Fishing Magician: From Wells Dam, Okanogan

I checked with Bob Fateley at the Triangle Exxon in Brewster to see how the fishing for summer run Chinook and sockeye was going up there and got disappointing news. His word for the action was "dead". Very few Chinook are being taken in the Brewster Pool as yet, and no sockeye to speak of.

Water temperatures as still low and the fish are shooting up the Okanogan River. There are fish being landed all the way up in Oroville, he said. The good news is that there are kings and sockeye being taken below Wells Dam. Anglers are running up from the launches near the Beebe Bridge to fish below the dam. Chinook and sockeye are stacking up there, but it is not suggested for the timid.

The flows below Wells are very heavy and boat handling is a chore. There are some local guides fishing there and taking salmon, but it is tough going. Calmer waters can be found both above Rocky Reach and Wells Dam. Salmon can be taken above Rocky Reach, as they make their way up river. Fish counts are at a level that makes fishing here in the early morning and evenings worthwhile.