COUNT ON THOSE COHO

Charter skippers, ocean salmon managers stoked about 2022 silver season.

By MD Johnson

It’s funny, at least it is to me, how I’ve changed as a hunter and fisherman over the past half century. I … Wait! Did I say half century? Ugh!

Anyway, I can recall vividly the anticipation associated with the first crappie fishing trip of the year to Pymatuning on the Ohio/Pennsylvania border. November 15, and the opening day of Ohio’s small game season. Duck season. Deer season. Turkey season.

Then in 1993 – and again in 2015 – I moved to Southwest Washington. And while the anticipation didn’t waver, the subject matter did. Now it really became all about duck season. And smelt dipping. Razor clams and sturgeon. I was like the proverbial kid at Christmas, only this was much better than Christmas, which, as you know, only comes once a year, while the above and more – smelt, sturgeon, 107-day duck season, Eastside turkeys, chanterelle mushrooms, steamers, oyster – hell, they run 365 days a year if you work it right.

Well, guess what, y’all? I’ve changed. Again. Oh, the thought of getting out after the aforementioned species still makes me all, well, giggly, but now, and thanks in large part to my wife, Julie, and her teaching, it’s salmon. Not kings or sockeye, but silvers. And those at the mouth of the Columbia; specifically, the North Jetty. Oh, yeah! Give me an 8-foot-6 medium-heavy

With solid coho forecasts for the Columbia and coastal rivers well to the north and south of Buoy 10, salmon fishing out on the briny blue should be strong this summer. A total of 168,000 hatchery silvers are available from Oregon’s Cape Falcon north to Washington’s Neah Bay, and another 100,000 clipped coho can be kept from Garibaldi south to Port Orford. Blaine Murphy caught this one while fishing with Jarod Higginbotham. (JAROD HIGGINBOTHAM)

baitcaster, a similar-sized spinning rod, a mooching rig, bobber, pink Mepps Flying C, and a Syclops 1-ounce spoon – rainbow trout pattern please – and I’m using the restroom in high cotton. Southern transplants, y’all know what I mean there. (Editor’s note: For Northwest natives, this translates to “living the good life.”)

What’s all this mean? It means this year’s forecast of 1.3 million coho entering the Columbia River system – which drive fishing up and down the Northwest Coast – cause for great jubilation and silliness on my part. Now, I understand how this works. In 2021, the run forecast was somewhere in the neighborhood of 950,000, and what did fisheries managers come up with after all was said and done? Ah, roughly 350,000 silvers. It’s a tough job, this fish-guessing thing, so I’m trying really, really hard not to get overly excited about the prospect of all those Columbia fish plus coho heading to Washington and Oregon Coast streams this year. Alas, though, I’m failing. Or have failed. I’m excited. You should be too, I reckon, as should other folks like the handful Northwest Sportsman spoke with who, like me, are hoping and praying all these fish – or at least a majority – materialize on the Northwest Coast from now deep into September.

The Captain Randy Ratliff The Marina Westport, Washington The Biz Rampage/Westport Sportfishing Experience Operating out of Westport for 17 years Contact westportsportfishing.com; 360-268-1080

It’s a tremendously busy time of year, especially if you’re a charter boat captain gearing up for the start of July’s ocean salmon fishery. So I wasn’t surprised that on my first attempt, I caught Captain Randy Ratliff with his hands full working on props. The next day, though he was still fixing things other people had broken, he had a minute or two to talk salmon.

Randy Ratliff

Northwest Sportsman Looking at a

good salmon season, Captain? Randy Ratliff Yeah, actually I am. The Chinook fishing for the commercial guys has been fantastic. There’s a lot of feed in the water. There’s all kinds of life offshore – porpoises and whales. It’s looking really good right now.

NWS Anything different for you this year? RR Nope, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. We’ll run the baits the same way as last year, either mooching or trolling, depending on what seems more productive at the time. Westport’s typically a mooching harbor, but more and more trolling (is being done) when the fishing gets difficult and the fish aren’t schooled up as much. Trolling sometimes produces better numbers, but it’s definitely a day-to-day or hour-to-hour situation.

