Tournament interest

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rick Lind on January 23, 2010 at 11:17am

The Okanogan Valley bass club tried it in Aug. 2008 but we had a poor turn out and not many fish caught. The ones that did not show said that they had such a poor prefish that it was not worth it. I have driven past it several times when they were flushing fish and the water was down and marked lots of spots to try when the pool was full. I have only fished it 3 or 4 times with not much luck. I can not understand what is different from lake Pateros, as there is only the damn between pools and much of the structure is the same. I do know from talking to friends from Wenatchee that the Entiat pool has more Walleye then Pateros but they are hard to find and catch as well. They also tell me that they catch very few smallies when fishing for Walleye. For me I can find new spots and fish at Lake Pateros but 10 miles down river I apply the same tactics and catch less, smaller fish, or blank out. I guess you can put me in the camp of non believers.

I also agree with you that Lake Pateros is way too small for a big Tournament.

Shawn O'Connell said:

Read the thread bob his comment wasn't directed to you at all.

It is a sweet looking piece of river. But Gary and Lisa and everyone that fishes NWB have a lot of money tied into it. A poor turnout hurts everyone especially the guys that kick our a** everytime. It doesn't look like the Wenatchee club fishes tourneys on it unless I'm mistaken. That concerns me since you would think the locals would be all over it if it was good tourney water.

Permalink Reply by Bob Akers on January 23, 2010 at 11:46am

I guess it is hard to argue with a local as local as yourself.
I need to qualify something for the benfit of all that have taken the time to add to the discussion. I don't want to be percieved as a hard ass on this subject. Two things have driven me to make it an issue. One, we need more and different waters to hold tournaments and I think that is a given and all would agree. Second, I am bringing attention to the upper Columbia due to comments, conversations and research done by PUD and WDFW bios and many guys that are fishing the Pike Minnow irradiration programs that are the ones making claims to what they have caught and seen. Big smallmouth and a lot of them. So, unless we can get those parties to make some kind of a public awareness report, I guess I am at a loss what to do to help bring this subject more attention. Bottomline, we will have to wait until more anglers have success and make a bigger issue of it.
I will certainly make more attempts to get out and do my share of R&D. I hope others will do the same. Any feed back will be more than welcomed. Good luck and good fishing.

Rick Lind said:

The Okanogan Valley bass club tried it in Aug. 2008 but we had a poor turn out and not many fish caught. The ones that did not show said that they had such a poor prefish that it was not worth it. I have driven past it several times when they were flushing fish and the water was down and marked lots of spots to try when the pool was full. I have only fished it 3 or 4 times with not much luck. I can not understand what is different from lake Pateros, as there is only the damn between pools and much of the structure is the same. I do know from talking to friends from Wenatchee that the Entiat pool has more Walleye then Pateros but they are hard to find and catch as well. They also tell me that they catch very few smallies when fishing for Walleye. For me I can find new spots and fish at Lake Pateros but 10 miles down river I apply the same tactics and catch less, smaller fish, or blank out. I guess you can put me in the camp of non believers.

I also agree with you that Lake Pateros is way too small for a big Tournament.

Shawn O'Connell said:

Read the thread bob his comment wasn't directed to you at all.

It is a sweet looking piece of river. But Gary and Lisa and everyone that fishes NWB have a lot of money tied into it. A poor turnout hurts everyone especially the guys that kick our a** everytime. It doesn't look like the Wenatchee club fishes tourneys on it unless I'm mistaken. That concerns me since you would think the locals would be all over it if it was good tourney water.

Permalink Reply by Dan Johnson on January 23, 2010 at 5:42pm

sometimes i wonder what the hell also but sometimes i don't even wonder !

Jon Sessler said:

What the hell????

Tom Edwards said:

Well I've heard that 'the reach' can be good, but lots of shallows and a boat needs a jet instead of a prop. Looks like Entiat pool is north of that area.

Permalink Reply by Steve Hastings on January 23, 2010 at 7:43pm

Tom and others, to help with clarification of the "Reach" comment that got the WTH response from Jon, ... The "Reach" is Hanford Reach that section of the River just below Priest Rapids Dam named after the Hanford Reach National Monument. It starts at the damn but where it specifically ends, well you'd probably get 20 different answer from 20 different folks.

