Fishing

A September wind rattled in the yellowing cottonwood leaves and made the red and orange vine maples shiver. The last mile was a series of switchbacks that took us into the Ice Lake basin at 8000 feet above sea level. 

Our guide, Barry Cox, led the way on his buckskin, a pack-horse on a lead rope behind him. I was mounted on a bay and dad brought up the rear on a sure-footed gray. I could see the lake finally through the trees, deep blue and green. Alpine meadows with weather-twisted firs and pine trees gave way to steep, landslide country where little in the way of plant life grew. High above, were granite cliffs and rocky, rugged peaks. I shaded my eyes with my hand to look. Somewhere up there, I was told, there were mountain goats.

Barry turned his horse left and we crossed Adams Creek, leaning forward in our saddles as the horses scrambled up the high bank. We rounded a knob and followed a narrow trail along the rocky beach. At the water’s edge, we saw brook trout, our reason for being here. A few eight- to ten-inch brookies hung suspended in the clear blue water where the shallows gave way to deeper water.

We made camp in a little basin away from the water, moving a few rocks to make room for the tent. While dad opened our packs, Barry borrowed a fly rod and headed down to the water. I was right behind him.

Before I could even make a cast, Barry had hooked and landed a ten-inch brook trout. It took three casts before I hooked a fish. I was using a No. 14 Adams and I set it down outside of the shallows and saw a brook trout, coming up and up from the dark green depths. He opened his mouth and took the fly back down. It promised to be a good day of fishing. Barry soon retired for a nap and a lunch of trout while dad and I continued on around the lake. We moved down the beach a few yards whenever the bite slowed.

It didn't seem to matter what fly we used. After I lost the Adams I switched to a bead head Prince Nymph. We caught fish on whatever fly we tried. A Mosquito pattern worked as did the Hare's Ear and Zug Bug. Streamer patterns caught fish and so did a Mouserat that I cast alongside a log and swam back. 

The most fun were the grasshopper patterns we cast along the shoreline or just outside of the shallows to entice cruising fish. These fish knew how to eat a grasshopper. They exploded on top of the fly, seeming to want to dunk the hopper before swallowing it. In the clear, calm water we could often see the fish as it climbed to smash the fly.

It was three o'clock when we finally stopped for lunch, carrying five brookies back to camp and frying them over a small fire. Afternoon gave way to evening and dad and I fished until it was nearly dark. The trout were so hungry I believe I could have caught 300 fish that day if I had kept at it. They ranged in size from six to eleven inches with most of the fish measuring between eight and ten inches.

Each fish was different in appearance though all were brookies. Some had dull coloration while others were brilliant with orange fins tipped in white. Some had extremely large heads with underfed bodies, older fish whose bodies had not kept up with the growth of their heads. Too many fish and not enough food.

In the morning the fish didn't come as quickly to the fly as they had the previous night. I guess I spent more time looking at the mountains and the wildflowers too, hoping to imprint on my mind what I was seeing.

The showy daisies were in bloom, as well as alpine buttercups, Indian paintbrush and mountain gentian. 

In the afternoon, we rode out, leaning back in our saddles as the horses picked their way down the switchbacks, our stirrups hanging over nothing but the pure mountain air. 

# # #
For a copy of the Fishing Central Oregon book, send $29.99 to Gary Lewis Outdoors, PO Box 1364, Bend, OR 97709 To contact Gary Lewis, visit www.GaryLewisOutdoors.com

For salmon anglers in the Pacific Northwest, November heralds the final transition from targeting open saltwater to focusing on tidewaters and rivers. Yes, there are some saltwater opportunities (for example, blackmouth, when open), but the vast majority of anglers have put away their boats and are pursuing salmon in the rivers. That said, there are some prime opportunities to target and catch salmon out of your fishing boats, so don’t button them up just yet!

One of my favorite fisheries out of my boat in November has to be the Hoodsport chum fishery. The fight of a 10-15 pound chum ranks up there as one of the hardest fighting salmon you can catch. Taking on a chum with steelhead gear will give you all the battle you could ask for as these brutes slash and pull with every ounce of energy they have. One look at their fighting canine teeth and you’ll know this is a fish that is serious, very serious, about its reproducing goal.

All up and down Hood Canal you’ll find chum as they work their way toward their spawning grounds. The state hatchery at Hoodsport and three miles south of there at Potlatch (a smaller, Native American hatchery) are the destination for many of these chum as they work their way down Hood Canal.

I have caught fish in both locations, and each spot has reason to recommend it. Potlatch, being smaller, has limited shore angling and parking, which is roadside only. That said, there are also fewer anglers there. Hoodsport, meanwhile, is the Fishing Mecca that chum anglers are drawn to. Fishing right out in front of the hatchery and watching hundreds of fish jockey for position as the tide sweeps them into the small feeder creek leading to the hatchery is truly a sight to behold. Of course, along with the fish comes combat fishing in all its glory. As the tide comes in and fishing space decreases, getting to know your neighbor takes on a whole new meaning.

If you’re a fortunate one you’ll be fishing out of a boat – or some type of floating device. The waters around Hoodsport are open and the wind can come up and blow hard, plus fast running tides can make it a challenge to get an anchor to set. Be sure to bring an anchor with some bite, and terminal chain so you’ll stick in the rocky bottom. I’ve seen anglers fishing out of all manner of floating devices on calm days, including single person pontoons and float tubes. Be sure to have your life jackets on and just don’t venture too far off shore. If you are feeling anxious that’s your inner voice telling you a fish isn’t worth your life – pay attention to it!

For boaters, the launch is two miles south of Hoodsport at the Skokomish Park at Potlatch. The launch has two concrete lanes which are in varying state of repair (read that as back down with caution!). There is ample parking, and a restroom. Once launched it’s a quick run to either terminal hatchery, faster to the small Potlatch facility.

When you arrive, survey the already anchor boats, taking into account the amount of anchor line you’ll need to get a solid grip on the bottom, as well as the shore anglers. Anchoring too close to the shore bound anglers will earn you a steady rain of lures and weights at your boat. Stay outside their casting zone - you’ll have plenty of water to work over and opportunities to catch fish the shore anglers don’t have.