NWS For folks new to this ocean fishery, your best advice before coming onboard? RR Fish with me! But really, people want to know how to be prepared, and I tell them dress in layers, bring snacks and easy-to-eat food on the boat, and bring an ice chest to leave in your car for your fish. It really varies from person to person, but dressing in layers and being prepared for any type of weather is one of the most important concerns. NWS Your ocean fishery begins with kings and segues into silvers when and when? RR We start fishing for salmon on July 2. Basically, we’re fishing kings right out of the gate, and as we get into July and then into August, there will be fewer and fewer kings and more coho.

The Captain Butch Smith The Marina Ilwaco, Washington The Biz Coho Charters Experience Family-owned and -operated since 1956 Contact cohocharters.com; 360-642-3333

This is the second year running I’ve talked to Captain Butch Smith about his having a crystal ball, along with the ability to answer all my “Look into the future, sir, and tell me what you see” questions. And he’s done both in such a way as to make me think, “You know, I Butch Smith wanna fish with that guy.” Like Ratliff and all charter captains at this midJune time of year as they stare down the barrel of yet another looming ocean salmon season, Smith is a busy, busy man, but not so busy that he couldn’t take a couple minutes from his office near the mouth of the Columbia River to gaze into said crystal ball.

NWS Anticipate a better-than-average salmon season, Captain? Butch Smith I believe this is the real deal. Our ocean conditions have been getting better the past couple years. Based on NOAA’s water temperature chart, there’s all “greens” and “yellows” when just a couple years ago, it was all reds or mostly reds.

Author’s note: On said chart (ospo .noaa.gov/Products/ocean/sst/contour), greens and yellows are normal, i.e. good surface temperatures, while reds indicate above normal or not-so-good temperatures.

The (commercial) trollers did very well on Chinook this spring, so I’m thinking this is the real deal. I think we’ll have lots of coho, and Chinook as well. But I think it’s going to be a great year. I really do.

NWS Planning anything different this year, Captain? New boat? New tactics? BS You know, other than some new electronics (sonar-equipped fish finders), the same tried-and-true ways that have always produced, will produce. Early in the season, get out there in 200 feet of water south of the

Columbia a ways and go fishing.

NWS Hate to ask, Captain, but any Covid-related oddness this year? BS Not like it has been, but we are aware of the situation. Now, we have a lot more hand sanitizer and wipes and bleach onboard. Sometimes [laughs] I feel like a food server where we’re wiping everything down when a person leaves and before a new person comes in. Masks are up to the clients. If they want to wear them, god bless America – we have no issues with that, obviously. Out of our office last year, we didn’t have a single Covid case attributed to a fishing trip, and we want to remain perfect on that. So we’ll maintain our protocols, but as far as the hardcore requirement for masks, it’s up to the individual.

NWS One word of advice, Captain, for folks booking with you and new to this fishery? BS I want you to dress warm. We have folks coming from inland, and it’s summer there, but on the coast it’s overcast and maybe 60 degrees with a northwest wind blowing. It’s really miserable when you’re used to warm weather and you come to fish in a place where it’s 30 degrees colder. So make sure you dress for late fall. Wear a hoodie. Bring a coat. Good rubber-soled shoes.

The Agency Rep I Kyle Adicks

Homeport Olympia, Washington Title Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Intergovernmental Salmon Manager

It’s a busy time of year not only for charter boat captains up and down the coast, but for fisheries professionals who monitor salmon stocks and assist in the establishment of the seasons. Enter Kyle Adicks. “On a day to day basis, I supervise our headquarters salmon fishery management staff. The

