Drano Lake offers bright kings on the lower Columbia River

Thousands of anglers chase tens of thousands of king salmon on the Columbia River every year, and it all starts on the lower river.  The first to enter the river are the spring salmon. There is a season for them up here, on the Icicle River at Leavenworth. Anglers that just can't wait for May or June for them to arrive head south and fish for them near the town of White Salmon at Drano Lake.  I have done just this the past two years; thanks to Shane Magnuson of Upper Columbia Guide Service, and this is what it's like to fish for early kings on the lower river.

Drano Lake isn't a lake exactly.  It's more like an estuary where the Little White Salmon meets the Columbia River.  The Highway 14 Bridge crosses over the spot where the lake meets the river.  The size of Drano Lake is influenced more by the Columbia than by the Little White Salmon River.  Bordered by the highway on one side and high hills on the other, you would think that it would be fairly protected from the winds that howl down the gorge.  It isn't.  It is one of the windiest, wettest spots I have ever fished.  

That's what the weather is like in late April and early May, when I have joined hundreds of other anglers at Drano.  Magnuson sets up his trailer near the town of Carson and stays here, and fishes with clients from all over the state, until the season starts on the Icicle.  Then he comes back and fishing closer to home until the summer-run fishing starts on the Upper Columbia.  The past two years Mark Spada of Yakima Bait, from the north Seattle area and his friend Rocky from California have joined us.

This is an earlier than crack of dawn fishery.  Not so much for the bite, but to find parking within a reasonable distance from the launch.  Well over one hundred boats will launch every weekend morning, and the rigs that couldn't find a space in boat ramp parking area lines the highway.  Its launch in the dark, rig in the dark and be ready and trolling by first light.

Why do you suppose so many anglers will go to such a thrash?  For big, bright kings and lots of them, of course.  Spring salmon are highly prized.  Not only are they the first run up the river every year, they are claimed to be the tastiest.  Springers of 30 pounds can be taken in Drano Lake, which is about the size of Soap Lake.  Most of the fish are taken shallow, too, in less than 30 feet of water, so they are a real handful.

Springers aren't far from the ocean, and herring can be excellent bait at times.  When Magnuson sets his rods first thing in the morning he will offer a variety to see what is going to work on that particular day.  Along with herring he will also troll prawn spinners.  This consists of a whole prawn, dyed and brined, tied on a double hook rig with a large spinner blade up front.  These can be very effective at times at Drano.  You will also see a lot of anglers trolling Magnum Wiggle Warts in bright orange or red.

One of the most appealing baits that I've seen work at during the springer run at Drano is the Yakima Bait Mag Lip Flatfish.  These are specially designed to dive deep, which is ideal for Drano, and also for being wrapped with sardine.  These baits have proven to be the most effective for spring kings on Drano Lake. I plan to use these when the summer-runs arrive to the upper Columbia.

An interesting feature of the fishery at Drano Lake is the area near the bridge, where it meets the Columbia.  Trolling boats form a "gauntlet" that is in continuous motion.  The boats are constantly circling, making a tight turn, and then trolling back up the rip rap shore along the highway.  Often, fish are hooked at or near the turn, and it is a scramble to keep your lines clear of a running fish.  At the edge of this very tight turn is the deadline, where boats give way to the casts from the shore fishers.  There can be fifty or more anglers on the narrow, rocky, shore, all tossing big plugs.  A constant banter comes from the shore with tolling boats, the shore anglers reminding boaters that this is their territory.  This turf is important to shore-bound anglers, as there are significant numbers of springers taken here. This congested area is where most anglers will begin their day on Drano.  It can be very productive despite the thrash of handling a boat load of anglers in the crush of the tight turn and magnum plug sailing through the air at you.  Springers can be taken elsewhere on Drano, though.  As the day progresses you will see the boats spread out from one end of Drano to the other.  It is a more pleasant experience to troll and hook fish in the open water.

If you plan to make the trip to Drano to fish with a guide or in your own boat, be prepared for high winds and extremely wet conditions.  Get the best foul weather gear you can find and even then you'll probably get wet.  On my last trip I wore three layers and managed to keep mostly dry.  This time I am going to wear rubber kitchen gloves with the fingers cut off.  This, I hope, will keep most of the rain water from running down my wrists and soaking my fleece.  The combination of pouring rain and gusts of 30 miles per hour can really spoil your day if you aren't geared up properly.

I should mention that the spring kings show up in fishable numbers at Drano by late April and early May.  There are certain "off" days when sport fishing is closed.  I would give Shane Magnuson a call to when these occur.  You don't want to make the trip down there and arrive during one of these mid-week closures.  You can reach him by calling 509-630-5433.

In spite of these conditions the springer fishery at Drano Lake is one of the most exciting of the spring season.  Big, bright kings are the attraction, and hundreds of anglers will be out chasing them every week of the season.  I jump at the chance to go.  It's a great way to start the salmon fishing season!