As to the type of gear you should bring… you’re going to enjoy a variety of methods to catch these Hoodsport chum. Like chum everywhere, chartreuse and green are always great colors to choose. Pink or cerise is also good color choices. For rod/reel setups I use my steelhead gear, both spinning reels and casting will get the job done. I like an 8 ½ foot medium action rod. Line should be strong enough to turn these big brutes so as to avoid massive tangle ups with your fellow anglers. I like 18-20 pound test. Chums are not leader shy in my experience so keep things hefty.

What technique you use is up to you but here are a few tried and true methods:

Floats and jigs , or floats and corkies with yarn can be deadly. A ¼ or 3/8-ounce pink, black or purple marabou jig fished under a float is deadly. Tipped with a piece of shrimp meat or coon shrimp tail is even better. The yarn is a nice trick as it helps by getting caught up in the chums teeth, allow you to drive the hook home. Other bait you can put under a float includes the ever popular anchovy or herring, whole or plug cut.

Think of the tide as the river current. Set your depth for the lure so it’s running a foot or so off the bottom. Vary the depth if you aren’t getting bites. These fish will hit suspended jigs. Cast “upstream”, i.e. up into the tide, and let your gear drift down with the tide to the end of the “drift”. If the coast is clear, free spool your line, keeping the float straight up and down to extend the drift. When the float goes under set the hook and be ready to do battle!

Twitching jigs – ditch the float and cast the jig on its own. Another effective technique, but be prepared for a lot of foul-hooked chum. Dragging a chum in by the tail is not fun, nor is it sporting to be snagging fish. If you find yourself foul hooking too many fish move on to a different method…

Casting spinners. Again, it’s a solid technique to try if the action is slow. I personally would remove the treble hook and use a single si-wash hook. A number 3 or 4 blade fished with a slow retrieve is just the ticket.

Corkie, yarn, and slinky. I personally have caught a lot of fish using this method and seldom snag fish. Again, think of the tide as a river. Cast out and let your gear drift. You’ll know you have a bite because your rod will be about ripped out of your hands. I use a 3-4 foot leader length.

Regarding the above technique, I’m sure I’m going to get comments about flossing – I personally think it’s a bunch of malarkey. Why do I say that? Because I remember a day years ago fishing Hoodsport when the chum were in thick, jumping all around us, swimming by in schools of 10-20 fish. I had my corkie/yarn/slinky set up going, casting, retrieving, and not getting a bump for a good hour. Suddenly, the bite magically turned on and my gear started getting bit. In came fish after fish, hooked in the jaw. Explain to me how one can have a steady procession of fish go by with mouths open for a good hour and not “floss” one fish, then suddenly start catching one jaw hooked fish after another? And trust me when I say this, those hook-ups were solid strikes, not to be mistaken with a snagging sensation. Anyway, the flossing debate is one we anglers love to engage in every year and likely will do so as long as we fish corkies.

The fly fishermen do quite well at Hoodsport as well, fishing sinking tips and flies of various styles and colors. I’m not a fly guy but it sure does look like fun. Maybe on my next trip I’ll give it a try.

Before you set out, be sure to check the Hoodsport netting line at 360-877-5222. Typically the nets go in on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but this is not set in stone. There’s nothing worse than driving a hundred miles only to find nets spread in every direction. So save yourself that aggravation before you set out.

Fishing for hard fighting chum is a blast. Get in on the action this November!

My reel was peeling line at a dizzying rate and it felt like I had a freight train attached on the other end. Without thinking I applied my thumb to the level line spool and pulled back with a loud “ouch!” “That’ll leave a mark” our guide Dave deadpanned. The fish was a good fifty yards behind our boat before I was able to slowly start to regain line. Foot by foot the strong chinook and I battled back and forth, each of us gaining, and then losing line to the other.

The most popular location anglers congregate is Vernita Bridge. There is a large open area to the north of the bridge on the east side of the river. Every year a small town of anglers set up their base camp here. All variety of tents, RVs, and sleeping in the back of trucks can be seen. At night the cries of the coyotes remind you that this is wild country. Camping is free, but a Discovery pass is required. The launch here is rough and rocky and four-wheel drive is a must. Plan on your boat getting scraped up on the rocky shoreline and be sure to bring waders to help during the launch and retrieval process. Launching, by the way, starts at o-dark hundred. Alarm clocks are optional – unless you’re a deep sleeper, you will be awakened by the lights and sounds of anglers starting to launch around 3am.

Closer and closer the powerful fish came, each run a little less intense. Now a giant tail could be seen, trailing a large V wake behind it. Finally, the fish, exhausted came to the side of the boat and I saw the reassuring sign of fatigue as the fish laid on its side, telling us we were getting closer to that critical moment. Net sliding under the fish Dave skillfully scooped him up and into our boat. But not before the big fish gave one final flip of his tail, giving all of us an early morning soaking. Wow! This upriver fall bright was twenty plus pounds of pure power and beauty, not to mention great eating. The smiles and high fives of my friends were the icing on the cake and the day was just beginning!

A perfect morning, the sun just breaking over the shoreline and catching a hot Hanford Reach fall chinook - it’s the stuff dreams are made of, and it was living up to be everything I had heard about the Reach.

Washington’s Hanford Reach is synonymous with some of the state’s best fall chinook fishing to be found – and not coincidentally, the last of the chinook fishing to be found for the season. It’s the icing on the cake, and what icing it is! The Reach is the perfect setting and the perfect fish to end the year’s salmon fishing on the Columbia River. These are the brutes that dreams are made of. A fish worth dreaming about during the long off season and savoring the brief weeks they are available to catch. Battle plans must be made, so let’s talk about what you need to know to get into this fishery and have a chance at one of these amazing fish.

They call “The Reach” the last free-flowing stretch of the Columbia. With dams seemingly from one end of the Columbia to the other, this stretch of water has no dams to impede it. Here, from Priest Rapids dam down to Richland anglers have 63 miles of productive water to fish. Ideal spawning grounds make this a natural holding location for big chinook to do their reproducing thing. For the boat angler, you’ll find a variety of deep holes, shallow runs, and everything in between. A prop boat can be used – with extreme caution, however, downriver in the area known as Coyote Rapids a jet is the way to go.

