JoAnn and I had the pleasure of fishing with Jeff Witkowski, who is a guide that works with Anton Jones of Darrell and Dad’s Family Guide Service. Our target was Lake Chelan Lake Trout.

We left the launch at 6am and ran over to the Yacht Club area, fishing some spots that have been very hot for lakers lately. It turned out to be a good day for fishing and catching.

Because this was a video production day, we only ran two rods off downriggers, and that reduced our numbers a bit, which was OK, because we still did well, catching eight fish ranging from a tiny 1.5 pound fish up to around 3.5 pounds. Yesterday Anton’s boat landed a ten pound fish so there are some better ones out there. Today Anton’s clients caught 14 fish, running 4 rods. Both trips were 6-10am trips.

Depths we fished ranged from 200 to 330 feet. All I can say is, I’m sure glad I didn’t have to deal with running the downriggers . It’s way too much work! My hat is off to those guides fishing for these Mackinaw trout.

Jeff was a lot of fun and JoAnn and I really enjoyed our morning fishing with him. Stay tuned for the video!

*My wife requested a "smiley face" for her picture, LOL.

Canadian Memorial Day brought the Hix's from Abbotsford, BC as well as John and Katy from West Vancouver, BC to fish with us. We pounded Colyar Ledge for nice numbers of Lakers. John even got a nice big fish. It was a beautiful morning and the bite was on.

We trolled Mack's Cha Cha Squidders, Worden Lures T4 Flatfish, and Silver Horde Kingfisher Lite spoons at depths of 235 to 335 feet deep within 5 feet of the bottom at about 1.5 mph to trigger the fish.

Anton Jones - Darrell and Dad's Family Guide Service
WL.com Official Sponsor, (509) 687-0709 or toll-free (866) 360-1523

This report is for JoAnn and my last trip to Lake Chelan this year for kokanee. It’s been a unexpected and fun spring, and we have enjoyed the lake’s beauty and great kokanee fishing.

We arrived Saturday afternoon and had lines down around 3:30pm for the evening bite. Running the standard gear, 4 rods, stacked 20 feet apart on each downrigger. Trolling speeds in the 1.0-1.4 mph range. Shrimp on the gear, and we used a variety of sling blades or small dodgers, and my wedding rings or hoochie rigs.

At 4:05pm fish #1 came to the net, a nice 17” kok at 90 feet. We got two more fish over the next two hours and called it an evening at 6pm. Would have stayed out later but had evening activities planned, plus, the wind went from dead calm to breezy/white caps so it was an easy decision to call it good.

The next day we had planned on making it a full day, and we sure did! Started at 5:30am, rods running, and fished 4:40pm. We started at Monument, and got one/lost one. As the morning breeze calmed down JoAnn and I decided to run uplake to explore some areas we had not fished, namely up to the Yacht Club. Once up there got a tip from Anton Jones to work the north shore of this area (Stink Creek) and got three, and lost one – on a double, our first since coming early April. Things slowed down and we decided to again go exploring. We worked our way down lake, trolling along, just hoping for random fish. Just north of the State Park we got a couple rainbow trout, at 40 and 60 feet, which surprised me.

After fishing this location we took a break to help a stranded boat with two guys fishing, towing them to the State Park launch. We then fired up the big motor and ran all the way down to Rocky Point. We fished this area, over to the Blue Roofed Condos, and headed back to Wapato Point. By this time the afternoon bite started kicking into gear and saved our day, adding a few more to the cooler. We called it a day at 4:40pm, but again, I would say with the bite starting up we could have caught more. In any case, ended the day with seven kokanee and two rainbow. It was off to visit with Anton Jones and his wife, have dinner, and enjoy their company at the Fisherman’s Hideaway.

And so, our Lake Chelan kokanee adventures have come to an end. We enjoyed some of the best kokanee fishing we’ve ever experienced, and caught the biggest kokanee of our lives. But it’s time to explore new lakes and new adventures. Our two day break down:

(all gear was tipped with shrimp and corn)

Saturday:
4:05pm – 90 ft, orange hoochie, 17”
4:30 =- 90 ft, ornage hoochie, 13 1/3”
5:55 – 60 ft, purple wedding ring, 14 ½”

Sunday:

Monument Area

5:45am – 55 ft, orange hoochie, 16 ½”
6:30 – 40 ft, red/pink hoochie, lost
8:45 – 45 ft, red/pink hoochie, 18”

Stink Creek Area

8:45 – 45 ft, red/pink hoochie, 18”
9:05 – DOUBLE – 90 ft, orange hoochie, lost, 65 ft, orange hoochie, 16”
9:28 – 70 ft, purple wedding ring, 70 ft, 14”

State Park Area

12:10 – 49 ft, red/pink hoochie, rainbow, 13”
12:25 – 60 ft, bubble gum hoochie, rainbow, 13 ½”

Rocky Point Area

2:45 – 70 ft, amber wedding ring, lost
3:20 – 70 ft, amber wedding ring, 15”
4:35 – 90 ft, orange hoochie, 15 ½”
4:40 – 75 ft, orange hoochie, 17”

Lake Chelan is still kicking out good numbers of Laketrout from the Lower Basin. Big Fish are starting to stage, so get ready for a Toad Trout picture real soon. The Ace Hi-Fly is what works! Thanks so much to my crew today! Tight Lines to All and Be Safe!!!

Joe Heinlen - Lake Chelan Adventures & Rufus Woods Fishing Guide
WL.com Official Sponsor, 509-393-9665

Jeff took the Karvasek's up to pound on Colyar's ledge for some Mack's. The wind and the waves made it difficult to stay on the ledge, but it still worked out great! Mack's Cha Cha Squidders, Silver Horde's Ace Hi Flies and Worden Lures T4 Flatfish all produced when worked close to the bottom at about 1.4 mph in depths of 240 to 320 feet deep.

Jaime and I did some public service helping out at the Lake Chelan Sportsman's Association Kids Fishing Party at the Lake Chelan Golf Course. The pic at the bottom is my favorite as I helped 3 year old Brady get his first fish ever. I thought all the fishermen at the "no fishing" sign was precious as was the other kid with a nice fish.

Kudo's to the Chelan Falls Hatchery staff for providing such nice quality fish for the kids to catch.

Anton Jones - Darrell and Dad's Family Guide Service
WL.com Official Sponsor, (509) 687-0709 or toll-free (866) 360-1523