Olympia staff is pretty focused on Puget Sound fisheries, but we have oversight over coastal, ocean and Columbia River fisheries. The ‘intergovernmental part’ (means) I do a lot of work with the Treaty Tribes, particularly on Puget Sound and the coast, on salmon fishery management.” He also sits on the Pacific Fisheries Management Council, where he represents the agency on matters pertaining to salmon management. He plays a role on one of the Southern Panel of the Pacific Salmon Commission, where he works with the Canadian government on crossboundary fisheries management issues. “It’s a big fancy title,” Adicks says, “but it’s a lot of salmon management-related things in a lot of different forums, both within the state and within the West Coast US and Canada.” NWS In a recent WDFW press release, you were quoted as saying there is a “strong coho forecast for the Columbia River and coastal Washington” for 2022. Based on what? Kyle Adicks Each of our forecasts are different, but they’re based on our estimates of coho smolt outmigrants that would return this year. Coho typically return as 3-year-old adults, so the fish returning this year, their parents would have spawned in 2019. They would have hatched in 2020, and then overwintered for a year in freshwater. They would have gone out to sea in the spring of 2021. For many streams, we have estimates of how many smolts went out. We have some idea of what marine survival should be based on conditions out there, so the forecasts are based on that combination of smolts leaving the system and an assumption (as to) marine survival. Marine survival is the one thing that can be variable over time, but we’ve seen better signs out there. NWS So as I’m hearing from others, Kyle Adicks are ocean conditions better now than, say, two years ago? KA Last year was one of the better years in the 25 or so (that scientists have been compiling a chart pertaining to oceanic conditions and how they might affect returning fish populations).

Author’s note: The complete NOAA chart can be viewed at fisheries.noaa.gov/ content/ocean-conditions-indicators-trends.

It was definitely an improved year, especially compared to those in the mid-2010s, where we had horrible conditions out there and some horrible coho returns as a result.

NWS For me, 2015 was a banner coho year, despite terrible ocean conditions and a forecast low return. B-a-n-n-e-r! This year could be better? KA When you’ve been in this business for awhile [laughs], the years begin to blend together. In 2015, we saw good coho fishing, but around the Northwest the coho returns to freshwater were horrible. The adults that did return were smaller than normal. Truthfully, 2015 was somewhat of a low point for coho, if you look at the long-term abundance graphs. But fishing can be good for reasons we don’t understand, even when it’s not a great return (year).

But we have a really big forecast for the Columbia. We have the first really good forecast for coastal Washington streams this year, so there’s no reason to think – unless we get another big surprise with marine survival – there won’t be a lot of coho coming down the coast into the Columbia. And no reason to think fishing for them won’t be really good.

The Agency Rep II Eric Schindler

Homeport Newport, Oregon Title Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Ocean Sampling Project Lead

Where Adicks’ office is an hour-plus commute from the ocean, in literally a hop, skip and a jump Eric Schindler can be past the Yaquina Bay Bridge and out through the jetties. From Newport, he manages angler sampling up and down the Oregon Eric Schindler

Coast, and he’s been known to partake in the fishing himself, both for salmon and tuna.

NWS What are your general expectations for this season along the Oregon Coast? Eric Schindler I am expecting another very good year for coho salmon fishing this year along the Oregon Coast. We are looking at abundance forecasts for hatchery and wild coho that are very similar to the 2021 postseason totals, and last year was an awesome fishing year. Chinook salmon looks to be slightly improved for the ocean fishery over what we saw last year, but still not expecting a particularly good Chinook catch this year.

NWS Does the peak of coho season vary much north to south? ES My general expectation is that the fishing gets good by about midJuly in most locations. The timing on when coho are most available at ports does vary a bit from north to south, with better hatchery coho numbers available to the south somewhat earlier in the season. That said, weather windows when people can get out and fish are usually the most important factor.

Author’s note: Schindler pointed out that coho actually opened in late June off Oregon, and while angling “will likely be better in July, the fishing in late June should still be very good.”

NWS So many great fishing ports on the Oregon Coast, but which ones always seem to stand out for quantity and quality of coho? ES Best numbers of hatchery coho are usually going to be found out of ports from the Columbia River (Astoria, Warrenton, Hammond, and Ilwaco and Chinook, Washington) down to Winchester Bay, including Garibaldi, Pacific City, Depoe Bay, Newport and Florence. That said, some years the coho catches at the ports further south can be very good, especially earlier in the season.