Just upstream from the rough launch at Vernita you’ll run into the first hole, the Hog Hole. This spot will hold fish early and throughout the season. It’s in the middle of the river and runs a couple hundred yards in length and has a depth of 15-40 feet. Fish will be both suspended and hugging the bottom here. The hole is deep enough to require a way to get your gear down to the fish. This can include divers, dropper weights, and, yes, downriggers. A word of caution – the Columbia is a big, strong, and powerful river. Snagging a downrigger ball on the bottom of the Columbia has the potential for some seriously bad consequences and requires the boat captain and crew to be ready to deal with them. The times I’ve used downriggers I always have a wire cutter at the ready and a good dose of “always pay attention” to go along with it. It goes without saying if another boat hooks up to be ready to pull those riggers up. Backtrolling this hole works well and as you push the fish ever shallower by ready for that take down.

A variety of salmon catching gear can be used for Hanford chinook depending on the depth and speed of the spot you are fishing. Among the most popular setups are flashers with super baits (packed with tuna), plugs, flatfish (wrapped with a sardine or herring strip), and the ever-effective spin-n-glo with eggs, or eggs and shrimp. Anglers that are flexible and willing to adapt techniques to river flow and time of day will be most successful. Backtrolling your gear down the hole can be very effective, pushing fish back down the hole and triggering them to bite out of aggression is a tried-and-true technique.

Farther upriver as you head to toward the dam, you’ll find the King Hole about a mile and a half above the bridge, then the China Bar and Midway Drifts. One of my personal favorite spots is the deep hole just down from the dam. As well as being great holding water, it’s a stunningly beautiful spot. The deep hole off the rocks is great for downrigger fishing. You may even want to try running a diver twenty feet behind your release and bringing the ball up ten feet off the bottom, letting the diver do the work of bring your bait down to the bottom. Be sure to pay attention to the regulations and know the areas that are closed, downriver from the dam and on the west shoreline where the hatchery is located.

Below the Vernita Bridge you will find several more popular spots, including those famous old reactors. It’s about a three-mile run down to the B/C hole, and another four miles to reactor number one, and then number two. Beyond a large bend you’ll find the famous White Bluffs with a nice sixty-foot-deep hole. There’s a concrete launch located here, however; this is the area where running a prop boat becomes a dicey proposition. Be mindful that water levels can go up and down five to six feet in a day, leaving riffles where clear passage had been. It would be best to learn this water by first going with a guide before venturing out on your own.

Finally, farther downstream around the areas of the mouth of the Yakima down to the mouth of the Snake you’ll find slower water, more suited for prop boats. With several launches located around Richland, Pasco, and Kennewick, smaller boats will have a safer time of it than at the fast-flowing upper Reach spots.

As to timing, these up-river brights can be targeted from mid-September well into late October. Don’t be fooled by the dark coloring on these fish – they cut just fine and taste great!

The Reach is truly an amazing place to fish with the very real opportunity of hooking into large chinook. Multi-fish days are not unusual. As a bonus, while fishing you’ll be treated to amazing scenery. Besides moth-balled nuclear reactors, it’s very possible to see coyote, mule deer, several varieties of waterfowl, and even herds of elk on the shoreline. Some of the best weather in the Pacific Northwest can be had with temperatures moderating from the scorching hot summer days. You’ll find cool nights and a sky full of stars to gaze at as the coyotes sing you to sleep. And most likely you’ll be rewarded with some tasty chinook to take home.

Tired of the salmon fishing crowds?

Tired of the salmon fishing crowds? Looking for one last hurrah before winter? Look no further than fall trout! Fall is one of my favorite times of year to fish for rainbow trout. The majority of other fishermen have either put the boat away for the year or are off targeting salmon, so most days you’ll have the lake to yourself.

Most pleasure boaters have also put their boats away for the season, so those of us with small boats don’t have to deal with their huge wakes! Another benefit of fishing for trout in the fall is that they once again start to patrol the shallows looking for a quick meal, putting them within reach of shore anglers. Those small planter trout from earlier in the year have also gotten much larger by this time, making for big, tasty fish. Not to mention they are also more aggressive during this time of year because they want to pack on the pounds before winter.

Though they do most of their trout stocking in the spring, WDFW also plants several lakes on both the east and west side throughout the fall. Check the stocking reports on their website, sometimes they stock jumbo trout! Fishing for fall trout is one of the best ways to spend a lazy fall day. You can enjoy the cooler weather and a break from the crowds. Whether you want to fish from shore or a boat, you can find success by following these tips.

No boat?

No boat? No problem! Dust off those ultralight rods and hit the lake. You can fish with a bobber, soak dough bait, or throw hardware. Spinners and spoons work very well for fall trout, but traditional dough baits and worms will also catch fish. On lakes where two-pole fishing is allowed, I like to put some dough bait on a hook, toss it out, and put the rod in a rod holder. I’ll grab a second rod and cast spinners while the dough bait soaks. Black/gold spinners are my favorite! It’s a good idea to bring several different colors and flavors of dough baits.

Take a look at reports or try to remember what you used in the spring. Worms, salad shrimp, corn, and maggots are all tried and true trout baits. If you don’t have luck fishing in one location, it pays to move around until you figure out where the fish are at. You’ll often see fall trout jumping and feeding on the surface. Fishing is best in the mornings and evenings, but trout are always hungry during the fall and will bite any time of day.

Shore anglers

Although shore anglers can easily get limits of trout in the fall, don’t be afraid to take out your boat and try trolling for them. There are fewer pleasure boaters in the fall, thanks to the cooling temperatures. It’s a great time of year to take out your kayak or small aluminum boat. Try a faster troll than you would in the summer. These trout are feisty and will chase down a meal willingly. You can use larger presentations than you would in the spring and summer, since the fish are bigger. I’d highly recommend using a fish finder. Do you miss trolling with leaded line?

