THE WASHINGTON OUTDOOR REPORT- week of August 28

SOCKEYE – It has been a banner year for sockeye salmon. Over 663,000 sockeye passed through Bonneville Dam this year, the largest run on record since they started counting salmon there in 1938. Most of them were bound for Canada but a sizable number of them took a left below Rocky Reach Dam and headed to Lake Wenatchee.  As of August 23, 110,514 sockeye had swam through the fish ladder near Leavenworth, besting the previous record run from 2014 by over 10,000 fish. Biologists believe favorable ocean conditions were the main reason so many sockeye came back this year.

Fishing Reports

COLUMBIA GORGE – Jaelyn Justesen at Gorge Outfitters Supple says the walleye bite is better than normal for this time of year. They are deep in the Columbia River. The best way to catch them is with a spinner worm harness and bottom walker. Smallmouth bass are definitely biting and they are biting anything bright colored. Salmon are expected soon in the area. Anglers are gearing up with Short Bus 360 Pro Troll flashers and Brad’s Super Baits which they are stuffing with tuna. Catch and release sturgeon fishing is going well and squid is the hot bait. www.gorgeoutfittersupply.com

LAKE ROOSEVELT – Steve Morris with SJM Guide Service says the sturgeon fishing in Lake Roosevelt has been slow and he doesn’t see it getting much better before it closes in September. Steve thinks the cold spring and cooler water temperatures have kept many of the fish north of the reservoir in Canada. Having said that, there are sturgeon scattered through Lake Roosevelt, just don’t expect big numbers of fish. Steve will be heading to the Hanford Reach starting September 7 to target fall Chinook salmon and is expecting good fishing with this year’s run over the 10-year average. www.sjmguideservice.com

LAKE CHELAN – Joe Heinlen with Lake Chelan Adventures says Chinook salmon fishing on Lake Chelan has been good all summer long and he is averaging 3 take downs a day from these landlocked salmon. Heinlen says numbers are way up and the bite has been very good with the average Chinook weighing 3 to 12 pounds. The lake trout bite has been consistent and clients are boating 8 to 15 fish in a four-hour trip in the lower basin. As for the kokanee, there are only a handful in the lower basin right now. The majority of the kokanee are migrating to the upper basin, staging to spawn in the Stehekin River this fall. www.lakechelanadventures.com

BREWSTER SALMON DERBY – The Brewster Salmon Derby was a smashing success this year. 250 anglers participated and they weighed in a total of 134 salmon. The average fish weighed just under 30 pounds. As for the King of the Pool? That was the 29.1-pound Chinook salmon caught by Mike Burnam from Yakima who won $2,000. The winning Chinook in the Youth Division wasn’t far behind, a 26.1-pound salmon reeled in by Katlynn Gibbons from Tonasket. She cashed a check for $550.  www.brewstersalmonderby.com

POTHOLES RESERVOIR – Nathan LaFrance at MarDon Resort says the channel catfish bite turned on in August and in recent days he has weighed in an 18 pounder, a 13 pounder and several catfish close to 10 pounds. Most folks are fishing cut bait at night while others are catching them while targeting walleye or bass. Two good areas are in front of O’Sullivan Dam as well as in front of Frenchman’s Wasteway in the reservoir.

There are a couple of events coming up at MarDon Resort worth noting as well. One of them is the “Old Fart’s Bass Tournament”. Put on by the Banks Lake Bass Club, this one-day tournament launches out of MarDon Resort Saturday, September 17th and at least one person on each boat has to be over 40 years of age. Sign up for this one at www.bankslakebassclub.com.

The other tournament doesn’t require a boat. It’s the annual MarDon Resort Dock Tournament, happening Friday, September 16th and running through Sunday the 18th.  You can fish day or night for up to ten different species off the resort docks in this derby, and the heaviest two fish from each species caught earns a cash prize. This is a popular event that fills up fast so you will want to register soon if you want to participate.  www.mardonresort.com

John Kruse – www.northwesternoutdoors.com and www.americaoutdoorsradio.com