Wanapum sockeye

[metlhead]

I'll be spending Independance week at Vantage with the boat. Plenty of tubing and swimming for sure. Is there a troll fishery in the lower reservoir? Could run up to Rock Island if needed but don't wanna trailer elsewhere.

[nwwanderer]

Bunch on the move, looks like a July 1 opener, is it 4 or 6?, very confusing regs. 

[Mfowl]

You need to target them below one of the dams. They do not like to bite in the lower pool. You can see them porpoising and mark them on your finder pretty easily but they are on the move. Just gotta get in the crowd and circle the toilet bowl.

[Machias]

290,000 over the dams so far.  Banner year!!!

[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.

[HillHound]

Not sure why they do well in lake Wenatchee but not the wanapum pool. But I guess that would explain the lack of fisherman there by vantage. Below wanapum can be interesting with more than a few boats. Your line is never going the way it should with the torrent of water coming out of the damn and there can be lots of tangled lines. And getting the boat out without bashing it into the cement blocks that line the launch is fun

[TSLPE]

Would a 22-23 foot northriver boat be too big for there? What about the launch on the west side of river?

[Kola16]

Would a 22-23 foot northriver boat be too big for there? What about the launch on the west side of river?

No not too big, but it is definitely on the big side. Just pay attention to your steering and you will be "okay." "Okay" meaning you will only piss off 30 boats, so nothing out of the ordinary for that spot Unless you have a jet, do not launch at the west boat launch without experience. It is shallow getting up river.

[metlhead]

Since I got plenty of time, I will motor down to Wanapum early AM and troll light gear nearest the fish outlet. Was also thinking the area under the I90 bridge is a nice funnel. Gotta be spots in the pool that are still secrets.

[Kola16]

Since I got plenty of time, I will motor down to Wanapum early AM and troll light gear nearest the fish outlet. Was also thinking the area under the I90 bridge is a nice funnel. Gotta be spots in the pool that are still secrets.

People have caught kings near the fish outlet. I would have a rod out for kings as well.

[bigdub257]

Is the fish outlet on the West side?

[nwwanderer]

Looks like a major number above the 400,000 predicted is on the way.

[Mfowl]

Is the fish outlet on the West side?

There are 2, one on the Westside and one east of the center. When I fished there the east/center one was getting all of the action. The fish come out, but the riprap over to the Eastside of the river and bomb upstream.

[cjc23]

We fish the high side of Wanapum every year. It's a decent kings fishery but the sockeye tend to run right past it. You'll see them surfacing and on the sonar all day long but haven't gotten one to bite.

[cjc23]

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.