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Washington's Melon-size Umatilla Smallmouth and Early Walleye

© Louis Bignami

It's not likely you'll beat the Oregon record walleye that barely missed the magic 20 pound mark from Lake Umatilla just now as it's a couple of months before action peaks, and also it's way too early for the great Hermiston melons, but early smallmouth, crappie and temporary custody of a sturgeon are good shots. Fish tributary mouths and you might catch a late salmon and steelhead too. Fishing improves well into May, so scout now before the walleye fishermen flock in.

We discovered this area in February/March when my car broke down in Hermiston on the way to the coast and we were stuck for two days waiting a part from Portland. Fortunately, a kind local hauled the trailer to the Boardman Ramp and my steelhead gear did the job on smallmouth. Fishing was good enough to return over the next ten years.

Bait keys early season smallmouth results. I use shucked crayfish tails frozen the prior summer, nightcrawlers and red worms. This approach insures a mix of crappie, channel cats and the odd steelhead or salmon.

We start on the flats around the National Wildlife Refuge that get better as waters warm - a thermometer's a must as two or three degree warmer water at an inlet creek, on a shallow flat or coves along the railroad tracks - there's a good one down at the mouth of Rock Creek -- can radically improve results.

Riprap banks also improves well into June. Just now tube lures sweetened with a nightcrawler section, and my favorite, and most productive system here uses rigged five inch long worms under a float that's drifted along the edge of structure so the worm drifts just off, but ticking bottom. Among other things this has produce a nine pound channel cat. Other prime locales include the banks of the Washington side islands off Highway 14 and the shallow south facing-cove in the Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge just east of Patterson Junction.

Fish in water along the main channel about 25 -feet deep and walleye can come to your minnows or crawlers. We save this until late February and early March to enjoy the prespawn bite at the price of shoals of boats on weekend..

Aside from the boater's need to head in when the wind blows, the only problem here is limited bank fishing. The best spot is in Umatilla Park on the Umatilla River or around ramps. There's all sorts of camping, cafes and other services and a nearby alternative in the boater's access section of the lower John Day River as well. Nearby Cold Springs Reservoir has points too. In short, Lake Umatilla offers a nice central location with easy access for both Washington and Oregon license holders.