The Columbia River is proving to have the best fishing opportunities in the lower 48. The summer run steelhead fishing has also been fantastic for the past five years or so. Salmon and steelhead numbers over Bonneville Dam are in the hundreds of thousands for all species we fish for! With another great fishing prediction for Sockeye Salmon for 2013, it’s a great year to get out and catch these fish we have in the Columbia River and its tributaries.
Sockeye average three to five pounds on the Columbia River, but sometimes get up to 7 pounds. Despite their size they put up a great fight when hooked! All of that aside, the Columbia River sockeye is considered at the top of the list for being one the best tasting fish in the world. Sockeye travel great distances to spawn, so their meat is loaded with tons of Omega 3 fatty oils making their meat succulent and delicious with every bite.
It’s amazing that throughout the last century sockeye have not flourished in the Columbia River until the past decade. Now, almost 550,000 sockeyes have returned over Bonneville Dam in 2021, and in 2022. Now, The Department of Fish and Wildlife have forecasted sockeye runs to reach near one million fish to swim through Bonneville Dam and continue their journey up to the Okanogan. These fish move through the Columbia River fast and furious, so it’s important to book your trip in advance. The best fishing for these Sockeye is from the second week in June to the second week in July. Don’t wait to book, these are popular dates for a new and exciting fishery!
