by By Jason Brooks, March 02, 2014

North Central Washington’s Steelhead have made headlines in the past few years. First the return of wild steelhead along with copious hatchery fish appearing from near extinction. Then the Steelhead returns allowing not only fisheries but a new way of managing the fish such as “catch and must kill hatchery fish” regulations along with selective gear rules on some of the most pristine and beautiful rivers east of the Cascade crest. But all of those fish use one major “Superhighway” to get there and that is the Columbia all the way from the Pacific Ocean to the tributaries spawning gravel within miles of the Canadian border at the headwaters of the Okanogan, Methow and Sinlahekin. So why not intercept those hatchery fish before they split apart to head to their respective hatchery zones? Mostly because the Columbia is big and very intimidating when it comes to finding fish or at least it appears that way.

While fishing below Wells Dam one hot July day several years ago I just about sank our boat right in the middle of the river. I was fighting a nice Chinook and allowing the boat to free drift downstream when all of a sudden we were in three feet of water. As I looked overboard I could see the softball size gravel bottom shallow up to the motors outdrive. A quick punch of the throttle and we saved the day. It was then that I realized the dam spillways created a large gravel bar in the middle of the river. We cruised over to the Chelan County side and I again noted a deep channel along the edge of the river, which is very popular for summer Chinook fishing.

Then two years ago on a sunny March day I walked the banks of the Columbia below Wells Dam with Andy Byrd and his dad Mike fishing for Steelhead. Andy used to guide this area and now just fishes there for fun. He concentrates on the edge of the channel floating ¼ oz. black and purple Mack’s Glo-Getter or Rock Dancer jigs tipped with a piece of raw prawn that had Pautske Fire Cure sprinkled on it the night before. To find the channel he uses an adjustable float and makes the adjustment until it hits bottom, then continues casting out until it free drifts and then hangs up again. He notes where it free drifted and knows that is the slot the fish will be in. Due to heavy currents from the spillways this channels is re-cut every spring and summer so it’s a good idea to test it each time you go. Bouncing eggs along the bottom works well too, just be aware that there are old marker cables in the river that grab your gear and never let go. Mike Byrd landed two fish on this day by drift fishing eggs. In total there were six of us fishing an area that is over a half mile long with six fish landed that day, two wild fish and four marked fish.

It’s not as “pristine” or eye appealing as its tributaries but the mighty Columbia holds all the runs of steelhead heading for northern waters. With ample bank space, parking, and sunshine Wells Dam is a great place to float jigs or bounce some eggs for steelhead in March.

Sidebar: Most of the winter saw closures on the Wenatchee, Methow and the Brewster Pool of the Columbia for Steelhead. With openings slated for this spring make sure to check out the emergency rule changes at the WDFW website for current regulations. There is usually no bait restriction on the Columbia, again check the regs. Keep in mind that when fishing below Wells dam, either from a boat or from the bank that the spill gates can open at any time causing the waters to rise suddenly and currents to increase dramatically. There is no need to wade out into the river if fishing from shore and it is never recommended.