Northwest Writers Columbia River Rendezvous! 6

Last week I had the opportunity to head down to the Columbia River above the Dalles to participate in an annual outdoor media "junket".  As this was my first such event I really didn't know what to expect.  Our host, longtime Columbia River pro Ed Iman puts this event together every year to showcase the wide variety of fishing available on this magnificent stretch of river.
 In addition to the fishing, several manufacturers were on hand to introduce some new products heading into show season….

I didn't go down there for the shopping….

What was on tap on the fishing front? How about chinook, coho, steelhead, sturgeon, smallmouth bass and walleye?
The Deschutes river joins the Columbia in this stretch and as I arrived Ed Iman was hosting John Posey of Lamiglas for some steelhead action at the mouth of the famed river.

Ed Iman works the mouth of the Deschutes as John Posey watches his rod.  

There must be a bunch of smallies in this stretch for me to pick one up while working prawn rigs for steelhead!  

Back at camp, I marvel at the size and organization of the camp "kitchen". Yes, that is a line of propane cookers and barbeques  on the right!  

Other anglers arrive back at camp and Editor of The REEL NEWS, Jim Goerg reaches into the live well and pulls out this dandy smallmouth!  

Check out the sturgeon gear on this rig! Oversize were on the bite and the gang from EZ Marine Products were on the prowl.  

After the magnificent dinner of marinated Cornish game hens and dutch oven cornbread we got to speak to some of the manufacturer's representatives that were in attendance. Mac's tackle EZ Marine and Camp Chef all checked in with new products, but Columbia sportswear stole the show!
At one point the Columbia rep invited us to do our best to soil the new PFG Performance Fishing Gear. You have never seen people move so fast to grab condiments, fish guts, bait and anything else they could get their hands on! Columbia's  new stain resistant fabric technology line is said to be "Blood 'N Guts proof and we put it to the test…

Our test subject laid on the grass and we did our best (worst?) to stain the new gear. No product representatives were injured in the making of this blog….  

To our surprise, the gear came clean as a whistle simply by rinsing in cool water! Pretty cool stuff, especially when you consider that Columbia has a PHG or Performance Hunting Gear line which will allow hunters to control scent effectively even in their deer or elk camps.
All in all, the indelible impression made upon me is the magnificent fishing and hunting opportunities that exist along the entire length of the Columbia River.  Quite possibly, there is no better time to experience this abundance than the early to mid-autumn season. Don't miss out! We will be featuring many of these fishing and hunting hotspots every Saturday, so tune in and get "dialed-in" to the Columbia basin this fall!