This is a great opportunity to troll with leaded line or divers, since the fish are running much shallower than in the heat of the summer, making downriggers unnecessary. I often have good success trolling plugs in the fall, but spinners can work well too. For attractors, you can use dodgers or gang trolls. I lean towards dodgers, but maybe that’s because I’m also a kokanee fisherman.I already have a book of 20-30 dodgers in different colors, shapes, and sizes. Gang trolls have definitely put caught many a trout, but I find dodgers easier and more convenient to use. I can quickly put globs of scent on them, tune them, and change them to suit the conditions or try something new. Whichever method you use, you’re sure to get many fall trout on your hook!

Don’t hesitate to give fall trout fishing a try! The fish are big, aggressive, and tasty. Your chances of scoring a trophy holdover are much higher this time of year. I would recommend trying Potholes Reservoir, the seep lakes, Mineral Lake, Clear Lake, American Lake, and Harts Lake, for starters. There’s no need to put up with crowds or drive all day to the coast. Give your favorite local lake a try! It’s also a great way to put kids on fish. Some kids just don’t have the patience to troll or cast all day for salmon, but they’ll love seeing those trout takedowns! Don’t forget to bring the net, the size of these trout can surprise you.

Hope to see you out there this fall!

There are so many moving parts in fishing. Fly fishing is no exception to this interwoven connection between man, reel, and fish. On a trip with CrossCurrents Fly Shop,Chris Stainer even commented on my happy feet when hooked up on a fish. My rocking back and forth on the boat didn’t make it any easier for him to row, no doubt. But, what would you expect? I had a blue ribbon trout on the other side of my line! This was clearly an added moving part to the entire fishing experience. Line screaming out of the reel, a trout head fighting, and me doing my best to shift weight in the drift boat. All this made for a memorable trip on the Missouri River outside of Craig, MT. 

Another graceful display to take in during the whole process of fly fishing. This beautiful river are the ongoing developing and vacating columns of tricos along the river bank. These mayflys make up a large portion of the diet for the fish in the section of the Missouri River. Their 24 hour life cycle made for an ever present food source during our late July fishing trip.

There were columns of bugs 10-15 feet high swirling and moving about. Some columns were next to one another, other columns were isolated as if they were exclusive to the most worthy tricos. These swarms of bugs were never annoying - no biting or buzzing around your head. They were part of the ecosystem a simple way that don't notice it unless an expert pointed out their significance.

Battling the Fish

The battle between you and fish is another dance to experience. Once the fish has been hooked, steering it as best you can through the water is a balance of both strength and finesse. Objects like weeds can be a challenge and weigh down the fish. This can give him “brass knuckles” as you fight him into the boat. Manipulating the fish is crucial. During a fight with an18 or 19 inch rainbow, it felt likea 10lb fish with all the weeds.

The same thrill can be had when you’ve hooked into an unwilling partner: the fish who wants nothing to do with your boat or net. The fish who turns and runs and pulls line out for what seems like a football field. These fish, you respectfully allow the opportunity to take as much line as they want. Perhaps the most enjoyable part of this rhythmic contest is when the fish takes flight. Seeing those trout leap out of the water with violent intentions and come splashing down is enough to hook anyone to the art of the fly rod. It is everything you expect and look forward to with a fishing experience like this.

The Technique

Of course, this all assumes you can get yourself on the dance floor. The level of technique required to fly fish isn’t much that a novice couldn’t figure it out. I certainly was able to with some pointers. But it requires a fine enough skill that one can’t have a “set it and forget it” kind of mindset. There is consideration of how much line to strip outthe required distance. Looking at your fly relative to the fish relative to the line and mending it to make for an attractive lure. All this even assumes that you’ve gotten the cast down. Too much power or not enough time to let the line get behind you on your cast and you look more like Indiana Jones with a whip than anything else. Rod tip out of position on the cast? Your fly isn’t going anywhere.

Chris’ dedication fly fishing stood out in two comments; one practical and one funny. An analogy regarding golfers. Say you’ve got an opportunity to golf at Augusta. Would you fly down there without having practiced and hope to do well on the course? Or would you expect to work on your short game and try to cut down on slicing your drive before the trip? The same practice goes into the technique when casting a fly rod. To the funny story - when talking about other techniques or ways to target fish - think bottom bouncing for walleye or using a downrigger for salmon, he said something to the effect of “Well if I wanted to do any of those things, I’d have to buy a spinning rod” with a grin and a chuckle. If you want to hone your fly fishing skills, see beautiful scenery and catch some awesome fish, there is no better place to do so than Craig, MT. And CrossCurrents Fly Shop in Craig, Montana can help make it happen. A word to the wise, leave dancing shoes at home when you go.

While there are so many lakes with amazing fishing opportunities in Washington State that I love, Riffe Lake may just be my favorite. Located just 60 miles south of Tacoma, Riffe Lake is a 13-mile long reservoir that’s famous for its landlocked salmon fishing. Tacoma Power not only raises and lowers the water levels of this lake, but they also stock it with thousands of coho salmon every year. Once they meet their quota of fish, they put the excess fish in Riffe Lake to give sportsmen an opportunity to target them there. It’s usually well worth the drive, Riffe Lake is a consistently good fishery. I cut my teeth learning how to troll on this lake. Landlocked coho taste amazing on the grill and the smoker. The action is typically hot and fast. Let’s go over how to have a successful day at Riffe Lake!

Trolling is by far the most popular way to fish Riffe Lake. You don’t need to run all the way across the lake to catch fish; you can start trolling right after you launch. You can use your kokanee setups- the coho here are about the same size. Coho in Riffe Lake love the color pink! You’ll want to use small pink dodgers and pink lures. Some popular lures include Mack’s Wedding Rings, Brad’s Kokanee Cut Plugs, small spoons, and small hoochie spinners. The coho are usually willing, aggressive biters. If you get some hits but no fish, reel up and check your bait. This trait also makes them a great way to teach kids how to reel in bigger fish. Before taking your kids out to the Sound to target the big boys, let them practice reeling in these feisty Riffe Lake coho!

During this time of year, the heat will have pushed the coho down in the water column. Salmonids do not tolerate warm water temperatures as well as other species. They will also travel deeper during the heat of the day to escape the sun. During sunset, sunrise, and on cloudy days, you won’t have to fish quite as deep.  A good fish finder is essential to find out how deep to run your downriggers. Riffe Lake is extremely deep and large. With 13 miles of 200 feet deep water, there’s a lot of room for fish to spread out.

