This is where the !!HOT!! fishing is going on!

Astoria Sturgeon July 2008

2008-07-29T21:59:00.000-07:00

Although fishing in the Columbia this summer wasn't the slam dunk we have become so accustomed to we did have some good days. Pictured above are a couple of those days.
But now I am ready to move from bottom feeders to some Chinook Salmon fishing and that is coming up mid August. Hope to hear from you loyal clients and spend a day on the river with you.
tight lines backeddy

Summer Steelhead

2008-06-09T09:34:00.000-07:00

Fishing for this young angler on the Clackamas River in early June produced this Chrome bright Steelhead buck. Better yet this is a 20 pound fish! Note the smile.

Final day Wilson River

2007-11-22T07:07:00.000-08:00

Not a bad way to end the season in tillamook. The Wilson River is putting out some Chrome fish here in Tillamook but is dropping and clearing fast. No rain in the forcast for some time so its time to fold my tent and go home. Slow season some say but there were some good days also. Thanksgiving is coming so I will go to Astoria and harvest some delicious Dungness crab.

Wilson River Mid November 2007

2007-11-15T14:32:00.000-08:00

As predicted when the rain comes so will the fish. Went up the Wilson today and anchored up and put out some Kwik fish and went 5 for 7. Hopefully the rivers won't blow out an in the next few days so we can intercept a few more of these fish. Most guides and sports have folded their tents and gone home. To bad they are missing out on this action.

Tillamook mid November

2007-11-13T17:43:00.000-08:00

This seagull in the picture has become a close friend here in Tillamook. Each day when we dock she is waiting for fish scraps. We took pity on her because she has only one usable leg. Little did we know when we started feeding her she would become so demanding. If we fail to give her fish scraps or old bait she will follow us to the truck screaming, feed me in seagull language.

2007-11-08T12:17:00.000-08:00

Fishing in Tillamook Bay is still going on. Some much needed rain is in the forecast and hopefully this will bring in fresh fish from the ocean. The bite has been less than spectacular this past week but things will improve soon with an expected rise in the Wilson and Kilchis Rivers.

Early December I am offering Dungness crab trips out of Astoria. If you are interested please call 503-318-5262 and book a trip. Limits of 12 per person are the norm. My service provides cooking and cleaning.

Late October Tillamook bay

2007-10-28T18:26:00.001-07:00

Good fishing for fall Chinook is still available. In fact many of the pro's think the best is yet to come. Last year November was indeed some of the best fishing of the season and I for one will be here the entire month. Give me a call if you want to book a date in November 503-318-5262.

Tillamook Bay

2007-10-13T07:39:00.000-07:00

Fishing in the upper bay today was both good and bad. The bad part was we had eight chances at fish and could only convert on three of them. The good part was the largest fish shown in the picture was 41 pounds on the scale. The fish was laying on my wash down hose consequently the deformation in the side.This fishing season holds promise of being a very good year both in numbers and size.
Broke my tow vehicle today so I guess I am on the beach for a couple of days. Life happens!

Tight lines -- Backeddy

Tillamook

2007-10-10T20:37:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of nice Chinook Salmon taken in the upper bay today. The larger fish was 35 pounds on the scale. We had three Coho's also but they had a "rudder" or more correctly an adapose fin and are therefore considered wild. These fish were taken on an experimental spinner we are working on. Seems to be effective but time will tell. Oh! have to mention that the lady on her first trip for Salmon caught both of these fish but was unable to hold them for the photo. She also straightened the hooks on another fish. The guide blanked this day! ------Tight lines Backeddy 503-318-5262

Tillamook Bay Fishing

2007-10-02T07:36:00.000-07:00

Fishing for fall Chinook in Tillamook from now until mid November. Put the jet pump on the boat so we can run the shallow upper bay. Nothing quite so exciting as hooking a 30 pound plus Chinook in 5 feet of water. For those of you that haven't fished the bay with me I think you will find it more exciting as everyone will be holding their rod. The challenge therefore is to not set the hook too quickly, unless of course you are using a spinner in which case you are free to cross his eyes immediately. So if you are not out chasing deer and want some fishing action give me a call, dress warm and come on down. 503-318-5262. We will be putting some crab traps out for those delicious Dungness crabs also.

