The most accessible part of the Snake in Washington is the section from Clarkston downstream to Wawawai, where Wawawai River Road parallels the east side of the river for more than 20 miles. Located at the confluence of the Snake and Palouse rivers, Lyons Ferry was the dividing point for the Ice Age floods after they carved the Palouse River canyons more than 13,000 years ago. The sweet spot, especially with surface flies and shallow dry-dropper rigs, is happening from 1pm to 3pm, although on some days it is occurring earlier. Most of the fish weigh 1 to 2 pounds but it's not rare to find some larger bass in the 4 to 5 lb. Later in summer, substantial catches are still possible, but cats are more likely to be found 30 feet down or more during daylight hours. The ability to camp near the river is a bonus. The Sprague Lake Public Access boat launch and dock is located directly across from Harper Island. From fly-fishing to ice fishing or simply spending . At the northeast end of the lake, Sprague Lake Resort offers RV and tent camping. Increase your odds with a two-pole endorsement. A popular urban fishing lake in King County, Green Lake is certainly the best bet for catfish in the Seattle area. Cut bait, nightcrawlers and chicken livers are all popular here. The Snake River originates in Wyoming and arcs across southern Idaho before turning north along theIdaho-Oregon border. Contact us at (888) 548-8896 (Tollfree) or email: fishhawk7@hotmail.com That's 1,078 miles of river. Stretching more than 1,200 miles from its headwaters in British Columbia to the Pacific Ocean, the Columbia River is one of Washingtons best fishing spots for just about anything that swims. Be sure to change the bait as sturgeon prefer smelt, herring, and pieces of eel. Its a good set up for catfish as well, and reduces the chances of lost tackle becoming hazardous to fish and wildlife. Earthjustice, on behalf of a coalition of fishing and conservation groups, today joined with Biden administration agencies, the State of Oregon, and the Nez Perce Tribe to seek a pause until next summer in litigation challenging the latest federal plan for hydropower operations on the Snake and Columbia Rivers. And much like the Columbia, dams up and down the lower Snake divide the river into a series of reservoirs in which catfish thrive. March 2, 2020. Ample shore access is available just off Green Mountain Road, which runs along the northern lakeshore. Climate change is already affecting runoff patterns in theColumbia basin, causing mountain snow to melt earlier in the spring, which leads to lower summertimeflows and higher summer water temperatures. 2023American Rivers, All Rights Reserved. Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. They really like river features with depth changes, velocity changes, and woody cover.. On Lake Wallula, Two Rivers Park offers excellent fishing and boating access near the confluence of the Columbia and Snake Rivers. You can see Health and Welfare's consumption advisory here. Species: Before removing the four lower Snake River dams, the services they provide must be replaced with costeffective alternatives. Crane Creek Reservoir: near Midvale; be careful if it rains as roads may become muddy. Catfish tend to dominate catches from June through August, after the rush to catch spring stocked trout fizzles out. Some individuals will live 15-20 years, grow over 30 inches in length and weigh in excess of 30 pounds. Because fancy lures are not required, catfishing is relatively easy, inexpensive and does not require specialized equipment. People should balance that advisorywith the healthbenefits of eating fish, and Health and Welfare also states "Eating fish on a regular basis can be beneficial to both adults and children. Its been stocked heavily with channel catfish, and is also known for bass and panfish. Theres also a variety of premade catfish baits available at sporting goods stores and tackle shops. The northeastern half of the lake has the deepest water, so its best to start there for catfish. Try fishing near the boat ramps as the sun goes down, or deep ledges and drop-offs during the day. Map Rock: Boat launch and good walk-in access to the river on the north side of the Snake River about 5 miles downstream from Walters Ferry. Expect those flows for the next couple months of the winter season. Channel catfish are stocked in this lake and you can expect 2-5 year old fish to be in the 16-24 inch range with fish up to 20 pounds possible. Cats love a break in the current where they can rest. These fisheries rely on continued stocking, but still offer some fun fishing opportunities. Crickets are also a popular catfish bait, especially Mormon crickets when theyre available. For catfish anglers, the river presents a wide range of opportunities. Open year-round, expect good fishing for channel catfish May through September. The Snake River time zone is Pacific Daylight Time which is 8 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The system of dams and reservoirs kills 50 to 80 percent of juvenile salmon and steelhead as the fishmake their way downstream to the ocean. Not all lakes on this list will produce the next state record but they will give you a stringer full of delicious catfish. The largest verified record was a 1,387 pound fish caught in 1897, according to the Idaho Fish and Game Department. That reinforces the myth that all they do is hang out in deep, dark holes, and all they do is scavenge, Kozfkay said. This reservoir may be shallow at times. Fishing is open year-round on St. Clair Lake and, unlike others on this list, targeting channel catfish is good year round, especially along some of the undeveloped shoreline! These are the primary areas in the state where established river-loving channel catfish populations are self-sustaining. In the short time that man has been on this earth, we have chopped it into many pieces. The current Washington state record is a 36.2-pound monster caught in 1999. