King salmon season open for annual Brewster Derby

BREWSTER – King salmon season is open for the upcoming 18th annual Brewster King Salmon Derby, August 2-4, but there are restrictions as to where kings can be caught.

The popular Brewster Pool, a favorite for king anglers, is closed to king fishing following an earlier crippling weather event that damaged juvenile stocks four years ago.

“For the fishery above Priest Rapids Dam, which we call the Upper Columbia, the only change we had was closure of the Brewster pool only between the Brewster Bridge upstream to a line drawn between Pelican Point and Gunn Club Road just above the confluence above the Okanogan River,” said WDFW Regional Fish Program Manager Chad Jackson last month. “We are not anticipating very many hatchery or wild summer chinook returning to the Okanogan and Similkameen rivers.” 

Jackson cited an unusual 2021 rain on snow event in the Canadian portion of the Similkameen River events that compelled the early release of juvenile stocks that would have otherwise been lost in the acclimation ponds.

Sport fishermen will still be able to fish for kings below the Brewster Bridge and above the Pelican Point/Gunn Club Road boundary.

Derby organizer Mike Mauk, owner of Brewster Bait and Tackle, said he is getting reports from fishermen who are catching kings in both areas. The sockeye catch is also doing well,

“They’re catching tons of sockeye,” said Mauk of the Brewster Pool anglers. “They are also catching kings but must release those. They are also catching kings above Pelican Point.”

Mauk said that of the 300 derby tickets available this year, about 75 have been sold. Tickets can be purchased online at brewstersalmonderby.com or Brewster Bait and Tackle, 1408 Sunset Drive. Sales will end at midnight on July 31.

Mauk said food vendors will be on-site, including a new one, Rustic Rise Café & Bakery from Pateros. Costa Sunglasses will also be available for purchase.

More than $10,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded again this year, including the $2,000 top prize for the King of the Pool fish.

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media.