TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday,
A p r il 4 , 1 9 9 0
It was one of those rare occurrences
when we were right on time—our gear
was loaded, our thermoses full and
4
\T
*
Wendell and I each held a hot cup of
coffee as we headed for the Powder
River Arm of the Snake River’s
Brownlee Reservoir. We had been
hearing all winter that the crappies
there were tightly schooled and would,
despite frigid water temperatures,
smack the jigs of persistent anglers. A
phone call the day before to a
knowledgeable source had not only
confirmed the rumor, but netted some sure-fire tactics and locations to
assure our success.
“ They’re suspending 15 to 20 feet deep,” the source had said, “ holding
in tight bands a couple of feet wide and up to a hundred feet long. As
soon as you locate one of those schools with a fish finder you’re in business.
Check the points and brush piles in the Powder River Arm, or try the face
of the dam or the vertical bluffs near Swede’s Landing.”
That was all it took for me to undo everything I had done to winterize
the boat a few months earlier, and by 6 a m. the following morning we
were pulling out of Wendell’s driveway, boat in tow, facing a hundred-
some-odd-mile drive.
Our anticipation grew as we wound down the Powder River above
Richland. Green grass was everywhere here, which prompted speculation
as to what the water temperatures might be; perhaps they would even be
warm enough in the afternoon to stir some bass.
Those hopes were shattered, however, when we got our first glimpse
of the impoundment from above Hew itt Park. Despite the success reports
we’d been hearing, despite the week of sunny weather that had preceded
our trip, the arm was frozen-clear across and for as far down as one could
see from the boat ramp.
“ Good morning.” The lady behind the counter at the Richland store
was disgustingly cheerful—she obviously knew nothing of our dilemma.
“ Can I help you?”
“ Well, we’ve come a long way this morning to catch some crappies,
but the arm is frozen tight,” I said, forcing a smile around my wounded
aspirations.
“ Really?, I didn’t think it got that cold last night,” she scowled (ah,
much better). “ Just Tuesday a guy I know took his boat down only a mile
or so from the ramp and caught over a hundred of them-nice ones, too.”
That’s it, lady, rub a little salt in it.
She graciously made a quick phone call, learning that Swede’s Landing
a few miles up river was free of ice and that anglers had been launching
boats there.
An hour later we were on the water, all 38 degrees of it, charting the
south-facing points and vertical rock bluffs with our sonar unit. Five hours
later we were still on the water, still charting points and bluffs and anything
else that might hold fish. We had found only one school of fish just off
the bottom in about 40 feet of water, and after a lengthy application of
artificial jigs we had caught but one-yellow perch.
Having no garden hackle (perch prefer (ugh) worms, especially in cold
water,) we continued our search, eyes glued to the sonar screen. But as
the shadows from the canyon walls on the Oregon side stretched farther
across the water, we realized that this silly circuit box had cheated us out
of several hours of fishing. Having noticed earlier a spot with a fairly abrupt
dropoff to deep water, we decided to find it again and try for some catfish
before heading home.
We anchored in about 55 feet of water, within easy casting range of
the 85-foot-deep hole. Wendell quickly began rigging his catfish outfit and
I was about to do the same when 1 noticed the screen of the fish finder.
Suspended four of five feet from the bottom was an unusually large school
of something, and we had just happened to park right over them.
“ Probably more perch, but I got to fine out,” I muttered, reaching for
my crappie rod. Within minutes I hauled an eight-inch black crappie aboard.
The fish were sluggish but we found that by tipping our jigs with a bit
of Berkley’s Crappie Power Bait and putting the combination right in front
of them they could be finessed into tasting it (my fish finder, and Eagle
Z-9000 LCG, will easily show a tiny jig dropped directly beneath the boat-
-even in very deep water-which allowed us to visually lay our lures right
on the fish’s dinner table.)
The catfish, we soon decided, either weren't around or weren’t interested,
yet the next couple of hours gave up several black crappies, a white crap
pie and a 13-inch smallmouth, all from within a few feet of the bottom,
straight under the boat.
