I talked to a buddy of mine who had fished Chelan 3 weeks before our tourney and in 3 hrs of fishing he had caught 15 smallies the smallest was a 5lb 2oz. and the biggest was 6.14. While I haven't fished Palmer yet, a few years back Hobbs Jr. brought a 8lb 10oz. smallmouth to the scales at a tourney on that lake.  As for the reach on the columbia, again, I've only heard about the monsters up there, I do know that there were some awesome bags taken out of the Snake and upper Yakama R. as well.   As for record LM on this side, Kapowsin launch is coming along nicley, last word was it will be open for labor day weekend! Anybody up for some hawg hunting?? 

I remember someone telling me that Boyer told them he has definately seen the state record in Chelan. Maybe it was Gonzy last year. Anyhow, it was in the area you and I started Kirk from what I can remember. That's why I went there last year and this year. Plus with all the 5's caught last year, I would put this first on my list. Plus great weather. I wouldn't doubt any stretch of the Columbia, though I think the lakes are easier to fish, especially navigating. I would think a fish would get bigger in a lake not using energy on swimming in current. I would want a big, fat, lazy smallmouth with no exercise plan and plenty of extra calories. I believe Washington holds a record class fish also, but the sight fishing approach will be better at Chelan for obvious reasons.

Oh yeah, for the State record LM.  You may want to try Chambers Lake on Ft. Lewis if you can get access. (An army fellow in Lacey who is in Iraq right now told me a guy from Florida came to the base to visit family and he caught a 10lb. 1oz. LM)

Another, Long Lake (Thurston County) I fish that lake often, biggest I have known caught is just under 10lbs., though I have seen fish that are definetily over 12lbs.
Actually WDFW electrofished 2 years ago and got a 14.1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another honorable mention, Chambers Lake(Thurston County)
Old timer who lives on lake caught a 10lbs. 14oz. about 20 years ago! on a 1/2 oz jig with a big Jumbo Pork on it!
                 

In all honesty, I think that Chelan is the place to go, for many of the reasons that all of you have mentioned.  Furthermore, it is fairly close to home and I have many more contacts in this area than in tri-cities area.  I dearly love river fishing, but I gotta agree with Rob on his angle.  I am looking forward to more research prior to next season.  I will also be making multiple trips in to Chelan this summer.  I plan on documenting every step and writing about it as well.  Maybe a future best seller!  Since I am no longer coaching HS basketball, I need something to be obsessive/compulsive about or I will drive my wife crazy!

Yea, Larry, I am looking into that right now.  I will let the forum know what I find.

Good point to consider. If I wasn't sure at the moment I caught it, I would get a hold of Fish and Game immediately. I'm sure they would help out in some way. Or grant you permission to transport the fish for verification.....or something. Being a state record possibility, I can't see them turning their backs. I will email them after Kirk reports back if needed.

You can take this for a tall tale... or see it as a hard earned lesson... I repeat it only to my own shame.  I believe I caught the state record and lost it on Lake Washington one rainy and cold winter day 6 or 7 years ago.  I was fishing "the gravel bar" and accomplishing nothing but turning blue.  I decided to take a deep diving crankbait and troll it across the 24 foot deep flat before leaving.  Sometimes a big ol'crank bouncing off the rocks is more than a turned off fish can take.  On my third and final pass, the crank went off the edge of the flat out into deeper water and wham!  My rod was driven to the gunnels.

I'd been fishing 5 or 6 years at that time for smallies and one thing was for sure - this was too big to be a smallmouth.  My fireline had my rod bent in two and the fish plunged again and again to reach the bottom.  "Damn, I'm cold, I'm wet, and here I am fighting some huge carp - probably hooked in the side!"  I was not happy!

Hoping to pull the hook loose, so I could go home, I put everything into getting that fish to the top.  My line was singing, but I kept tightening my drag.  I didn't come for carp and I simply wanted my crankbait back!  I don't know how long it took - seemed like for ever, but I forced that fish to the surface way before it was ready. 

When it came to the surface besides the boat - I stopped breathing!  Rolling on it's side was the largest smallmouth I have ever seen in any fishing magazine I have ever read!  Before I could even think about loosening the drag, that monster took one strong tail whip - and bing!  That line snapped like cotton thread and all I could do was watch the trophy of a lifetime swim away with my favorite crank in it's mouth. 

Needless to say, I couldn't move for an hour.  I sat in the rain muttering words that turned the air blue (yep - I some good ones!).  It was all a surreal event where one wishes he could go back and do all over again - but sadly that moment came and went... and my stomach still knots when I remember it.

To this day, I don't care if I hook Jimmy Hoffa's remains, I plan on playing it like it was a giant smallie until I see it near the surface.  Learn from my mistake:  if it feels too big to be a bass - fight the temptation to horse it in - it could be the chance of a life-time.  Excuse me while I go throw up again...

Oh man, Rev.  That hurts just reading it.  I can close my eyes and see myself netting that big fish for you. 

Thanks for the links, Glenn. I am a member of your site as well and did a search and found those very articles.  It IS the most comprehensive site on Bass fishing on the Web.  Thanks for your hard work on it.