Largemouth Bass

East Wenatchee boasts surprisingly good largemouth bass fishing, particularly in the Columbia River and its associated sloughs and backwaters. While the Columbia is known for salmon, the warmer, calmer areas provide ideal habitat for bass. The best time to target largemouth here is during the late spring and early summer, as the water warms up and the fish move into shallower areas to spawn. Look for submerged structure, weed beds, and docks – these are prime ambush points for hungry bass. A local favorite technique is throwing Texas-rigged worms or crankbaits along the edges of cover. Access to the Columbia River is readily available via several public boat launches around East Wenatchee. Be aware of the strong currents in the main river channel, especially if you're fishing from a smaller boat. The bass in this area tend to be opportunistic feeders, so experiment with different lure presentations to find what they're hitting.