Fishing America
STATE #43 - WASHINGTON OCTOBER 2018 - THE COLUMBIA RIVER, THE SNAKE RIVER SPECIES CAUGHT - White Sturgeon, Steelhead, King Salmon
A few minutes after my Oregon fishing ended in the great Columbia River, the WA fishing began without ever docking the boat as our guide Steven Brinkley headed us downriver about 15 miles. OR in the am and WA in the pm in two different beautiful spots on this river made for a good day.
My KY friend Chino Ross joined me again as we swapped sides of the river to offcially make our catches in WA water and target another species (white sturgeon). A couple miles before we reached our destination to fish, we entered into a fog so thick we only had a few feet of visibility.
After travelling slow to prevent a collision with another boat in the fog we threw out set lines and put them in the holder and had a relaxed morning waiting on a sturgeon to bite. It is not abnormal to wait a long time in between bites on these things.
The white sturgeons do not come in bunches. This prehistoric looking fish is interesting in more ways than its appearance. It is one of the few sturgeon species that produces caviar. If I start fish farming, I may have to move north and farm these. I would think harvesting caviar is surely profitable, but I don’t know.
Our rigs were set lines and neither one of us put our names on either of them. When one of the rods bent, I offered it to Chino, but he said no, you go ahead. He insisted I get on the board first since I was the guy offcially Fishing America.
So, after he refused it twice, I accepted. I only have to be told twice. I then started reeling on this fish that has long stroked powerful pulsating pulls. These things are so strong. It was similar in behavior to the lake sturgeon I caught in MI.
When it briefly stops after a pull like that, you have to get it and fight it best you can and then it starts pulling line again. Back and forth pulling and fighting until me and that fish wore each other out. I finally got it close and Chino secured it in the net.
Chino is pronounced (chinno). He said, “Just remember Chin Ho on Hawaii Five O, but say it faster.” That’s the pronunciation, so I looked up the meaning. One of the many meanings I found to the name Chino was “Sent from God.”
So I’ll credit this catch to God, the friend he sent me to enjoy fishing WA, OR, and ID, the guide Steven Brinkley and that mystical fog that was being burned off by the afternoon sun as I caught it. This was a fun catch with only one shot to get it.
We got it in the boat and Chino took a picture. The external spurs on the spine and the side of the fish are as sharp as they look. Notice I am wearing gloves in this picture. This thing could do some damage with those things. We released this old fighter and let him swim free. At certain times and sizes, one fish is allowed to be kept but it was the wrong time.
We fished a while longer hoping to see one on the hook for Chino. After no luck for a second bite and enjoying a lot of sitting in the boat enjoying the Columbia we left for another river where Chino had his sights set on WA day 2.
We headed to Clarkston up the scenic US 730 that much of runs along the bank of the Columbia. After enjoying this peaceful ride there where we stayed the night, we only had to go next door to our hotel to find a nice steak and atmosphere to enjoy a great dinner.
After a good night’s sleep, we awoke to a cooler morning than before and drove 40 miles south along near the bank of the Snake River where we launched into new water with a new guide Josh Buttars. That was the closest hotel I found to this remote landing near the mouth of Hell’s Canyon on the Snake.
This river was even prettier than the Columbia and was a quite one for me. But Chino got on the board early and more often than I did as we enjoyed fishing for steelhead and salmon in the gorgeous Snake River. Chino boated two king salmon and a steelhead, and I got one steelhead.
Good guides, a friend sent from God, one mystical fish along with a few more and just like that two days in WA done while Fishing America. While leaving WA we enjoyed another scenic trip at the end of the day as we headed out for one of my most memorable stops while touring this nation. Thanks again Chino for that gesture of refusing the reel.
Steven Brinkley guides the Columbia for several species. He is a great fishing guide online at Hukit Outfitters and also gives guided elk hunts.