Offers Many Opportunities

for Waterheads

By Staff
Waterhead™ Watersports
October 29, 2011

The Columbia Rivers dumps more water into the Pacific Ocean than any other river in the United States.  The Columbia begins its trek high in the Rockies of British Columbia, enters the US in Northeastern Washington, meanders through much of the high desert of Central Washington and then forms the western three quarters of the border between Oregon and Washington before emptying into the ocean. 

The Columbia River is almost 1250 miles in length.  Half of its mileage runs through the US, with the remainder being located in Canada.  It provides drainage for seven states in the US along with British Columbia.  There are 14 hydroelectric dams on the river that provide power to many homes in the western United states.  The river travels through the western Rockies, the High desert of Washington and through the Coastal Range of mountains before finally emptying into the Pacific Ocean.  It is navigable by ocean going ships as far as Portland, Oregon and locks make it possible for barges to travel all the way to Lewiston, ID using the Columbia River and its tributaries.  These barges transport much of the wheat grown in the US for distribution to the rest of the nation.

The Columbia River can be broken into three distinct parts.  The Upper Columbia is the portion of the river upstream of the Grand Coulee Dam, the Middle Columbia lies between the Grand Coulee Dam and the Bonneville Dam and the Lower Columbia is the portion of the river between the Bonneville and the ocean.  The different characteristics of these three parts of the river dictate the appropriate use of the river for a waterhead. 

Fly fishers may prefer fishing the upper Columbia River.  Here, the predominant target fish is the Rainbow trout.  The average trout in this portion of the river weight 2 ½ -3 pounds and is just under 20 inches in length.  In addition, Cutthroat trout are often caught in the area.  Several different guide services offer fishing packages for the area providing an excellent bargain and a guarantee to catch fish for those who only have a few days in the area.

The Middle Columbia offers many different varieties of fish.  White sturgeon, are considered a dinosaur of a fish and must be less than six feet in length to be considered a keeper.  However, there are also bass, salmon, steelhead and walleye to be caught in this portion of the river.  When the shad pass through the areas there is a lot of fast and furious action to be found on the Middle Columbia River.

Fishing the Lower Columbia offers some special challenges.  This portion of the river is affected by the tides so if fishing out of your own boat, take special precautions when anchoring.  Most of the same species of fish found in the Middle Columbia will also be found in the lower portion of the river. Some of the largest fish in the entire Columbia are located near the Bonneville dam.

Fishing the Canadian portion of the river is good as well.  There are plenty of rainbows and walleyes in the water.  An occasional fish weighing up to ten pounds is caught.  While some people fish the river all year long, the best months are May through August.  The abundant hatch of Caddis has made this portion of the river famous for dry fly fishing.  If you are unable to fish during the summer, shoot for a trip during the late season beginning mid October when the big rainbows are feeding in the riffles.

Boating on the Columbia River provides fun, excitement and challenges for any waterhead.  The Upper and Middle Columbia offer some great whitewater for kayaks as well as for rafting.  These trips can range from a relaxing float trip to challenging intense rapids.  The tributaries of the Columbia in the area of the Gorge provide numerous places that provide plenty of excitement for the adrenaline junkies. 

The near constant wind in the Gorge area also provides a great place for both windsurfers and kiteboarders.  Kite Beach is located along a wide portion of the river that has a shallow sloping shoreline.  The westerly wind over these sandy beaches provide the perfect place for beginners to the sports, but there are some areas rated as difficult to challenge the most experienced in these two waterhead sports.

The lower portion of the river becomes very wide and deep as the water prepares to enter the ocean.  By the time the Columbia River reaches Portland, it is wide enough that it provides a great place for sailing.  The waters are generally smooth in the area, with the exception of mid tide when they can become choppy.  In addition this wide smooth water makes a good place for water skiers.  It is common to cross the river on one of Portland's Bridges and see several skiers taking advantage of the water in either the Willamette or the Columbia.

Sightseeing along the Columbia River also offers viewers to see spots that are breathtaking.  The deep green conifers mix with colorful broad-leaf deciduous trees to line the path of the river.  Along the way, travelers can see steep cliffs, large waterfalls and many sheer rock formation that form accents for the beauty of the river.  Interstate 84 travels along the river from Portland offering visitors many of the beautiful views of the river along the gorge.  During the winter, the winds bring ice that can make travel treacherous, but turn everything into a crystal wonderland. 

For an even closer view of all the beauty of the gorge, take a trip down the Historic Columbia River Highway.  This 75 mile two lane road was completed in 1922 as the nation's first scenic highway.  It was designed so that travelers could see the beauty of the gorge.

At the mouth of the Columbia River is the town of Astoria, Oregon.  This scenic village allows visitors to have access to both the Pacific and the river.  From here, waterheads may choose to try their hand at deep sea fishing, spend some time beach combing or enjoying the ocean.

There are plenty of waterfalls to view along the Columbia River.  Most of the falls are located on the Oregon side of the river where the rock formations lead to magnificent cascades such as Multnomah Falls.  There are well over 70 waterfalls on the Oregon side of the river alone.

As the Columbia River turns to the north and leaves the Oregon border to head through Washington, it travels through the high desert region.  Here, it is common to see wildlife foraging for food and water during the cool of the evening and early morning.  Visitors to the river may see a small covey of quail or several pheasant.  Grass clumps make a regular stop for both deer and antelope grazing just before the sun sets.

In addition to the beautiful scenes of nature surrounging the Columbia River, waterheads will be visiting an area of historic importance.  The river has been inhabited by indigenous people for over 15,000 years.  The abundance of salmon on the river allowed these people to settle in the area over 3500 years ago.  The area was first explored by Canadian explorer Alexander Mackenzie and later as a part of the Lewis and Clark expedition.  Early exploration wiped out many of the indigenous people through exposure to small pox in the late 1700s.

Waterheads will find that life along the Columbia River does not stop at dark.  Portland offers visitors several great opportunities of nightlife.  There are many bars and night clubs that provide entertainment.  In addition, Basketball season probably means that the Trailblazers are in town.  If they are out of town, the Portland Coliseum often features many favorite concerts and other entertainment opportunities.  Further upstream, the Gorge Amphitheatre, located in George, Washington provides many different entertainment opportunities for summer nights.

There are distinct fishing seasons on the river so be sure to plan a trip for fishing based on the seasons for the portion of the river you plan to fish.  In addition, anglers will need licenses as well as tags for certain species of fish.  While most guide services can inform the angler of the daily limits, those who plan to fish alone will want to take time to know the local rules and regulations.

The Columbia River runs through rugged mountains as well as modern cities.  It offers many opportunities for waterheads to enjoy their favorite water sports, including fishing, boating, hiking and many other sports.  Due to the fact that the river is located in the Pacific Northwest, summers are generally mild, although there can be some very warm days in the interior of Washington.  Fortunately, it is possible to move downstream toward Portland or Astoria where days remain much more agreeable even during August.  The numerous towns, villages and cities located along the river can provide plenty of opportunities for lodging, eating and entertainment.  However, driving outside of these more civilized areas allows the waterhead to visit this mighty river in near pristine conditions. 

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