By Labor Day and through the month of September, nearly a million fall chinook (960,000 to be exact) will be migrating through the lower and Mid-Columbia on their way to upriver spawning grounds. And while the sport fishery at the mouth of the Columbia, known as Buoy 10, will be mostly over by Labor Day the action along the Mid-Columbia will be peaking through September.
Whereas the Columbia’s fall chinook run is divided into two main salmon stocks, Tule and Up River Brights (URBs), it’s the URBs that represent the best eating quality and therefore are the most sought after by sport anglers. These fish come in all sizes, with many in the 18-to-25 pound range and some reaching 30 to 50 pounds or more.
The Columbia’s water temperature will be cooling as the month progresses, but it will still be warm enough to cause a large portion of these fish to stop for a breather where cool water tributaries enter the big river. If you’re after salmon, you should set your sites on these locations, where salmon congregate: at, in or near the mouths of the Wind River, Drano Lake, White Salmon, Klickitat and Deschutes Rivers.
And while the bulk of the run is just passing through this area of the Columbia, there are also good numbers of locally raised hatchery fall chinook headed for Drano Lake and the Klickitat River. In addition, the number of wild fall chinook spawning in the Deschutes River has grown substantially over the last decade, averaging nearly 20,000 fish.
If you’re interested in catching one or more of these trophy-size fish, there are several fishing methods that can be used to catch them.
Trolling plugs
If you have a boat, consider trolling a bait-wrapped FlatFish, Kwikfish or Mag Lip salmon size plug near bottom. Rigging consists of a 12 inch weight-dropper line and 5 foot leader. Adding a fillet of sardine to the belly of your plug (with a little canned tuna added in for good measure) can trigger arm wrenching strikes. Most anglers hold their fillet in place by wrapping it onto their plug with clear sewing thread or 2 to 4 pound test monofilament line. For best results, you should change your sardine/tuna fillet every hour, since by doing so your lure will emit a scent trail irresistible to salmon.
The strike of a salmon taking a salmon-size plug may be the hardest you’ll ever feel, however, don’t set the hook until Mr. Salmon is holding your rod tip down steadily, peeling line from your reel, or until your rod tip pulsates up and down three to four times. Waiting on the bite will increase your chance of a solid hook up, while yanking too soon can result in a miss or later losing your fish. If you’re using a bait-cast reel, realize that it’s important to have your thumb firmly planted on the reel spool when you finally do set the hook.
Egg mooching
Since it lends itself to the slack water found behind the dams, egg mooching is a productive fishing method you should try when tackling Mid-Columbia salmon. Realize too that this technique works anywhere salmon are found holding in slack water. Egg mooching is like bobber fishing, but without the use of a bobber — you just suspend your bait off your rod tip — your boat is the bobber.
Rigging is easy; just attach a swivel to the end of your main line, an 18 inch leader and single hook (the hook I use is a size 5/0 Owner). You’ll need to add weight, usually one to three ounces, which can be attached to a snap connected at your swivel.
Finding success with this method can be as simple as locating a concentration of salmon with your fish finder and lower your bait to the level they’re holding. In most cases just drop your sinker to the bottom and reel up one to one and a half turns of the reel handle. Given an 18-inch leader, this will put your bait 18 to 36 inches off the bottom. You should realize that one handle turn on an Abu Garcia 5500 or 6500 bait-cast reel will spool 30 inches of line. To ensure your bait is at the correct depth, it’s critical to not reel up too far.
While there are times Mr. Salmon will choke your bait down in a noticeable way, the bite can be subtle, so pay close attention and if your rod tip dips ever so slightly try setting the hook hard. I like to stand with the tip of my rod 12 inches off the water. In this position, I can concentrate on my rod tip and better distinguish the rat-tat-tat “peck” of small fish from the usually more deliberate, hang-on bite of a chinook salmon.
When it comes to egg mooching, it’s a fresh scent-dispersing bait that is the most likely to trigger strikes. Don’t be shy about changing your baits often — every 10 minutes or so is sometimes required to produce consistent hook ups. In addition, you may turn a slow day into fast limits by adding a fillet of sardine or other bait to your egg offering.
Rotating flashers
The third fishing method employed by boat anglers is to troll a spinner, small herring or baitfish imitation in combination with a large rotating flasher, like those made by Pro-Troll. Because large rotating flashers pull hard, you will need a stout rod and bait-casting reel filled with 30 pound monofilament or 50 pound test super line (like Tracer Braid) to do this along with a supply of 8 to 16 ounce cannon ball style sinkers.
While several different baits will work when trolled in combination with a rotating flasher, several guides report success using small spinners, like a size 3.5 Colorado style made by Hildebrandt, rigged 18 to 30 inches behind a rotating flasher. Keep in mind that too big a spinner will not allow flasher to impart the pulsating action needed to produces results. When rigging, it’s best to position your flashers four feet behind your weight dropper, as this will allow the flasher to rotate more freely.
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