Columbia River Smallies 4-8#'s maybe 10's

[Wenatchee WA]

anyone ever fished the Mighty Columbia river smallies?

[Wenatchee WA]

lets talk about smallies your state or mine compare tactics and strategies

[WCCT]

The Columbia rocks!  I would put it up against almost any other body of water in the country for the quality of smallmouth available.  Do you fish up in the Wenatchee area?  I lived in Wenatchee for several years, and my folks still do.  I have had some great days up river near the Okanagon river and up towards Cheif Joseph Dam, but I never really hit the Wenatchee stretch much.  I plan on giving it a try this year though.  Rock Island area looks like it would be pretty good.  

[Wenatchee WA]

yes fish wenatchee area, wells, and below rockIsland, only problem with wenatchee area is boat traffic in the summer. not fishin boats pleasure boats so you are confined to a few areas but those few areas are very good many monsters. not fished hard by many people.

[Wenatchee WA]

is that a lake chelan smallie your holdin I think I know the area if it is?

[WCCT]

Yep, that's Chelan.  The picture is actually at Wapato Point.  I brought the fish back to the dock there so my kids could see it before I released it.  I caught it closer towards chelan.  When does the river start cranking out smallies up there anyway?  I can't wait to hit it.  

[Glenn]

A couple of Columbia River smallies in my avatar there.  

[CK14]

i've always wanted to fish the columbia for smallies but i've never gotten around to it  :-[

[Wenatchee WA]

In the wenatchee area If it gets warm say 50 70 degrees air temp 45-to 55 water temp you can usually have nice days in areas. there still a little deep holding just off points and flats. If you fish in say april may june fishing will be hot. but I can't wait till then to start soar lipping smallies so I venture out earlier. a little harder challenge just have to fish slow. one day I caught my limit early in the morning on lake chelan and ventured down to columbia river wenatchee and preceded to catch my limit in the afternoon. I don't keep fish either unless I'm salmon or steelheading. haven't fished mouth of okanogan but I plan to. I know there are many smallies, are they at the mouth in the columbia or up in the okanogan will have to venture up there but I've heard great stories. I have fished worshburn pond right in that area and have caught monster largies not open till april 1st though

[roadwarrior]

What is the state record and where was it caught?

[Gorgebassman]

Man you guys are making me home sick I grew up on the Columbia right below the John Day Dam. In the summer I walked every day from my house to the river a 5 in the morning and fished all morning swimmed when it got hot and fished all evening what a great place. My personal best was 5lb 4oz not a huge fish but I was proud of it I caught it on a electric blue curly tail grub.

[Wenatchee WA]

state record is 8-12, a kid last year took one at 9.32 pounds but came up DQ'd because he stuffed weight in the thing. I have heard of 10#'s being caught with electro shock in the columbia while doing species studies and the impact they have on salmon smolts, very tasty to smallmouths diet. I have no doubt there are monsters in there catching is a little harder. The state walleye record just came out of the columbia 3 weeks ago and weighed 19.3 pounds and 33.7 inches long. I caught one walleye last year that went 32.4 inches long and if get to catch her again she'll be the state record I know, I also know her pool in the series of dams in the columbia. the same reason the walleye grow huge is the same reason the smallies grow huge.

[Woody1]

New member here, and I too fish the Columbia, but I fish above McNary Dam.  Great place to fish for smallies, underfished since it's windy at times.  My personal best is 19" @ about 6 lb (I got to get a better scale).  I also like to go below the dam, Crows Butte area, some monsters down there too!   I fish the Snake too, typically smaller fish, but quanity is good.