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By Jason Brooks | Mack's Lure Pro Staff
With April upon us and summer just around the corner, Spring Chinook anglers will be looking towards the main tributaries of the Columbia River for some early chrome fish. The Columbia is a feeder river that is more of a freeway for the fish than a spawning ground. Chinook that have been out in the ocean for the past three to five years have been returning to the Columbia since early February, but the main portion of the run is late April.
That means when April rolls around the fish are getting closer to their exit off the highway to the natal rivers of their origin – the tributaries that feed into the mighty Columbia River. Above Bonneville Dam is where you will find most April Spring Chinook anglers with Wind River and Drano Lake being the two primary tributary fisheries along the Columbia River.
The Wind River is expecting 4,200 fish back in 2024, which is 200 less than what was predicted last year when it had an actual return of 5,068. The Wind is an interesting place as the main fishing is done out in the Columbia where the Wind River dumps into the big water. Sand flats form here so be ready to make adjustments as each spring brings trees, debris and sandbars that wash into the river from runoff.
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