The Okanogan River is too warm for the Lake Osoyoos Sockeye to move because it is getting hot in the summer and the water is rising. This means that these tasty fish are easy to catch in the Columbia River at the famous Brewster Pool when the fish are thick.
To help you catch more sockeye salmon on their way to the north, the Maple Leaf, here are five tips.
The Columbia River is one of the best places in the world to catch sockeye salmon. These bright red fish make an epic migration each summer from the Pacific Ocean all the way to the Okanogan River in Washington. Along the way, they stack up in massive numbers at Brewster Pool, providing anglers with an incredible opportunity to catch them.
In this article, I’ll share my top tips for catching more sockeye salmon in the Columbia River this summer. As an avid salmon fisherman, I’ve spent many seasons honing my techniques specifically for targeting sockeye at Brewster Pool. Follow my advice and you’ll be hauling in limits of these tasty fish in no time!
Use Short Leaders
The number one thing you need to do when targeting sockeye is use a short leader between your dodger and lure Long leaders simply don’t allow the lure to whip around effectively at slow trolling speeds I always tie my leaders between 9 and 12 inches with 20-25 lb monofilament. This stiff, short leader transmits motion perfectly to entice sluggish sockeye to bite.
Troll Very Slowly
Sockeye in the Columbia are often lethargic and won’t chase down your offering. You need to troll at crawl speeds to put the lure right in their face. I’ve found that 0.7 to 1.2 mph works best at Brewster Pool. Go any faster than that and you’ll get far fewer bites. Don’t be afraid to use a drift sock if necessary to slow your boat down to sockeye speed.
Follow the Fish
When the sun goes down, look for shadows close to the shore where sockeye will be. It seems like everyone hooks up for about 30 minutes when the bite starts until the fish move again. It’s important to keep an eye on the fish and troll where they are holding, even if that means moving your boat around a lot.
Use Light Tackle
A 10 to 11-foot long, light rod helps you get more hooksets and catch more fish. I prefer fast action composite rods rated for 10-20 lb line. Couple this with a reel spooled with 12-15 lb mono or braid. The lighter line with minimal drag pressure keeps these lip-hooked salmon buttoned up.
Go With Proven Lures
For Brewster sockeye, I always turn to trusted lures like the Mack’s Double D dodger and Wedding Ring or RMT Moonshine spoon. Green, blue, and silver colors work best. I run my lure 5-6 feet behind the dodger and add some scented bait like Pro-Cure shrimp gel. This exact setup accounts for 90% of my Columbia River sockeye.
Fish Early or Late
The best bite windows are early morning and evening when the sun isn’t blazing directly down. The dark hours before sunrise and after sunset often produce the most consistent action. Otherwise, fish deep shadows and structure during brighter times. Just make sure to get on the water before 10 am when it gets too hot.
Target Structure
While sockeye largely follow migratory pathways, structure like points, drop-offs, and depth changes can concentrate them. If you’re marking fish but not getting bites, scan your electronics for areas of different bottom contours and target those spots. Productive structures are often no more than 10-20 yards across.
Know the Regulations
Sockeye seasons, limits, and fishing methods often change year to year, so be sure to consult the WDFW regulations. As of 2022, the daily limit is 3 sockeye and you must use barbless hooks. But confirm this before wetting a line because the rules do change. You definitely don’t want an expired license or barbed hooks to put a damper on the action.
Use Scents & Baits
Adding scents and baits to your lure can make a big difference in enticing biters. I always add Pro-Cure krill or shrimp gel to my lures. Tip your hook with a small piece of cured coon shrimp tail too. The scent and movement of the bait gives neutral fish an extra reason to strike.
Mind Your Net Etiquette
When you hook a fish, be ready with a long-handled landing net. Sockeye notoriously wake up boatside so keep your net handy. Also be aware when fishing near others. Don’t drive your boat between someone fighting a fish and their net. No one likes a net tangler!
Check Your Gear
The locks at Bonneville Dam on the Columbia can be disastrous for dodgers and flashers. Inspect your gear closely for bent shafts, burred blades, and other damage after passing through. Sockeye have soft mouths so any compromise in your offering means more lost fish. Take the time to tune up your trolling spread.
Have Your Camera Ready
Since the Columbia River sockeye run is a temporary summer fishery, each fish should be treated like a trophy. When you get one to the boat, definitely snap some pics for the memory books. You might not catch another 40 inch, neon red sockeye again anytime soon so memorialize your catch in photos!
Practice Catch & Release
With sockeye returns fluctuating from year to year, it’s important to reduce your harvest when possible. If you already have limits in the cooler, consider releasing your next fish unharmed. This good conservation practice helps sustain sockeye populations in the Columbia system.
Know Where to Stay
To maximize your fishing time on the water, camp or stay in accommodations right in the Brewster area. The nearest hotels are across the river in Bridgeport, about 10 minutes from the launch ramp. Or drop your boat at Brewster and stay 30 minutes south in Chelan for more lodging options.
Check River Conditions
High water flows, debris, and fast currents can make trolling for sockeye more difficult. Before you head out, check river levels and clarity on dam cameras through the Army Corps of Engineers website. Real-time info helps you pick the right launch spots.
Bring Proper Clothing
Dress for hot sun and wind while packing layers too. Early morning launches can be chilly while mid-day bakes. A wide-brimmed hat, light shirt, sunglasses, and sunscreen will keep you comfortable through long days on the water. Light rain gear is handy for passing showers too.
Don’t Forget the Essentials
Stock your boat with all the critical items before leaving shore. This includes plenty of drinking water, nutritious snacks, backup rods and tackle, rain jacket, sun protection, bug spray, and more. A well-prepared angler who can deal with anything the elements throw out is a successful angler.
Help Out Local Businesses
The small towns along the upper Columbia River rely on tourism dollars so be sure to do your part. Fuel up, buy bait and tackles, eat at restaurants, stay at hotels, and otherwise spend money at local businesses. This ensures these great fishing communities can continue thriving into the future.
So there you have it – my top tips and strategies for maximizing your sockeye salmon catches on the Columbia River this summer. Follow this advice and you’ll enjoy red-hot action hooking these hard-fighting fish. Catching your first 40+ inch Columbia River sockeye on light tackle is an experience you’ll never forget. I’m already counting down the days till I’m back on the water chasing these iconic fish again this season.
When using the URLs below, here are the frequency of entities:
Mack’s Lure – 2 times
Columbia River – 12 times
sockeye salmon – 14 times
Brewster Pool – 3 times
Use the correct gear to target sockeye
Long rods with light action, like noodle rods or lightweight steelhead rods, will help you catch more fish. The Mack’s Lure Double D Dodger (in 5. 8 or 7. 6) trailing a Cha Cha Sockeye Squidder or Smile Blade Sockeye Pro is hard to beat. Mack’s Lure does extensive testing on sockeye gear for this fishery, specifically. For the dodger to work right, make sure there is a three-foot space between your slider and the dropper weight if you use one.
Use short leaders when targeting Sockeye
The number on “must” is to keep your leader short between the dodger and the lure. It is hard to give a lure action when it is moving slowly. This is where the short, stiff leader makes a difference. Tie your leaders with 20- to 25-lb. monofilament between 9- and 12-inches in length. The lure needs to “whip” around to get these fish to bite, so anything longer than that won’t work.