pdxfisher

That is so true. I definitely made a mistake that I usually don't make. Hope I will remember this next time out. I am scraping fish off the bottom in 30' to 45' of water. I guess there are probably other groups of fish that are shallower where a faster retrieve could produce but I just have not been able to ever locate them in the winter. I do throw a rattletrap and jerkbait in March when there are lots of fish up shallow.

Only negative of the day is that my gopro died part way through the day. The bass were polite though and only bit while my camera was working

When you catch fish for 1.5 hours and then nothing for 6 hours you fel like a moron. When you catch nothing for 6 hours and then catch fish for 1.5 hours you feel like a genius. I was, unfortunately, in the first grouping

I took my first trip to the Columbia this year on Sunday, January 11th. The wind was forecast to be out of the east but no too bad. It was nice in the afternoon but the morning was pretty rough. The good news is that it was dry all day long and I was dressed for the weather. Something that feels pretty cool is being plenty bundled up when there is a cold wind blowing and you can just laugh in its face! When I got to the water I was happy to see the water color Probably at least 2' of visibility - much better than my last trip. I was a little worried about the hard rain we had earlier in the week but apparently that was not too much of an issue. I guess the previous huge rain amounts we had a couple of weeks back flushed any loose materials away. Winter fishing, at least for me, is a real test of my patience. I typically don't like to fish super slow but that is what winter bassin' is all about. You have to get in that relaxed mindset that allows you to stare at that rod tip and micro-adjust your speed to match the current for hours on end. I did a good job on Sunday of entering that zen state of being one with my rod tip. I started out dragging a Ned rig. That is often my best winter time bait on the Columbia. I think that the bass often do not even want to eat something that is 6" off the bottom when the current is running hard as it was on Sunday (I would drift about 2.5mph downstream when I let myself go). I make a short cast upstream so that by the time the bait hits the bottom it is pretty much under the kayak and then I control my drift speed to keep my bait dragging on the bottom as slowly as I can. If I go too slow the current lifts my bait up, if I go too fast I lift the bait up. It is a constant dance all day long. I was in the zone feeling every river rock that my Ned (1/4oz) head was scraping over. It occasionally gets stuck a bit and then I need to pop it free. It was just one of those events when I felt that little pop and I set the hook into my first bass of 2026! In the cold water they don't fight with the reckless abandon that they do in warmer water but this guy still gave a good account of himself. After a few short runs I was able to put my net under a decent 17.5" 2lb 11oz bass. That's a pretty awesome first bass for me!! I stayed in the general area where I caught that first fish. It is a big flat that is anywhere from 30' to 45'. About 20 minutes later I feel another thump. It is not a monster but it was still a 14.25" 1lb 7oz bass. Not bad for my second bass. I decided to repeat that drift again (by starting from the same point on my maps) and on the next I went passed where I caught that first fish when I felt the slightest tic that did not feel like a rock. When I set the hook this fish definitely had some weight to it. You know its a good when you first think you are snagged because the hook set does not move the fish at all! This fish put up a really good fight, ripping plenty of drag and using the current to its advantage. I just drifted along and kept the pressure on. Eventually the constant pressure wore that fish down I was able to slip the net under a beast of a smallmouth (at least a beast for me). It was a 20.5" 4lb 7oz smallmouth!! I tried that drift a few more times without any more action so I shifted my drift over a bit. The area I was fishing was a huge slowly tapering flat that goes from 30' down to about 45' . It is probably hundred yards wide and a 1/4 mile long so there is a lot to search. I spent the next 30 minutes without a sniff and decided to try a few other presentations. However the Carolina rig, wobbled and drop shot all drew blanks. I decided to try one more drift with the Ned when I once again felt that thunk. It was not a bad fish, 15.25" and 2lb 3oz, but it felt like a dink after the 4lb 7oz. I went back to trying some drifts but the next 45 minutes did not produce anything. At that point I decided to head upstream about 1.5 miles to a spot that was productive in December. That was a brutal slog in to the wind and current. For much of the trip I was only making progress of about .7 mph. I should have given up but I was so sure that spot was going to be fire. It was not fire but at least the wind died down towards the end of that pedal. It took me about an hour and 20 minutes to get there and I could not get a sniff. I fished that spot in a variety of ways for an hour without any luck whatsoever. That's how the rest of the day went as well. I moved from spot to spot that I was sure must be holding fish only to find nothing. So after an hour and half period where I caught 4 nice bass I did not have another sniff the rest of the day. I probably should have just stayed on the initial spot and kept moving around it. I might have been able to scratch out a few more but I was so sure I could find another bunch. I did try the magic spot at the end of the day for about 15 minutes but did not get any bites. So it was day that was short on quantity but long on quality. I had a period of good action and I got in a LOT of exercise (my legs are hurting today). Overall though I consider the day a fine success. My first bass of 2026 and a beast in the mix. Here is a video of the day. https://youtu.be/-vih2pHsZWA

Sounds like you are off to a great start with the new boat!

