Wanapum sockeye

[bigdub257]

Has anyone tried below Rock Island dam?  I was preparing to try and fish Wanapum pool this year to see if I could catch any kings or sockeye to avoid the crowds, but fishing below one of the dams does make more sense.  Still may try it though.  Might even book a guide for that area to learn the ropes if anybody has any suggestions or references.

I drive past the dam everyday on my commute and have never seen someone out there salmon fishing. A few boats will anchor up for sturgeon there including a few guides but never seen someone fish salmon there.

OK. Good to know.  Sounds like the stretch below Wanapum or directly above the dam are the places to try.  I'm going to take the old duck boat out there and give it a go. I have a buddy that does really well for sockeye and the occasional king up by Brewster.  Will probably employ similar techniques he uses and also some more "king" specific lures near the dam and some other areas.  I'll probably be running downriver from Sunland Estates.

[pickardjw]

Was gonna fish at McNary the weekend of the 4th for socks but with the rule change as of yesterday I'm thinking I might head up river that weekend. Or go scout for deer. We'll see.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/emergency-rules/lower-columbia-river-salmon-and-steelhead-fishery-update-2024-06-1

[Machias]

Quick question for anyone familiar with Wanapum Dam area, can you fish from the shore up near the dam?  If so, how likely are you to hook into a sockeye from shore with a float and bait?  I was kicking around the idea of hitting it the afternoon of the 12th before I head up to Brewster for a guided trip the following morning?  Thanks for any thoughts.

[Kola16]

If I remember correctly, people do fish from the bank. I could be remembering incorrectly. I am not sure that your bait under a float idea would work though. Sockeye are a very niche fish. You have a chance of casting and retrieving lures for kings on the bottom though. Brad's superbaits packed with tuna are what I would start with.

[C-Money]

I hear chinook is closed in the Brewster Pool...anyone hear why? Low summer chinook numbers?

[TommyH]

Yes closed in the pool. Juvenile die off from flooding if I recall correctly..

[huntnnw]

Yes closed in the pool. Juvenile die off from flooding if I recall correctly..

  its still open for bridgeport fishery and below the pool to wells July 16.

[huntnnw]

Quick question for anyone familiar with Wanapum Dam area, can you fish from the shore up near the dam?  If so, how likely are you to hook into a sockeye from shore with a float and bait?  I was kicking around the idea of hitting it the afternoon of the 12th before I head up to Brewster for a guided trip the following morning?  Thanks for any thoughts.

 I would say that would be a very low success to catch sockeye from shore there

[pickardjw]

Well they closed king retention at the reach…second time this season they’ve closed a season the day before I’m planning on being there.

Never fished this stretch of the big river. Should go higher up and focus on kings or stick with the reach for socks?

[Kola16]

Based on the dam counts, from Rocky Reach to Wanapum should all produce good king and sockeye fishing if they're biting. The numbers are there for all three dams, just fish whatever one you're most comfortable with. I've never fished below Priest Rapids, but the counts there aren't bad compared to other years so not sure on that.

[dilleytech]

If I remember correctly, people do fish from the bank. I could be remembering incorrectly. I am not sure that your bait under a float idea would work though. Sockeye are a very niche fish. You have a chance of casting and retrieving lures for kings on the bottom though. Brad's superbaits packed with tuna are what I would start with.

Bobber fishing certainly works.

[bigdub257]

Bobber fishing certainly works.
[/quote]

With a shrimp dangling?

[pickardjw]

Well struck out at Ringold, struck out above Wanapum last night, and struck out below Priest River today. Wind is too much to fish above Wanapum tonight, gonna try in the AM for kings. If I don’t at least get one bite…might just go home. Boat is too small to fish below Wanapum unless there’s anchor spots downstream a bit.

[metlhead]

Lots of fish above the dam. One school after another this morning but like it was said earlier, non biters. Even the fellas floating shrimp in their faces struck out. You could net them.

[pickardjw]

Lots of fish above the dam. One school after another this morning but like it was said earlier, non biters. Even the fellas floating shrimp in their faces struck out. You could net them.

Yeah a kayaker last night picked a sock up if I remember correctly. Or had it and lost it. Then he picked up a pike minnow. I marked kings, lost another kwikfish in the rocks (3 in a week for me now) and couldn’t buy a bite. Was out from 6pm to 9:45pm or so.