Steelhead anglers were happy to learn that the Wenatchee River has been re-opened to fishing, along with the Icicle River. Conditions are excellent right now to both float and wade on these rivers, and I expect good success with these conditions prevail. The Wenatchee is also open to fishing for whitefish. Steelhead fishing on the Wenatchee is open from the mouth to 400 feet below the Tumwater Dam. This particular stretch has not been available to anglers even when the rest of the Wenatchee has been open for several years. Fishing in the lower Tumwater Canyon is very attractive. Not only is there some great water through here, the scenery is amazing. The Icicle is open from the mouth to 500 feet below the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Barrier Dam. The steelhead fishing is under selective gear rules, on the Wenatchee, and the department reminds anglers that bait is allowed on the areas of the Columbia River that are open to steelhead fishing. After closing the Wenatchee and some other tributaries earlier this winter, only the Wenatchee has been re-opened as it has not approached the allowed mortality threshold for the release of wild steelhead. No date has been given to end the season, and it could possibly run through the end of March.