This report is for our annual trip to fish the mouth of the Deschutes on the Columbia above The Dalles Dam. My brother in law Dan came along as my wife was ill and unable to join me for this trip. Arrived on Friday the 31st and left Monday the 10th of September.

Saturday the wind howled and we did not get out. This always happens some time along the way. Used the day to make some repairs on the new to me boat. It is a 196 StarCraft Fish Master with a 150hp Mercury Optimax and a stainless prop from Precision propeller; thanks Darren! Wow what a difference a great prop can make.

Brian (Fish Dawg) arrived Saturday night rarin' to go chase salmon. We had a conversation about where to go since there was a closure in the area we normally fish at the mouth of the Deschutes. Went downstream towards an island and gave it a try. Found a pinnacle that grabbed a downrigger ball and would not let go....aarg! Donated another ball to the mighty Columbia. Fished outside the closed area on Monday and really got into the fish. Every rod got one. Rotating Pro-Troll Flashers in UV white or silver with Brad's Super Baits in Hot Lava, She And I and Lady Bug got the job done. Fished several more days and they finally opened up the closed area in front of the Deschutes. It was "lights out" fishing but it took a bunch of take downs to finally land our tow fish. Same tackle as the day before.

Dan left after fishing Thursday and Danny and Jim joined me for the rest of the trip. We had some great fishing and put a limit in the boat by 6:30 AM on Monday the last day we fished. A Simon Spinner in copper/red with a blue dot stung two out of the three fish. It was fished behind a White UV Flasher and re-tied kokanee style on a 30" 40# leader. It works and the single hooks really sting em' !!

All in all a great trip with friends, food, and fish; hard to beat that combination. Tight lines everybody.

Alan - iFishSolutions "The Experiment Must Continue"

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