Lake Chelan Area Reports - Kokanee - Lake Trout - Triploids

What’s hot is trolling near the Yacht Club on Lake Chelan for numbers of Lake Trout. Jumbo Kokanee are being caught all over the lower basin although it has become spotty fishing during this reporting period. This is the time of the year to try for some of those elusive Chelan Triploid Rainbows. On Chelan, Lake Trout bit trolled presentations above the Yacht Club. Worden Lures T4 Flatfish in Purple Glow and Mack’s Cha Cha Squidders as well as Silver Horde’s Kingfisher Lite spoons in Glow Splatterback colors really racked up the Lakers during this reporting period. We hit water that was 260 to 320 feet deep for an incredible bite rate. Most fish are two to four pounds, but this is the area where the new state record was caught in February. As always stay tight to the bottom. Speeds of 1.4 to 1.7 mph were very productive. The Kokanee are finicky but are sometimes biting in the trench, along the face of Mill Bay, up at the Yacht Club and over by the Monument. Most of these landlocked Sockeye are from 15 to 17 inches. They are hard fighting acrobats on light gear. The surface water temperature has risen to 50 degrees so start looking shallower for these fish. 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 1.1 to 1.4 mph will work best. When you find biters, pull your gear, turn and go back through them. We have gotten into our first Triploid Rainbows out of Chelan during the reporting period. Pautzke’s Firebait in American Wildfire off a 36” leader is the ticket for these 17 to 22 inch ‘bows. Your fishing tip of the week is to use stackers off your downriggers to increase your bite rate. Try to stack a line 12 feet above your ball. When it gets bit, raise your ball 12 feet to get the bottom line bit. Simple and effective. The kid’s tip of the week is to remember boys are uncivilized by nature. It takes training to turn them into young men with manners. Modeling, positive reinforcement and repetition are the tickets there. The safety tip of the week is to remember that rock just out and down lake of the Mill Bay launch. I saw another guy lose a prop. It’s submerged now. Anton Jones of Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service 509-687-0709 or www.darrellanddads.com