Bryan, Frank and Wayde went back to the lower Columbia River to make another assault on the famed white sturgeon of that region. We had been on that section of river with our friend, colleague and coastal famous guide, Ryan Miner. We being good students and quick to grasp new techniques felt we were prepared to pursue sturgeon on our own. A trip was planned and reservations made. We set off Monday, June 22, afternoon with Frank's truck & camp trailer. Brian also had is truck and boat. Frank had made arrangements for camping at the Lewis & Clark RV & Golf Resort in south Astoria. A new park and not fully developed yet but clean and comfortable.

The golf course was also new and unique in that it is maintained without the use of chemicals. Apparently they have not discovered a natural way to control dandelions. The course had many close cropped plants. The greens were made of some space-age synthetic that was slow slick one had to be careful walking on them. A putted ball could easily have rolled 2 blocks if the greens had been big enough. It was still good to be able to play golf mere feet from our campsite.
Our usual grilled steak dinner was eaten Monday night and we turned in early. No campfires in this park.

Up at 0345, cold breakfast and off to Hammond Marina to launch the boat. We picked up some anchovies for bait and were in the water near 0500. Big tide exchange Monday night with a high near 9 feet and a low of -2. This created some strong current in the river and was a shock when we exited the marina into the main river. The current was rushing past and created eddies and small whirlpools at the mouth of the harbor. We crossed to the area we had fished 2 weeks before and started to set-up in 14 feet of water. We tossed out the anchor and prepared to fish. The boat just moved downstream at a good clip as the anchor would not hold us. Brian had another anchor so we put them together, moved back upstream and tossed them out. Same result, boat swiftly moving downstream. After a discussion Brian said we needed a bigger anchor so back to the Hammond Marina. An anchor was selected that was designed to hold a 25 to 30 foot boat so it was felt that securing Brian's 18 foot boat should work. I might mention that the weight of anchors increases exponentially with design requirements. Back across the river and yes, this anchor held us. It would seem appropriate to say here that a professional guide staying in our RV park said that evening that often when there is a swift current one has to move to shallower water to fish until the current lessens. It seems sturgeon don't like swift current either and your anchor will hold you.
We fished till noon on the south side of the river then went to the north side and above the Astoria-Megler Bridge to a good spot the guide in camp told us about. I guess it was not much of a secret as at least 100 boats were in the vicinity. We fished for a few hours but did not hook any sturgeon. Frank landed an 8 inch sculpin and that was all we caught. We saw a fire number of fish caught on other boats. Hamburgers that night and early bed.

Wednesday we got up later so the river current would not be as strong when we launched. Breakfast in a restaurant and in the water around 0700. We fished the south side of the river again. The wind started picking up so we moved nearer the shore by Young's Bay. No sturgeon were hooked and by noon the wind was blowing hard so we called it a day. Frank caught another sculpin. We broke camp and headed south to Newport arriving around 5. It was a fun trip and we are already talking about other trips for the ugliest fish in the world.

Wayde