Fishing Upper Columbia is a power trip

NORTHPORT, Wash. — Fishing the Upper Columbia River is a power game. River flows of 100,000 cubic feet per second are considered low.

Anglers need boats with big motors to run through rapids and against the strong currents.

They need powerful fishing rods to battle rainbow trout that easily top 20 inches.

In this far northeast corner of Washington, the river runs for about 14 miles after crossing the Canada border before it enters Lake Roosevelt, created by Grand Coulee Dam. It is wide, deep and fast water.

Abundant food and plenty of holding water make for long and thick trout. On this river, a 14-inch rainbow will put a big bend in your fly rod.

But how do you solve a river that’s two football fields wide in spots and can rise or fall four feet in a day? This is no tumbling mountain stream, just the constant rush of big water, a muted version of the ocean’s roar at the beach.

Focus on the choice spots: a creek mouth or areas of slower current near shore.

In early season, a stonefly nymph and chironomid trailer my be a good combo. Caddis hatches are intense in June.

Finding the right spots will pay rewards of big trout – 20 inches is not uncommon, and they are thick and colorful. But the fishing can test an angler’s limits.

Many anglers use big rods, 10-footers and longer, to cast heavy two-fly combinations. Trying to get a drag-free drift is no easy task in big water, but it’s essential if you want a strike.

Boating requires caution on this big, powerful river.

The remote location adds to the river’s quality as a hidden gem. Western Washington anglers generally are short-stopped by the shorter drive to the Yakima River. Spokane anglers, less than two hours away, are more likely to fish in Idaho.

But the Upper Columbia is being discovered.

John Newberry of Chewelah, who’s been fishing the upper Columbia since 1982, says he’s particularly worried about the pressure he’s seeing on the rainbow trout during the spawning seasons.

“The big fish bunch up and if you get on to them, you can do a lot of harm to the fishery at that time of year. I’ve even seen some guides drifting bait like you would for a steelhead. Those fish are dead whether they release them or not.”

Newberry says it’s time for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to consider more restrictive rules to protect the big fish of this big river.

Craig Vail, the agency’s area fish biologist, said he’s concerned about the fishery, mainly because of the lack of data on the fish and anglers. He hopes to begin a fish population study soon.

“We’d like to know if it’s a catch-and-release fly-fishing fishery or what they call a meat fishery,” Vail said. “We’re a little concerned about their long-term health.”