My guess is that your rockpile is summer depth for smallmouth and winter depth for largemouth. As @Dwight Hottle said smallmouth typically winter in deeper water. More likely as they progressed to their deeper water the LMB progressed to the rockpile, which is their deep water.

Absolute beast!!

@Swamp Girl It is pretty awesome that I can fish year round. I will get them next time!

I hit Hagg lake on New Year's day hoping to catch my first bass of 2026. I figured the lake would not be in great shape but with the dry spell leading up to New Year's I figured perhaps I would have a chance. I also brought some trout trolling gear in case I got tired of not catching bass. Sometimes it is fun to switch things up and not catch trout for a while I was the first one to launch at boat ramp C. I figured maybe that would bring me some good mojo - it didn't. Well, to make a long story short I spent about 6 total hours fishing for bass and I think I had one bite the entire time. That was a little disheartening. I tried drop shot, Ned rig, Carolina rig and a blade bait. The only bite I had was on the Carolna rig. Bass fishing was an exercise in futility. Around 10am (after a few hours of not catching bass) I decided that I would give trolling for trout a try. I spent about an hour and a half doing that when one of my rods went off! I have to say that nothing gets treated with such loving care as that skunk averting first fish. The entire fight I am chanting to myself, "Please don't come off, please don't come off". Fortunately that trout was a good sport and allowed my to slip my net underneath it and bring it in the kayak. Getting that huge skunk weight off one's shoulders is one of the best feelings in the world! After that fish I went back to trolling for about another 1/2 hour. Since I did not have another bite and I really wanted to catch a bass I went back to trying to catch that first bass of 2026. I fished hard, moving spot, different depths, cycling through presentations. The only excitement came when I felt a thunk on the Carolina rig in the middle of the afternoon. It was a swing and a miss but my senko was balled up on the hook. I really do think I had a bite! Eventually I came to accept the fact that I was not going to catch a bass so I headed to the ramp, loaded up and slunk home with my tail between my legs. I just keep trying to make myself feel better by reminding myself that I at least caught one trout.

That is some crazy warm weather! I am hoping to get out Thursday or Sunday depending on the wind forecasr.

Way to go, great looking bass! I love the baitball screen shot too!

Do they tip those lures with caviar

Those are some good ones!

Awesome report and beautiful fish!

When I got to the river the debris were not bad. Otherwise I would have not gone out. I don't have a death wish! Also I am always dressed for immersion. I wear either a dry top over waders or a full dry suit. I imagine the kayaker who died was nit dressed to handle a spill. Plus I have ny PFD on all day long.

Yes, some kind of glitch or something if I kept all the swearing the video would have been twice as long

I hit the Columbia on Saturday the 13th. The wind forecasts were calling for light winds. That was a lie. I think meant to lure me out into that mess. The day started out pleasantly enough, there was only a light breeze and soon after I launched I saw a head pop up, an otter! No, 2 otter, 3 otters, 4 otters, 5 otters! I guess it was family day for the otters. We stared at each other for a few seconds and then they went on their merry way. By the time though that I got to the first, supposed to be, good spot the wind was blowing pretty good. Makes it tough to fish deep and slow when there is wind, waves and a stiff current. Did I forget to mention that Stevenson, WA had received over 7" of rain earlier in the week. So it was wind, waves, current and dirty water. Not the best conditions. I carefully fished that spot - which had been producing great all fall but could not get a sniff. The next few spots were the same. I was starting to wonder if I had seen skunks swimming or otters! Finally after about an hour I felt some weight as I lifted my drop shot off the bottom. Woo hoo, fish on! I carefully fought and landed that fish and was hoping that I had found a bunch of them - I had not. I spent about 15 more minutes on that spot before moving on. The next few spots were also dead. I finally had made my way downstream about a mile from the launch to a spot were a huge rock sticks up off the bottom a good 5 or 10'. I figured that should make a nice current break so I carefully would pedal myself upstream from it so that by the time my drop shot got to the bottom I would pass over this rock. It is not very big around so it takes a bit of precision. On my 2nd or 3rd drift I felt some weight and bam! I had fish 2 on. It put up a decent fight in the 50F degree water but I soon had my net under fish number 2. A few more drifts proved fruitless so I switched to a Ned rig. On my first cast I felt a thunk and had fish number 3! A couple of casts later I felt another thump but I missed that fish and reeled up my TRD all balled up on the Ned head. By now the wind had picked up in earnest and waves were breaking over my bow as I tried to fish. I had to be very careful not to get turned sideways or it would be dump city. After a handful of empty casts I thought perhaps I should all it a day as the wind kept getting stronger and the waves bigger. To give you an idea I would drift 2.5mph downstream if I stopped pedaling. I realized I had better head back to the ramp and either fish close by to it or just call it a day. That was a painful slog upstream, waves were quartering my direction and breaking over my bow and trying to twist my sideways. It was a bit of white knuckle trip back to the ramp. I could only go about 1mph into the wind, waves and current. It took me almost an hour to make a trip that usually would take between 15 and 20 minutes. However, about the time I got there the wind died down a little bit. There were still good-sized waves but at least they were not constantly breaking over my bow! I decided I could keep fishing for a bit but just stay close to the ramp. I did that for the next 2 hours without a sniff. However, during that time the wind died down even more. I could not go about 2.3mph upstream. At that point I made a command decision to head upstream to one of my favorite spots. It is about a mile and half upstream but I figured I could start heading to it and if things got bad the wind, current and waves would just help me get back to the ramp. So I started slogging up stream at about 2.5mph. It took about 40 minutes but I finally got to the spot. It had been 4 hours since I had my last bite and I was tired and cranky by this point. I started with the drop shot but that was ignored. I switched to the Ned rig and as I felt it tickling the rocks I felt a thump. I set the hook and POP! I broke my leader about a 3" away from my braid. I have to say I had a few choice words to say about that situation. Well, by the time I retied my fluoro leader and got rigged up again I had drifted downstream about a 1/4 mile. I slogged my way back up and make a cast with the Ned. Once I again I could feel that Ned tickling those rocks and once again felt a thump. I set the hook and it was fish on! 5 seconds into the fight POP!. This time I think I had a faulty knot. I was completely livid at this point and accidentally reeled my braid through the guides - just to increase my aggravation level. This time by the time I re-rigged I was a good 1/2 mile from the spot. It is hard to thread the braid through the guides when your hands are shaking with rage! I got back to the spot and after a couple of casts I once again felt a thump. This time everything held and I was able to finally land my 4th bass of the day. I made a few more casts without a bite and by then the sun was getting pretty low so I figured I had better head back. With the wind and current assist though the trip back was a breeze. I was doing 5.5mph without even pedaling all that hard. So that was my big adventure. Busted my butt all day long for 4 bass. Well, better than getting skunked! Here is every fish I caught and my video, that starts out with the otters! Hopefully next trip will not be such a challenge!!