Keep a close eye on your fish finder, it’s easy to get lulled into a false sense of security when trolling in such deep water. The lake shallows up surprisingly quickly, especially near islands. Some days the fish can be 90 feet deep. The fish school up very tightly, so they will be easy to find on your fish finder. Be ready to adjust the settings on your fish finder, especially if you’re used to fishing shallow lakes. You don’t need to see all 200+ feet of the lake, adjust your settings so you only see the depth you need. 

As of this writing, all boat launches except Mossyrock Park are closed due to low water levels. As previously mentioned, Tacoma Power raises and lowers the water levels throughout the year. You can give them a call or check their website to see which boat launches are open. There’s a nice fish cleaning station at Mossyrock Park, restrooms, ample parking, and a play area for the kids. You can find restaurants, stores, and other amenities at the nearby town of Mossyrock.

Once you’ve launched, you can start your troll and turn left or right. I’ve consistently found fish in both directions. Some days, we’ve limited out all 4 people in an hour, and couldn’t even get all 4 rods back in the water! There are fish all over Riffe Lake. If you’re struggling to find willing biters, try targeting points and islands. These fish like drop-offs, just like their saltwater cousins. 

There’s something for everyone at Riffe Lake. Don’t have a boat? No worries, there are several places near the dams that you can shore fish. Cast out a piece of shrimp underneath a bobber, and wait. Just like when you’re fishing from a boat, you’ll want to adjust the depth you’re fishing at to find the fish. Remember that there is a 5 fish limit. You can catch a variety of species at this lake other than coho, including cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, chinook salmon, and steelhead. Salmonids have a hard time surviving catch and release, especially in this hot weather.

Another word of warning, check the forecast before heading out. Riffe Lake is famous for those afternoon winds that can blow small vessels off the . Most importantly, remember to have fun! Riffe Lake is a special fishery. Where else can you consistently bring home limits of land locked salmon? Go catch your limit, let the kids play at the park, and have some ice cream and burgers in Mossyrock before heading home to barbeque your fish!

Imagine waking up in a place where you could keep five chinook a day, use two rods, barbed hooks, and have a legit chance at multiple twenty-pound plus fish. On top of that, no punch cards, or shortened seasons. Sounds too good to be true? Some pipe dream in a faraway land that time forgot? Well, I’m here to tell you there exists just such a place. It’s been happening for years now and is closer than you may think. 

I’m speaking of a place you’d not likely think of when it comes to chinook salmon. That place is Montana, and the location is Fort Peck Reservoir. 

My son Matt and I recently got to fulfill a Bucket List dream we’d been talking about for years, namely the Fort Peck Chinook Fishery. We were joined by NWF co-host Rob Holman, and Shelby Ross of Ross Outdoor Adventures. Shelby may be a walleye guide, but he was down for a trip to Fort Peck. And I sent Rob a steady stream of recent angler catches, feeding his enthusiasm. They made the ten-hour drive from Spokane, while Matt and I had a relatively easy five-hour drive from Great Falls to this reservoir in the northeast corner of Montana. The trip goes fast because in Montana you can drive fast, 75-80 miles an hour, and there’s little traffic to contend with. Just keep an eye out for stray deer and antelope, and the occasional suicidal pheasant.

We met at the Cottonwood Inn and Suites in Glasgow, which turned out to be a great place to stay as a base camp for fishing Ft Peck. 18 minutes from the boat launch, Cottonwood Inn and Suites has all the amenities an angler could want, including free charging stations to recharge trolling batteries. It also has RV camping for those with RVs.

Ft Peck’s 3.8 mile long dam was completed in 1937, backing up the Missouri River for an amazing 134 miles in length and 220 feet at its deepest spot. With over 1,500 miles of shoreline, it is longer than the California coastline and bigger than Puget Sound. At 18.7 million acre-feet, it’s the 5^th largest man-made lake in the United States. The surrounding countryside is high prairie and borders nearly the entire Charles M Russell National Wildlife Refuge.

Dozens of species of fish inhabit the lake, and it is a world-class body of water for walleye, bass, pike, and lake trout. The chinook were introduced in 1983, but what really caused a boom for the fisheries of Fort Peck was the 1984 introduction of cisco to the reservoir. This species of bait fish, also known as lake herring, rapidly reproduced, and they provide the reservoir with an ample source of food for the various sport fish in the lake. It also is no small reason the chinook have grown so well, with the state record at an impressive 32.05 lbs with a girth of 27.5 inches and a length of 38.25 inches, caught by Greg Haug of Bismark, ND in 2020.

To top it all off, the State of Montana has a massive hatchery at Fort Peck where they raise and release walleye, pike, and salmon – with a capacity to raise and release over 500,000 chinook, it makes for a very healthy population of fish to target.

Launching at the crack of dawn is always a special time of day. We idled out to the main reservoir with the sun cracking the eastern sky, beautiful shades of orange, yellow, and red painting the sky. A brief five-minute run and we began the process of deploying our gear. My boat has two downriggers, and with no tides or wind to deal with I was comfortable stacking them, setting the deep rods at 60 and 90 feet, and stackers 10 feet above. Not more than five minutes after all rods were out, the port deep rod got bitten 60 feet deep. As the line came taunt the drag began to scream – our first Fort Peck chinook was on! Standing next to the rigger, I grabbed the rod and felt the pull of a solid fish. I had brought my knuckle buster reels to Montana and was glad I did! There is no better fight than a big chinook on a knuckle buster. Add to that break-away flashers and this chinook was giving me everything I could handle and then some. Clearing the port side stacker rod, I worked the fish ever closer as frantic runs became shorter and less frequent. Finally, a chrome bright football slab of a chinook appeared. Easing the fish to the net, Rob scooped the fish up and into the boat. Wow, what a pig! It was obvious that these freshwater chinook are feeding good. Plump, and all fins intact, we admired a fish a thousand miles away from its native element. Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks certainly created an amazing fishery out in the middle of the prairie. 

