Lake Chelan Fishing Report - Anton Jones

What continues hot is trolling near the Yacht Club on Lake Chelan for numbers of Lake Trout. For the adventurous, fishing the upper parts of Lake Chelan can provide good numbers of Lake Trout and Chinook Salmon. The Kokanee bite continues spotty during this reporting period except for the early morning bite. On Chelan, Lake Trout bit trolled presentations above the Yacht Club that were pulled at about 1.5mph very close to the bottom in water that was 280 to 340 feet deep. 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 continued to rack up the Mack’s during this reporting period. The Kokanee bite continues somewhat slower than it’s peak but some are being caught in the trench, along the face of Mill Bay, up at the Yacht Club and over by the Monument. The best bite is at first light. We had a chance to fish the Castle Creek area during the reporting period. We were able to catch a Chinook as well as a number of Lakers. It’s a long run up, but the scenery is unparalleled and the fishing is untrammeled. Your fishing tip of the week is to keep in mind a couple simple items to improve your fishing success on Lake Chelan. First, for our deepwater trolling replace those pinch pad downrigger releases with Sam’s Pro Releases from Silver Horde. They are simple, effective and prevent false releases. Second, invest in the best hooks possible. Gamakatsu has been the gold standard in hooks for a long time. Getting maximum penetration with your hooks will help convert more bites into fish in the box. The kid’s tip of the week is to get them involved in the process. Don’t just tie your leaders. Teach them and have them tie one up. Compliment them in front of others when they do a good job. Have them reel in to check your baits. The busier they are, the happier they will be. Boredom sets in early for the younger set that is conditioned to constant stimulation. The safety tip of the week is basic launch and retrieval etiquette. If you need to rig your boat after arrival before you launch, pull into a parking spot and rig. Don’t rig your boat blocking launch lanes. If you are having difficulty launching or retrieving, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Most experienced boaters are more than willing to help if they know you need assistance. Anton Jones of Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service www.darrellanddads.com or 509-687-0709