Brownlee Crappie Shootout Recap: Kayak Fishing Brownlee Reservoir
Quick take: The ninth annual Brownlee Crappie Shootout on Brownlee Reservoir near Richland, Oregon, was a great day of kayak fishing. The key lesson: suspending a two-tone crappie jig (often with chartreuse) about four feet under a float, fished slowly in shallow water, turned a slow morning into steady action on crappie and smallmouth. The post-tournament feast stole the show.
About the Brownlee Crappie Shootout
The ninth annual Brownlee Crappie Shootout was held on May 18, and I was lucky enough to attend. The format is simple: several fish species count for points, with a different number of points per inch for each. Since it is a crappie tournament, crappie are worth the most per inch.
Getting There: Car Camping Before the Tournament
Against my better judgment, I left for Richland, Oregon, after work on Friday with plans to sleep in my car. The six-hour drive went by quickly, and I reached my parking spot around 10:30 p.m. I shuffled my fishing gear to make room for a crash pad in the back of my Forester, and it worked well; I slept comfortably all night. An inflatable camp pillow was another great call. Neither took up much room, and together they gave me a real shot at a decent night's sleep.
The next morning I woke up a little early and brewed plenty of coffee on my canister stove. I was grateful for its built-in igniter, since I had left my lighter at home. It would have been a rough day without coffee.
A Day of Fishing on the Powder River Arm
Between not knowing the area, spotty phone service, and arriving late, I never picked up my card to enter fish. That was fine with me; I was there for the fishing and the camaraderie. I launched around 6 a.m., a bit later than most, and headed up the Powder River Arm of Brownlee Reservoir. My usual plan at these events is to see where everyone is fishing, pass them, and look for untouched water. The Old Town Sportsman BigWater 132 PDL is one of the faster pedal kayaks around (which matters later), and it made quick work of passing the pack.
The float that changed the day
I started like everyone else, with a crappie jig tied straight to the line, casting toward the bank in 2 to 7 feet of water. The first fish was a small but feisty smallmouth bass, followed by a few more micro smallies, but the bite never felt strong. So I added a float about four feet above the hook, and the day turned around.
Crappie have slightly upturned eyes, which helps them spot prey above them. In my opinion, it is almost always better to err on the side of fishing too high in the water column for them. Plus, it is fun to watch a fish sink your float.
I started catching fish often, sometimes back-to-back. Smallmouth were plentiful and aggressive, though small; the biggest of the day taped about 14 inches. Coincidentally, my best crappie and best largemouth were also about 14 inches, which is a really nice crappie, if not much of a largemouth. Most fish came on a two-tone crappie jig, usually with some chartreuse, fished very slowly to cover water thoroughly. At that point I definitely regretted not entering.
Fishing With Friends
After a few hours of steady action, I met up with a buddy who now lives nearby and knows the area well. His section of the lake was different: visibility dropped from two or three feet to about one foot, and the water turned green. That is not always bad, especially for catfish and bass, but here the bite faded, and fishy-looking spots came up empty. Eventually we found a cove where a creek brought in cleaner water and picked up a few more fish: a decent crappie and a couple of smallmouth for me, smallmouth and a yellow perch for him. We kept a few to give to an older gentleman who fishes from the dock nearly every day; until then I had been purely catch and release.
In an entertaining turn, the steering on his kayak (from a brand that shall remain nameless) gave out on the way back. After some creative rigging, I hooked his 14-foot kayak to mine and towed him to the dock while holding about 3.5 mph. The BigWater proved to be a remarkably fast and powerful boat.
Awards and the Feast
The awards went smoothly, with a huge range of prizes for contestants: camp stoves, every kayak accessory you can think of, high-end custom rods, and more. The overall winner was Jim Davis, organizer of the Winter Walleye Social, who landed one of each target species.
Now for the most important part. Tournament organizer Jed Rivera had a child graduate from high school that week, so his extended family prepared an absolute feast for participants, including a whole roasted pig. The pork was perfectly tender after cooking all morning, and the lau lau was something to behold. I ate far more than I should have before the drive home, and when I think back on the event, the meal is the first thing that comes to mind. I am already looking forward to the tenth annual Shootout.
Gear for Your Next Fishing Road Trip
Kayaks, fishing accessories, stoves, and sleeping pads are available in-store at our Grand Avenue store in Portland's Central Eastside. For the drive and the early launch, these are available online:
- Kayak Deck Bag Keep jigs and tackle within reach
- Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Rain Jacket For spring squalls on the water
- NEMO Forte Endless Promise 20 Sleeping Bag Comfortable car camping nights
- Surviveware Small Premium First Aid Kit Hooks happen
Brownlee Crappie Shootout FAQ
Where is the Brownlee Crappie Shootout held?
It is held on Brownlee Reservoir, with this recap's launch near Richland, Oregon, about a six-hour drive from Portland. Our writer fished the Powder River Arm.
How is the Brownlee Crappie Shootout scored?
Several species count for points, with a set number of points per inch for each species. Crappie are worth the most points per inch.
What worked best for crappie at Brownlee?
A two-tone crappie jig, often with chartreuse, suspended about four feet under a float and fished slowly in 2 to 7 feet of water near the bank. Crappie look upward for prey, so fishing a little high in the water column paid off.
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