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. South of Clarkston, however, the river gains speed as you move upstream to the world famous Hells Canyon, and theres not doubt your on one of the Northwests most inviting rivers. Speedboats are allowed so we suggest working your way along the edge of the lake to stay out of the way of the faster boats and big wakes. Make sure to check the current fishing regulations for any updates and special rules. The Lower Granite, Little Goose, Lower Monumental, and Ice Harbor damscreate a hostile gauntlet of deadly turbines and warm, stagnant reservoirs full of hungry predators thathave caused dramatic declines in the Snake Rivers salmon runs. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. September 22, 2022 by Brent Pollock. Non-motorized boats that can be launched from shore are allowed. From the northwest corner of Wyoming the Snake River meanders just over 1,000 miles through Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, and drains into the Columbia River. Most rivers in WA are likely to contain at least a few catfish. Civil discussions are encouraged and welcomed. Fresh cut bait tends to fare best, and tend to be less bothered by types of fish you may not want to catch. Crickets are also a popular catfish bait, especially Mormon crickets when theyre available. June is a great month to be fishing near the mouth of the river. 509-869-9694 steeldream@gmail.com Website | Facebook: View Profile: Pete's Fishing Guide Service. You get a little bit of everything if you spend the time doing a little investigation on this section of the Snake River. They then head out to sea, and after several years returnto their natal rivers to spawn, an inland journey of more than 900 miles. Channel cats average about 4 to 6 pounds and lots of them range above 10 pounds. The three species of bullhead catfish (brown, yellow, and black) occurring in Washington have a lobed tail. If you have questions, would like to learn more about recovery efforts in your watershed, or would like to get involved directly, please contact: West Coast Region - Interior Columbia Basin Area Office. The lower reaches are a slow, often muddy river that supports a large catfish population. Stink baits are also favored by many local anglers. First time catching a blue catfish, a channel catfish and a . The state record (22.7 pounds) was caught here in 1981, but more recent catches are rarer in this section that farther upstream into Idaho. Email: Bob.Ries@noaa.gov. But the DFW has stocked Green Lake numerous times with channel catfish over the years, some of which have grown to truly epic proportions. Stink Creek exits Roses Lake 1,000 feet from the boat launch and passes through Dry Lake on its way to Lake Chelan just over the hill. While we mostly drank beer and told . The Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area in southcentral Washington provides crucial habitat for wildlife and places for people to enjoy a unique and varied landscape. Its a good set up for catfish as well, and reduces the chances of lost tackle becoming hazardous to fish and wildlife. Action: Opens some sections of the Snake River to coho retention. Steel Dreams Guide Service. The nearest food, gas, tackle, and lodging can be found in Clarkston or across the river in Lewiston, Idaho. OLYMPIA - Fishery managers from Washington and Oregon on Wednesday approved this year's recreational spring Chinook salmon fishing season for the Columbia River, with seasons expected to look similar to 2022. There are many options for bait, and you might start with a common nightcrawler. They can also be found in most of the habitat in the Snake River, not just its deep holes. The lake is located within Lake Terrell State Game Refuge, and its shoreline is completely undeveloped and inaccessible aside from the state boat launch on the south shore, which has a small public fishing dock. Check out our county-by-county fishing pages and you can easily find bullhead to catch close to home, so we wont fool with them in this article. In lowland lakes, channel catfish are not known to spawn and require regular stocking to maintain recreational fisheries. Shannon1, CC BY-SA 4.0 Snake River Watershed, Map, via Wikimedia Commons. Just near Olympia and just 45 minutes from Tacoma, Lake St. Clair is one of the better catfish lakes within easy reach in the South Puget Sound area. Almost entirely surrounded by homes, shoreline access is limited to the WDFW boat launches and parking area. Channel cats are most abundant in the Middle Columbia, where a series of dams back the river up into a succession of long, meandering reservoirs. Downstream of Bonneville Dam. The freight transportation benefits of the dams are also replaceable. While Riffe Lake is famous for landlocked coho salmon and chunky smallmouth bass, Swofford Pond is by far the better of the two. Just enter your email to subscribe to our blog and receive notifications of new posts. Sun., April 17, 2022. You dont need a whole tackle box full of lures and baits, you just need some large bait hooks (4/0 circle hooks work really well), some swivels, and some pyramid weights. The entire length of the lake parallels I-90 and is only 2 miles from the City of Sprague. Open year-round for fishing, the best time for channel cats occurs May through August, tapering off as fall arrives. It is the Columbia's largest tributary, an important source of irrigation water for potatoes, sugar beets, and other crops. There are four main areas we fish - Heller Bar, Lyons Ferry, Clarkston, and Little Goose Dam.The Heller Bar area is vastly different from the other three locations in that it is the free-flowing section of the Snake River. So when you hook, fightand land a fish, theres a good chance it will release that pheromone, and the remaining fish will catch a whiff of the scent and flee or stop feeding. Locations, Effective dates, and Rules: 1.Snake River from the mouth (Burbank to Pasco railroad bridge at Snake River mile 1.25) to Lower Granite dam: Immediately through Oct. 31, 2022: Open 7 days/week. Channel cats are available in such large numbers theres no bag limit on them, and previoussurveys done by Idaho Fish and Gamehave shown the harvest is so low it doesnt affect the population. There are dozens of great fishing spots up, but the Yakimas lowest 10 miles are widely regarded as the best stretch for serious cat-fishing. But experiment with different bait, such as shrimp, cutbait from any oily fish such as carp, sucker or pikeminnow. 