Catfish in the Snake River
Tips, and information for the catfish angler fishing the Snake River region
Catfishing is a very popular pastime.
The Snake River is one system that has an abundance of catfish and with some time and tips, success can be some great meals.
Catfish, Those leathery skinned bottom dwellers, can be fun to catch and make some of the best eating fillets coming from fresh water stream and lakes.
Fishing for catfish in the impounded areas below the lower Snake River dams can be quite productive during the spring and summer months. There is a excellent population of Blue catfish and Channels throughout the entire system from Ice Harbor Dam through Lower Granite Dam and above into the free flowing river to Hells Canyon.
Fishing starts in earnest in late May and continues through the summer and fall months. When the river temperatures start dropping in October the prime Catfishing period comes to an end till spring brings warmer water.
Night fishing is the most common time that anglers target catfish. This period of time is typically productive but these fish may be very active through much of the day. There is generally a slow period during the mid-day but by the middle of the afternoon the fishing usually starts picking up again. This level of activity seems to hold only in the impounded areas.
If you are unfamiliar with the river system, you should consider buying a river guide. With the information that comes with a good atlas you can determine channels and drop off areas that these fish use when foraging for food. This tool is also good for the bank angler. Many places along the shore one can find those ‘holes’ that are a good places for cats to prowl for tidbits of food that are constantly settling out of the current. Without having any idea of the depths and bottom topography you will spend a lot of time looking for productive areas to fish.
There is very limited bank access in the system below Lower Granite Dam. Here one has several miles of road along the river on both sides of the river. There is another limited access area at Central Ferry. Most of this reservoir is accessible only by boat.
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Little Goose, the next reservoir, does have more road access and some good areas to fish along it all the way to the dam. Another really good area to fish is the tributaries as both the Palouse and the Tucannon River have been known to provide some really good fishing in and around them in the spring and fall months. Baits that are good producers in this entire system are fresh cut bait, such as waste parts of freshly caught trout, bass or even pike minnow fillets. Chicken liver also works as well as nightcrawlers. However, worms will also attract every fish in their proximity. Some anglers have good results with commercial catfish bait.
Fishing gear:
Rod and reel that is able to cast weights in the 1 – 2 oz size and line in the 12 to 15 pound range.
Hooks: 1/0 or 2/0 work well. Some barrel swivels and some medium to large egg sinkers, and stretchy thread is also a help to tie you bait on.
If you are new to an area, you might consider finding a guide that works the portion of the river you want to learn. This would be money well spent, as it will shorten the learning curve tremendously.
Fishing for catfish on a clean, sand beach along the Snake River is something any angler would enjoy.
INFORMATION:
ARTICLES:
TACKLE SHOPS:
AREA WATERS:
Grande Ronde River Granite Lake
Lake Bryan
Dworshack Reservoir
FISH:
Sturgeon
Trout
Fun article describing Salmon mania
affecting Idaho anglers.Little Goose