Just before we gave it up (about a half-hour after dark) a thick, dark
line on the finder indicated a fish at about 21 feet. I watched the screen
as I reeled my jig upward, then stopped it at the same depth as the new
arrival. Something instantly gobbled the diminutive bait and after a brief
but fulfilling struggle I grabbed a 3 '/4-pound channel cat by the back of
the head. The crappie were on the bottom more than 5o feet deep, but
this guy had been, well, suspended.
Chalk it up, I guess, to the inconsistencies of early spring fishing. If
we learn but one thing from each trip afield, let it at least be that we have
a lot to learn. And if we expect anything at all, it should-always-be the
unexpected.__________________________________________________
Wranglers announce winners
/Assume iSOtningy
Expect Less
From early
Spring Fishing
Hughes, fourth-Maureen Crossley.
Figure 8
5 and under: first Brett Barber,
second-Kelsie Greenup, third-
Megan Bergstrom, fourth-Lacey
Davis.
6-7 year olds: first-Joe Papineau,
second-Blake Knowles, third-Amy
Papineau, fourth-Shad Hisler.
8-10 year olds: first-Brian
Knowles, second-Stormy Howard,
third-Dawn Boor, fourth-Casey
Evans.
11-13 year olds: first-Jossie
Evans. second-Tiffany Munkers,
third-Kelsie Evans, fourth-Rodney
Ehrmantraut.
14-18 year olds: first-Holly
Eckman. second-Jennie Ashbeck,
third-Shelly Ashbeck, fourth-Joy
Downing.
19 and over: first-Mary Knowles,
second-Maureen Crossley, third-
Angie Ashbeck.
Keyhole
5 and under: first-Brett Barber,
second-Megan Bergstrom, third-
Kelsie Greenup, fourth-Lacey
Davis.
6-7 year olds: first-Blake
Knowles. second-Shad Hisler, third-
Joe Papineau. fourth-Amy Papineau.
8-10 year olds: first-Brenda Holtz,
second-Angela Munkers, third-
Dawn Boor, fourth-Stormy Howard.
11-13 year olds: first-Rodney
Ehrmantraut, second-Kelsie Evans,
third-Tiffany Munkers. fourth-Jossie
Evans. ,
14-18 year olds: first-Donita
Sharp, second-Amy Greenup, third-
Joy Downing.
19 and over: first-Susie Hisler,
second-Mary Knowles.
The Wranglers riding club has an
nounced winners for the April 1
playday.
Barrels
5 and under: first-Brett Barber,
second-Megan Bergstrom, third-
Kelsie Greenup, fourth-Lacey
Davis.
6-7 year olds: first-Joe Papineau,
second-Shad Hisler, third-Blake
Knowles, fourth-Matt Bergstrom.
8-10 year olds: first-Brian
Knowles, second-Angela Munkers,
third-Kathleen Greenup, fourth-
Casey Evans.
11-13 year olds: first-Kelsie
Evans, second-Tiffany Munkers,
third-Jossie Evans, fourth-Rodney
Ehrmantraut.
14-18 year olds: first-Jennie
Ashbeck, second-Heather Eckman,
third-Holly Eckman, fourth-Amy
Greenup.
19 and over: first-Angie Hughes.
Poles
5 and under: first-Kelsie Greenup.
second-Brett Barber, third-Lacey
Davis, fourth-Megan Bergstrom.
6-7 year olds: first-Joe Papineau,
second-Blake Knowles, third-Amy
Papineau, fourth-Matt Bergstrom.
8-10 year olds: first-Casey Evans,
second-Dawn Boor. third-Jaylene
Papineau. fourth-Brian Knowles.
11-13 year olds: first-Kelsie
Evans, second-Tiffany Munkers,
third-Laurel Temple. fourth-Jossie
Evans.
14-18 year olds: first-Holly
Eckman, second-Amy Greenup,
third-Donita Sharp, fourth-Jenni
Ashbeck.
