McNary Steel Report

Went to McNary Dam Saturday night.  Got there around 7 PM.  Trolled lighted lures around for about 3 hours and hooked 3 steelhead and landed two.  Both fortunately were hatchery fish (13 and 7 pounds).  I fished the Washington side just above the dam.  Not too crowded, as there were maybe 25 boats total.  Had to dodge several barges, but two of the fish I hooked just after a barge went by (hmm).

I may have to give it a try again soon.

Mike

Now that right there is just awesome!!!   

So tell me more about this fishery.  What kind of lures?  What is the season?  Where do you launch?

-Allen

Allen,

The McNary dam night steelhead fishery is pretty straightforward.  Most of the action is between the boat launch (Washington side at on dams upstream side) and the pump station immediately upstream 1/2 mile.  The boats tend to troll back and forth in this area.  The water is fairly deep (30-80 feet) but the fish tend to hang in around 5-15 feet suspended.  Lighted lures such as Vortex, lighted quickfish, and Brad's wigglers with red diode seem to work the best. Last night I used the standard size Brad's wiggler with a red light behind the kayak about 75-100 feet.  Make S-turns as it seems I seems to catch them when I change directions.  This fishery should be good for at least the next month.  The daytime fishery is popular right till January and orange/red wigglewarts, etc. are very popular, as well as slow trolled bobber and shrimp.  Limit is two hatchery steelhead.

A similar fishery exists on the Oregon side also, just above the dam.

Mike

Thanks Mike, appreciate the info.  I know absolutely nothing about fishing the Big C and it's something I'd like to start learning about.  When does this fishery start up?  And which drainage are these steelhead heading towards?

-Allen

Nice work FHM. Those are some nice lookin' fish!! And special thanks for the pic.

Z

Those fish are headed to the Snake and the Mid Columbia. Hey, those might have been my fish!!

Fishing depends on river cooling enough that the thermal block in the Gorge ends. Otherwise, fish hang in the cooler tributary estuaries, like Drano Lake.

The numbers coming up the river look better than last years- there are all kinds of rumors flying that we'll get a season (on the Methow) around the 15th.

FHM very nice fish. Have you ever tried above ice harbor? I use to fish that area alot with good sucsess for steelies.

Floatin Cowboy;

I have fished above Ice harbor from shore with some success a long time ago (especially late in the season).  Not sure how the night fishery is there.  I've heard of night fishing above Lower Monumental however, but have not personally tried.  I'm 30 minutes from McNary and have more confidence there since I have the most familiarity with it.  The water visibility is very good there also, and not as much on the snake.

If I can get off work at normal time Thursday, I may give McNary another try for a couple hours.  The rest of the weekend the wife and I will be on the West side of the state for non-recreational activities.

Mike