Smallies for kids under 10

[Salvy]

I am planning to take a couple of kids fishing around the tri-cities with bank access only. I figure the best way to get them into fish is to spin-cast jigs from easily accessible shoreline. I'd love to hear other ideas if you're willing to share.

I know little about the tri-cities and the river access spots (Yakima, Columbia, Snake). Would anyone be willing to share some locations where I can park the car and take them fishing. I am not asking for special spots or even specific spots- just a bump in the right direction.

I will not be fishing. I want to get them hooked the way I did when I was their age.

Thanks in advance.

 

[RichS]

There are a fair number of easy access spots. 1. The 240 bridge area of the Yakima on the north side of the river can be reached by turning south off of Aaron Drive at the trun for the gravel pit. Take the first left after that and there is a parking area where you can walk down to the Yak. See map


2. Under the I-182 bridge on the Richland side of the Columbia. Go down the Columbia Point road to the end (past Bud’s Broiler and whatnot) park and walk down. I took my daughter here years ago and we caught SM on drifted night crawlers. See map

3. The Snake above ice harbor dam has lots of bank access and smallmouth.
4. I have caught them above the Horn Rapids dam. Lots of bank access.
5. There is a great pool on the Yakima that is just below the I-182 bridge over the Yakima. This spot is accessed by turning of Columbia Park trail near the roundabout at Queensgate. See map.

 

[Tom Butler]

The docks or bank spots at any of the parks on the snake can produce for the kids.