Upper Columbia River Salmon Fishing: Brewster Pool, Wells Dam and More

Above the Tri-Cities the Columbia runs through dry hills and a series of pools behind big dams. Summer and fall Chinook push up this far, and the water around Brewster and Wells Dam is where a lot of upper-river anglers gather.

Where the fish are

• Brewster Pool. The stretch between Wells Dam and Chief Joseph Dam is a well-known summer Chinook water.
• Wells Dam area. Fish stack below the dam and the water is close to the launch.
• Chief Joseph Dam region. The top of the pool, with strong current below the dam.
• Rocky Reach reservoir. Slower, deeper water, fished differently.

Seasons

Summer Chinook arrive first, and fall fish follow. Sockeye are caught in some years. The upper Columbia is managed by WDFW, and run size decides what is open and what you may keep. Read the current rules before every trip.

What helps

• Fish early and late in the day when the river is quiet.
• Match depth to the water: fish sit deeper when the sun is high.
• Keep your gear simple and sharp. Plugs, spinners and bait are standard.
• Pay attention to flow. Dam releases change where fish hold within hours.

A guide helps here

The pools are large and the dams change the flow all day. A guide knows which stretch is fishing and how to set the boat for the current. If your trip is nearer the Gorge, our salmon fishing trips cover the lower river, and you can check trip rates or the seasons and runs page.