Anglers throughout the region are watching the fish counts at McNary Dam and planning trips to chase Chinook salmon in the Hanford Reach. Fall Chinook are passing over the day at three to four thousand a day now, and it won’t be long before they show up in “fishable” numbers. The Columbia River from White Bluffs to Priest Rapids Dam will be crowded with boats for the most popular and productive salmon season in the region. For several years I spent a few days at “Fish Camp”, where writers and broadcasters like me were gathered at Biggs, Washington. Each day we got to fish for salmon off the mouth of the Deschutes or Klickitat rivers, or Drano Lake. I also enjoyed topwater fishing for smallmouth bass. The salmon fishing was very good for bright Chinook, and the smallmouth fishing was spectacular. There are more and more anglers traveling to this area on the Columbia to get these bright fish until they arrive in the Hanford Reach. There is great access to the on both the Washington and Oregon sides of the river and plenty of places to stay and dine while there. I always enjoyed it.