August salmon fishing continues at mouth of Columbia river

2007-08-15T12:49:00.000-07:00

Ocean fishing out of Columbia River mouth

2007-07-31T10:01:00.000-07:00

Ocean fishing remains very good. When bar and oceans conditions permit I have been fishing just outside between buoys 2 and 4 on the red line. To say the fishing is good is an understatement. Last Friday we limited the boat in just under and hour with a nice mix of Coho and Chinook. Surprisingly we found very few native silvers. The Coho were a mixed bag of age groups with some fish in the 16 to 18 inch range. Others were considerably larger in the 9 pound range. Hopefully this means we will have a successful buoy 10 fishery starting on August 1st. which at this writing is just around the corner.
There are still vacant seats on my boat for the buoy 10 fishery which will run into mid September for me. Don't wait too long to commit as there may not be availability. This year I am moored in the Astoria boat basin instead of the Warrenton harbor. Hopefully this will make access easier for all of you. give me a call if you need fishing availability or any other information.
tight lines, backeddy

Late July early August Hot! fishing-Pacific Ocean via Columbia River

2007-07-19T15:27:00.000-07:00

Keeper Sturgeon fishing in Astoria has ended effective July 4th. In some ways I am glad to see it end. I'm sick of catching big, big fish! This was a terrific season for the whitey's here in Astoria as many of you can attest to.
But now it's all about Salmon. On days that the weather will allow I will be fishing just offshore at the mouth of the Columbia for Coho and Chinook Salmon. The fish currently are still small for the most part but judging from all the bait in the water they are putting on the pounds. If predictions hold true we will witness large numbers of fish in the coming weeks. latest reports are that there are large schools just to the south of the Columbia River and headed north. When the fish get here the action will be crazy with many hook-ups during the day. Please call if you want to get in on the action-502-318-5262.
Also upcoming is the buoy 10 season and I still have availability for this fishery. This promises to be a good year in spite of the split Chinook season. This fishery will sell out fast so don't wait, call now.

Astoria keeper Sturgeon June 2007

2007-06-27T11:30:00.000-07:00

Fishing continues to be Red Hot! in the Columbia River near Astoria for keeper Sturgeon. There are only a few days left before the scheduled closure on July 4th. Call me at 503-318-5262 if you want some of this action and I will hook you up either with me or another reputable guide. I am including comments and pictures from happy customers in this blog. Thank you one and all for fishing with "Backeddy Guide Service"

Hey Ed , just wanted to say thanks for a great trip I am sure you will be seeing us again.I was very impressed with the personal touch you put into your fishing trips , probabley the most enjoyable guided trip I have ever been on ,can you send any pics you took to me . THANKS A MILLION Vern

Ed,
Again it was a GREAT trip, we all had a Great time, and slammed the fish. We couldn't of had a better day if we planned it Vern wanted to see the pictures you had, here's his email vern61@frontiernet.net

Again My Friend....Thank You

Gary & Shelly

Ed,
I just wanted to say thanks for a perfect fishing trip. Not only did you take four people who had never caught a sturgeon and teach them the basics of this fishery, you had them into so many fish they were throwing back keepers by 8:30 am! Believe me, the boasting did'nt end once everyone left the dock. E-mails and pictures proving our bragging rights are being sent to friends and love ones at light speed. The memories of this trip will last a lifetime.
Thanks, Shawn

2007-06-27T11:27:00.000-07:00

Astoria Sturgeon

2007-06-10T17:28:00.000-07:00

Fishing in the Columbia River for Sturgeon is HOT!! Fished yesterday with Ed and Terry Gibb from Portland along with Tom and Karen Dye from Tillamook and we were limited before noon and throwing back keepers. There are still seats available on my boat if you have the desire to catch these diamond backs. Please call 503-318-5262 for availability.
Received this nice e-mail from Ed Gibb and thought I would share it with you readers.

Thanks, Ed. One of the truly great days of fishing that I have ever been able to enjoy with Terry. She loved it, and she, also, wants to fish next year for sturgeon with Tom and Karen. Great to have Terry see why I enjoy your company and fishing with you. Looking forward to getting back from Hawaii and doing some salmon fishing. Thanks again, Ed

Keeper Sturgeon Fishing Columbia River

2007-05-30T07:25:00.000-07:00

From June 1st. until the end of the season scheduled for July 4th. I will be fishing out of Astoria for Keeper Sturgeon. This Columbia River fishery is arguably the best Sturgeon fishing in the U.S. and maybe the world. I have available limited week-end dates and some week day holes in my schedule. If you want to escape the heat from the interior regions and enjoy a day of superb fishing give me a call at 503-318-5262. Do not attempt to contact me by computer as my computer will be in Portland.

