Anglers targeting salmon in the mainstem Columbia River received some good news, as the states decided to continue to allow sportfishing through the end of September.
The states went ahead and allowed the extra days of fishing after reviewing the most recent catch data, and realizing there were still some fish on the table for anglers to catch.
Initially, there was a complete salmon fishing closer planned for the last half of September. However, the Chinook and coho runs have both exceeded expectations, and in a decision last week, the states allowed for an additional seven days.
According to the WDFW news release, effective Sept. 23 through Sept. 30, retention of Chinook and coho is allowed in the mainstem Columbia River from the Warrior Rock/Bachelor Island line upstream to Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco. The daily adult bag limit is two salmon (Chinook or coho) but only one may be a Chinook.
Chinook continue to be taken in good numbers from the hog lines in the Vancouver area, and anglers are also getting the fish to take trolled offerings.
Even with the mainstem open, though, many anglers are turning their attention to the tributaries. The Chinook run is slowing down, and with the commercial nets fishing the lower river, fewer Chinook are crossing Bonneville Dam. And, while coho are also taken in the mainstem, the catches in the tributaries are already good.
“The tributary fisheries are where it is at,” said Buzz Ramsey of Lyle, Washington, “and the biggest bright spot in my mind is the coho. We got a huge run of coho this year, way above forecast. There’s already over 100,000 coho over Bonneville.”
Ramsey, a legendary Columbia Gorge angler, has been fishing Drano Lake and the Klickitat River, and still chasing the Chinook, but has witnessed a lot of coho being taken, even in Drano Lake.
He said that he had been trolling in Drano Lake, and in the mainstem at the lake’s mouth, with good results, but that the tule Chinook, which are a very low quality eating Chinook, have been a bit if a problem.
“There was a huge run of tules, and they are straying all over the place,” Ramsey said. “They are pulling into the lake because of the cool water.”
He said at times the fish have been a pest, taking the baits meant for the upriver bright Chinook.
Anglers that are trolling for Chinook both inside and out of the mouth are pulling 360 flashers, ahead of small 3.5 size spinners, or Super Baits.
However, Ramsey said that hover fishing has become huge in Drano Lake.
Fishing guide Dave Mallahan has been targeting Chinook in Drano Lake, and he has been using hover fishing to get his clients their fish, although conditions in the Gorge can make the technique difficult at times.
“The last two days we got our fish,” Mallahan said, “but we had a lot of wind. When you are hover fishing that is tough. But today the wind lightened up and the fish bit better.”
Hover fishing is simply lowering salmon eggs or other bait straight below the boat and holding it there. To be effective, an angler needs to keep the line straight up and down, so the bait stays put in a certain depth. The wind can push the boat around to where it is difficult to do that.
To that end, many guides and serious fishermen now invest in bow electrical motors with a spot-lock feature, which automatically holds the boat in one spot.
Mallahan said good electronics are a must, for you are looking for the places where the fish are concentrated the most. And, you want to know exactly how deep the fish are holding.
“We are using our sonar to find the most fish and just dropping in on them,” he said. “I like to begin with 19 feet on the line counter, down to 23 feet, depending on the depth of water I am in, and where you are seeing the fish. That’s a good range to start on.”
He finishes his set with a three-foot leader.
He also cures his own eggs, and he said the fresher, the better.
“You want to use real fresh eggs,” Mallahan said. “I use eggs from a day or two before, and keep your baits small. A lot of people throw on these great big baits for Chinook, but that doesn’t work well in here.”
Mallahan reported that there are also plenty of coho in Drano, once again, drawn by the cold water. He said a lot of them were coming to hand.
Apart from Drano Lake, the lower Klickitat River has always been a good spot for hover fishing for Chinook, but Ramsey notes that boats may have a hard time entering the river from the mainstem this year.
“Guys will take their sleds up into the Klickitat,” Ramsey said, “but the sand bar at the mouth has extended way into the Columbia this year.”
He said it may be difficult to enter the lower Klickitat as a result.
With the Chinook run slowing and the coho bite improving, many anglers will soon be switching over to the later-arriving coho. While some of the Chinook methods work well for coho, they do tend to fall for slightly different offerings. However, salmon eggs are just as effective on coho as they are for Chinook.
The lower Columbia River tributaries, such as the Lewis River and the Cowlitz River, are already producing good numbers of coho. While the fish in the tributaries will take eggs, they will also fall for drifted Corkies, spinners, or by twitching jigs.
As the late run, or “B” run of coho begin to return around the beginning of October, anglers can look to the mouth of the Klickitat, where trolling is the ticket.
Always check the regulations before fishing.
Permanent Regulations: https://www.eregulations.com/washington/fishing/#
Also, always check the regulations for changes, which may happen at any time. For emergency changes to the regulations, check the WDFW website at: https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/regulations/rule-changes
For guided trips: Dave Mallahan, Go Fishing with Dave Guide service: 360- 201-9313