If you go to google maps and type in Handford Reach you get a map of that section country.

Permalink Reply by Tom Edwards on January 23, 2010 at 7:49pm

Thanks for the explination. I knew about where it started above the Tri Cities part of the river, but never knew where it ended 'up north' of the cities. I've never been up stream of the marina in Richland, I think it's Richland, where the qualifier and reginal tourneys launch at, and that was back in the early '90s. And that was when someone said props can be wrecked pretty easily unless the pilot knew the river REAL well.

Permalink Reply by Steve Hastings on January 23, 2010 at 8:15pm

It does not require a jet boat to fish the reach but one does need to know where to go to stay out of trouble...... I am certain that section of the River has tore up lots of boats. I was successful at removing 2 blades and most of the 3rd from an aluminum prop a few years back.

Jet boats are required if you're going to fish up the yakima. I have gotten to the islands above the second bridge in my bass boat but that was in high water last year at the divisional. Any further than that or in in normal levels and you'd be in for it.

Permalink Reply by Tom Edwards on January 23, 2010 at 8:35pm

During the Reginal in about '90? I got up to where the Yakama narrows at some falls or riffles or something like that, been too long ago to remember it very good. Between the islands and all. My co-angler knew the slot in the river and we had no problems. Heard of a couple boats that did. Never did want to try it again. But 6 lb smallies were caught up there that weekend.

Steve Hastings said:

It does not require a jet boat to fish the reach but one does need to know where to go to stay out of trouble...... I am certain that section of the River has tore up lots of boats. I was successful at removing 2 blades and most of the 3rd from an aluminum prop a few years back.

Jet boats are required if you're going to fish up the yakima. I have gotten to the islands above the second bridge in my bass boat but that was in high water last year at the divisional. Any further than that or in in normal levels and you'd be in for it.

Permalink Reply by Ben Holten on January 24, 2010 at 3:33pm

I am a member of the Wenatchee Club (Central Washington BC). This year we are fishing Palmer Lake and the Priest Pool. I think a couple of the guys have fished Palmer, but I would say it is unfamiliar. I am the only one who has fished Priest (2 times). So I would say the Central club is open to fishing new waters.

Chelan Bass Club fished it this year. My fishig partner Chad didn't like fishing there. I don't think 10 pounds were caught, and a lot of guys came in short of limits.

There may be some great fish in the water, but they may be spread out a lot or tough to find. Moses has a lot of big fish in it. In may you need 20# to finish in the top 3 of a club tournament. In August I think guys would strugle to bring in a limit, and 8 pounds would be good.

Bob Akers said:

That's a valid point. I was once a member of the Wenatchee club. But, I will say this with some risk. Many clubs today will fish predominately familiar waters. I feel the reason for that is due to reliability, favorability and habit. The time I was there at the Wenatchee club, many members simply didn't want to venture out and try new waters. They wanted to go somewhere tried and true so they could be assured of catching fish. In most instances, waters were chosen because some have had great success and winnings. To me that eliminates parity and favors those that know those bodies of water the best. The Columbia has to many variables and uncertainties and those that want to be a winner don't like that.
Yet, many locals have fished this area and have found fish and quality fish. I know that the Chelan club fishes the Columbia but primarily above Chelan Falls.
I would like to believe that there was a time when a certain body of water that didn't have any real rep was given the opportinity to prove itself. The upper Columbia could be that kind of deal. We really don't know what it will kick out until we get a number of quality fisherman to give it a try. So, I guess the question will stay open for a while.
An after thought, what about the Vantage bridge to Rock island dam stretch. Many clubs have fished the dam below Vantage and have caught some unbelievable stringers. I have seen them because I fished the tourney. That stretch could be viable for a tourney. Who knows.
I do believe after this discussion, there will be guys checking out the river to see what it does offer.

Shawn O'Connell said:

Read the thread bob his comment wasn't directed to you at all.

