You’ve probably heard stories about the Brewster pool, if you haven’t fished it before. It’s one of the most productive and legendary fisheries in the state, and many fishermen look forward to fishing it every year. Thousands of chinook and sockeye salmon make their way up the Columbia River and stage in the cool waters of Lake Pateros (also known as the Brewster pool) before heading up the Okanagan River. The fishery typically opens up in July and can be extremely productive for both species of fish. Despite their long journey, the fish are willing biters and taste great on the grill or smoker. 20-pound chinook are regularly caught, and the sockeye are great eating quality. It’s a fun fishery for a summer day, but learning how to fish it isn’t always easy. Brewster is about an hour north of Wenatchee, so it’s quite a drive. It can also be intimidating because there are so many other boats in the water. As long as you do some research and have patience, you’ll have a great time and catch some fish. Here’s some tips and tricks to help give you a successful day at the Brewster pool.
Chinook
The chinook fishery at Brewster tends to be a first light fishery, so grab the coffee and headlamps so you can launch in the dark. It’s a short run from the boat ramp to the pool, just stop when you see all the other boats! The most important thing to know about the Brewster pool is that it’s a trolling game. Some anglers jig or anchor up, but they are few and far between. There are just too many boats for anyone to anchor up. Most fishermen in the pool use cannon ball droppers and skip the downriggers. You can run anywhere between 4 to 12 ounces of lead, depending on the current and the stoutness of your rods. Brad’s Super Baits trolled behind 360 style flashers are the go-to, but many anglers have good success with spinners too. Wrap or stuff your plug with tuna, herring, or shrimp to give it extra pizazz. If you run spinners, you can put some gel scent on them or hook on a coon shrimp. Don’t be afraid to swap out the hooks on your lures. Chinook have thick, tough jaws, so you want your hooks to stick. Troll between 1.5 to 2mph if you can, but you may have to match your speed with other boats if the pool is crowded enough. When fighting the fish, keep the pressure on. These fish will spit the hook if there’s any slack in the line, and they really tend to explode when they see the net. Adjust your drag and be patient.
Sockeye
If the chinook aren’t biting or you have bored kids in your boat, Brewster pool sockeye are plentiful and hungry! They are a bit smaller than Baker Lake sockeye, but they taste good and are much more numerous than the chinook. Like the chinook fishery, sockeye here are caught by trolling. There are usually two groups of boats in the pool, one that trolls faster for chinook on the current break between the Okanagan and the Columbia, and one that targets chinook closer to the mouth of the Okanagan. Chinook and sockeye do sometimes bite on the same gear, especially when the sockeye really start to stack up in the pool. If you catch a chinook on sockeye gear, hang on! If you’re targeting sockeye, the same concepts you use when kokanee fishing apply. Use short leaders and lots of scent! Mack’s Lures offer a variety of sockeye lures that are all killer in the Brewster pool. Pink lures work best for sockeye. Pair them up with a dodger or smaller flasher, and you’re in business. Don’t forget to tip your lure with a piece of coon shrimp. You can cure your own or buy some pre-cured ones. No need to use the whole shrimp like you did for chinook that morning, you can just use a small tail piece. Thankfully, the sockeye bite all day, but the fish are more active in the early morning. Use lighter cannonballs than the ones that you used for chinook earlier in the morning. It’s worth using different weights to make sure your lines don’t tangle, particularly if you’re running 4 or more rods. The sockeye move deeper as the day heats up. There’s a deep river channel somewhat near the shore that the sockeye like to hang out in, but definitely don’t be afraid to fish away from the crowd and try new areas. The sockeye in the Brewster pool are higher up in the water column than the chinook, so a good fish finder can really help you out. Just like their freshwater dwelling cousins, sockeye prefer a slow troll. Again, if you’re fishing in the crowd, you will probably have to match their general speed. Make sure your gear looks good before dropping it down. You’ll want your dodger to give your lure plenty of action to attract the sockeye, so shorten your leader if you need to.
Here’s a few words to the wise about the Brewster pool. Wear sunscreen! The sun can really beat down on those hot days between bites, you’ll be glad to have it on board. It’s a good idea to start fishing at first light and run back before noon, before the heat becomes too unbearable. Also, make sure to pay attention to your surroundings. The Brewster pool isn’t exactly a secret, so you can expect to have company. Sometimes there are hundreds of other boats out there, especially on weekends. Paying attention to the helm and giving other boats some space will help avoid flared tempers. If you’d rather not deal with the potential stress, there are dozens of guides that you can book to fish the Brewster pool. You can kick back and enjoy the beautiful scenery, and come home with a cooler full of filets. Speaking of coolers, they are a must-have- both for cold drinks and for keeping fish. You’ll want to bleed and ice your fish ASAP for the best meat quality. Lastly, get to the boat ramp early and bring a good book. The boat ramp can get very crowded, especially when the sockeye are in. It’s a good idea to use the time spent waiting to prep your boat. This is another instance when having patience and a level head will help you out. If you’d rather not spend an hour or two waiting to launch, again, hiring a guide might not be a bad idea. Some of them actually launch the night before, anchor up, and sleep on the boat before they pick you up.
Once you’re done fishing for the day, head into the town of Brewster for lunch. There are several excellent restaurants, and downtown Brewster is worth exploring for the afternoon. It’s a great way to cap off your day of sockeye and chinook fishing! Fishing the Brewster pool is an unforgettable experience. Head out there and have fun!