brewster

You’ve probably heard stories about the Brewster pool, if you haven’t fished it before. It’s one of the most productive and legendary fisheries in the state, and many fishermen look forward to fishing it every year. Thousands of chinook and sockeye salmon make their way up the Columbia River and stage in the cool waters of Lake Pateros (also known as the Brewster pool) before heading up the Okanagan River. The fishery typically opens up in July and can be extremely productive for both species of fish. Despite their long journey, the fish are willing biters and taste great on the grill or smoker. 20-pound chinook are regularly caught, and the sockeye are great eating quality.

It’s a fun fishery for a summer day, but learning how to fish it isn’t always easy. Brewster is about an hour north of Wenatchee, so it’s quite a drive. It can also be intimidating because there are so many other boats in the water. As long as you do some research and have patience, you’ll have a great time and catch some fish. Here’s some tips and tricks to help give you a successful day at the Brewster pool.

Chinook

The chinook fishery at Brewster tends to be a first light fishery, so grab the coffee and headlamps so you can launch in the dark. It’s a short run from the boat ramp to the pool, just stop when you see all the other boats! The most important thing to know about the Brewster pool is that it’s a trolling game. Some anglers jig or anchor up, but they are few and far between. There are just too many boats for anyone to anchor up. Most fishermen in the pool use cannon ball droppers and skip the downriggers. You can run anywhere between 4 to 12 ounces of lead, depending on the current and the stoutness of your rods. Brad’s Super Baits trolled behind 360 style flashers are the go-to, but many anglers have good success with spinners too.

Wrap or stuff your plug with tuna, herring, or shrimp to give it extra pizazz. If you run spinners, you can put some gel scent on them or hook on a coon shrimp. Don’t be afraid to swap out the hooks on your lures. Chinook have thick, tough jaws, so you want your hooks to stick. Troll between 1.5 to 2mph if you can, but you may have to match your speed with other boats if the pool is crowded enough. When fighting the fish, keep the pressure on. These fish will spit the hook if there’s any slack in the line, and they really tend to explode when they see the net. Adjust your drag and be patient.

Sockeye

If the chinook aren’t biting or you have bored kids in your boat, Brewster pool sockeye are plentiful and hungry! They are a bit smaller than Baker Lake sockeye, but they taste good and are much more numerous than the chinook. Like the chinook fishery, sockeye here are caught by trolling. There are usually two groups of boats in the pool, one that trolls faster for chinook on the current break between the Okanagan and the Columbia, and one that targets chinook closer to the mouth of the Okanagan. Chinook and sockeye do sometimes bite on the same gear, especially when the sockeye really start to stack up in the pool.

If you catch a chinook on sockeye gear, hang on! If you’re targeting sockeye, the same concepts you use when kokanee fishing apply. Use short leaders and lots of scent! Mack’s Lures offer a variety of sockeye lures that are all killer in the Brewster pool. Pink lures work best for sockeye. Pair them up with a dodger or smaller flasher, and you’re in business. Don’t forget to tip your lure with a piece of coon shrimp. You can cure your own or buy some pre-cured ones. No need to use the whole shrimp like you did for chinook that morning, you can just use a small tail piece. Thankfully, the sockeye bite all day, but the fish are more active in the early morning. Use lighter cannonballs than the ones that you used for chinook earlier in the morning. It’s worth using different weights to make sure your lines don’t tangle, particularly if you’re running 4 or more rods. The sockeye move deeper as the day heats up.

There’s a deep river channel somewhat near the shore that the sockeye like to hang out in, but definitely don’t be afraid to fish away from the crowd and try new areas. The sockeye in the Brewster pool are higher up in the water column than the chinook, so a good fish finder can really help you out. Just like their freshwater dwelling cousins, sockeye prefer a slow troll. Again, if you’re fishing in the crowd, you will probably have to match their general speed. Make sure your gear looks good before dropping it down. You’ll want your dodger to give your lure plenty of action to attract the sockeye, so shorten your leader if you need to.

Here’s a few words to the wise about the Brewster pool. Wear sunscreen! The sun can really beat down on those hot days between bites, you’ll be glad to have it on board. It’s a good idea to start fishing at first light and run back before noon, before the heat becomes too unbearable. Also, make sure to pay attention to your surroundings. The Brewster pool isn’t exactly a secret, so you can expect to have company. Sometimes there are hundreds of other boats out there, especially on weekends. Paying attention to the helm and giving other boats some space will help avoid flared tempers.