19 and over: first-Mary Knowles,
second-Angie Ashbeck, third-Angie
Step into Spring
SUNBEAT
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Bnne-Wht-Red-Nav v-Grey-BIk-Tun
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WCCC men kick off golf season
Love Your
Sisters
CENEX / L.O.L. PET FOOD
er
>
Vi y
Dogfood...
y , 'J ï S à J -
50 lb. Command
$1 Q 95
(21% protein)
j
Sunday April 1, the Willow Creek
Country Club men had their annual
kick-off breakfast, hosted by Ed
Hiemstra, Howard Bryant and Earl
Fishburn
Winners of 18-hole play were: low
gross-first Don Lott; second-John
Edmundson; third-Dave Green;
fourth-Earl Fishburn; fifth-John
McCabe and sixth-Randy Lott.
Low net: first-Mike Doherty;
second-Terry Smith; third-(a three
way tie) Dave Allstott, Darrell
Wilson and Ray Reid; sixth-Dave
Gunderson.
Long drive: Don Lott.
K.P.: Frank Bailey.
(25% protein)
J
40 lb. Command Plus $ 1 0 7 5
(25% protein)
I
$1 1 95
(30% protein)
I
I
25 lb. Puppy Food
$ 1 2 50
(27% protein)
|
L niiym n. Orepmt
151-73»*
«H-R22I
Easter Service Eucharist
10:30 a.m.
Please join us.
CfNLX
LANDO LAKES I
.
For Instance
Reg
Sale
Price
1118 9S
S89 21
62 9S
4721
Article
Teapot or Coffeepot
(reamer
Candlestick (per in )
Sugar Bow l
Trays (per sq in 1
6 9S
S 21
68 9S
SI '1
SS
41
* REPAIR POLICY:
FREE DENT REMOVAL and straightening on all items we silverplate
-
ONLY SO SO FOR ALL SOLDERINO RFPAIRS on iny piece we silverplate Includes
soldering broken handles, legs, knobs, etc (Only exceptions are for furnishing
new parts and unusually difficult repairs )
(xtmplete repair service including twisted and broken Sterling Silver Antique
brushes, combs and mirrors replaced New stainless knife blades installed and
disposal damage repaired All at regular low prices
* S e r v ic e o f L ight
* S c r ip t u r e R e a d in g «
* H o ly B a p tis m a n d R e n e w a l o f B a p tism
* All N igh t V ig il 8 : 3 0 p .m . t o IA :3 0 a .m .
S o m e o n e w ill b e (a t w a tc h ) th r o u g h o u t th e n ig h t. E v e r y o n e
i« w e lc o m e d a n d e n c o u r a g e d to jo in in . t o m e a n y tim e an d
«fay a« lo n g a« y o u ’d lik e .
Sunday
!
No charge for straightening*
DURING APRIL ONLY.
FULL 25 YEAR WARRANTY on all silver replating
Easter Vigil Service
7:30 p.m.
Bishop Rustin Kimsey
Morrow County Grain Growers
I W
F r id a y
S a tu r d a y
|
ALL SILVER
REPUTING
REDUCED 25 %
This is an excellent time to take
advantage of these low. low prices
(o have your worn silverware.
antiques and family heirlooms
replated like new These pieces
are now more valuable than ever
and make wonderful gifts All
work HEAVILY SILVERPLATED hv
our skilled silversmiths and Sale
prices apply to ALL pieces
Good Friday Service
7:00 p.m.
Rev. John Wallace
|
25 lb. Cat Food
¡i
Experts Expect
Record Trout
from Billy
Chinook
M ake YOUR o ld S ilv er lo o k lik e NEW!
Eversone Welcome
*
Angling authorities say it’s very like
ly the state bull trout record will again
be broken this year at Lake Billy
Chinook southwest of Madras, an oc
currence that seems to repeat itself
annually.
