us were tired of fighting the waves and turning around was down-right tricky!  The only thing more dangerous than trying to turn around in the bottom of those rollers, was going up on the bow to pull the trolling motor.  It was a concerted 2 man effort to do the simplest things like net a fish or set a line.  You were grabbing for balance constantly.....  Again, fishing alone down there on a day like Saturday would not have been risky, it would've been stupid and asking for big trouble. 

After our third pass, we scooted back down river a couple of spots that Larry knows about and are not mine to share, so I won't.  We continued to mark fish, but they weren't biting.  We did hit a couple of other spots again like the Grainery and the mouth of the TC River, but they did not yield anything.  At this point, with 8 good eaters in the boat, we were fishing for the camera, more than for the dinner table.  

We finished out the day, up on the flat in front of TX Rapids and really struggled with the wind again.  I wouldn't say that the wind by TX Rapids was dangerous, but simply troublesome making boat control very difficult.  Looking back on it, if I had it to do over again, I would've voted to end the day down by the TC river or Lyon's Ferry.  The wind really didn't become troublesome until half way between the TC River and TX Rapids.  However, as you all know, that long straight stretch allows the wind to gain momentum and for the waves to become big.  

I learned a lot on this trip and I think Larry may have learned a new perspective or two as well.  That is what fishing is all about.  Fish with someone better than you, when you can.  It makes you better.....