If you’d rather not deal with the potential stress, there are dozens of guides that you can book to fish the Brewster pool. You can kick back and enjoy the beautiful scenery, and come home with a cooler full of filets. Speaking of coolers, they are a must-have- both for cold drinks and for keeping fish. You’ll want to bleed and ice your fish ASAP for the best meat quality. Lastly, get to the boat ramp early and bring a good book. The boat ramp can get very crowded, especially when the sockeye are in. It’s a good idea to use the time spent waiting to prep your boat. This is another instance when having patience and a level head will help you out. If you’d rather not spend an hour or two waiting to launch, again, hiring a guide might not be a bad idea. Some of them actually launch the night before, anchor up, and sleep on the boat before they pick you up.

Once you’re done fishing for the day, head into the town of Brewster for lunch. There are several excellent restaurants, and downtown Brewster is worth exploring for the afternoon. It’s a great way to cap off your day of sockeye and chinook fishing! Fishing the Brewster pool is an unforgettable experience. Head out there and have fun!

By Hannah Pennebaker

In all my years of fishing, I have heard many legends and stories about fishing at the infamous Brewster Pool. Articles on the Internet caution readers about hostile fishermen and hundreds of inexperienced boaters creating chaos.

My own experience couldn’t have been further from these stories. This year, I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to film and participate in the derby on behalf of Northwest Fishing.

From the moment I got to Brewster, I was blown away by the friendly locals and energetic atmosphere of the derby. Other fishermen were giving each other high fives and complementing one another on their catches.

This was far from the stories of combat fishing and fishermen yelling at one another that I had heard. Although there were hundreds of other boats out there, everyone was very patient and gave one another plenty of space. Guides and recreational fishermen alike were joking with one another and having a great time doing the sport we all love.

I saw hundreds of beautiful fish caught and weighed in over the 3 days of the derby, and even got to reel in some of my own. Here’s the story of my experience at this year’s Brewster Salmon Derby.

On day 1, Mike Mauk, the president of the Brewster Chamber of Commerce, greeted me with a warm handshake and a big smile. Mike organized this year’s derby, bringing together dozens of sponsors and coordinating prizes and staffing for the event.

He gladly took some time from his busy schedule to chat, and I interviewed him about the history of the derby and the town of Brewster. He told me that the proceeds from ticket sales go towards helping the community of Brewster and enabling them to run the derby year after year.

The Brewster Salmon Derby is the largest derby on the Columbia River, and up to $20,000 in cash and prizes are given out every year.

Next, I interviewed the derby weigh master, Ernie Mauk. Ernie brought incredible energy to the weigh station, high fiving each kid that brought a fish to him. He showed me how he weighs each fish, taking the girth and length measurements and calling them out to be recorded and put on the board. He said that even though he weighs hundreds of fish every year, he still admires the beauty of each and every fish he weighs.

WDFW also had a presence at the weigh station, scanning the fish for tags. When they found a tagged fish, they cut the nose of the fish off to remove the tag (after making sure the fisherman had gotten all the pictures they wanted).

They let me know that the information they get from the tag helps WDFW determine the health and abundance of salmon populations. Not only does the derby help the small community of Brewster, it also aids WDFW’s research and provides valuable insights into this amazing fishery.

While getting to see the ins and outs of the weigh station was certainly a fascinating experience, fishing is truly my passion, and my experience participating in the derby was absolutely unforgettable. Brianna Bruce of Livin’ Life Adventures was our guide during our 3-day adventure.

My friend Michael Francisco, my fiancé Chris Decker, and Northwest Fishing regulars Andrew and Joe Czapla were on board. Brianna (Bree) kept us entertained with dozens of fishing stories from her 11 years of guiding.

She told us all about the fishery and what makes it so productive and popular. Every year, thousands of sockeye and chinook salmon stage in Lake Pateros, also known as the Brewster Pool, between the dam and the mouth of the Okanogan River.

The mouth of the Okanogan River heats up and creates a thermal barrier, and the fish wait in the pool for it to cool down so they can enter and reach their spawning grounds. This year, Bree said there were over 100,000 sockeye in the pool! Good numbers of chinook are caught every year, some reaching over 30 pounds. Some fishermen got their limits of sockeye and headed back to town for breakfast before the heat of the day began.

Others stayed out until 6PM, braving the heat for a chance at a derby winning chinook. There was a 4 fish limit for sockeye, and a 2 fish limit for chinook. The bite seemed best in the early hours of the morning, but there were fish caught all day. Bree’s dog, Waylon, was our bite alarm throughout the weekend. Every other fisherman in the pool knew when we hooked onto a fish!

Bree alternated between steering around other boats, netting fish, baiting hooks, and swapping fishing stories, making it all look easy. Her natural talent, great humor, and mastery of the fishery made for an unforgettable experience.

