The salmon season is maturing nicely here on the upper Columbia River. Bib kings are still being caught in the Wenatchee area, and the fishing is really improving further up stream. Catch counts are much better now below Wells Dam and it has picked up off the mouth of the Okanogan River at Brewster. Anglers who have been targeting the sockeye have been having a ball, but now they will be focusing on the summer run kings. I want to remind everyone that the annual Budweiser Lowrance Salmon Derby is coming up the first weekend in August, and there will be lots of fish there by then. This is a great derby, not because of all the cash and prizes that angers can will, but because the folks from the Brewster Chamber and all the volunteers do such a great job running it. Even if you don’t make the board you can still win, and you will have a great time, that’s for sure. You can learn more about the derby and even register on-line by logging onto brewstersalmonderby dot com. In the mean time I am heading down to Desert Aire and trying for some smallmouth bass. It’s new water to me and I’m really excited to try it.