Northwest Fishing Magazine May 2025 Volume 4 Issue 7 - Flipbook - Page 24
than the 10-year average
return of 2,600. During
May a lot of the spring
Chinook fishing attention
also shifts to tributaries
above Bonneville Dam such
as Drano Lake, and the
Wind and Klickitat rivers.
The best way to gauge
when it’s time to go is by
watching the fish counts at
Bonneville Dam.
The Wind forecast is 4,900
(4,200 forecast and actual
return of 4,604 in 2024)
and is greater than the
recent five-year and 10year average return of 4,100
and 4,000, respectively.
In Drano Lake (aka Little
White Salmon) the forecast
is 7,600 (5,300 and 7,863)
and forecast is similar to
the recent five-year average
return of 7,400 and less
than the recent 10-year
average return of 8,100.
The Klickitat forecast is
1,200 (1,300 and 491) and is
similar to the recent fiveyear average return of 1,300
and less than the recent
10-year average return of
1,500. In Drano Lake, the
best action happens in the
area referred to as “Toilet
Bowl,” a popular spot where
anglers troll in a tight circle
near the entrance of the
lake. While most are Drano
Lake stock fish some of
these fish are known as
“dip-ins” as they first enter
the lake before migrating
further up the Columbia
River. There isn’t much
space to troll so make
sure you’re following the
same path as others and
are good at handling your
boat and keep your lines
right underneath to avoid
getting tangled up with
others. If someone nearby
hooks a fish stay clear of
them.
If you plan to fish Drano
Lake, be aware the
Columbia River outside the
mouth of Drano Lake is
closed. There is a marked
boat fishing boundary area