On day 2, one of our cameramen had a big, feisty sockeye on the end of his line. As he brought it up to the boat, he lifted the fish out of the water and the hooks popped out. Our hearts sank, but Bree effortlessly scooped the fish into the net and saved the day!

We started off fishing for chinook the first day, armed with spinners and chrome flashers. Bree is an expert in this fishery, and told us that sockeye often hit chinook gear, and vice versa. The second day, we fished sockeye gear, and were rewarded with many nice fish.

For her sockeye gear, Bree ran homemade pink spinners and smaller flashers. On the third day of the derby, we fished a combination of sockeye and chinook gear. She ran 2 spinners, 2 sockeye setups, and 2 tuna stuffed Brad’s Super Baits.

It was tough to find the right speed to get the different gear to fish right, but like a true pro, Bree made it work. We trolled slowly, between .8 and 1.2 MPH, and kept an eye on the depth. To avoid tangling our 6 lines, Bree used a variety of different cannonball weights, which also allowed us to fish throughout the water column.

No matter how tired and hot we were after fishing all day, we always looked forward to lunch at one of Brewster’s amazing, locally owned restaurants. Mike Mauk and the Brewster Chamber of Commerce treated us to lunch and dinner each day.

The sizzling, fragrant fajitas at Campreros were absolutely delicious! Later in the afternoons, we usually got some time to explore the area each day. I was surprised by just how much the town of Brewster has to offer.

There are numerous family-owned stores that offer cool refreshments and homemade snacks. If you’re fishing the Brewster Pool, it’s definitely worth it to take the time to sample some of the local cuisine and explore the town.

On day 3 of our adventure, we got to see the winners of the derby take home their prizes and win their bragging rights. The winning fish, the “king of the pool”, was a tank of a chinook weighing in at 29 pounds and 10 ounces that got the winning angler a nice check for $2,000.

The top 10 winners got a beautiful wooden plaque to commemorate their win. One of the most memorable parts of the weekend was when a young girl weighed in a 26-pound chinook. She ended up winning the youth category of the derby!

Besides the competition for the top 25 biggest chinook, there were also side pots and a raffle to take part in. There were many raffle prizes, such as free fishing trips for 4 people, a bow, and a downrigger.

The grand prize for the raffle was a 9.9 HP Mercury outboard motor. Weigh master Ernie announced the winners, and photographer Cori Kogan snapped photos of them holding their prize next to Mike Mauk.

All 3 days of my experience at the Brewster Salmon Derby culminated into an unforgettable adventure. From Mike Mauk’s warm welcome to Bree’s terrific netting skills and incredible sense of humor, I’ll always tell stories about the derby with a smile. I know I’ll be back next year for another shot at winning the derby! 

@hannahNWF on Facebook and Instagram

In all my years of fishing, I have heard many legends and stories about fishing at the infamous Brewster Pool. Articles on the Internet caution readers about hostile fishermen and hundreds of inexperienced boaters creating chaos. My own experience couldn’t have been further from these stories. This year, I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to film and participate in the derby on behalf of Northwest Fishing.

From the moment I got to Brewster, I was blown away by the friendly locals and energetic atmosphere of the derby. Other fishermen were giving each other high fives and complementing one another on their catches. This was far from the stories of combat fishing and fishermen yelling at one another that I had heard. Although there were hundreds of other boats out there, everyone was very patient and gave one another plenty of space. Guides and recreational fishermen alike were joking with one another and having a great time doing the sport we all love. I saw hundreds of beautiful fish caught and weighed in over the 3 days of the derby, and even got to reel in some of my own. Here’s the story of my experience at this year’s Brewster Salmon Derby.

Cori Kogan: Interview with Mike Mauk

On day 1, Mike Mauk, the president of the Brewster Chamber of Commerce, greeted me with a warm handshake and a big smile. Mike organized this year’s derby, bringing together dozens of sponsors and coordinating prizes and staffing for the event. He gladly took some time from his busy schedule to chat, and I interviewed him about the history of the derby and the town of Brewster. He told me that the proceeds from ticket sales go towards helping the community of Brewster and enabling them to run the derby year after year. The Brewster Salmon Derby is the largest derby on the Columbia River, and up to $20,000 in cash and prizes are given out every year. Next, I interviewed the derby weigh master, Ernie Mauk. Ernie brought incredible energy to the weigh station, high fiving each kid that brought a fish to him. He showed me how he weighs each fish, taking the girth and length measurements and calling them out to be recorded and put on the board. He said that even though he weighs hundreds of fish every year, he still admires the beauty of each and every fish he weighs. WDFW also had a presence at the weigh station, scanning the fish for tags. When they found a tagged fish, they cut the nose of the fish off to remove the tag (after making sure the fisherman had gotten all the pictures they wanted). They let me know that the information they get from the tag helps WDFW determine the health and abundance of salmon populations. Not only does the derby help the small community of Brewster, it also aids WDFW’s research and provides valuable insights into this amazing fishery.