NWS Dory guys gonna get their share? ES No reason to think that they wouldn’t.

NWS Best tips for Oregon Coast coho? ES Fish early in the day for usually the best bite. Look for surface water temperatures between 52 and 56 degrees Fahrenheit, and focus on rip edges and where birds are observed feeding. Don’t fish too deep, as most of the time the coho are hanging out in the top 30 feet of the water column.

If you aren’t getting bites and others around you are catching coho, try varying your trolling speed and directions. Usually, anglers need to go faster than they expect for coho. Use a single barbless hook. It will make releasing any unclipped coho much easier on you and the fish. NS

Editor’s note: To be clear, barbless hooks are required for ocean salmon.

OREGON WASHINGTON

EUGENE

Maxxum Marine

(541) 686-3572 maxxummarine.com PORTLAND

Sportcraft Marina

(503) 656-6484 sportcraftmarina.com EVERETT

Performance Marine

(425) 258-9292 perform-marine.com MOUNT VERNON

Master Marine Boat Center, Inc.

(360) 336-2176 mastermarine.com SHELTON

Verle’s Sports Center

(877) 426-0933 verles.com

Embracing The Fog

Over the past few runs of life, my freshwaters have seen better days, causing me to step away from the banks I love. It hasn’t been easy for me; however, it has allowed me to look at the mighty Pacific with optimistic eyes. There is so much to learn and so much potential for family fishing fun out there.

In the beginning of my saltwater adventures, I put 100 percent of my faith into a guide or two whom I trust, allowing me to simply be along for the ride. There are so many angles to finding fish over the bar that I had never put a ton of thought into. But now, having our own boat made me realize this. Instead of being scared, I would rather be ready. I would say we have learned quite a bit and experienced some pretty incredible things on the ocean, but there was still one pretty major factor that kept us from heading out. Fog!

Waking early in total excitement, I would peek outside to see that the harbor was, ugh, socked in by a thick pocket of fog. The fearful side of me would see that fog and pretty much throw in the towel before we even reached the slip. Of course we could crab within the bay, make memories and such, but the thrill in the takedown and the desire to get our tug on left us wishing the fog did not exist. That wish just wasn’t realistic, but fishing over the bar when the ocean conditions were good, the bar was good and the bite was rumored to be good left us only one option: Head out into the fog.

BEN (MY LOVE) knows his GPS well and together we decided it was time for us to step outside our comfort zone and see what we could do, even though we couldn’t see much of anything. Despite By Sara Ichtertz FOR THE LOVE OF THE TUG my initially fearful gut, I am so glad we decided to embrace the gray that fine yet foggy July morning, rather than miss out on our chance to fish a calm ocean. In life I have always considered myself to have a pretty good sense of direction. Fishing, exploring and foraging in the Umpqua National Forest, I believed in my own two feet and never found myself scared as to where I was. Fishing the ocean with great visibility allowed me to always be able to see land, giving me a guarantee as to which direction was east and which was west. Therefore I knew which was north and south as well. That in itself would

If there’s one thing that’s clear, it’s that heading out through the fog this July morning off the Oregon Coast ultimately paid off for Nate Ichtertz, who caught his first saltwater salmon. (SARA ICHTERTZ)

Being able to see land while at sea gave author Sara Ichtertz the bearing she needed to feel comfortable, but fear of the fog had also stymied her growth as an angler until she and boyfriend Ben Potter decided to go for it – with the smart aid of GPS. She holds one of eight coho brought to the boat that day, most of which were wild and thus released. (SARA ICHTERTZ)

put my fearful mind to rest, allowing me to focus on the water and rods in front of me.

Embracing the new isn’t always easy for me, especially if I have to put my trust in someone else. This day allowed me to grow in so many ways, as I put all of my faith into Benjamin and his ability to read his global positioning system. I mean, I know it was good for me to grow, but it was really good for him as well. Using your GPS for fun is great, but using it because you need it, that is where he grew as a captain.

