Upper Columbia River Trout Fishing & Black Bear Lodge
The Upper Columbia River is bar far one of the most unique and amazing trout fisheries in the world. We fish about 8 miles South of the Canadian Border out of Northport, Washington. While it’s still an absolutely giant body of water, it is a very different river from what we know as the Columbia from Mid State. In Northport, the Columbia fishes much more like a spring creek than a giant western river. With a gravel bottom, gin clear water, and giant trout, it is one of the last truly remote, trophy trout rivers left in the States.
Upper Columbia Rainbows are true survivors. Their ancestry actually derives from Columbia basin Steelhead. The Grand Coulee Dam was built in 1942, they opted out of a fish ladder, and thousands of summer Steelhead ended up trapped in the river system. Years later, they have lived on to become naturally spawning, resident Rainbow Trout. With the Steelhead genetics still in the DNA chain, they are some of the biggest and hardest fighting fish we have ever chased.
We typically start out trips up here looking for the massive Green Drake Hatches in Late Spring/Early Summer. This is some of the finest dry fly fishing in the world. Casting giant size 8 dry flies to 20+ in Rainbows boiling the surface is something that you must experience to fully appreciate. The level of excitement is off the charts, and once the drakes start popping off, it can turn into an absolute feeding frenzy.
We fish long days in Drake season, typically getting on the river around 1PM and fishing until you can’t see the tip of your rod, usually around 10PM. Eat a late dinner, drink a bit, tell stories and laugh until bed time (bed time changes each year, but is always earliest on the last night), and sleep in a bit the next morning, not having to worry about hitting the river at the crack of dawn, and cast sipping fish again all day.
We run a second trip in the fall each year, this time focusing on Fall Caddis and Hoppers. This is terrestrial fly fishing in its prime. We focus on bank fishing, fishing fast seams and foam lines to exploding trout eager to eat a big meal. These fish can attack dry flies with such aggression, breaking 3x on a hook set is almost common. Having fresh tippet, and premium flies tied in top quality hooks is a must for this river. Any weak link in your gear will be exploited by these fish and will end up cost you a trophy.
Due to the overall size of the river, we fish from Jon boats that have outboards on the back. The guide will motor to the good water, shut down and hit the oars, rowing you in stealth mode into rising fish. If it’s good, we’ll motor back up and do it again. If it’s a bust, we’ll go find new water. Seeing these guides row a heavy Jon boat in a river that averages over 120,000 CFS is amazing in it’s own right, but seeing how that can keep you in the zone and positioned perfectly to make the best casts, is truly remarkable. Only a few are good enough to be able to guide this river.
We cannot get any closer to the river. The lodge provides us with convenience and comfort, a great place to stay and tell stories about the ones landed and the ones that ‘got away’. Lodging is based on two people per room. In addition to the fishing we have a myriad of non angling activities for those that would rather do other things….Interpretive scenic river floats, birding, day hikes, winery tours, etc.
Due to tight scheduling at the lodge, we typically stay the night in Spokane the evening before and finish the 2 hour drive to the lodge the morning of our first fishing day
Spring /Summer 2022 Trip Dates:
Trip 1:
Arrive June 24th around Noon – Check in and fish until dark
Fish June 25th & June 26th
Check out June 27th after breakfast
5 SPOTS OPEN
TRIP 2:
Arrive June 27th around Noon – Check in and fish until dark
Fish June 28th & June 29th
Check out June 30th after breakfast
1 Spot Open
Cost: $595 per Person, Per Day
*Price Does not include: WA Sales Tax, gratuity for guides and support staff
– 3 Days guided fishing
– 4 Nights Lodging
– All meals included – BYOB