The Fishin' Magician

Wednesday, July 28

Sockeye are coming up the Columbia in huge numbers this year, and they are drawing huge numbers of anglers to the Brewster area.

Wednesday, July 28

Sockeye are coming up the Columbia in huge numbers this year, and they are drawing huge numbers of anglers to the Brewster area. Even during the week there are 50 to 70 boats packed near the mouth of the Okanogan River, and most of them are trying for the sockeye. According to Bob Fateley at the Triangle Shell in Brewster, there are anglers coming from Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and other states here to get in on the action. Emphasis on sockeye will shift here soon, though, even if temporarily to summer-run kings. The 5th Annual Budweiser-Lowrance King Salmon Derby, put on by the Brewster Chamber of Commerce kicks off on August 6th. Anglers who want to fish the derby and get a chance to win some of the $15,000.00-plus cash and prizes that will be handed out, still have time to register. Registrations will be taken until 9 p.m. on Thursday, August 5th. Even if you're not in the habit of fishing derbies, this one is worth entering. The derby organizers to an excellent job of taking care of everyone, so even if you don't make the board you're going to enjoy the time spent here.

Friday, July 30

I had a great experience on the Columbia River recently. I was invited to fish for smallmouth bass on the stretch between Wanapum and Priest Rapids dams. Dave and Betty Hendergart are members of the Central Washington Bass Club, and they wanted to pre-fish this part of the river to prepare for a club tournament. I was thrilled to be invited to come along, as it had been a long time since I had been on this part of the Columbia and wanted to get more familiar with it. To learn some good smallmouth spots would be a bonus. These two are consistently at the top of the board at the local tournaments and I knew I would learn a lot from them, too. Turned out the fishing was very tough. Betty caught a decent fish pretty much right off the bat, but it was along time before Dave showed off and caught two more pretty close together. We had to look long and hard for good water. Just a lot of weeds off what appeared to be good smallmouth spots. We did learn where to go and that will pay dividends for them at the tournament, and I had a great time with two good bass anglers.