The Fishin' Magician Report -- July 21 - July 26

Wednesday, July 21

In a previous report I mentioned that there is an all-time record return of sockeye salmon coming up the Columbia River this year, and that was good news for those enjoy fishing for them at Lake Wenatchee. A season on Lake Wenatchee for the third year in a row is very likely. We will have to wait until enough fish have crossed over Tumwater Dam for the announcement, but prospects are very high for a good, long season this year. Anglers are already reaping the benefits of this bumper crop of sockeye, though. Salmon anglers fishing below Wells Dam and off the mouth of the Okanogan River at Brewster are having a hard time keeping them off! One guide mentioned that he is even catching sockeye on his salmon rigs when fishing 30 feet deep. Those who are targeting the sockeye are having a blast catching their six-fish limits in less than two hours of fishing time. I am anxious to get in on this myself. I am busy getting some Fishing TV shows out of the way. Then I will be able to get out and fill the freezer with these prized sockeye!

Friday, July 23

I made another trip to Banks Lake recently. This time I was looking for smallmouth bass. I have been going to Banks for years, but I hadn’t done a Fishing TV show on the smallmouth fishing there. Joining me on this excursion was Joe Arballo and his wife Roberta. Joe has taken me along on several jaunts to Banks Lake, and has really taught me a lot about bass fishing over the years. Apparently he has also taught his wife quite a bit about bass fishing, too, because she caught the first fish and the biggest of the day. We started out north of Steamboat Rock and fished a couple of the canyons there. We were into fish the whole time. Roberta was using the smoke pearl blue Senko and never changed all day. She didn’t need to. She caught fish on it everywhere we went. Joe and I experimented and caught fish on a variety of lures, from Hula Grubs to crank baits. We ended up fishing the shore that is just south of Barker Flats, and that’s where Roberta caught her big boy. It was a ton of fun, and I want to remind everyone to pound down the liquids in the hot weather.

Monday, July 26

The salmon season is maturing nicely here on the upper Columbia River. Bib kings are still being caught in the Wenatchee area, and the fishing is really improving further up stream. Catch counts are much better now below Wells Dam and it has picked up off the mouth of the Okanogan River at Brewster. Anglers who have been targeting the sockeye have been having a ball, but now they will be focusing on the summer run kings. I want to remind everyone that the annual Budweiser Lowrance Salmon Derby is coming up the first weekend in August, and there will be lots of fish there by then. This is a great derby, not because of all the cash and prizes that angers can will, but because the folks from the Brewster Chamber and all the volunteers do such a great job running it. Even if you don’t make the board you can still win, and you will have a great time, that’s for sure. You can learn more about the derby and even register on-line by logging onto brewstersalmonderby dot com. In the mean time I am heading down to Desert Aire and trying for some smallmouth bass. It’s new water to me and I’m really excited to try it.