Spring is here! After our very mild winter, everyone is watching the snowpack—or lack of it—and wondering how it will affect our local fisheries this year.
I am not a weatherman or a scientist, but I’m hoping that with things drying out early, the weed growth might not be as heavy and, in turn, our fire season might not be as severe, even though forecasters are calling for drought conditions, restrictions, and likely closures aimed at preventing wildfires.
I’m still optimistic that we’ll see a nice, full season of fishing across the region. The sockeye returns look very promising, and early indications for steelhead are actually better than last year, with the possibility of a fall steelhead season returning to the calendar if forecasts hold.
The big news, though, is not what anglers were hoping for—but it’s the reality we’re facing on the Columbia this summer. At a North of Falcon salmon-season meeting in the Tri-Cities last week, WDFW staff laid out the first 2026 forecasts for our stretch of the Upper Columbia, and the outlook for king salmon returns is weak enough that a full Brewster king season is unlikely.
For those who want to dig into the details, there is a recording of the “Upper Columbia River above McNary Dam and Snake River recreational fisheries” North of Falcon session available on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XKRPAAoIAU.
Around the 50-minute mark, our area manager, Chad Jackson, walks through the forecast and management options that directly affect the Brewster Pool and surrounding fisheries.
Because of these low projected returns, we are planning this year’s Brewster event as a sockeye-focused derby, building on the format we had lined up last year before emergency changes shut things down. If WDFW ultimately authorizes even a limited opportunity for Chinook in our area, we will add a king salmon division back into the derby so anglers can target both species within whatever constraints the final season structure allows.
The Brewster Salmon Derby will run July 31–August 2 this year, continuing the tradition of anchoring the first weekend in August with one of the biggest fishing events on the Columbia River. Anglers and their families fill local motels, campgrounds, and restaurants, and derby proceeds help support community projects and keep the event viable for future seasons.
Registration will open through Brewster Bait & Tackle and online at brewsterkingsalmonderby.com, with tickets available until the event fills or until the first day of fishing, whichever comes first. As in past years, we expect to offer tens of thousands of dollars in cash and prizes across adult, youth, and side-pot categories, with final rules, entry fees, and prize lists posted on the derby website as they are confirmed.
Final derby boundaries will be set once WDFW publishes the official 2026 Columbia River salmon seasons for the Brewster Pool and adjacent reaches, and we will adjust our maps and rules to match any sanctuary areas or time/area closures. Until those regulations are finalized, anglers should assume that all participation is contingent on state fishing rules, and that conservation of these runs remains the top priority even as we work to keep this important community event alive.
In the meantime, we can all hope for a wet spring to help with water levels and water temperatures as we head into summer. At Brewster Bait and Tackle Shop, we plan to have a well-rounded selection of tackle and bait ready for whatever opportunities the season brings, from sockeye and steelhead to warmwater species.
Until next time—tight lines!
MAUK FISHING STUFF LLC
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BREWSTER BAIT & TACKLE SHOP™LURESAFE™ luresafe.com
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BREWSTER KING SALMON DERBY™
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Call or Text: 509-449-0605
Spring Canyon Boat Launch Campground shows the Columbia River on Lake Roosevelt is low while work is performed on the Grand Coulee Dam. Caution is advised. Photo courtesy of Mike Mauk.