After bleeding the fish, it fit (barely) in my cooler. Lines back down we continued our troll, noting more boats joining us. As the morning progressed the fleet of boats probably numbered a couple dozen. Spread out over an area of maybe ten by ten miles, over-crowding was not a concern for this fishery! 

With high hopes for more fish, we explored the general fishing area. Marks were common at 60-90 feet, and we also noted fish marks on the bottom at 160 feet. Dropping a rigger ball down and bouncing the bottom, it wasn’t too long before I confirmed my assumption – lake trout. Shelby brought the nice 6-pound fish to the boat and in the cooler he went. Since everything we had read and been told indicated the chinook were suspended, we went back to mid-depth with the deep rigger. 

The action died off and we came in around 1pm, cleaning our fish at a first-rate cleaning station at the Fort Peck Marina. I stopped in and visited with the owner and guide at the Marina, Scott Collinsworth. Scott is very active on the Montana Salmon Facebook group and willingly shares information on techniques to catch these fish. He indicated the bite had slowed down from the previous week (no doubt a low-pressure front didn’t help) and catch rates were about a fish per boat. That’s still pretty impressive for big 15-25 pound fish (ours was 16 pounds). Even more impressive was another guide boat that came back with nine big chinook! That’s what daydreams are made of.

We retired to the Cottonwood Inn where Rob hit the casino and I hit the bed for an afternoon nap. Cleaning up the boat and re-rigging gear, the day ended with a nice meal at the The Woods, the Inn’s dinner. A nice variety of dishes were available, as well as craft Montana beers on draft and a full-service bar, all at affordable Montana prices.

Our next morning was a cookie-cutter day, as we again started fishing with the sun breaking the horizon. Again, the port rod exploded and Rob grabbed the rod, battling an even nicer fish. As he brought the fish to the net and I scooped it up, I was amazed at the weight in the net – this fish was very close to hitting 20 pounds, another fat, healthy chinook.

A word on gear – when we moved to Montana I kept my salmon gear, knowing that someday it would come in handy for fishing Fort Peck. We certainly went through a lot of lure combinations, most of which I have no doubt would work great if the bite was on. Most anglers fish with flashers, salmon flies, herring, spoons, and a few other salmon-oriented choices. The two big differences I observed from Puget Sound chinook were more fishing at suspended depths and trolling slightly slower. Most anglers trolled at 1.8 -2.2 mph. We started out faster, 2.5-2.9. So, while we did catch a couple fish at this faster troll, by the end of the trip we had slowed down, matching the fleet. I suspect those that enjoy mooching would find these fish to be very co-operative with this technique (note to self, bring mooching gear next year!). 

Our second day ended much like the first, with Matt catching a small laker and also a beautiful walleye. We also lost a nice chinook that came unbuttoned.

Interestingly, the weekend saw less anglers on the water, opposite of what you’d see in the Puget Sound fisheries. A couple other observations – the boat ramp etiquette was outstanding. The Marina has a two-lane ramp with a dock. Most anglers launching and retrieving would power their boats on/off trailers, making for fast and smooth lines. Second, we only saw a couple tubers on the water. Pretty much every boat we saw were anglers. There’s a distinct advantage to being far away from population centers!

Although our trip ended with “just” two salmon, I considered it to be a huge success. I learned about the area, the launch, where to stay, and techniques to use. I’m already contemplating next year’s trip and the chance at some multi-fish days!

You’ve heard of Shark Week on Discovery CSharks. Who needs em? By Gary Lewishannel. This is not that. We booked two days on the F/V Miss Raven, a 43-foot fishing vessel out of Newport. Our mission was to find blue sharks in the deep blue, chum them to the surface, and stick them with feathers. We called it Shark Weekend. On board were my daughter Tiffany, Sterling West, Paul Galvin, Sam Pyke, Will Saunders and Mathew McFarland and his boys, Chisel and Finney. To catch sharks on the fly, Matthew McFarland prepared three rods, long sticks built to throw 10- to 14-weight lines, with steel leaders and bright feathered creations. Now all we needed were fins in the water.

We stepped aboard the Miss Raven and met skipper Mike Sorensen and his son Sean. Minutes after the safety meeting was over, the 300-horse John Deere diesel fired and we motored out of the harbor beneath the arch of the Yaquina Bay Bridge. When we crossed the bar, waves swallowed the lights of Newport. As dawn broke through the gray clouds, Sean threw the crab pots over and Mike marked them on the GPS. Then someone spotted harbor porpoises off the bow. For a few precious minutes, the porpoises ran ahead of the boat, their bodies briefly above the gray water, then beneath; twisting and spinning. And then as quickly as they had appeared, they peeled away. Twenty-three miles out, Mike cut the engine.

The Miss Raven bobbed in the deep swells that rolled through us. One moment we towered on a wave, the next we were in the trough. Here the ocean floor humped toward the surface. Here the baitfish congregate as well as the sharp-toothed predators that feed on them. Sean punched holes in a big kitchen wastebasket, then filled it with tuna heads and carcasses. Roped to the side of the boat, the basket milked tuna gore and soon we had birds above us - seagulls and albatross. Matthew and Paul rigged fly rods with steel leaders and big streamers. We watched the surface of the water for black fins. That was when we saw the sunfish. Ocean sunfish are a seldom seen species that make their living on jellyfish. They are as tall as they are long and can weigh up to 3,500 pounds. This one sunbathed at the surface and we were able to get a good look. In some languages they are referred to as moon fish, because of their shape. The Polish name means “head alone”; because it doesn’t have a true tail.

A school of 40 or so dolphins found us and ran through our greasy tuna chum line. They circled and came through again and again, breaking through the swells and flashing away below the boat. An albatross paddled nearby and took the fly in its beak. Then he dropped it. That was when I knew we would not catch a shark. The sharks had taken the weekend off. Out on the horizon, I saw a spout and then another.

A great barnacled beast breached, its great, gray body lifted above the surface. Foamy spray crashed out of the swell. In the afternoon, back in sight of the bridge at Newport, Tiffany dipped the hook and pulled in the first buoy. Sean put the rope on the pulley and we held our breath as the pot came into view, brimming with Dungeness crab. Minutes later, we took our stations, sorting males from females, throwing back the little ones. In the dark next morning, we motored south along the coast. Off Cape Perpetua, Mike Sorensen pointed out a watch station that was manned during World War II.

