Now through about the middle of October is prime time to chase those big fall chinook on the Hanford Reach portion of the middle Columbia River, and a run of 250,000 fish or better this year means a lot of opportunity. State biologist Paul Hoffarth said the run is well above average and that 40 to 50 percent of the fish this season will be 4- and 5-year-olds to 30 pounds or better.
Catch sampling last week at the Ringold and White Bluff launches showed about two kings per boat, and the Vernita Bridge launch wasn’t far behind at 1.7 per boat.
“Any time you’re averaging a chinook per boat, you’re doing pretty well,” Hoffarth said.
The popular setup is a Super Bait, filled with tuna and a little anise or garlic scent, fished behind a flasher on downriggers. No riggers? Hoffarth said 4 to 10 ounces of lead will do the same job.
With the low flows in the Columbia this year, you can troll up or down the river, or backtroll, depending on conditions and the area fished, Hoffarth said.
Expecting a big run, salmon managers increased the daily limit to three adult chinook between the Highway 395 bridge at Kennewick/Pasco upstream to Priest Rapids Dam, through Oct. 31. Anglers also may use two rods with the proper license endorsement.
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