Bree, Waylon, and Hannah with a nice sockeye

While getting to see the ins and outs of the weigh station was certainly a fascinating experience, fishing is truly my passion, and my experience participating in the derby was absolutely unforgettable. Brianna Bruce of Livin’ Life Adventures was our guide during our 3-day adventure. My friend Michael Francisco, my fiancé Chris Decker, and Northwest Fishing regulars Andrew and Joe Czapla were on board. Brianna (Bree) kept us entertained with dozens of fishing stories from her 11 years of guiding. She told us all about the fishery and what makes it so productive and popular. Every year, thousands of sockeye and chinook salmon stage in Lake Pateros, also known as the Brewster Pool, between the dam and the mouth of the Okanogan River. The mouth of the Okanogan River heats up and creates a thermal barrier, and the fish wait in the pool for it to cool down so they can enter and reach their spawning grounds. This year, Bree said there were over 100,000 sockeye in the pool! Good numbers of chinook are caught every year, some reaching over 30 pounds. Some fishermen got their limits of sockeye and headed back to town for breakfast before the heat of the day began. Others stayed out until 6PM, braving the heat for a chance at a derby winning chinook. There was a 4 fish limit for sockeye, and a 2 fish limit for chinook. The bite seemed best in the early hours of the morning, but there were fish caught all day. Bree’s dog, Waylon, was our bite alarm throughout the weekend. Every other fisherman in the pool knew when we hooked onto a fish! Bree alternated between steering around other boats, netting fish, baiting hooks, and swapping fishing stories, making it all look easy. Her natural talent, great humor, and mastery of the fishery made for an unforgettable experience. On day 2, one of our cameramen had a big, feisty sockeye on the end of his line. As he brought it up to the boat, he lifted the fish out of the water and the hooks popped out. Our hearts sank, but Bree effortlessly scooped the fish into the net and saved the day!

Some early morning sockeye action!

We started off fishing for chinook the first day, armed with spinners and chrome flashers. Bree is an expert in this fishery, and told us that sockeye often hit chinook gear, and vice versa. The second day, we fished sockeye gear, and were rewarded with many nice fish. For her sockeye gear, Bree ran homemade pink spinners and smaller flashers. On the third day of the derby, we fished a combination of sockeye and chinook gear. She ran 2 spinners, 2 sockeye setups, and 2 tuna stuffed Brad’s Super Baits. It was tough to find the right speed to get the different gear to fish right, but like a true pro, Bree made it work. We trolled slowly, between .8 and 1.2 MPH, and kept an eye on the depth. To avoid tangling our 6 lines, Bree used a variety of different cannonball weights, which also allowed us to fish throughout the water column.

No matter how tired and hot we were after fishing all day, we always looked forward to lunch at one of Brewster’s amazing, locally owned restaurants. Mike Mauk and the Brewster Chamber of Commerce treated us to lunch and dinner each day. The sizzling, fragrant fajitas at Campreros were absolutely delicious! Later in the afternoons, we usually got some time to explore the area each day. I was surprised by just how much the town of Brewster has to offer. There are numerous family-owned stores that offer cool refreshments and homemade snacks. If you’re fishing the Brewster Pool, it’s definitely worth it to take the time to sample some of the local cuisine and explore the town.

Cori Kogan: Filming the derby winners!

On day 3 of our adventure, we got to see the winners of the derby take home their prizes and win their bragging rights. The winning fish, the “king of the pool”, was a tank of a chinook weighing in at 29 pounds and 10 ounces that got the winning angler a nice check for $2,000. The top 10 winners got a beautiful wooden plaque to commemorate their win. One of the most memorable parts of the weekend was when a young girl weighed in a 26-pound chinook. She ended up winning the youth category of the derby! Besides the competition for the top 25 biggest chinook, there were also side pots and a raffle to take part in. There were many raffle prizes, such as free fishing trips for 4 people, a bow, and a downrigger. The grand prize for the raffle was a 9.9 HP Mercury outboard motor. Weigh master Ernie announced the winners, and photographer Cori Kogan snapped photos of them holding their prize next to Mike Mauk.

All 3 days of my experience at the Brewster Salmon Derby culminated into an unforgettable adventure. From Mike Mauk’s warm welcome to Bree’s terrific netting skills and incredible sense of humor, I’ll always tell stories about the derby with a smile. I know I’ll be back next year for another shot at winning the derby!