thanks for the info guys!! i plunked the yakima river for a few hours this evening and got 2 small channel cats. i talked to a guy down at the river and he told me that the smallmouth are all over the lower snake right now, i think i may head back there with a boat next weekend if the sound doesnt pick up for salmon by then. it is a long drive to get over there, 4 hours one way makes for a very long day trip.