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The great Vernita upriver bright hunt
Washington State fishing map feature

View MapDESERT AIRE, Wash. — There's something surreal about landing a 40-pound king salmon in the middle of a desert. The great gonzo journalist Dr. Hunter S. Thompson would likely appreciate the irony of pulling a thrashing, flopping, ocean-run Chinook out of a stretch of water that slashes through the sage and scrub brush of the hottest, most arid piece of dirt in the Evergreen State. While coyote watch.

But then again, nine out of 10 of the most wily salmon veterans on the Vernita/Hanford Reach king fishery could care less what Hunter S., coyotes or anybody else think — they're too busy tweaking their plugs, massaging their downriggers and customizing their spinners to give themselves the extra edge on a fishery that changes its face more frequently than Michael Jackson.

Chameleon fishery

 

“ It's only rumors, but I hear that there's supposed to be 210,000 fish over McNary (Dam) this year.There's usually only 75,000 over McNary...this looks like it's generally a very good run. ”
  — Phil Motyka, bait shop owner

 

I've been fishing it for a number of years, and I'd sure like to know why it changes from day to day," said Phil Motyka, owner of Motyka's Bait & Tackle (509-375-6028) in Richland. "You can't predict it. Some days, some techniques work better than others. Some days it's eggs, some days it's Kwikfish, some days it's Magnum Wiggle Warts, some days it's herring. I have no idea why one item is stronger on any given day, but if you figure it out, come see me."

Actually, go see Motyka anyway (his shop is at 1939 Saint Street in Richland). A 20-year veteran of the Vernita fishery, he's one of the handful of local guides who lives and breathes salmon when the upriver brights arrive in force below Priest Rapids Dam between mid-September and Oct. 22 (when fishing on The Reach, from the Old Hanford wooden powerline towers to Vernita Bridge, closes).

"Oh, yeah, I love that fishery," he said. "There's nothing quite like it. I see something new every time I go out there. I've had coyotes watch me for hours ... deer, elk, birds. I think it's amazing."

A gazillion kings

White salmon
Rare white kings can be caught out of the mid-Columbia as well as brights.

Oh, and the fish: big, brawny, beefy, toothy kings ranging from 20 to 50 pounds. So what if the "bright" in them is closer to a pale shade of red than the neon-nickel kings in the Humptulips or Sol Duc? These fish have more than 300 miles and umpteen dams of the Columbia to swim up before they reach the Vernita fishery. And there'll be a gazillion of 'em this year.

t's only rumors, but I hear that there's supposed to be 210,000 fish over McNary (Dam) this year," Motyka said. "There's usually only 75,000 over McNary. I don't know how many are going to go up the Snake and how many are going to make it up to Priest, but this looks like it's generally a very good run."

Timing is everything

The Vernita Bridge launch in late August resembles Farmer Yasgur's Roosevelt County, N.Y., pasture in the week before Richie Havens launched Woodstock with "Minstrel of Gault": There are bodies and vehicles and interest and a general low hum of activity, but it's nothing like the madhouse explosion of Hendrix-like cacophony that hits the place in late September.

That's not to say that early September represents a piscatorial wasteland below Priest Rapids. Salmon numbers will gradually build from the end of August into an early October peak, and other finned foes will keep you from falling asleep at the tiller until the heat of the URB fishery comes on.

“ If the water conditions stay like they are now, I'm going to fish stuff that's between 25 and 60 feet deep. ”
  — Phil Motyka

"Oh, there's always something in there to help you bide your time," Bing points out. "You have some stragglers from the spring run, some of those white kings, sturgeon, steelhead heading for the Wenatchee. Heck, you even have squawfish if you want."

Ah, but it's kings we're after, and once the joint starts jumping later this month, here's what you want to do:

Fish early: "It's an early-morning bite," Motyka said. "It starts at first light and runs up until about noon. You can have an evening bite sometimes too, but the morning is generally better. In the middle of the day, it's pretty tough."

Fish deep water: Expect low water this year and be prepared to seek out the deepest holes and slots available, because that's where fish will stack up. If conditions change, adjust accordingly.

"I think we'll have low water," Motyka said. "It's impossible to forecast what the dam releases are going to be like, but I'd go in expecting it to be low. If the water conditions stay like they are now, I'm going to fish stuff that's between 25 and 60 feet deep. You'll have four or five holes that are packed with boats, but they'll be packed with fish too, because they're deeper."

Deepwater holes

King Hole: Falling from 30 feet to just over 60 feet at it deepest, this hole is located roughly 1 1/2 miles above the Vernita Bridge. It's prime downrigger water, perfect for a tight-spinning cut-plug herring.

"I'll fish herring in that deeper water, but you're talking to a guy who loves using herring," chuckles Motyka. "Of course, I also love to fish divers and eggs, but I don't think that's the best way to get at fish in the deep holes."

K Reactor Hole: Actually a trench stretching out below Coyote Rapids, the K Reactor site will see its share of daily traffic.

"It's busy, but it's an organized busy," Bing said. "It's a big, wide piece of water with a little bit of elbow room. It can have a Cowlitz River boat count, but it doesn't feel anything like the crowding you get on the Cowlitz."

Fish bait off of 'riggers or backtroll K-14 and K-15 bait-wrapped Kwikfish or big FlatFish or Mag Warts.

Stuff your tackle box: You're feeling pretty cocky because that mallard-colored Kwikfish you were bouncing today absolutely murdered 'em. Fish it exclusively tomorrow, however, and you'll be donating your time, fuel and energy.

Best methods include downrigger, bait diver and plug techniques, but also add back-bounced/drifted roe, drifted spinners (No. 5 or 6 blue, green or pink Vibrax) and jigs.

At a glance

What: Vernita/Hanford Reach salmon.

When: Season got under way Aug. 16. Peak of the fishery is in early October, but fishing should be excellent from mid-September into the Oct. 22 closure.

Where: Between the Old Hanford townsite and Priest Rapids Dam.

Launch: Best launches for this fishery are the Vernita Bridge launch (off Highway 24) and the White Bluffs.

Directions: From Spokane, take I-90 to Highway 395 to 26 to 24 and Vernita Bridge.

Techniques: Fish herring off a downrigger in deep water. Also back-troll plugs, back-bounce roe, drift spinners and jig with Point Wilson Darts.


 

 


Material from Fishing & Hunting News
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