In range of the ghost coastal cannon emplacement, we drifted on a large underwater hilltop. Our jigs and flies bounced through a biomass of rockfish, and in moments, we had our first raw material for fish and chips. In one pass we had filled two-thirds of our limits. On the second drift, we had to call a halt and reel in. Multiple times we caught two rockfish in one cast. Once, we brought three fish aboard in one cast. We came away with a rich haul of crab and rockfish, but that sort of memory is quickly gone in melted butter and tartar sauce. We set out into the Pacific in the dark of the night and watched the sun light up the West Coast; we looked for one thing and found much more. Sharks. Who needs em?

Are you in need of outdoor activity ideas for the days ahead? Here, you'll find seven suggestions that offer you the chance to embrace the outdoors and partake in fresh experiences this spring season.

Wildflower Hikes

The wildflowers are blooming around Eastern Washington and now is a great time to go on a hike and immerse yourself in their presence! A few of my favorite places to go include Columbia Hills State Park in Klickitat County, Hay Canyon and Nahahum Canyon near Cashmere, Ingalls Creek south of Peshastin, the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge south of Cheney, and the area around Palouse Falls State Park.

Waterfalls

Speaking of Palouse Falls, this is the best time of year to visit this state park near Starbuck in Southeast Washington. The spring runoff on the Palouse River sends a voluminous amount of water crashing into the 198-feet deep basalt basin below the falls. Other waterfalls worth checking out right now include Rainbow Falls near Stehekin, Silver Falls west of Entiat, and Periwee (also known as Peewee) Falls in Pend Oreille County, which cascades 233 feet into Boundary Lake.

Bass Fishing

The bass are in the shallows and getting ready to spawn. This is arguably the easiest time of year to sight fish for bass. Casting finesse rigs like senkos, jigs or Texas rigged worms and lizards can readily draw strikes. Look for these bass in thick cover and be prepared to scratch up the boat a bit to get at them.

Trout Fishing

Most of those trout planted prior to the lowland lakes opener are still there, and this is a great time to go fishing for them. If you are looking for places to go, check out the WDFW derby lakes where trout with blue tags have been planted. If you catch one of these trout, they are worth a prize, which could be anything from a gift card to a canoe!

Catfish Fishing

Another option for anglers right now is to go after catfish. You can find them in the lower John Day River between the mouth and the falls as well as the mouth of the Palouse River near Lyons Ferry State Park. Channel catfish are also plentiful in the Snake River.

Desert Hikes

As the weather warms, desert hikes become a lot less enjoyable, but if you go now, you can still take advantage of the great scenery and some of the lakes found in these regions. Some of my favorite desert hikes are the lower route to the Ancient Lakes, Dusty Lake, (1.5 and 3 mike one-way hikes respectively), and near Frenchman or Winchester Wasteway in the Desert Wildlife Area in Grant County. If you go, check yourself for ticks at the conclusion of your excursion.

The Washington lowland lakes opener is in the history books, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still catch fish from them. Here’s a report on some favorites and how angler did: 

Steve Caromile, the Inland Fish Program Manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said, “The lowland lake trout season, Washington’s single biggest fishing season, opened April 22nd with decent weather and catch rates. It is still one of the best bargains in local family recreation. The 22nd was also the first day of our annual trout derby, and we are already seeing catches of tagged trout!”

Caromile continued saying, “With typical springtime weather, angler catch and effort at our lakes was comparable to prior seasons, with catch averaging just about three fish per angler. The air temperatures weren’t bad, but water temperatures are still on the cool side. But with better weather in the forecast, the catch will be heating up as well.”

If you are wondering how Central and Eastern Washington lakes fished on opening day, here are reports from WDFW staff who visited various waters in the region:

Klickitat County

Horsethief Lake was fishing pretty slow on the opener. Individuals averaged two trout each. However, things were very different at Rowland Lake. 29 anglers were checked, and although there were not many people fishing, creel checkers noted they harvested lot of fish. Eight trout were caught per angler, and on average they kept 3.24 fish. The largest trout seen? A 21-incher!

Chelan County

Clear Lake was frozen over and Beehive Reservoir was not accessible to vehicular traffic due to snow at this lake located near the Mission Ridge Ski Area, south of Wenatchee. However, Wapato Lake, near Manson, was open for fishing, and anglers caught and kept around 3.5 trout apiece.

Douglas County

The crowds were out at Jameson Lake on opening morning. Creel checkers counted 234 anglers fishing for trout at 8 AM. Just under 3 trout per angler were caught here, the average fish measuring 11-inches long. The largest fish seen by WDFW staff was a 16-inch rainbow.

Grant County

The crowds were also out for the opener at Blue Lake, with nearly 300 individuals counted, and a lot of these anglers were kids. The average catch was only 1.5 trout each, but the size of the trout was a healthy 14 inches. Park Lake, south of Coulee City, was also crowded, and the catching was about the same as Blue Lake. There was far better fishing at nearby Deep Lake, in Sun Lakes State Park. Anglers there were catching five fish limits of rainbow trout averaging 13 inches.

Okanogan Country

Okanogan County is a popular destination for the lowland lakes opener and for good reason: the fishing can be very good here and the scenery is nice. Creel checkers did not make it out to any of the lakes here for the opener but I called Gene Bussell at Liars Cove Resort, who said anglers did pretty good for both bass and trout. However, the lake is really low right now, and according to Bussell, “it’s not easy to launch boats at the moment.” The good news is the lake is starting to fill and boat access is getting better. Check with Bussell for exactly where to launch so you don’t get stuck in the mud.

Pend Oreille Country

At Diamond Lake, the crowds were low and the fishing was slow, due primarily to cold water temperatures. Of the anglers checked, on average they only harvested a rainbow apiece, though most of them were 13-inches long, and the largest checked was a respectable 19-inch trout.