358 surface area (ft) 108000 max. During the June catfish spawning season, the biggest catfish head toward the river mouths to spawn. The energy from thedams can be replaced through a combination of cost-effective energy efficiency, wind power, and otherclean energy sources. Starting at Priest Rapids Dam, the 26,273 acre reservoir stretches south to McNary Dam and also includes 8 miles of the Snake River until Ice Harbor Dam. Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area. The Columbia River's largest tributary, the Snake River is an excellent catfish river in its own right. You can find more catfishing tips and information in Big fish, big fun: catfish are the Snake Rivers overlooked bounty., Seasonal Trapping/Hunting Report for Furtakers, General Season Deer and Elk Tags Available, Unclaimed / Leftover Controlled Hunt Tags, Idaho Fish and Wildlife Information System, Natural Heritage Program Technical Reports, Big fish, big fun: catfish are the Snake Rivers overlooked bounty., Steck Park: Located northwest of Weiser on the Snake River. A small lake at just 178 acres in Chelan County, Roses Lake is an excellent fishing destination all the same. "Adult channel cats are known to forage on an incredible variety of food organisms, including frogs, crawfish, clams, snails, worms, pond weeds, seeds, snakes and birds, in addition to the more traditional forage of fish and insects. Channel catfish are spread far and wide across the state of Washington so finding a spot close to home should not be difficult. This lake and its namesake city, Liberty Lake, sit almost on the Idaho border directly east of Spokane. Park your boat just along the edge or a few feet in and simply drop your setup straight to the bottom or cast along the edge. Find directions to Snake River, browse local businesses, landmarks, get current traffic estimates, road conditions, and more. Currently, a significant proportion ofNorthwest wheat farmers rely on Snake River barges to get their grain to market. Snake River (from Hells Canyon Dam to the state line) From the Oregon side, the best access is either at Hells Canyon Dam or at Dug Bar downstream. During summer when weeds become thick in the Snake River, people can switch to a float rig and hang or drift bait so itstays above the weeds. Catfish can live 15-20 years, exceed 30 inches long and weigh over 30 pounds. Bullheads are abundant throughout much of the river, especially in backwaters, but theres also a substantial and seemingly increasing population of channel catfish in the main river. Charter a guided fishing trip on the Snake, Salmon or Clearwater Rivers. And while shore access is excellent along the lower Yakima River, there are also a lot of prime catfish spots that can only be reached by boat. The Walla Walla River is yet another tributary of the Columbia River thats chock-full of catfish. Heller Bar is 22 miles up-river from the town of Asotin Washington which has nearby lodging options in the towns of Lewiston/Clarkston. Here are our 8 favorite channel catfish waters in Washington State: 178 acres of fine channel catfish water lies tucked above the northern shores of Lake Chelan, less than 2 miles from the town of Manson. Steelhead, Chinook Salmon, Sockeye Salmon (Endangered Species), Small-Mouth Bass, Channel and Blue Catfish, Crappie, Yellow Perch, Carp and Rainbows Regulatory reach 1 - From the mouth of the Snake River (Burbank to Pasco railroad bridge at Snake River mile 1.25) to the Lower Granite dam (Catch Record Card areas 640, 642, 644 and 646). If you put some effort into tryingseveral spots, youre likely to catch some catfish in the Snake River (or its tributaries), so now youve cracked the code, right? Case in point: A 45-pound channel cat was hauled from Green Lake in 2018. The state record for winter-run steelhead is a fish of 32.75lb. The first thing youll notice about Lake St. Clair is its odd shape. Here's some live action of catfishing on the Snake River: Catfishing short from Glenn Oakley on Vimeo. Between the 1950's-1980's, the USACE started the Lower Snake River Project with the construction of four dams in eastern Washington, bringing the total number of dams on the Snake River to 15. Camping, fishing for trout and boating are the favorite . We fish the Snake River year around and access the Heller Bar area for most trips. One of the main advantages to the Yakima River, as opposed to the Columbia, is that its a relatively small river, and deep water is easier to reach from the bank. These voracious predators are anything but docile. It is possible to catch these naturally reproducing catfish year round in the lower Columbia, Snake, Yakima and Walla Walla Rivers but the prime season really begins to taper off as fall approaches and water temperatures cool. March through June is the best time to catch warm water channel cats. Winter fishing on the Snake River is a rather new phenomenon. Sprague Lake is one of the largest lakes on our list with 1,760 acres of water to explore. 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