Northwest Fishing Reports

Next week I'll be starting a job in Kennewick, lasting a month or so and would like to do some Salmon/Steelhead/Sturgeon fishing but there are so many options I wouldn't know where to begin. I have a well equiped 18ft Hewescraft SeaRunner and 14ft Hewescraft RiverRunner to play with. I've been Sturgeon fishing on the columbia before and wouldn't mind doing that but more interested in Salmon... I hear the Yak will be opening tomorrow but no idea where to launch or a good place to bank fish. If anyone could fill me in that would be awesome, I also would like to take some experienced anglers out to teach me a thing or two. PM me or add a comment, whatever you prefer. I've fished heavily in North Idaho for 15+ years and just passed my Captains Exam(6-pack) I'm not a newbie lol Thanks for looking.

Most of the salmonid fishing in the proximity of Tri-Cities takes place in the Ringold area in the Hanford Reach upstream of Richland out towards the Vernita Bridge. It's been awhile since I was fishing out there, but the local shops should be able to put you on a setup. Otherwise most people head South down to Umatilla to fish the areas below the dams there or further up the Snake. The only place you are going to find to launch into the Yakima is at the Richland boat launch off George Washington Way and then to navigate through the Delta. The Yakima is fairly small, relatively shallow and snaggy in the delta area.

Yeah like troutsniper said you'll want to fish the delta area or even just out in the main Columbia before that area. Trolling with downriggers 5 feet off the bottom should be fine. Cut plug herrings and Brad's cut plug baits work for the kings. I've never fished for the salmon on the Columbia for the spring/summer fishery or that far down by the Yakima so I'm not sure how worthwhile that fishery is. I've only done it a couple of years up at Vernita and have done well up there using those setups since I've moved over here. During September is when you'll want to go fish up in that area in your boat, as there's 100,000's of fish that spawn up there.

Ringold area and Umatilla are pretty close and look to be the best prospects, I've seen people catch steelhead while I was sturgeon fishing at the bridge below Mcnary dam. From what I see on their website, salmon/steelhead will open on the 16th of June so that will be a good time to bring her up. I couldn't find any small local shops online besides Lunkers but they went outta business so i'll check out wholesale sports and such when I go back. I have a plethora of brads plugs and divers to choose from, some flatfish that i'll wrap and try. I'm assuming the closer to bottom the better so i will try to find a shallow 10-12ft run to backtroll in or should I find deeper holes and run a diver/plug set up? I've changed them all over to single swashers.. I have a pretty good idea but i'll take more advice if anyone is willing to share, thanks for the info fellow fisherman.