June 2017 Walleye Fishing On The Lower Columbia By Lance Merz throughout Washington each year came into the boat, a 16” walleye and loves to teach how to fish; and that knocked the funk off the boat. there is an art to fishing this species of fish. We launched in an area of the Lower Columbia, just below the McNary Dam in a place called Crowe Butte. We were fishing in attempts to find some fish to catch for a TV show with Northwest Fishing Reports (NWFR). Due to the harsh winter that was felt by all, the current of the river The Smile Blade® SpinDrift was moving quite fast. Instead of Walleye lure is another alternative moving into the main current, Ted to catching a variety of species of Lance Merz sought his attention to areas of the fish. Walleye fishing on the Columbia river where the current wasn’t as A slow troll downstream revealed River is a destination hot spot for swift. Normally, these areas are a few more fish in the live well; this anglers who seek this predatory closer to shore and range in depths was going to be a good day! There fish. In fact, most walleye anglers of 5-25ft. We were trolling with are parts of the Columbia River will tell you that if you can catch bottom walkers with a 5-6ft leader, that can be very intimidating and if a walleye, you can catch just about primarily using Double Whammy® you’ve never been on that particular any species of fish. Over the past Walleye and Smile Blade® Super area of the river, I’d recommend two years, Departments of Fish and Slow Death Rigs tipped with a night going out with a guide who knows Wildlife in Washington and Oregon crawler. the water. Channels can be very have lifted the limits while fishing shallow, which can take out a lower the Lower Columbia. Studies are unit very easily. There are even showing that walleye are eating areas of the middle of the river that the Salmon and Steelhead smolts can be as shallow at six inches! and they want to eliminate the Ted and I fished throughout the species all together. Only one rod day; a fish here and a fish there. is authorized per angler, but there is The fishing was consistent, but plenty of fish to be had for all. it wasn’t lights out for sure. The I had the opportunity to fish with water temperature for fishing was Mack’s Lure Pro Staff angler Ted still a bit chilly (57 degrees), and The Double Whammy® Walleye is the clarity of the water was color of Beach, a professional Walleye a crawler harness that matches the chocolate milk. angler whose knowledge compares hatch. to that of an encyclopedia. When Ted talks about fishing, people It wasn’t long after we started listen. He gives various seminars trolling that the first fish of the day Continued on Page 2 Page 1 Continued from Page 1 were all using Double Whammy® Walleye crawler harnesses and Smile Blade® Super Slow Death Rigs. The hot Smile Blade® of the day however, was the UV Glo® Burst, which produces a tremendous amount of flash and attraction even in murky waters. A good day of fishing with Mack’s We pushed the limits and decided Lure Pro Staff Ted Beach (second to fish just below the McNary Dam. from left). There was only one guide boat on the water and the preferred method Then the wind picked up. It is was to troll up to the border (a line Bob Loomis and Richy Harrod imperative that if you’re operating a just below the dam that no one is holding their bigger walleye on boat on the Columbia River that you allowed) and drifted down. All but the lower Columbia River. (Photo are aware of the weather conditions one chute was open at the dam and courtesy of Richy Harrod). at the time you are going to fish. the water was swift to say the least. Without warning, the chop on the Even without the wind, swells were Although there are no limits on water can produce 5-6’ swells and consistent at five to six feet. A few parts of the Lower Columbia River, without enough knowledge of boat more walleye were caught in this it doesn’t mean that all fish have to operations, it could be catastrophic. area before the wind picked up, be caught. I have seen first hand Since the wind was so sever on the which forced us back down to the where anglers will go out fishing main channel, Ted decided to tuck slough, and produced more fish in and catch in excess of 100 fish or into a slough which protected us the rain. In all, 40 fish were caught more in one day. In my opinion, from the wind. Not only did we in a two day period. catch what you’re going to eat. Set start to catch walleye, be we also a limit for your boat which will began catching Smallmouth Bass Ted is an excellent teacher. I allow other anglers the ability to and Perch as well. Since walleye learned a different way to rig up the catch fish as well. are a predatory fish, catching these walleye rod and even learned a new other species was a good sign. way to thread a worm on a hook. What I learned the most from Ted, Mack’s Lure The next day, we decided to fish in was that preparation is essential DOUBLE WHAMMY® another area of the river, adjacent to when fishing for walleye. As with the town of Plymouth, Washington. any other fishery, having the line in WALLEYE SERIES Ted made this decision because the the water longer will eventually lead forecast was calling for wind gusts of to more fish. Ted’s boat was filled up to 22mph that day as well as rain. with additional tackle and riggings We met with the crew of Northwest that made it very easily to slide off Fishing Reports and began to film each lure to try a different color. the show. Mike Carey, owner of the NWFR jumped in the boat with Ted That same week, Bob Loomis and I, and his crew was in another and Richy Harrod took their shot boat fishing as well. We launched at fishing the Lower Columbia as the boat and the conditions were well. They fished in an area of the perfect; calm with no rain. We Columbia adjacent to Maryhill, decided to take advantage of the Washington, at a place called early morning by fishing what Ted “Peach Beach”. Trolling was the called the “Plymouth Slough”, a preferred method, just off the main branch of the Columbia just off the channel using Wally Pop® crawler main channel of the river which if harnesses, as well as Double needed, could protect us from the Whammy® Walleye and the Smile gusts which were coming. The Blade® Super Slow Death Rig. fishing was consistent and again, we Page 2 to have coffee every morning with Every article in this online Stan’s Space a good guy who owned a sporting presentation is written by goods store. Being at that store often experts. Some are written by The Skinny On provided an opportunity to observe men who have designed prize Swivels & Snaps what a customer did with the box or winning baits for Bob’s company. By Hall-of-Fame Angler the printed material that came with Nobody knows more about Stan Fagerstrom whatever he’d just purchased. Often getting these products to produce. You’re missing one heck of an Part 2 times it went into the nearest trash opportunity if you fail to take I’m not the only one who wants container before the customer even advantage of this information you to have the straight skinny on left the store. yourself. swivels and snaps. What a mistake that was and is. A whole lot of folks, as Bob “Who,” you say, “could that Again, if you want to get satisfactory Schmidt will tell you, already have. possibly be? It sounds like nonsense performance out of whatever tackle The number of “Mack Attack” to me.” Well, it’s not. Think about you buy, get into the habit of reading readers has been growing steadily it for a minute. The owner of the and studying every darn thing you ever since it was introduced. Anglers store where you buy your fishing can get your hands on that might are learning from it and undoubtedly gear wants you to know what you’re help. it’s one of the reasons for the soaring doing, and so does the designer of I’ve been fishing and writing sales of tournament winning Mack’s the lure you’ve got hanging out about it,as well as demonstrating Lure fish clobbering products. And there on the end of your line. and showing folks how to use some yes, some of the information in past Nobody wants you or me to of it at outdoor shows around a articles has dealt with swivels and catch fish more than the guys who sizeable chunk of the world for a snaps. make or market the gear we use to long, long time. This experience Many lures do come equipped catch ‘em with. It’s the only way provided me the rare good fortune with a split ring for a line tie. Like they’re going to stay in business to get to know more than my share Charlie said, “You can use the over the long haul.