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[JustinG]

A buddy and I fished the Stamp unguided on the 11th and guided on the 12th. We cancelled our Sunday guided trip because the river is almost void of steelhead (needless to say, but we hit nothing). The river is the lowest I have ever seen this time of year. This past weekend we should have seen the peak of the winter run. We saw a few fish in the falls pool that look like holdouts from the December push. What was even more bizarre was that there was no other real signs of life on the river - no birds feeding, no trout... nothing. Hopefully there is nothing wrong with this VI gem and it is just water levels holding things back. We'll be back if the fish make a late arrival. Should have just stayed home and fished the Vedder! If you are planing a trip, save your time and money until there is a good week of rain and higher freezing levels.

Here is a pic from last year, we had to look at these a few times on the ride home to make ourselves feel a little better...

[bigblockfox]

were you guys bank fishing or boat? thinking about trying the system out just don't know how much river is available by bank. recently purchased a bigfoot camper and itching to try it out.

[Noahs Arc]

There's some decent bank fishing but some of the trails are goat trails.

[JustinG]

Bank fishing is pretty tough on the Stamp. In my experience, the runs in the lower river (below the Bucket) are easily accessed but the fish have not held in these spots for 3 or 4 years now. They shoot into the runs below the falls pool. If you can make your way onto the island there are some good spots. It is one of my favourite rivers to pontoon.

Our guided trip was in a jet. We fished all the typical runs from the bucket to the falls pool. The other day we were on foot and we fished the falls pool and around the island below.

Again, there are other rivers on the island producing, unfortunately, the Stamp is not one of them right now.

[brownmancheng]

I will say I had a pretty darn good weekend there

[JustinG]

You got the winning lottery ticket then, congrats! From my count there were 8 jet boats out last weekend, and out of 16 guys, 3 fish were caught in two days. Glad someone had some success. We have done this trip 2x a year for the last 8 yrs and averaged 15 to 20 fish per day between the two of us. My experience was definitely different than yours.

[Every Day]

You got the winning lottery ticket then, congrats! From my count there were 8 jet boats out last weekend, and out of 16 guys, 3 fish were caught in two days. Glad someone had some success. We have done this trip 2x a year for the last 8 yrs and averaged 15 to 20 fish per day between the two of us. My experience was definitely different than yours.

Wow never realized it was that slow.
I had heard of guides cancelling trips this past week, but didn't realize it was THAT bad.

Was definitely the lowest I'v ever seen it in the winter this past weekend, but me and the girlfriend still managed 10 fish.
One was a 16-18 pnd wild winter buck. All the fish were winters except for 2.
Everyone else we talked to got skunked though, so I'm thinking we just got lucky and hit pockets of fish. Most of them were a late morning/early afternoon bite.

[JustinG]

Nice work. Yes our guide called a week before and tried to talk us out of coming. I did pretty well in my pontoon 2 weeks before and decided to ignore the advice. Were you fishing above the falls?

[JustinG]

x

[Every Day]

Nice work. Yes our guide called a week before and tried to talk us out of coming. I did pretty well in my pontoon 2 weeks before and decided to ignore the advice. Were you fishing above the falls?

Fished above, below, all over.
Hit fish everywhere we went. Normally in groups of at least 3 fish at a time (within a 2 or 3 run span).

Talked to a few drift boats and other banks guys and didn't hear of another fish.
The last week of November and first week of December were great, been tapering off ever since though, I woulda taken the guides advice hahahaha.

[IronNoggin]

When your Guide (you know, the Fella that makes his living being on the water every day) tells you it is dead slow and advises holding your plans off for a spell, methinks that advice should likely be taken seriously! LOL!

What ain't funny is the dismal showing of fish thus far this season. The river is as low as I've EVER seen it, and dropping daily under the cold snap we're enduring. With no SkyWater in the long range forecast, I'm wondering just how low it can get! 
These conditions are not at all conducive to enticing any in. Hope like heck we get some badly needed rain!

Another consideration focuses on the broodstock capture of the past several years. Minimal returns through January and February have meant most of that effort has been focused on the later runs (March). Do this enough years in a row, and you get what we're seeing now - run timing shifted to later and later each passing season.

Dearly Hope it picks up soon! I am MISSING My FIX Dammit! 

Nog

[Tadpole]

Dearly Hope it picks up soon! I am MISSING My FIX Dammit! 

Nog
[/quote]

 Yes! And I'm missing catching them together with you Nog. Impatiently waiting for your call as soon as they show up.

[IronNoggin]

Yes! And I'm missing catching them together with you Nog. Impatiently waiting for your call as soon as they show up.

That WILL Happen Buddy! They will show eventually, and of course we'll be All Over Them methinks! 
Just Hope we don't have to wait until April!! 

Cheers,
Nog

[Every Day]

Another consideration focuses on the broodstock capture of the past several years. Minimal returns through January and February have meant most of that effort has been focused on the later runs (March). Do this enough years in a row, and you get what we're seeing now - run timing shifted to later and later each passing season.

Matt, how would we get a tube (if possible?).
I've probably released AT LEAST a dozen winters so far. Do they pick up brood on weekends?
I will be fishing Monday's a lot coming up here if I am able to get a vehicle going again.

PS Get out there and get em! You're 5 mins from the river, and I know you're a way better rod than me, so if I can find em, you sure as hell can too 

[IronNoggin]

Matt, how would we get a tube (if possible?).

Shoot me a PM and remind me. Tomorrow I'll check and see what might be done...

PS Get out there and get em! You're 5 mins from the river, and I know you're a way better rod than me, so if I can find em, you sure as hell can too 

LOL! One of the things about living here is we tend to often get spoiled! As in it's somewhat tough to drag our carcasses out there unless there is a reasonably good chance of Success! Currently have another run of cold-smoked tuna to wade through, then a double run of hot-smoked salmon (likely Candy methinks...) and then, ~ 400 or so pounds of sausage to create! Damn Busy as a consequence, so I don't mind them being a tad late just now. 
I'll be caught up in a little better than a week, and start hitting it again then. And of course will be seeking out just where the tubes might be when I get to it...

Cheers,
Nog