Fishing Report August

Angling on the Columbia River north of the B.C.-U.S. border holds many species of game fish, but one that may surprise anglers is the presence of small and largemouth bass.

With the hot weather at the start of the month, I was fishing a promising run for rainbows early one morning when I hooked a smallmouth bass. It wasn’t your typical bass habitat, but the presence of soft water on the inside of the seam was enough. The next cast I caught another.

A couple casts later, I brought in a walleye, and then out in the riffle a nice rainbow trout took me for a run. All caught on Rossland angler Emile Contant’s Sore Lip Jigs.

Emile donated a dozen to the local chapter of BC Backcountry Hunters and Anglers for their Alpine Lakes survey, a citizen-science based project to help determine trout stocking in high elevation Kootenay lakes.

I was fortunate enough to win a pack of Sore Lip Jigs as one of the prizes for entering their survey, and they’ve proven very effective. The jigs come in different sizes, weights and colour combinations.

Most people that use lead-head jigs attach rubber worms or other synthetic baits to target bass and walleye. So, tying them as fly patterns for rainbow trout on the Columbia River was a unique and innovative move.

“The best part of fishing jigs is there is no best water, they work everywhere,” says Emile.

I caught rainbows in the runs and riffles, and the walleye and bass in deeper holes and back eddies.

The heat, smoke from wildfires and drastic change in water levels in August made it challenging at times, but the fishing has improved with lower river levels, cleaner air, and cooler temperatures.

Local anglers have had good success targeting walleye in deeper waters out near Robson and Hugh Keenleyside Dam. Chillbilly Charters’ Graham Cloutier put on a clinic for his clients every day and showed just how many walleye there are in the river

As for fly fishing, I made several forays onto the river in August, mostly early in the mornings or later in the evening.

I had good success nymphing over runs or running woolly buggers through a riffle. The dry fly fishing was difficult at times, but I did coax a couple rainbows to the surface, the biggest about 18-inches on a caddis pattern.

On Saturday evening I tied into one of the hardest fighting rainbows I’ve tangled with in a while. It took me for several runs, and when I finally brought it to the net, I quickly measured it at 16.5 inches. I was surprised but impressed with the fight from a fish that size.

The last week of August was outstanding for walleye on the fly. I went out one evening just after a rainstorm and landed eight walleye.

I should have entered the Fish Out Derby, that is going on the Columbia from Aug. 26 to Sept. 4.

The derby’s intent is to encourage anglers to reduce the populations of northern pike and walleye, two major invasive species who pose a danger to salmonids like rainbow trout and kokanee. The invasive species fishing derby offers prizes for longest and most walleye and northern pike caught.

The derby is run through the Angler’s Atlas App and anglers can sign up online to enter.

September is one of my favourite months for fishing the Columbia. The cooler temperatures, the changing colours, lower river levels and the October caddis hatch bring big rainbows to the surface, and plenty of walleye. So be prepared for some great days on the water.

Then again, every day is a great day on the Columbia.

To custom order your own Sore Lip Jigs contact Emile in Rossland on the Sore Lip Jigs facebook page.