Winter Steelhead Clackamas River

2007-01-20T08:42:00.000-08:00

Winter Steelhead fishing in mid January is well underway. River conditions are ideal now that the freezing cold and snow are gone. Fished yesterday with brother Gary and managed to hook eight fish. Kept two brooder and one Eagle Creek fish. Released two nice native fish at the boat and three quite some distance from the boat, (gary lost them not me!) Winter Steelhead fishing is not for everyone but if you dress properly you can experience the thrill of "fish on." Fishing from now until the end of February should be good on the Clackamas if the weather cooperates. If you would like to try this winter sport call me and book a trip. My winter rates are only $125 per person for 5 or 6 hours of fishing. Tight lines----Backeddy

Recap of 2006

2006-12-28T09:58:00.001-08:00

Another fishing year is about to slide under the bridge and a new season is starting. As I look back on 2006 I can't help but remember the fun we had. Tom do you remember the 60 inch keeper sturgeon in Astoria? How about that ten fish day in Tillamook bay, wow! was that fun. Jeff will always remember the giant native Steelhead that tore him up on the Clackamas, I know I will. I could go on and on but back to the business at hand.
The winter Steelhead season is here and again this year I will be fishing the Clackamas River. This morning she is running high and muddy, about 1600 cfs but when she drops there will be lots of Eagle creek hatchery fish and some brood fish as well. Again this year we will side drift eggs and corkies with light spin gear. For those of you that haven't done this with me I can only say it is the most exciting fishing of the year. Much more fun that trolling or anchor fishing. Another plus is the Clackamas will produce Steelhead right up to the time when Spring Chinook season starts. If you want to get outside and enjoy a winter fishing day on the river give me a call at 503-318-5262--fish on!

Tillamook Bay Chinook fishing was very productive this year. These fish were caught on Nov. 20 in the bay.

2006-10-24T21:06:00.000-07:00

Winter Dungness Crab fishing

Again this year in mid November I will journey to the mouth of the Columbia for a few days of crab fishing. The male crabs this time of year are full of meat in rock hard shells. Last year we harvested 72 crab in 36 minutes, just to give you an idea of how plentiful they are. If you are interested in some holiday crab give me a call and we can hook up. 503-318-5262

2006-10-24T20:18:00.000-07:00

astoria Sturgeon summer 2006

Here are some keeper Sturgeon from Cathlamet Bay above Tongue Point on the lower Columbia. Most days we culled 20 to 40 fish to get our legal sized fish. The slot limit here is 45 to 60 inches.

2006-10-24T12:44:00.000-07:00

I am finding it difficult to find time and energy to keep this site current and fish at the same time. However my early new years resolution is to make an effort to that end. Many days of fishing have come and gone so I scarcely know where to start.In mid May I fished the Columbia River estuary at Astoria for Sturgeon until closing on the 4th of July. I am happy to report the numbers and size of the Sturgeon was nothing less than terrific. The first couple of weeks in mid May were slow due to high cold water but by the beginning of June fishing was HOT! Hopefully this trend will continue in 2007.In early August I fished the Buoy 10 area of the Columbia for Salmon. This was not our typical year for Chinook because for some reason guides and sports alike missed these fish on their way upriver. More Chinook were caught upriver than in the Astoria area. Hopefully this will not continue in 2007.Currently I am fishing the Tillamook area for fall Salmon. I have spent most of my time on the Nehalem as I find fewer fishermen there and many nice fish. Largest this year was a 40 pound buck and two 35 pound hens mint bright out of the salt. Most fish are being taken on the troll but as the season progresses more bobber and egg fishing is effective.Anyone wanting to get in on the Salmon action before mid November should give me a call at 503-318-5262.

