Dave Graybill: The Fishin' Magician

Steelhead seasons on the main stem Columbia the tributaries are closed for the year now, but there are lots of alternatives available to anglers in the region. On April 1 dozens of lakes open in the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge near Othello.

One of the better prospects is actually north of Soap Lake, at Dry Falls Lake. This is a selective fishery lake favored by fly fishers, and it should be outstanding this year. The Teal Lakes in the refuge are likely to fish very well this spring, and the Hampton lakes, too.

The Hamptons should produce good catches of 11- to 13-inch rainbow, if there was good survival of fingerling release last year. The Pillar-Widgeon chain of lakes is forecast to offer good fishing for rainbow ranging in size from 12 to 20 inches. These lakes don’t get a lot of pressure, and holdover rainbow are more plentiful than in other lakes.

The nice thing about the refuge is that there are many lakes fairly close to each other, and anglers can fish two or three in a day, to increase their odds for success. Walleye fishing on Potholes Reservoir is best in Lind Coulee right now.