It is a sweet looking piece of river. But Gary and Lisa and everyone that fishes NWB have a lot of money tied into it. A poor turnout hurts everyone especially the guys that kick our a** everytime. It doesn't look like the Wenatchee club fishes tourneys on it unless I'm mistaken. That concerns me since you would think the locals would be all over it if it was good tourney water.

Permalink Reply by Jake Anderson on January 24, 2010 at 3:57pm

What is it that compells Sessler to be the resident Jerk on this website. You remind me of the "cool" kid in Junior High School who had to rip into someone if something less than "cool" came out of their mouth. I hope your Salisbury steak is good this week, and sincerely hope you stay out of the principals office.

What you don't realize is that nobody here needs you to point out poorly thought out threads or posts. They are what they are with you or without you. I would recommend that instead of bashing people, that you invest your time in helping them understand, but something tells me it would fall of deaf ears. Hope this helps.

Jon Sessler said:

What the hell????

Tom Edwards said:

Well I've heard that 'the reach' can be good, but lots of shallows and a boat needs a jet instead of a prop. Looks like Entiat pool is north of that area.

Permalink Reply by cody hampton on January 24, 2010 at 5:36pm

Im in the Chelan club and it was a tough tournament, 10 lbs won it with a 4 lb kicker smallie, i only weighed in 3 fish and 2 of em were dinks, it wasnt that great. The ones who did do better fished right below Wells Dam.

Ben Holten said:

I am a member of the Wenatchee Club (Central Washington BC). This year we are fishing Palmer Lake and the Priest Pool. I think a couple of the guys have fished Palmer, but I would say it is unfamiliar. I am the only one who has fished Priest (2 times). So I would say the Central club is open to fishing new waters.

Chelan Bass Club fished it this year. My fishig partner Chad didn't like fishing there. I don't think 10 pounds were caught, and a lot of guys came in short of limits.

There may be some great fish in the water, but they may be spread out a lot or tough to find. Moses has a lot of big fish in it. In may you need 20# to finish in the top 3 of a club tournament. In August I think guys would strugle to bring in a limit, and 8 pounds would be good.

Bob Akers said:

That's a valid point. I was once a member of the Wenatchee club. But, I will say this with some risk. Many clubs today will fish predominately familiar waters. I feel the reason for that is due to reliability, favorability and habit. The time I was there at the Wenatchee club, many members simply didn't want to venture out and try new waters. They wanted to go somewhere tried and true so they could be assured of catching fish. In most instances, waters were chosen because some have had great success and winnings. To me that eliminates parity and favors those that know those bodies of water the best. The Columbia has to many variables and uncertainties and those that want to be a winner don't like that.
Yet, many locals have fished this area and have found fish and quality fish. I know that the Chelan club fishes the Columbia but primarily above Chelan Falls.
I would like to believe that there was a time when a certain body of water that didn't have any real rep was given the opportinity to prove itself. The upper Columbia could be that kind of deal. We really don't know what it will kick out until we get a number of quality fisherman to give it a try. So, I guess the question will stay open for a while.
An after thought, what about the Vantage bridge to Rock island dam stretch. Many clubs have fished the dam below Vantage and have caught some unbelievable stringers. I have seen them because I fished the tourney. That stretch could be viable for a tourney. Who knows.
I do believe after this discussion, there will be guys checking out the river to see what it does offer.

Shawn O'Connell said:

Read the thread bob his comment wasn't directed to you at all.

It is a sweet looking piece of river. But Gary and Lisa and everyone that fishes NWB have a lot of money tied into it. A poor turnout hurts everyone especially the guys that kick our a** everytime. It doesn't look like the Wenatchee club fishes tourneys on it unless I'm mistaken. That concerns me since you would think the locals would be all over it if it was good tourney water.

Permalink Reply by Tom Edwards on January 24, 2010 at 8:26pm

Hey, I didn't have a problem with any follow-up replies. If I'd thought hard enough I'da realized that Entiat is WAY north of Vantage, and Vantage is 'open water', I've fished there once before, and north of 'the reach'. I reminded myself of that when I was looking at the map of Entiat that I posted a link to. Now just having fun with this thread reading all the replys. LOL All is good.

Permalink Reply by Tom Edwards on January 24, 2010 at 9:24pm

Isn't it ALWAYS fair game? lol

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