SPRINGER 101: Schneider, DJ on early-season springer techniques
NEW March 6, 2009 / 12:30 p.m.

CATHLAMET, Wash. - Like many Columbia River rats looking for early-season springers on the Columbia, guide David Johnson will start pulling plugs in the lower river in March, but he’ll mix in herring and spinners, too. As the run progresses and fish move from Tongue Point to Bonneville Dam, there are countless areas to fish for springers.

Regardless of where you fish, though, a lot of the same techniques prove effective all the way from the lower-river deadline to Bonneville Dam.

Plugging away: "Achoring up with (plugs) in the lower river would be my first choice for fishing in March, but low or high in the river, sardine wrapped plugs are the most effective lure to use for spring Chinook on the Columbia,”  Johnson says with conviction.
 
Springers are generally known for running considerably shallower than their fall brethren, so fishing for springers usually takes place in 12 to 25 feet of water. That’s not a 100-percent rule, but that depth range is where the majority of your fish will be caught.

Look for water that’s running 2 mph or less to run plugs. Depending on the tide, you may start out in deeper water, but as the tide reaches max ebb and the current increases, you may have to move closer to shore into shallower water to find the proper current speed.

“I typically anchor in 25 feet of water or less,” suggests Johnson. “I like to find an area just above a drop off, so as the fish rise over the hump, the plug is positioned in it’s patch.” 

When Johnson finds an area that’s free of anchored boats, he’ll keep the anchor stowed and back troll. 

“Don’t limit yourself to just anchor fishing with plugs,” he says. “When there’s enough current, I like to back-troll.” 

Covering more water back-trolling in typical anchor locations has proven very fruitful for Johnson on days where other anglers are struggling.

Your plug pallet: The old saying is true: “Any color works for springers as long as it’s chrome and chartreuse.” 

While that saying certainly some truth to that, springers are caught on such varying color of plugs that maybe the color of the plug isn’t as important as fishing in a travel lane, keeping a fresh sardine wrap on it, making sure the plug is tuned properly and simply putting your time in.

Herring: So what do you do when the tide turns and you no longer have enough current to run a plug?

You troll herring. 

More than a few spring Chinook anglers prefer trolling herring to anchor fishing with plugs, and will troll all day throughout the outgoing and incoming tides. 

“Green or blue-label herring is my favorite, as long as it’s cut plug,” says Johnson.  

Johnson likes to troll herring in flat, sandy areas, 15 to 25 feet deep, but has noticed that fishing in 30to 40 feet of water has been productive in recent years. 

“No matter what the depth of water I’m fishing, I always want my herring within a crank or two of the bottom,” he advises.

While herring are usually trolled, they can be fished from anchor as well, a technique that’s most effective when there’s a lot of current. When everyone on your boat and in your hog line is using a plug, sliding a whole or cut plug herring into the mix may prove extremely effective.

-AS