Lake Chelan Area Fishing Report 5/30/11

[Salmonhawk]

What’s hot is trolling for Lake Trout from Sunnybank all the way to Pat & Mike’s. Also, continuing hot is trolling the lower basin of Lake Chelan for Kokanee.

Troll for Lake Trout in depths of 140 to 180 feet along the South Shore of the lower basin of Lake Chelan. The fish are stacked in there chasing Kokanee. We have had consistent success pulling U20 flatfish in Purple glow at 1.3 to 1.6 mph. Mack’s Lures Cha Cha Squidders in glow colors baited with a strip of fish or even Pautzke’s Fire Corn also works great. Trolling the face of Manson Bay was another productive location during the reporting period. There, pulling little F7 flatfish from Worden Lures at 1.1 to 1.3 mph was the ticket.

The kokanee fishing has spread out throughout the lower basin of Lake Chelan. The hot ticket during the reporting period was Mack’s Lures mini Cha Cha Squidder in pink behind their Flashlites. Bait those Squidders with Pautzke’s Fire Corn in Natural or Orange. One to 1.3 mph is the best trolling speed for them, but don’t be afraid to vary that to trigger them when the bite goes cold.

I am excited about getting up to Omak to fish during this upcoming reporting period. Hopefully, we’ll have some cool pictures for next week’s report. Silver Horde plugs and Silver Horde’s Kingfisher Lites will get worked hard up there.

Your fishing tip of the week is to watch your angles to prevent tangles when trolling multiple lines. I had one trip during the reporting period where I just struggled with tangles. I was fighting a headwind that kept turning me. That got my lines close with the erratic action of the lures doing the rest…

The kid’s tip of the week is a thank you to the people and organizations that helped me with the Fishing 101 class that I got to put on for the Manson kids. Thanks to my guides, Jeff Witkowski and Brian Whitney for helping me tie knots and carrying stuff. Thanks to Terry Rudnick of the Washington State Youth Fishing Program for providing gear and literature. Thanks to Pautzke Baits for providing, you guessed it, bait. Thanks to Gene and Pat Kelley for providing terminal tackle. A special thanks to the Chelan Falls Hatchery crew for providing fish. Nothing like a bit of success catching a fish to hone a kid’s interest.

Your safety tip of the week is to stay uplake leaving the Mill Bay launch. That submerged rock pile will get you!

Anton Jones of Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service ( www.darrellanddads.com or 1-866-360-1523)