The Icicle River is opening to spring Chinook fishing this year in mid-May. May 15th is the typical opening day, but last season the fish were making their way up the Columbia much later than usual, and the season opened later as a result. Anglers are particularly eager to fish the river this year as the forecast is for a much higher return than the past few seasons, and there are some big fish on their way, too. As most people are aware there is very little public access to the river and few launches for the drift boats that float it. The launch by the hatchery will be busy starting well before day break, and the take out across from Black Bird Island will be packed. I should mention that earlier this spring the Chelan County Commission declared that no internal combustion motors will be allowed on the Wenatchee and Icicle rivers. It will be a real zoo as usual on the Icicle during the season that lasts until July 31st. Few anglers fish the season to the end. They are off fishing for summer-runs on the Columbia starting July 1st.