Hi, All!
"Everybody" says this is a once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity...
While passing through Eastern Washington on our 2200 mile circuit of the State, we heard that the Colville Tribe had released a large number of table-sized trout from their net pens on the Columbia River below the Grand Coulee Dam. (Near Okanogan/Omak)
Apparently nitrogen supersaturation caused by unusually large amounts of water going over the dam were killing the fish, and like farmers with a barn afire the tribe turned the critters loose to give them a chance to save themselves- at least until a fisherman comes along!
Naturally my husband, Mr. Catch-and-Release, had to go on down there and check it out.
He fished all day for two days and caught (and released
) MANY big trout on the 5-weight fly rod he was using...
I shamed him into keeping this one. I had to cut its tail off to fit it on the BBQ! It took us two days to eat it all, even with the dog helping.
And on the day before he went home, I suggested that since he was stopping to see his Mom on the way, he might bring her a couple of salmon-sized trout. Was she impressed!
There're a lot of folks fishing for these monsters and nobody knows how long before it peters out, but it sure paid off for us
You need a permit ($15.00/one day; $25.00/three days) from the Tribe to fish from the Reservation side of the water EXCEPT if fishing at Camp Rufus Woods, as seen in the first two pictures above. It's located just below the net pens on the Columbia River Road (look for the two tall silos and turn onto the camp road just north of there). Camping there overnight is allowed, again with a tribal permit: $20.00 per night. There are other campgrounds in the area including Bridgeport State Park.
Have fun!
Francesca
Waltzin' Matrillda
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