Lake Chelan

[washingtonlakes]

Thread update, the Chelan kokanee fishery has slowed down, getting much tougher to catch the numbers but the quality remains excellent!

[Steelheadin360]

Some of Chelans "Kokanee." Im pretty sure I am going to have to rebuild the drag in my reels after these guys, talk about some mean agressive fish! The bite is there, its just finding the finsh that have scattered all over the lower basin. We fished out in front of Mill bay all the way up to the narrows. Found fish from 45ft down to 100ft and had our last fish of the trip hit a top line rod as we were buttoning the boat up.

Double D dodgers and Kokaneekid Fishing spinners with shoepeg and krill scent where the hot ticket. Friday I got 2 fish, Saturday I got 9 and 6 on sunday. Smallest was 13" and the biggest was 20.5" with the average being around 17"

[MackPrince]

Looks like a great day of fishing.

[Scrminbanshee]

Some of Chelans "Kokanee." Im pretty sure I am going to have to rebuild the drag in my reels after these guys, talk about some mean agressive fish! The bite is there, its just finding the finsh that have scattered all over the lower basin. We fished out in front of Mill bay all the way up to the narrows. Found fish from 45ft down to 100ft and had our last fish of the trip hit a top line rod as we were buttoning the boat up.

Double D dodgers and Kokaneekid Fishing spinners with shoepeg and krill scent where the hot ticket. Friday I got 2 fish, Saturday I got 9 and 6 on sunday. Smallest was 13" and the biggest was 20.5" with the average being around 17"

Sounds like a good time. Are the fish still schooled up and hard to find? Or are they few and far between and scattered all over? Anybody every try for any of those lake trout?

[Steelheadin360]

Sounds like a good time. Are the fish still schooled up and hard to find? Or are they few and far between and scattered all over? Anybody every try for any of those lake trout?

I think Mike (washingtonlakes) tried for them. Lake trout arent my cup of tea, diffficult to fish for. And this was actually from the first weekend of the month. But when we went the fish were schooled up and in the early morning were on the flats in 150' of water outside of mill bay, but as soon as the sun came up the fish were all over the place. But when we did find a school we usaully got hit. a few fish did seem like they came out of no were though. OUr best luck came when we moved away from all the boats and just kinda did our own thing

[washingtonlakes]

The koks are definitely more scattered than our trip a month ago. More trolling around. No more doubles and triples for us (we were there the same weekend as Steelheadin360).

Lake trout - amazing catches by the guides, but way too much work to target, at least when there are kokanee to be had. It's tough fishing 250-300 ft on downriggers and keeping gear withing 10 ft of the bottom.

[Stradic]

Every kok I catch while away from Chelan this years seems really small! I have been jaded by this lake. All I want to do is return to Chelan.. I have failed to give my local American koks a chance to swim in the famous yoshidas pool! If you have not fished Chelan this year and or figured out Chelan this year I am sorry. You are missing out on World Class Kokanee fishing. If you do make the trip and happen upon a Lake Trout the rumors are true those things are nasty they fight like a log and have tasteless flesh.. Why someone would pay for a guided trip is crazy! Time,effort and some know how will make your efforts worth it on the Kokanee. Also a disclaimer I have not used cha cha squidy thing or double d's ever!

[rambull]

"Also a disclaimer I have not used cha cha squidy thing or double d's ever! "

hahaha - me either yet have done very well on Chelan koks putting > 50# lbs of those tasties in the freezer.

[Mharri333]

I was at Chelan two weekends in a row. (three weeks back) The first was for Lake Trout. We ended up with 17. The smoked lake trout is fantastic tasting. We threw a couple on the grill and they weren't bad either but nothing compared to the smoked. Really good flavor and texture. The next weekend we hit the Kokanee. Out of three days I think we ended up with 30 or so fish. Great fighters and great conditions. Definately worth the drive from Bellingham. Can't wait to do it again next year. I will probably hit it earlier and more often.