Chelan Fishing Report - February 25th 2014
What’s heating up is trolling the edges of Lake Chelan for Kokanee. Also continuing hot is trolling the trench on Lake Chelan for Mackinaw. Finally, fishing the shoreline of Lake Chelan is hot for rainbow trout.
On Chelan, we have located schools of kokanee around the edges of the lower half of the lake. They are varying in size from 11 to 17 inches. They are absolute acrobats on light gear and their delicate flesh has unparalleled eating quality. Work the edges of Lake Chelan from the surface to 200 feet. Look at your sonar and troll a Mack’s Lures Double D dodger trailed by one of Mack’s Lures orange or pink Mini Cha Cha Squidders baited with some Pautzke’s Fire Corn just above the fish. Speeds of 1 to 1.5 mph will work best. The bite should get more consistent as we move towards spring, but the fish will move around. Look around on the same contour once you find them.
Lake Trout continue to bite trolled presentations in the trench. This bite that has been red hot since September has finally dropped back to a more normal 2 fish per hour. I would expect big fish to show up around Colyar’s ledge now, if our previous years’ experience are any help. Silver Horde’s Kingfisher Lite spoons in Chartreuse and Orange Splatterback, were the best lure to solidly hook those light biting trench fish.
Lake Chelan is producing rainbow trout from the shoreline. Fish from the bank with a slip sinker rig and Pautzke’s Firebait in American Wildfire or cast Worden Lures Roostertails.
Your fishing tip of the week is to make small subtle shifts to stay on those kokanee. They are roaming a bit for their food. I’ve found that sliding along the same depth contour that I originally found them at is better than slipping into deeper or shallower water.
The kid’s tip of the week is a combination of two oldies but goodies from repertoire of managing primary grade school age kids. Kids from 5 or 6 to 8 or 9 will use misbehavior to get attention illegitimately. It is hard-wired into them. Step one is to ignore the behavior for a short bit then catch them doing something on task and praise that behavior. Step two is to use distraction to get them off the misbehavior. Step three is to then redirect them back on task. Unless the misbehavior is dangerous, responding to it reinforces it, even if the response is negative.
The safety tip of the week is to inspect your life jackets for rips, tears and other winter wear. Can’t wait for our first burst of nice weather!
Anton Jones of Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service
www.darrellanddads.com or visit our Facebook page for more pictures and updates
2/20/14 Pictured: Kathleen Rodman, husband Dale and children Trenton (9) and Mia (7) of KOZI and Chelan with their mornings catch of Lake Chelan Mackinaw.
2/25/14 Also Pictured: Roger Sorenson and Pepe' Hernandez both of Manson and Blueberry Hills fame with their and Jeff's Lake Chelan Kokanee.
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