We are definitely transitioning into serious fall weather. It has been pouring down rain here in Leavenworth, and I can see snow on the Sleeping Lady. Fall Chinook fishing is winding down on the Hanford Reach. The upstream section of the Hanford Reach, from the old Hanford townsite powerline crossing upstream to Priest Rapids Dam will close after October 15th. Other stretches of the Columbia that will close on the 15th are the ones from Priest Rapids to Rock Island Dam and from Rock Island Dam to Rocky Reach Dam. I am looking forward to getting out on Potholes Reservoir. I had heard that the walleye fishing has picked up here and a friend sent me a photo of a whopper crappie he caught on Potholes. I will be checking out Banks Lake soon, too, to see if the fall walleye bite is getting into gear. I also want to see if the smallmouth fishing at Crescent Bar that is so good in the spring is any good in the fall. My buddy Brian Anantatmula is going to give Lake Roosevelt a try. We had so much fun up there last year he can’t wait to get back at it.
We got lots of smallmouth like this in the spring at Crescent Bar. Maybe we can get them in the fall.