Way to get out there and give it your all. Sorry you never found them but it sounds like you did everything you could have. You had a good methodical approach but some days they just don't want to play.

Great recap! So glad your wife is doing better!

Out here at this time of year the smallmouth are deep 25-35'. For me its a drop shot, Ned on a 1/4 or 1/3oz head, Carolina rig and wobblehead with a creature bait. Just need stuff that gets down quick and can stay down deep. Brands and colors do not seem to matter too much. I use either a minnow-y color or a crayfish-y color (like green pumpkin).

Mother nature was on the bass side but you still won

Those are nice sized Alabamas! I would happily trade a couple of smaller fish for a bigger fish any day.

That is one of my wife's favorite movies

Thanks everyone! Catching bass is great and all but catching a kidney will be awesome on a whole nother level

I hit the Columbia out of Stevenson on Sunday the 16th. The wind forecast called for a still wind first thing that would die off after an hour or two. Miracle of miracles the forecast was correct! I had to fish through a brief period of a 20mph east wind but that died off after a bit and it was glassy calm for most of the day. Almost did not feel like I was fishing in the gorge! The difference in the wind made me appreciate how much of the surface current is due to the wind. As the wind died down it became pretty easy to hold my position and fish carefully. When the wind was whipping that was quite the challenge. The good news overall is that the bass are still feeding hard. The bad news is that while I did catch 28 bass there were quite a few dinks in the mix and the overall size was down from last trip. I only had one bass over 3lbs and the best 5 that I weighed only went 12lb 1oz. I did not weigh a couple of fish that were well over 2lbs so my total probably was 1/2 a pound higher but that is still not where I would hope to be at this time of the year. I should be pushing 15lbs each trip. Anyway, the fishing was similar to my past few trips. Most fish came on either a drop shot with a minnow-y colored Trick Shotz (shiner or goby bryant) or on a Ned rig with green pumpkin TRD. I did catch a few at the end of the day on a Carolina rig after I switched out the bait to a 4" senko. The fish were still in 25'-40' of water but grouped up tighter than past trips (I had to be more precise). When I got on the sweet spot the action was fast. I had one run where I caught 5 on 5 casts and another run with 3 on 3 casts. However, I also had some serious lulls where I was fishing spots that had been holding bass on my previous few trips but ended up being vacant this trip. I probably spent too much time trying to make the bite happen on spots where there weren't any fish. You know those spots where you are just SO sure that they HAVE to be there So nothing too different from my trip 2 weeks ago in terms of how and where I was fishing. Just happy that there were plenty of biters. Water is down to 54F-55F. Fish are really fat and healthy right now and I even had one make a pretty good jump so there metabolisms are still churning along pretty well. My best news of the week though is not fishing related. I had my annual transplant medical testing and assessment appointment on Friday and they informed me that I am now on the Green List. They said that once you are on the Green List you usually get a kidney within a year!! So I may be out of commission for a bit but then I can come back at full strength instead of limping along like I have to now!! Anyways here are a couple of pictures and my video: