Anglers fishing for fall run Kings below Wanapum Dam, and at Vernita are catching very good numbers of fish, and some big ones, too. There are even more fall runs expected to return to these areas of the Columbia than last year, and last season was a dandy down here.

Steelhead numbers have passed the 20,000 mark over Priest Rapids Dam, well over what was expected, and fishing has been good at several locations. I am getting great reports from anglers fishing at the mouth of the Wenatchee. They are getting some bright Steelhead and a fair number of Kings, too.

Wells Dam is also producing a very good number of fish for this time of year. There are lots of fish in the 8- to 10-pound class being boated, too. These are larger than what I expected. I hooked four the other day near Bridgeport and was using a bobber and jig set up from the Jetcraft. The Yakima Bait Maxi Jig is still doing the trick. Bright pink and orange were the best colors.

I had some bad bait, but it didn't seem to matter to the mix of Steelhead, jack Salmon and triploids we caught.