I got a chance to make a trip down to Drano Lake on the Columbia with my good friend Travis Ciullinan of Sunnysisde friday. It was long anticipated as I have been itching to tangle with a steelie or two all year. The trip through Centerville near Goldendale was awesome as there were wild turkeys and deer everywhere along the route above the Klickitat River basin. We arrived at the launch at Drano a little concerned because the wind was howling and the big waves made the channel crossing a wet one. I rigged up a pink shrimp and set my float at 21 feet and had a take down in the first 5 minutes out. But the fish fish seemed tight lipped and finicky as very few of the 20 or so boats around us caught many fish. It was early afternoon when my buddy Trav hooked up with a huge fish and after a 20 minute battle, I scooped up his biggest fish ever- a near 5 foot long sturgeon that took his dyed shrimp on a slip bobber! We snapped a couple of pictures and let the sturge go soon after. I hooked a wild steelie and may of had a possible hatchery fish shake the hook. All in all, it doesn't appear that the bite down there has heated up just yet. Maybe give it a few more weeks. Tight lines. Jiggy

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