Spin Casting

Columbia River spin casting is simple but sublime. For most of us, our introduction to fishing began with a bobber and worm at a very young age. Just a spin-casting rod, a float, a hook and a worm in a spring creek or favourite lake. A minimalist approach, it’s how we introduce new anglers, young and old, to fishing today.

Spin casting with bobber and worm or fly is a popular and an effective method of fishing on the Columbia River and Arrow Lake. On the Columbia, casting a float and worm or fly is a favourite among local anglers especially in summer for the evening rise when targeting feeding rainbow trout.

Casting lures and spinners in spring time and summer is also effective for both walleye and trout. Anglers can also use a spin or baitcaster to troll for kokanee with willow leafs or flasher/dodger and wedding rings and cast jigs for walleye in spring, summer, and fall.

The spincaster is also the perfect set up for angling in winter, when fishermen use three-way rigs to bottom fish for rainbow trout on the Columbia or troll for giant Gerrards and bull trout on the Arrow Lake.

A seven-foot spincasting rod with medium action, a 2500 series spinning reel, and 10-12 pound test line is a practical and recommended rig.

There are a variety of bobbers and float setups that work well on the river. Combine with #6-8 hook and a worm or tie on your favourite fly such as the Adams, Wulff, Elk hair caddis, Tom Thumb, Stimulator patterns, hoppers etc.

Popular lures include Mepps spinners and crocodile spoons in the brass-fire wing, nickel-fire stripe, and brass-fire stripe colors.

From shore, find an accessible place and cast into back eddies and pools. There are many great spots but a notable area is the rocky outcroppings near Rock Island in Trail, or in the deep pools below the Birchbank Golf Course.

For walleye, there are many different approaches, but spincasting a jig head with rubber twister-tails is the most straightforward and successful.