Springer Fever

Spring is an amazing time of year, especially here in the Pacific Northwest. Like most places in the northern United States and Canada, all 5 of the human senses let you know when winter is loosening its cold, wet grip to make way for the easy going, calm warmth of summer. Although, one aspect of spring in the northwest that is vastly different than other locations is the opportunity to chase salmon up the Columbia and Willamette Rivers… an obsessive addiction better known as “Springer Fishing”.  

It’s obvious, spring salmon fishing is having a positive economic impact, with the potential for significantly more, but why all the hype? Judging by the number of boats and bank anglers out on the water earlier and earlier each spring, it’s apparent that the popularity and passion of springer fishing continues to grow. Is it the desire for a trophy size fish? Or is it that by the time spring rolls around, the freezer shelves once full with fall fish are empty and spring is the first opportunity to fill that nutritious void?  

Tabasco Todhunter fighting the elements - spring 2011

The spring Chinook run is not known to produce an abundance of the trophy size fish anglers might see during the fall salmon runs. So, is this springer fever mystery solved by the simple fact that due to their high fatty oil content, spring Chinook are the finest tasting salmon in the world and it’s just that everyone wants in on the action for table fare? Well, I think the oil has a lot to do with it… but I believe the other half of the obsession comes from the significant amount of variables that change and play out during the course of a season that’s just a handful of weeks long, making the quest for these prized fish extremely challenging yet amazingly rewarding.  

The true reward of Springer fishing comes more from defeating the various elements, conditions, and corresponding decrease in odds. There is something just a little extra special about spring fish because of how hard one has to work for them. The frost bit hands, and the countless skunked hours leading up to that moment seem to vanish into a faint memory as soon as Mr. Chrome Bright Chinook is secure in the landing net and you know you’ve put all the puzzle pieces together at the perfect time.  

Mid season 2010 springer - First springer in my Hewescraft

The changing weather conditions alone should be enough to scare would be springer fisherman away.  What other season is there where anglers have to adapt to river temperatures in the upper 30’s to start the season off and in the 50’s when the season comes to a close.   The weather patterns generally start with snow flurries attempting to stick to any surface possible and successfully pounding the face of the guy who drew the shortest straw and has to run the kicker.    A few short weeks into the springer season, the canvas boat top which seems priceless early in the season, starts its 6+ month task of gathering dust in the garage.   The gale-force wind/rain proof parka and bibs get packed in the attic and are replaced by shorts and t-shirts as the standard uniform to finish off the season.  

These rapid changes from late February / early March through April and into May translate into a dynamic game plan to catch fish that literally changes by the day.  Locations fish were caught and what worked early rarely works late season, and what couldn’t get a sniff early might be all you can do to get a bite late.  The challenges are extreme and as northwest anglers, I don’t believe we’d have it any other way as putting the puzzle pieces of springer fishing together are as enjoyable as hearing the sizzle of a fresh springer hit the BBQ grill.

Late season 2012 springer