North 40 Fly Shop eMagazine September 2018 | Page 20

BREAKDOWN
WASHINGTON’S
OKANOGAN RIVER
BASS
By Keith Roe
Okanogan River
Tributary of the Columbia River
At first glance, some might say that the
Okanogan River is not a very scenic or
picturesque river. Especially when it is compared
to its fast-flowing freestone siblings throughout
the northwest. The river is not loaded with easily
wadable gravel bars or consistent rocky banks.
The color of the water, at first glance, might not
look very clear. Its bottom can go from gravel to
sandy/silt in a short distance. And, it meanders
through farmland at a slow pace, eventually
dumping into the Columbia River. However,
what the river lacks in looks it makes up for in
its fish quality. The Okanogan hosts the largest
run of sockeye salmon for the Columbia River
drainage, as well as, healthy runs on chinook
salmon too. Plus, smallmouth bass are very
plentiful throughout the entire river and are a
great fish to target during hot summer days.
During summer, when water temperatures in our
local lakes become unfishable for trout, you’ll
find us looking for feisty smallmouth on the
Okanogan River. One of the more challenging
aspects of fishing the Okanogan River for
smallmouth is getting to where they want to live.
Access is limited for the shore angler for most of
20
the river. The best way to access the Okanogan
is by jet boat. Smaller outboard sleds are
perfect, especially if they are equipped with oars
or electric trolling motors.
We like to break up the river into three sections;
the lower, the mid, and the upper.
The lower river goes from the mouth upriver to
the town of Malott. During early summer, you
might have company in the first half mile of the
mouth due to the salmon fishing that occurs
in that area. As the water warms up, anglers
disperse to the deeper, cooler pools in the
Columba River. There are a few main launches
in the lower river. One launch is below the
mouth of the river, on the Columbia, in the city
of Brewster. The next one up is a small launch
right next to the road. It is about a half mile
upstream from the bridge. Further upstream,
at Monse, there is a launch next to the Monse
bridge. The next launch is further upstream a
couple more miles at an irrigation pump station.
Finally, you’ll find that shore access is hit and
miss from the mouth to Malott.