Stevens County

Waitts Lake had more anglers than any other body of water in Stevens County on opening day. Creel checkers noted the fishing was best in the morning before the winds kicked up. The anglers checked averaged 2.4 trout apiece, but the fish were large, with the rainbows going nearly 14 inches and the brown trout 16. There were not many anglers seen at the other Stevens County lakes. At Starvation Lake, anglers were indeed starving for trout and the fishing was slow. The same scenario played out at Rocky and Mudgett Lake. The few trout checked averaged 12 inches in length.

Last but not least, if you catch a trout with a blue tag on it, don’t throw it back. That’s a WDFW trout derby fish and it’s worth a prize. Go to https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/contests/trout-derby for details about where these fish have been stocked and how to claim your prize if you catch one.

John Kruse – www.northwesternoutdoors.com and www.americaoutdoorsradio.com

Fishing season is officially in full swing! With so many lakes, rivers, and marine areas to choose from, it can be hard to pick your next adventure. If you’re never fished Riffe Lake before, or if it’s been a while, you should put it at the top of your list. It’s one of my favorite fishing destinations, and I make it a point to fish it as much as I can every year. Not only is the fishing top notch, but the scenery is beautiful and the surrounding towns are well worth visiting. I can’t think of many other lakes that offer such a wide variety of fish, let alone with such a good opportunity.

You can catch brown trout, cutthroat trout, smallmouth bass, chinook salmon, coho salmon, crappie, and brown bullhead. The lake is simply packed with fish, and they’re willing biters. You can take the boat out or shore fish, and finish out the day with a Dam Burger from Pioneer Bar & Grill in Mossyrock before heading home to grill your catch. It’s a bit of a drive, but it’s a great way to spend a day!

Located in Lewis County, Tacoma Power created RIffe Lake by constructing Mossyrock Dam on the Cowlitz River in 1968, flooding the communities of Riffe, Nesika, and Kosmos. It has a maximum depth of 360 feet and is about 23.5 miles long. Not only does the lake boast good populations of land-locked coho salmon, but you can also catch triploid trout! Back in 2020, Tacoma Power bought about 400,000 Rufus Woods strain triploid trout and released them into the lake for anglers to catch. The fish have had plenty of time to grow and they are a ton of fun to catch. If you’re lucky, you may even hook into a steelhead or a chinook salmon on the same day! Tacoma Power releases these fish into the lake as well, once they’ve met their stocking quotas. With such a plethora of fish to catch, you can see why Riffe Lake is a favorite of many northwesterners.

Trolling Techniques

Riffe Lake has plenty of room for boats of all shapes and sizes. It is almost 24 miles long and up to 360 feet deep, which can sound intimidating. Not to worry, there are thousands of fish in the lake, and most days they are willing biters. There have been many days when we can’t even put the planer boards out because the two downrigger poles or lead lines are constantly going off! Early in the season, lead lines, divers, and dropper weights work just fine. The fish are still feeding on the surface and haven’t been driven down to the depths by the hot sun. As the season progresses, however, a good fish finder is a must, particularly for the land-locked coho. Troll until you find a school, mark where you get bites, and don’t be afraid to put a little scent on your lure.

I find that the land-locked coho are particularly attracted to pink lures and dodgers. You can use corn or maggots to bait your hooks. Spinners, plugs, spoons- they all catch fish at this lake. I tend to use whatever I already have rigged up for kokanee fishing at other lakes. As for locations, you really can’t go wrong on Riffe Lake- you can start trolling almost as soon as you launch at Mossyrock Park and will usually start catching fish right away. If the fish are being stubborn, try targeting points and coves. Keep an eye on your fish finder if you’re using downriggers, the lake can shallow up surprisingly quickly.

In recent years, it’s been difficult to keep the triploid trout off your hooks if you want to target the land-locked coho salmon in the reservoir. The salmon and trout tend to bite on the same lures and hang out at the same depths in the early season, so you can expect to catch a mixed bag. In general, the coho hang out deeper than the trout in the later season, making downriggers and a good fish finder almost a necessity for targeting them. The salmon tend to like a faster troll, so don’t be afraid to bump it up to 1.9 or 2.2 MPH. However, the trout taste great on the grill and put up a great fight, so most anglers don’t mind catching them.

As a word of caution to boaters, check the water levels at Tacoma Power’s website or give them a call before heading out. The lake’s level fluctuates throughout the year and launching can be difficult when water levels are low. The launch at Mossyrock Park is usually your best bet year-round. It has a large dock with 2 lanes to launch at, which is nice when the ramp is busy. Don’t sweat the crowds too much though, the lake is massive and there is plenty of room for everyone. The other boat launches, Taidnapam and Kosmos, are unsuitable for low water conditions. Check the wind forecast before hitching up the boat- the afternoon winds at Riffe Lake can kick up and create nasty white caps, catching unprepared boaters off guard.

Still Fishing Techniques

Don’t have a boat? No worries, Riffe Lake has plenty of shore access! You can fish at the dam in Mossyrock or at the fishing bridge at Taidnapam Park. These spots can get crowded on nice weekends though. Most shore anglers cast out shrimp or worms under a bobber with a sliding weight. Experiment with setting your bobber stopper anywhere from 3ft to 15 ft until you figure out where the fish are at. 

If you can’t get a spot at the dam or fishing bridge, fishing at nearby Lake Mayfield or Swofford Pond is a good alternative. Lake Mayfield is stocked with tiger muskies, which are difficult but extremely rewarding to catch. WDFW also stocks decent numbers of rainbow trout there every year. Swofford Pond has good populations of panfish, stocked rainbow trout, and brown bullhead. There is a boat launch at both lakes, and good shore access. Many folks fish Swofford Pond with inflatables and kayaks, as there is an internal combustion motor ban. 

Before you grab those poles and hook up the boat, keep in mind that Riffe Lake has a 5 fish limit. They can be any combination of landlocked salmon and trout, so you cannot legally keep 5 coho and 5 trout. The land locked coho don’t tend to survive catch and release very well, particularly in the summer heat. The lake is large and deep, and those afternoon winds can kick up unexpectedly, so make sure that everyone on your boat has a life jacket. Keep these rules in mind, hook up the boat, and have fun!