Astoria

2005-11-22T18:02:00.000-08:00

Astoria crabbing was good in mid November but couldn't hold a candle to the action same time last year. However during the Thanksgiving break I will be back down there again for more tasty Dungness. Maybe this dry spell dropped the river enough to let some crabs come into the bay. We have been doing some Razor Clam digging also and took limits each night. Does it get any better than this?
I found some salmon pictures on my camera card taken in August so will post them here for your viewing. Wow! we had some fun day's out there.
I'm starting to think about the upcoming Steelhead season on the Clackamas. Lets hope we get the rain to bring the fish in. Anyone interested in some side drifting for Steelhead give me a call and lets get out after them. We will start looking for them in earnest in Feb. 2006. Don't forget your new licenses and tags.
Earlier this week my brother and I fished the Bonneville area for Sturgeon. The East wind was howling down the gorge about 30 to 40 sustained and was it ever cold! We picked up some shorts but all in all it was a slow day. My new top sure did feel good though. I will include a picture of it also.
Well when I return from Astoria I will update this blog--tight lines

Dungness Crab fishing

2005-10-29T11:09:00.000-07:00

Winter Dungness crab fishing is absolutely the best time to harvest these tasty creatures. In November the crabs are at their prime time for harvesting as the Columbia River is full of the large keeper males and they are full. Full meaning they have molted their shell in the warm months of summer and have grown into their shell and are therefore full of meat.Beginning on November 12th and ending around November 20th I will be in the Astoria area for Dungness crab fishing. Daily limits are a slam-dunk guarantee and everyone goes home with their limit. If you are interested in some holiday crab call me and we will talk about details. Tides for the above dates are favorable for a late morning launch and early afternoon return. If you are traveling from the Portland area an overnight stay in Astoria is not necessary.

BUOY 10 FISHING 2005

2005-10-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

After a long absence I have returned to update my fishing exploits this summer. For those of you that enjoyed fishing with me during August and September I don't have to explain how much fun it is to fish the Columbia River estuary at Astoria. For those of you who have not fished for Salmon here I will give you some highlights of our success.
Fishing started later than usual this year and caused concern because we had such a miserable spring fishery. But the fish showed up in good numbers about the third week in August. From then until I left the area on the 10th of September fishing was hot. Many guides and sports left the first of September and missed a great Coho bite above the bridge on the Washington side of the river. Ten fish limits were taken before noon on most days during my last week there.
Over all the quantity and size of the fish was pretty normal. We caught mostly upriver brights, the fish headed for the Hanford reach on the Columbia, but we also caught a few of the Rogue River strain of Chinook's headed for Youngs bay. Wow these are nice fish, mint bright and solid. You can identify them by the clipped anal fin. We also caught a fair number of Tooley's. These are the Chinook that are characterized by the red bellies and copper sides. We released some in the 30 pound class but most people want to tag them. I honestly don't know if there is an appreciable difference in the quality of the fish. If anyone has any experience with this I would appreciate hearing from them. One thing for sure they have nice mature eggs in them. The Coho we caught in the river were very nice also. I am somewhat amazed at the difference in the Coho we catch out in the ocean at the beginning of the season and the Coho we catch in the river a few short weeks later. The size difference is the most prominent difference but the firmness and scale adherence is different also. In any case they sure have a growth spurt in a few short weeks.
Tactics or gear if you prefer was normal for this fishery. Most people use a delta diver and triangle flasher with cut plug herring. This is typical for the beginning of the season and as it wears on most people switch over to spinners. Seems as though we made the switch earlier this year but in any case there became a time when they only wanted hardware. The people that recognized this early were the successful ones. By the way don't expect to be able to find spinners in the Astoria area when this change is recognized. I had to have additional blades brought down from Portland. Probably the very best blades in my opinion and the opinion of my close guide friends was the Mulkey Mobley spinner. The best because of the stinger treble hook by Owner hook company. Seems like any blade with red beads was working but most people had a favorite color. The old adage of chartreuse blades in salt water and red in fresh water was popular but my favorite was a gold blade.
I had hoped to post some pictures of the catches we made but due to a busted lens on my digital camera I was unable to record any. If any of my customers read this and have the pictures they promised to send I would enjoy posting them here.
Well enough of my musing for now. I need to record some other events that happened earlier in the year. For you novices I would like to remind you to be careful fishing in the lower Columbia if you don't have proper equipment and skill in big water. There were several capsizings that resulted in drownings on the bar and Clatsop spit. There are many reputable guides that work that area and can give you that first check ride. I would be happy to give you a list of the best.

Tight lines everyone, backeddy