Fishing Magician: Summer runs... running a little late this year

There are some nice bright, big salmon being taken on the upper Columbia River in the vicinity of Wenatchee, but fishing is still better at Wanapum. However, that is about to change.

The dam counts show a sharp increase in the number of summer runs that have now passed over Rock Island Dam. River flows remain high, but there sure are a lot more fish in the fishable water.

The biggest crowds of anglers continue to be found on Rufus Woods Reservoir. Fishing parties can be seen going on along the shore at prominent points, and boats are gathered at popular spots on the water. The lower net pens and the Nespelem Bar are two of the busiest areas on the reservoir, but fish are being taken from the top to the bottom of Rufus Woods.

Anglers chasing walleye and bass are having a great time on Banks Lake, Lake Roosevelt and Potholes Reservoir. I found the fishing very slow at Evergreen Reservoir. The water is still too cool for the smallmouth and largemouth bass bite to really take off. It is usually very good by the 4th of July, but everything is late this year. It should liken up soon, though.