Hanford reach

[Tman]

Anyone have any experience fishing the reach by boat?

[Moose-head]

I have fished in the King hole area quite a bit.

[fastdam]

Yes. For salmon in the fall.

[Tman]

Looking for someone that knows the river well in this area to chat with a bit before taking my new to me sled out for a trip.

[Limhangerslayer]

Where are you launching and where do you want to run?  prop or jet?

[Mfowl]

I've fished the area above the Vernita bridge once or twice a year but I'm no expert on the area. The launches are rough and the lines can be miserable. The best method seems to a hotspot flasher with a 4-5' leader to a Brad's cutplug packed with tuna in oil (and scent of your choice) hover fished or back trolled right out of your downrigger clip 5-10'. Keep your gear right near the bottom, 5' or less. Fish the deep seems of the middle river.  From what I understand the fish spawn in the shallower water but move off their redds after daylight and hang in the deep water all day. You need to have a partner or 2 on the boat to run the dr's while you hold in the current and steer clear of the other boats. When someone hooks up they begin to drift downriver pretty quick while fighting the fish. It pays yo get out of the way as I've seen plenty of shouting matches take place. Another method that I like to use is to fish a magnum jetdiver (50') with a 5' leader to a large spin n glo and a big glob of eggs (golf ball sized) backtrolled down the deeper water. Its less stressful than the dr fishing but not quite as productive. I've never gone below the bridge since I don't have a jet and there can be some treachorous waters down there. Its a pretty fun fishery but it can be a chore at times. One additional thing, I like to keep my main motor running and in neutral while fishing in case something happens with my kicker or I need to act fast, I don't take any chances in that stretch of river. Good luck when you go, I'll probably give it a try sometime in September.

[Tman]

Im wanting to learn the river from ringold to above the bridge. I have a prop and a jet outdrive. planning on switching over to the jet soon while I learn, but have been told the reach can be run on prop if you know what your doing. Would rather stick with the prop simply for the extra power and economy.

[Mfowl]

There are atleast 3 gravel launches above the Vernita bridge that get used regularily during the salmon run. There are also launches at White Bluffs and at Ringold. The latter 2 are better launches than above the bridge (IMO.) But I've only been to them, never fished out of them. I know guys fish out of all of them for salmon and C n R sturgeon and even walleyes to an extent. The river level fluctuates quite a bit in that stretch as well. A gravel bar that wasn't an issue when you left the launch might give you trouble coming back in. I remember having to back my truck in quite a ways in to the water to get my boat out a few years back after the water level dropped several feet.

[hunt_fish]

We run a prop above Vernita, above Vernita is fine for prop boats, I heard the White Bluffs hole is okay too for props as long as you know where to go.  Like another said, during the fall we stay shallow, 25-30 feet of water during the early time until about 9:00-9:30.  The bite shuts off shallow and then we'll do a backtroll or two the full way out in the 45-50 foot of water.  I don't even run a flasher with my stuff and did fine last year.  We pretty much just run cut plug herring from stuff my dad gets fresh from the westside before he comes here for the trip and Brad's cutplug herrnig lures.  If you're going to fish the king hole, I'd suggest getting there really really early to get a good spot where the fish seem to hang.  It's probably my favorite place to fish now for salmon after first trying it 3 years ago.  There's some big ones out there.  Best time to start fishing is when the count gets above 5,000 for the Mcnary Dam.

[Moose-head]

The fishery above the Verninta bridge is usually referred to as Vernita.  The road going to the launches is on the northwest side of the bridge and is a little sketchy with quite a bit of river rock about the size of bowling balls, it is not terrible, just count on going slow.  The launches are not improved launches and there are no docks.  The king hole is right out in front of the launch and you can spend all of your time fishing just in that hole and not be wasting your time.  Many use downriggers or 50’ jet divers with herring, spin-n-glo and egg, big kwickfish Brad’s cut plug or whatever you are comfortable with.  There is definitely an early morning bite there so I like to be fishing when it is still dark out.  The water levels fluctuate quite a bit, so if you beach your boat while you eat lunch you may come back to find it high and dry.

[Broken Arrow]

i know tc to white bluffs like the back of my hand with a prop....not sure after that.

[L-ofalab]

Ringold- good launch and lots of boats can launch at the same time. There is a lot of current. After you launch, the island above is Forked island and the one below the launch is Plow island. Be careful if you run a prop between those islands or up the other (Hanford ) side of the river. Fish the same side of the river you launch on. You can run all the way to and about a mile past where the power lines are on wooden poles crossing the river, just stay close to the middle of the river if using a prop. We fish either magnum wiggle warts on long lines or Brads cut plugs and flashers on down riggers and dipsy divers. The best URB fishing is not for another month and lasts till mid October then they turn dark and I quit fishing and start bird hunting!

[Blackjaw]

If you launch at Vernita, you need 4 wheel drive. You may get away with 2-wheel drive once or twice, but if they really drop the river while you are out, you will need help. As far as running the river with a prop goes, it is no problem as long as you have common sense (don't cut in close to bars/stay in the main channel).

[twinners]

I launched at Vernita one time.  I was by myself, probably not the smartest thing to do. Like others have said it is rough getting in and launching.  Could also try some squaw fishing down there if it is on right now.

[L-ofalab]

As someone mentioned the water fluctuates a lot! Don't leave your boat on shore and not pay attention to water levels. I have seen a few like this one but only have pics of this guy-