I really like this fishery because it makes me feel like a real drift fisherman. Right now the run is peaking at Bonnie. Go there right below the dam on the Wa side. You can't miss it if you drive down Highway 14 along the river. This is not a drop dead fishery, you have to know the drift.

The challenge here is that the fish hit right at the point where the lure/weight is about to sink into the rocks. Wait a little too long and you will snag every time. Reel in too fast and you will not get snagged, but you won't catch anything either.

The predominant lure is a shad "dart" that you can buy at the Chevron station in North Bonneville.

I feel that where you are along the bank makes little difference as long as you are above the tip of Cascade Island (where the big flume comes out). Most people will crowd up near the deadline but I always go 1/4 mile or so below that.

There are some people that really have this fishery dialed in and will amaze you with how many they can catch. If you are not doing so good go watch one of them and see what they are doing.

Another really fun spot is just below John Day Dam. Here you can park right along the shoreline and the bottom is much more friendly than at Bonnie. It is a little shallower and less current too so you can lighten up everything from rod to required weight.