Fishin' Reports

If you like catching king salmon, you don’t need to wait until the Columbia River opens. Fishing for kings has been very good this year on Lake Chelan. I get a lot of reports of people catching them on their kokanee gear, and those who target kings are consistently getting them. I talked to my brother Rick, who guided for kings for many years on Lake Chelan, and he shared some tips. He recommends fishing during low light periods, early mornings and evenings. The fish are following the kokanee so below Wapato Point is a good place to troll. Start at 30 to 60 feet, then start dropping deeper as the day brightens. If you use a dodger use 30 inches of leader. If you troll a flasher use a 40-inch leader. Put your baits at least 100 feet behind the boat. Small plug cut herring work great. Keep your baits at least 20 feet off the bottom, or you will likely hook lake trout. Rick said last year the king fishing was the best in 20 years, and this year is as good or better. It is definitely worth a try in the morning, then go kokanee fishing!