Columbia River Walleye.

[Wild&Free]

Never fished it before, but I'm contemplating a trip to the area next weekend to visit some old friends and would like to cook them up a fresh walleye dinner. I know theyre in there as a different friend used to guide for them out of Nelson. He's since moved and attempts to contact him have failed miserably.

I know I could catch a couple on the way down, but would rather not have to freeze, or be in a rush to get it from the cooler to pan when I arrive, it's a long drive and if I have to stop and catch dinner before crossing the border it will be even longer. One last cast and all.

Any info would be appreciated.

PS, if I don't go I think I'll be off to find the mouth of the pembina for some lunkers. If anyone is interested ill be leaving from SE Edmonton for they day.

[Team Anzac]

97143
Try this map out, should put you right on the spot.
Goodluck, post a few pics....

[Kurt505]

I had no idea there was any walleye in there, I could see bass but walleye?

[Wild&Free]

I had no idea there was any walleye in there, I could see bass but walleye?

Broken nets from a stocking program in Washington.

Limit is 8 walleye, with BCs double possession makes 16 for the freezer over 2 days.

[Wild&Free]

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/reeltimenorthwest/2014/03/05/new-state-record-walleye-caught-in-mcnary-pool-of-columbia-river-last-friday/

Check that slab out from the Columbia system in Washington.

[npauls]

I have been trying to get out there for a few years now to chase those eyes.

I am hoping to make a couple weekend trips this winter.

[Brandonkop]

Check out www.bcfishn.com they have a bunch of articles on fishing Columbia walleye. Apparently the river was washed out last year so changed a bit and fishing for walleye hasn't been as good but they're still catching some. Good luck.

[The Fisherman Guy]

Went twice this year in the early season. No walleye for us, but prime time is August-September. The locals out there hate the walleye and pike, they insist you catch and kill all the pike you catch. When I was out there, BC hydro had a Pike incentive; one of the larger pike was netted, tagged and released. Bring in your pike heads to be scanned, if you caught the tagged pike, you win $500.

[Wild&Free]

Brandon, I read a bunch of articles from here and a few from a BC fishingforum I lurk on occasionally. got enough info to know they're catchable from shore, which is good. definitely would be better with a boat though.

Went twice this year in the early season. No walleye for us, but prime time is August-September. The locals out there hate the walleye and pike, they insist you catch and kill all the pike you catch. When I was out there, BC hydro had a Pike incentive; one of the larger pike was netted, tagged and released. Bring in your pike heads to be scanned, if you caught the tagged pike, you win $500.

That pike program released multiple tagged pike, but ended march this year, didn't look to see if it was extended. would be nice to get a $500 sewer snake though.

[thumper]

I caught 2 nice walleye on my last trip (Sept) to the Columbia near Castlegar. One on a tube jig and one on a walleye-rig (spinner & bait). Both near dusk, in about 35 ft of water, outside of the river's main flow. Tasty!

[spinN'flyfish]

is it worth trying from shore? Its a wide river

[Mountain Guy]

Their in there...We caught a batch a few years ago near the dam at Syringa.
Had a good fish fry.
'They were wormy though... we didn't tell the wives and kids :)

[Wild&Free]

is it worth trying from shore? Its a wide river

Find the pools and slack water and its doable from what I've read. 2-4oz weight and let it rip.

[Winch101]

Farmers were using them for fertilizer ....some monsters then .
Tasted muddy ,was spring . Went in to a few tackle shops in Oregon ,
They thought we were nuts , kinda like showing up at Tobin for the
Suckers .

[thumper]

I've caught walleye from shore right below the Hugh Keenyside Dam at Castlegar, right where the Columbia and Kootenay rivers join, and right below the Wawanesa Dam where the Ponderay River joins the Columbia, south of Trail and only yards from the US border crossing.

[thumper]

It's a tailwater fishery, so the water is clear, clean and fairly cool year round. Cool enough for rainbows, but warm enough for walleye (and swimming). The fish are not 'muddy' tasting or wormy. The Columbia used to be badly polluted with heavy metals from the Trail smelter and Castlegar mill years ago, but they've cleaned it up over the past 15 years- evidenced by the prolific caddis and other hatches, and I don't hesitate in eating her fish now.
It does, however contain didymo (rock snot), so be sure to thoroughly clean your equipment before returning to Alberta waters.

[Wild&Free]

It's a tailwater fishery, so the water is clear, clean and fairly cool year round. Cool enough for rainbows, but warm enough for walleye (and swimming). The fish are not 'muddy' tasting or wormy. The Columbia used to be badly polluted with heavy metals from the Trail smelter and Castlegar mill years ago, but they've cleaned it up over the past 15 years- evidenced by the prolific caddis and other hatches, and I don't hesitate in eating her fish now.
It does, however contain didymo (rock snot), so be sure to thoroughly clean your equipment before returning to Alberta waters.

Thanks for the heads up on the didymo.

I lived in Salmo for a year and have heard many stories about the pollution in Trail.

[Mountain Guy]

It's a tailwater fishery, so the water is clear, clean and fairly cool year round. Cool enough for rainbows, but warm enough for walleye (and swimming). The fish are not 'muddy' tasting or wormy. The Columbia used to be badly polluted with heavy metals from the Trail smelter and Castlegar mill years ago, but they've cleaned it up over the past 15 years- evidenced by the prolific caddis and other hatches, and I don't hesitate in eating her fish now.
It does, however contain didymo (rock snot), so be sure to thoroughly clean your equipment before returning to Alberta waters.

You saying I'm a liar :)
They weren't muddy tasting but I know worms when I see them. Over 1/2 of them had white worms in the flesh.

[spinN'flyfish]

Find the pools and slack water and its doable from what I've read. 2-4oz weight and let it rip.

thanks sounds like a great fishery, dont hope to encounter the worms

[thumper]

You saying I'm a liar :)
They weren't muddy tasting but I know worms when I see them. Over 1/2 of them had white worms in the flesh.

Sorry Mountain Guy. I should have said that I haven't seen any worms in the fish I've caught there. :)

[Bjay]

I live on the Columbia at Castlegar. There are very few walley in the river now as the natives in the states have been netting them. I hear of very few people catching them. Don't make a trip here just for walley as you may be very disapointed.

[Wild&Free]

Thanks for the heads up bjay, wasn't making a trip out specifically for walleye, was going to visit a few people.

Never made it out anywhere however, pulled a bunch of OT, then a day off and back to night shift... yay....

next year perhaps.

[stein]

Any recent reports? Considering heading down for a weekend to try fishing here, worth it?