CROSSING THE BAR went ever so smoothly and in no time, even though the fog was a bit eerie, we had reached the fishing grounds. Our trolling motor was trolling right along, and I got our rods to fishing. At first I was still quite concerned with the fog and the possibility of other boats, leaving me a little edgy. Still, such is my love of the tug that it never ceases to amaze me what situations I am willing to put myself in simply to see if we can find a biter or two. This trip was perfect in the fact that it was just me and my guys: son Nate, who is so very eager when it comes to the boat and the ocean, and my captain, who would rather be on the ocean than anywhere else.

I loved sharing how we run these rods with Nate. It’s important for him to know how we rig our barbless mooching riggings, how we rig the hoochies, how we cut the herring and how we get our flashers to flash. I also explained to him the depth we want to fish, and how our weight, the amount of line we let out and our speed will create this salmonslaying zone that we are looking for. In talking about the ways of ocean trolling and getting the rods ginning right along, I was no longer scared; I was excited. Ben’s confidence allowed me to focus less on the fog and more on the hunting of the fish, and honestly in the combination of the two, there it was – our first sign of life! THE SPASTIC, SOMEWHAT erratic pecking at

the rod was indeed a fish, and in watching the demeanor of the bite, I knew we had ourselves a coho before the fish even fully committed. I don’t care what anybody says, coho are action-packed fun. I love how explosive they are fighting on the top of the water. Their death rolls and acrobatics are somewhat steelhead-like, and I find them as entertaining as they are beautiful.

Landing our first fish had us feeling good. As she was a wild coho, I kept her in the ocean and did a clean release, which was something I was nervous to embrace but deep down knew I could handle.

Those salty salmon very much swim in schools – shocking, I know! Ben got us back on course, we put the rods back out and we were still in them. After that first biter, we managed to find nine salmon within a short amount of time. All of them were coho, despite us running a rod I had hoped would call a Chinook to it. We did have two doubles, which were actionpacked fun. Out of the eight salmon we actually landed, two were hatchery fish, so dinner was indeed provided.

Marking where the fish bit on the GPS allowed us – fog and all – to run our gear through the spot once more as we tried to stay with the school. I for certain wouldn’t have been able to do any of that, as I am electronically lame. With no sign of the shore, our location was all in the hands of our captain and his ability to read the charts in front of him. Without his understanding, that day would have never happened. I was so impressed, so proud, and so thankful we had faced the fog.

HAD WE CONTINUED to let the fog in the bay at sunrise stop us from getting out there, we would have missed out on this magical day. We would have missed out on the season, in all reality. You will never master a fishery if you don’t give it your all. Growth is something we should continue to embrace throughout life; sometimes it takes more than just you to grow in the ways that are intended for you.

Had we not gone out that foggy morning, Ben wouldn’t have gained that feeling of total confidence in his gear and

The crew basks in sunlight and success. “(It’s) the adventure I crave,” Ichtertz writes. “It’s the thrill of the unknown. It’s the time on the water. It’s the time with my family.” (SARA ICHTERTZ)

his ability to read it. Nate came away with a better understanding of our approach to salmon fishing in the ocean. He landed his first salty salmon; I love that it was with his family, in our boat. And all three of us walked away with the feeling of success in our own ways and because of that, no matter the outcome, we are better for it.

The funny thing is that once the bite turned off, we looked around and you know what? The fog had pretty much lifted, we had had an excellent adventure and the way home was clear and bright.

It’s true my heart will always be on the river, but I have too much respect for her to fish her when she is down. At the same time, my love for the tug outweighs my stubborn desire to always be on the river, and so I realize it’s the adventure I crave. It’s the thrill of the unknown. It’s the time on the water. It’s the time with my family. This growth I am finding in other fisheries helps in the ways that I know are intended for me, and for that I am grateful. My heart is on the river and I couldn’t change it, even if I tried. NS