Priest Rapids Reservoir (Columbia)

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Chad Simon on June 5, 2009 at 6:50am

oh yeah, the most underfished stretch of the river. there is great smallmouth fishing in lots of places including on the west shoreline down where the wanapums marina is, upriver from that along the road bed there is a couple of pipes "there is ponds on the other side of the road for reference", where the creek dumps in 2miles upriver from desert aire on the eastside, and many other spots. I've actually fished inside the buoy line down by the damn for some of the best fishing of my life, but I worked for the PUD at the time, so don't try that. This river stretch is in my opinion by far the most dangerous, so run it with a jet boat a few times to get the hang of it.

Permalink Reply by Jake Anderson on June 5, 2009 at 8:26am

Where would you say the danger spots are? I've fished this pool before, and caught a few, but I never saw anything that would pose a threat in the main stem. I'm thinking maybe I was lucky to get out of there with my prop? Are the dicey spots up higher toward Wanapum, or down lower toward Desert Aire?

Permalink Reply by Ben Hanes on June 5, 2009 at 8:41am

Surely toward Wanapum

Permalink Reply by Chad Simon on June 5, 2009 at 9:36am

midway up to Wanapum, strait out from the northern tip of desert aire, and a bunch of other smaller spots.

Permalink Reply by Abbottola on June 7, 2009 at 5:17pm

You need to be there now! Its on fire!

Permalink Reply by Eric DeLay on June 8, 2009 at 12:54am

You fish it recently Abbott?

Abbottola said:

You need to be there now! Its on fire!

Permalink Reply by Jake Anderson on June 8, 2009 at 10:35am

I fished it 2 weeks ago, and it was fairly slow...caught a few decent fish. Water was down quite a bit. I've heard it can be night and day up there with fluctuating water levels since that pool is so short.

Permalink Reply by Abbottola on June 9, 2009 at 3:22pm

First 3 weeks of June is amazing for pre-spawn and spawners. Lead in points to the coves can hold up to 50 fish at times. Backs of the coves once they start spawning can be as good as anywhere in the NW. The closer you get to Wanapum dam, the more it acts like the reach. Now I haven't caught the big fish there, but its loaded with three pounders that are tough as nails.

Permalink Reply by Eric DeLay on June 9, 2009 at 3:33pm

Sweet mother that sounds good to me. I still haven't caught a fish over 3lbs this year so I am heading over.
So Wanapum is upriver from Vantage? How far are we talking about? Should we meet over there just to make it easier?

Abbottola said:

First 3 weeks of June is amazing for pre-spawn and spawners. Lead in points to the coves can hold up to 50 fish at times. Backs of the coves once they start spawning can be as good as anywhere in the NW. The closer you get to Wanapum dam, the more it acts like the reach. Now I haven't caught the big fish there, but its loaded with three pounders that are tough as nails.

Permalink Reply by Abbottola on June 9, 2009 at 4:28pm

Do you want exact coordinates or just hookem and let you reel them in?
Launch at Desert Aire and head upriver and stay to the east side of the river. You can't miss the lead in points within 2 miles upriver from the launch. If you go upriver past the railroad bridge be careful of rocks and the current is really strong, but so are the smallies

Permalink Reply by Jake Anderson on June 9, 2009 at 6:11pm

Directions sound right on to me. I really don't think this pool is nearly as good as wallula though....Its basically the same as wallula without the chance to catch a 5+ smally. If its dinks and 3lbers you seek, the snake is where its at.

Permalink Reply by Eric DeLay on June 10, 2009 at 6:31pm

That sound awesome Jeff. I don't really want you to hook them for me but if you could point where to cast that would be great. Are you free any weekdays next week?

My Bestie just told me that the whole time I have been thinking of the wrong pool. I thought this was the one where you could launch at Vantage right next to I-90, what a douche.


Abbottola said:

Do you want exact coordinates or just hookem and let you reel them in?
Launch at Desert Aire and head upriver and stay to the east side of the river. You can't miss the lead in points within 2 miles upriver from the launch. If you go upriver past the railroad bridge be careful of rocks and the current is really strong, but so are the smallies

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