Tide question

[mikeredding]

I am just curious of everyones opinion here. I was talking to a guide the other day and he only fishes on days with major tide changes and stays home on the days of little fluctuation. Do you agree with this?

 

[JeannaJigs]

I've noticed more activity on larger fluctuations but the work schedule doesn't coordinate with the tides, and thus have got fish on days with less fluctuation.

 

[eugene1]

I don't agree with it. Best day ever was August 25, 2011 on the Umpqua last year at the "big bend" between windy bay and Reedsport. Landed 4 nooks, some of which are in avatar pic, two wild coho, and lost 4 more fish. August 25th wasn't an exceptional big tide exchange day, just kinda average. The hot bite lasted from sunup to around 2 pm, so lots of tidal variations when it was good. I've tried correlating days with a hot bite to others and there is no rhyme or reason to it that I can find. Some days you see nets all over the place and others are just dead for everybody out there. Gotta do like dtikey says, fish when you can and fish when you can't. Put your time in and things will line up for you.

 

[mikeredding]

Thanks JJ. It makes sense that the fish would push in more with big tides but it sure is easier to fish on the lesser fluctuation days.

 

[eugene1]

The little fish didn't make it into the avatar LOL and the biggest one (on the top) went 36#!

 

[mikeredding]

fish when you can and fish when you can't. Put your time in and things will line up for you.

I have always fished by that moto. And Aug 25th was a good day for me last year also. We hooked one Nook and lost at the boat and boated and released a silver.

 

[mikeredding]

Actually I think it was the 21st

 

[dtikey]

every day were still able to go out and do the things we love is a good day catching fish or killing elk is a great day!!!

 

[eugene1]

Holy pigs!!! Look at that egg belly! Salivates...

I know, thought the same thing. Turns out they were all males! Apparently, the bucks come in first.

 

[dtikey]

I know, thought the same thing. Turns out they were all males! Apparently, the bucks come in first.

wow I thought hens also except for the little guy!!

 

[JeannaJigs]

Guess its just a weird angle cause I totally looked at the heads and bellies and thought hen on that fatty second from bottom for sure. Crazy.

 

[Roolinghills]

Some of the veterans might disagree with this.. but I change my fishing technique based on the level fluctuation, not really whether or not to go. I'll fish a quick jump in river level, but I'll post up in one or two nice spots and let the running fish try to get by gear. But if there's a sudden drop I'm just hiking more (or floating) to find deep pockets and pools of fish. I've heard different guides say fluctuation, barometer, temperature, color... But really, if the river's flowing, there's bound to be fish somewhere.

 

[plumb2fish]

RH, pretty sure the op asked the question about estuary fishing coastal rivers for fall chinook....big tide swings means lots of debris in the water....the last hour of tide til first hour through slack are usually the most productive for me when dragging herring/anchovies. But have caught random fish throughout....find a player, get bait in front of it.....any time is a good time to hook an ocean fresh chinook

 

[Roolinghills]

My apologies for that Don't know a bit about that stuff. My suggestions are only good for coastal and Willamette zone rivers. But I'd love to get out in some bigger water like what you guys are talking about soon! Good luck!

 

[RunWithSasquatch]

RH, pretty sure the op asked the question about estuary fishing coastal rivers for fall chinook....big tide swings means lots of debris in the water....the last hour of tide til first hour through slack are usually the most productive for me when dragging herring/anchovies. But have caught random fish throughout....find a player, get bait in front of it.....any time is a good time to hook an ocean fresh chinook

I like my swaps, like P2F illustrates here... Regardless of height, Ill be there if I dont have other obligations in life. I plan to fish the day, through all of the swings, not a certain incoming portion of it. (What a waste) Also I will second that the bigger the swing, or if the ocean is a sloppy mess, ridiculous amounts of salty salad rolls in.

There are a few trolls I like on the out going, into the swap. Less debris, and the fish get slowed down with the added current.


... Ive never actually understood the idea behind targeting incoming tides. Sure, by rule, big incoming tides do push fish up into the systems, but I always notice that as soon as it swaps, and heads out, the people tend to tuck tail and run for the launches. Just because the tide has started to return to the ocean does not mean the fish that just entered the river completely up-and-vanished. They're still there.

 

[mikeredding]

I like my swaps, like P2F illustrates here... Regardless of height, Ill be there if I dont have other obligations in life. I plan to fish the day, through all of the swings, not a certain incoming portion of it. (What a waste) Also I will second that the bigger the swing, or if the ocean is a sloppy mess, ridiculous amounts of salty salad rolls in.

There are a few trolls I like on the out going, into the swap. Less debris, and the fish get slowed down with the added current.


... Ive never actually understood the idea behind targeting incoming tides. Sure, by rule, big incoming tides do push fish up into the systems, but I always notice that as soon as it swaps, and heads out, the people tend to tuck tail and run for the launches. Just because the tide has started to return to the ocean does not mean the fish that just entered the river completely up-and-vanished. They're still there.

Exactly my thoughts.
When I put my boat an the water before daylight it usually doesn't find it's way back onto the trailer until dark again. I fish it no matter what. Sometimes it ends up being a waste of time but better than working or chores!!!

 

[fishinshawn]

I am just curious of everyones opinion here. I was talking to a guide the other day and he only fishes on days with major tide changes and stays home on the days of little fluctuation. Do you agree with this?

I fish whenever I can. I catch the most fish off the bank on a low outgoing tide, the bigger the better. That said around any tide change there is normally some decent fishing if the fish are in.

 

[steelhead_stalkers]

A lot of the season fish are tiding in and out with the tide so yes big tides push in more fish but then the outgoing can push them right back out. Coho are a great example of this. There was in incoming tide two years ago that we landed over 30 coho and you could see them everywhere, then when the tide changed the fish vanished and most likely headed back out to the mouth. Some fish will stay in the river and start their journey up river but a lot will just tide around for weeks. We have done well on an outgoing for Chinook on certain rivers and it seems that every system fishes a little different. I think water temp is the most important factor of tidewater salmon fishing!

 

[Mad dog]

I like my swaps, like P2F illustrates here... Regardless of height, Ill be there if I dont have other obligations in life. I plan to fish the day, through all of the swings, not a certain incoming portion of it. (What a waste) Also I will second that the bigger the swing, or if the ocean is a sloppy mess, ridiculous amounts of salty salad rolls in.

There are a few trolls I like on the out going, into the swap. Less debris, and the fish get slowed down with the added current.


... Ive never actually understood the idea behind targeting incoming tides. Sure, by rule, big incoming tides do push fish up into the systems, but I always notice that as soon as it swaps, and heads out, the people tend to tuck tail and run for the launches. Just because the tide has started to return to the ocean does not mean the fish that just entered the river completely up-and-vanished. They're still there.

They are still there! A % may go back out over the bar, a lot go off the bite, a some shoot upriver. A big tide just brings a higher volume of biters in my opinion. By the 1st week of sept. there are fish all the way to the forks on the Umpqua....a lot of years they are catching them in late august!

 

[fishinshawn]

Once you move out of what is typically considered the bay, and into mid to upper tidewater areas the outgoing tide will school the fish up. Depending on where your at on the river it can push them into a hole. The water also tends to have less debris at this time. At flood in, incoming tide, the crap in the water gets thicker and the fish go on the move spreading out much more. P2F and other know more about trolling the bay and lower tide water areas then I do.