Our great fall weather is encouraging anglers to get out on the water, and there are some really terrific fisheries that begin in the fall. Salmon anglers are chasing fall Chinook on the Hanford Reach, and sturgeon fishing has opened on Lake Roosevelt. Many of our area lakes close to fishing at the end of September, so you better hurry if you want to get in on the usually good fall bite.

With some very popular fall fisheries ramping up, I thought I would remind anglers that I have some very informative videos on my YouTube channel that you may find of interest. If you are new to the Hanford Reach fall salmon fishery, or don’t think you are catching your share, check out the videos that have been done with Shane Magnuson. He demonstrates some very effective techniques, and there’s even one about curing eggs. Another fall fishery that attracts a lot of attention in the fall is for sturgeon on Lake Roosevelt. I did one with Kevin Witte, who is Kettle Falls area guide, that is loaded with good info. You can also find one we did with Austin Moser that was done below Rock Island Dam. Much of what Austin does on the Columbia River down here will translate into fishing for sturgeon in other areas. When you are on my YouTube channel, check out the videos I have done on the Grant County PUD’s Recreations Areas. I just made some of these public so you can learn about these access sites along the Columbia River. This week’s photo was taken below Priest Rapids Dam a few years ago.

Also, I will be writing and distributing my free E-Letter for Fall shortly. I will be talking about the Hanford Reach salmon fishing in this issue. There will be Google maps of some of the most popular fishing areas and some information on how to rig and what to use to catch these upriver bright salmon. To make sure you get a copy of the free E-Letter, go to my website at www.FishingMagician.com and click on the Free E-Letter button at the top left of the Home Page. I will make sure you get on the list.

Fall salmon are making their way up the Columbia River and fishing in the Hanford Reach is about to take off. This fishery is probably the biggest one on the east side of the mountains. Hundreds of anglers will be out chasing them every day. Along with the fall run Chinook, there are coho salmon passing through the dams and many of them will be headed for the Icicle River here in Leavenworth. This has become a regular thing in recent years. I had my doubts about the quality of these fish, but after catching some, I changed my mind. They are not only fun to catch, the table quality, in the early part of the season, is excellent. Looking back at some photos I have taken of coho fishing on the Icicle, the fishing usually takes place a little later this month. It may occur later than usual with the very low water we’re seeing in our area streams. Over 900 coho have passed over Rock Island Dam but haven’t shown up in Icicle yet.

The most popular method of catching coho in the Icicle is with jigs, and I would stock up now before they are all gone from the shelves at local sporting goods stores. There are “twitching” jigs made especially for coho fishing, but they are usually made for bigger rivers than the Icicle and are very heavy. I caught my first coho on a Macks Lures Rock Dancer jig, in a light weight. I usually trim the deer hair back a bit on these jigs. I will keep you posted on the opening of the Icicle for coho fishing.

Since 1991, the Wenatchee River Salmon Festival has hosted thousands of third and fourth-grade students for two days of “edutainment,” a term for educational activities to learn about our natural world, celebrate the return of salmon to the Wenatchee River, and the importance of salmon to the people of the Northwest. The event was previously held at the National Fish Hatchery in Leavenworth and attracted thousands of visitors when it was opened to the public. The Community Day is back for the first time since 2019, and on Saturday, September 23rd, families are invited to come to the Rocky Reach Dam Park and Discovery Center to take part in the free festival. There is a long list of hands-on activities that the kids will enjoy and other activities throughout the day. There is live entertainment scheduled and two appearances by the Reptile Lady that is always a big hit. There is absolutely nothing that compares with Salmon Fest as a family event and it’s all free. Please visit the website at www.SalmonFest.org to see the incredible range of things to do. A big thank you to Chelan County PUD for helping stage the festival, and all the volunteers and agencies that help make it possible.

While fall salmon attract a great deal of attention this time of year, there are some other fisheries that bloom. Walleye fishing can be excellent in the fall, and I have had some amazing days on Banks Lake and Potholes Reservoir can really light up when the weather cools. Last fall, the walleye bite was terrific on Potholes, and I am already getting some good reports. Many anglers are saying they could be getting more walleye, but they are catching a lot of smallmouth and largemouth bass, big bluegill, crappie, and really big rainbow trout when trolling their spinners and crawlers.

Trout fishing can also be great as the weather cools. Jameson Lake continues to be a fall favorite with trout anglers. Most anglers don’t consider fishing Burke and Quincy lakes this time of year, but they can be surprisingly good. Remember, many of the lakes in the Columbia Basin close at the end of the month.

I have scheduled at least two trips to Omak Lake in the next few weeks. Fishing for Lahontan cutthroat here is nothing short of spectacular, and I rarely see another boat on the water. Since this big, beautiful lake is on the Colville Reservation and requires Tribal permits and licenses, it is largely ignored. Those who have experienced the fishing on Omak Lake are happy to pay these fees.