As the season progresses into August and September, the bite moves upstream toward Chief Joseph Dam 10 miles upriver. Tactics change with the bite. Hammonds and Fateley add Magnum Wiggle Warts and Kwikfish in sizes K-13 to K-16 to the mix. If Hammonds is running four rods, he'll leave two on herring and dodgers and switch two to plugs. Standard river-salmon colors in red, green and black with glitter work.

There is a boat launch at Brewster, another upstream at Bridgeport and one downstream at Pateros. The latter is your best bet to avoid opening-day congestion at Brewster.

The Wells Dam tailwater offers up fish for the experienced boater. Smaller craft that easily negotiate the calm Brewster Pool water won't work here. To get to the fish, which hold in a narrow slot, you need adept hazard-avoidance skills, and your boat needs to be able to handle heavy current.

REGULATIONS
Managing Columbia River salmon runs is a complex task made even more complex by the competing interests of commercial and sports fishers, multiple layers of statutes, international and tribal treaties and interstate compacts. Where the river runs between Oregon and Washington, you can fish with a valid license from either state, but you must comply with the regulations of the state in which you are fishing. Washington regulations, found in the Eastside Rivers/Special Rules section, break the Columbia into 12 zones. The best advice is once you've decided where you want to go, read the regulations that apply to that specific area, then go have a good time.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION
For more information, contact Phil Motyka, of Motyka's Bait & Tackle, at (509) 375-6028; Bob Fateley Triangle Shell at (509) 689-3473; and Rod Hammonds R&R Guide Service at (509) 689-2849.