It has been just more than a year
since Don Yow of La Pine tugged a
23-pound, 2-ounce Billy Chinook bull
over the side of his boat to break the
Oregon State record and set a new IG-
FA line-class world record for that
species. Yow was the third angler in
18 months to top the previous state record.
In fact, Yow, who spends many weekends each year fishing tor Billy
Chinook bull trout, believes the 4,000-acre reservoir could soon best the
current all-tackle, world record fish, a 32-pound bull taken in 1949 from
Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho.
“ It’s just a matter of time,” he says.
He’ll get little argument from Madras-based, Portland General Electric
biologist Don Ratliff, recognized as Oregon's leading “ bull-trout guru."
“ It’s probably swimming around in there now-there are probably several
of them,” Ratliff said. “ It just stands to reason, because we are lower
in latitude, which means the sun is higher in the sky, and we are also lower
in elevation than those places in Montana and Idaho, so we have a better
food source.”
Ratliff, who said the fishery for trophy bulls improved dramatically after
regulations passed in 1982 restricting angling on the Metolius River (the
major spawning area which feeds the reservoir) to “ catch-and-rclease
only, tells of reports of bull trout weighing in excess of 40 pounds caught
in a fish trap and released during the time Pelton Dam was being
constructed.
“ In fact, I saw a picture of a fish caught (and released) in the Metolius
just a few years ago by Paul Petersen, that was 42 inches long, the
biologist said. “ That fish would have been larger than the world record
He was just a monster fish.”
Ratliff credits the reservoir’s ability to produce trophy-sized bulls with
its unparalleled food supply (kokanee), which accounts for an amazingly
fast growth rate among the large char.
“ You just can't believe it-six-tenths of an inch per month, year-round
(approximately six inches-plus per year.) The one thing that s happening
is, we do have more people fishing, so more of these 10- to 12-pound fish
are being caught—those are the ones that are only a year away from being
20 pounds."
Ratliff says he is pushing for regulations that would limit anglers to on
ly one bull trout pier day, thus insuring a trophy fishery for the future.
Regulations now allow anglers to keep five trout of any spiecies pier day,
with only one over 20 inches.
Both Yow and Ratliff say April is a prime time for catching big bulls,
and name the Metolius arm of the reservoir as the most productive area.
Yow advises newcomers to try trolling with large, jointed rapalas near
the head of Metolius arm.
“ People who don't know much about it can catch some nice fish up there,
and they can catch them trolling because it's only 15 to 20 feet deep up
through there.
“ But we don’t troll,” Yow continued. "It's too boring for me. I fish
them just like 1 do bass: I just work the banks.”
Yow said he likes to position his boat in 20 feet of water and cast deep
diving, black and silver or other kokanee-colored crankbaits (he uses a
rapala fat rap) to the shoreline, then work it all the way back to the boat.
“ The kokanee are just now coming alive in there and that's what they
(bull trout) come in and feed on,” Yow said. “ They just come in and gorge
themselves in a big feeding frenzy."
In addition to a regular angling license, anglers planning to fish the
Metolius arm of Billy Chinook must also putchase a Warm Springs Tribal
license at $2 per day or $12 annually.
All Saints Episcopal Church will
host Singspiration Sunday, April 8
at 7 p.m. at the church.
The South Morrow County Choir
will also sing several numbers under
the direction of Bob Isted.
Easter Weekend
At
All Saints Episcopal Church
1905 '
bv M ark Bagett
Singspiration
at All Saints
*
50 lb. Command Plus $
350 Mam
Least putts: Ed Hiemstra.
“ Breakfast was excellent and we
all enjoyed a great day,” said a club
spokesperson.
EASTERN OREGON
OUTDOORS
Jrwelcfs of Amene a. Inc
I Mrmber
U \;s >
Peterson’s
Heppner
X'
Jewelers
q fj
676-9200
SALE ENDS APRIL 30.
CUSTOM BRASS r e p la tin g at reg u la r lo w p r ic e s ...
y
A sk fo r FRF.F e stim a te .