by Mike Carey, March 29, 2015

Traditions are what make families strong. They bind the members together and create lasting memories.

When it comes to our web site, over the years we have had various picnics, clean-ups, fishing derbies and the like. But three years ago we found an annual tradition that looks like it will stand the test of time. That tradition is our annual Lake Chelan Get Together. The event was originally an impromptu small group of WashingtonLakes anglers who saw some hot Chelan kokanee reports and decided to all meet up, have a potluck, and share some fishing stories. We had maybe around twenty people show up. Northwest Fishing Reports member Rseas was our resident chef and cooked up an amazing dinner of seafood grilled with vegetables, and other goodies. For desert his kids (with various adults helping) made ice cream in the creaming ball. It was a great time with outstanding fishing for kokanee. Rseas (of course) also discovered that late April is lights out for rainbow, trolled close along the shorelines of Chelan. Bottom line, we all had so much fun we decided to do it again the next year.

2014 and our little “Get Together” Potluck had morphed into a serious event, featuring guides offering ½ price fishing trips, and Sponsors like Macks Lure, Hevi-Beads, Fish with Gary, and Wannafish Lures providing free gifts for the guests. I’ll never forget Lance Mertz and his “Easter Baskets” full of Macks Lure products!

Besides the day’s fun activities - fishing, food, and free gifts, Lake Chelan in early spring is great place to visit. First off, the weather is amazing. Sunny and seventies is normal. The winds are very predictable, coming up late morning and tapering off in the evening. With the longer days it’s very easy to fish the morning, come in for a siesta mid-day, and then go back out in the evening. Take it from a guy that lives on the “wet side” it’s a welcome change. Early spring is also before the hordes of vacationers arrive. The town is quiet, the kids are still in school, and the personal watercrafts haven’t invaded the lake. So unlike the summer, it’s a peaceful, relaxing destination.

So how is the fishing? Pretty darn good! Kokanee will be migrating down into the lower basin, and if you find a school of biting fish it’s possible to score the generous ten fish limit of 14-18” koks. Tactics are standard trolling techniques. As mentioned above, an overlooked fishery to check out is the rainbow trout that can be found close in to the shores. Anglers can fish from shore with power bait or try trolling with a long line rapala type lure or thin blade spoon. Smallmouth bass are another overlooked fishery, and springtime finds these fish in spawning stage and abundant (and under-targeted). Finally, Chelan’s main staple, lakers, are always willing and eager to be caught. While more challenging to troll for than kokanee, the average angler with electric downriggers and good electronics can get into these fish. Or, you can try jigging for them. Either way, a generous “no limit” will mean you can bring home plenty of lakers for cooking or smoking.

But for those of you who don’t have a boat, or maybe it’s your first time to the lake, we have a very good alternative. Book a guide and let an expert get you on the fish. Guides know the waters of Lake Chelan and know the fish patterns, because they fish the lake year in and year out. Your best odds of success are to book a guide. Especially for lakers, which require a real understanding of deep water trolling methods.

Fortunately, we can help. For 2015 Northwest Fishing Reports has signed up no less than six guides that know Lake Chelan and how to get you on fish. And best of all, these guides are offering half-price trips as part of our Get-Together! You’ll never have a better deal than this to go out with our elite guide sponsors and learn how they bring limits home time after time on Lake Chelan. So check out the list at the end of this article and get booked while they still have the date available.

At the end of the day, you’ll have happy memories of fish caught and scenery um, seen, but the day isn’t over yet. After all those fish being caught you’ll be sure to have built up an appetite. So join us at Lakeshore RV Park as we host our potluck. Bring something to share, and enjoy rseas’ culinary treats as he prepares a feast you’ll not forget. Meet fellow Northwest Fishing Reports members and share stories, putting names to faces.

But the day still isn’t over! Because when the food is gone the gifts come out. Our sponsors are bringing a booty of free gifts for everyone that attends. The best gear from Macks Lure, Hevi-Beads, Columbia River Knife, MoneyMaker brand tackle and scents, Fish With Gary Kokanee gear, Kekeda Tackle, and Wannafish a Lure rigs – whew! There will be plenty to go round. And that’s not All (where have I heard that before…?).

After the gear give-away Northwest Fishing Reports will have a table full of more goodies including our new T-shirts that we’ll be giving away in our free raffle. Everyone is going home with a lot of great stuff!

Fishing, Food, and Fun. All in the beautiful setting that is Lake Chelan. What more can you ask for? Visit our Forum and R.S.V.P. today. And we’ll see you May 2nd!

Our ½ Price Guides:

Anton Jones of Darrell and Dad's Family Guide Service - Darrell and Dads Family Guide Service - (509) 687-0709
(Lakers, rainbow, kokanee)

Craig Dowdy of YJ Guide Service - YJ Guide Service - (509) 999-0717
(lakers, rainbow, kokanee)

Keith Jensen of Big Wally's Guide Service - Big Wally's Guide Service - 509-770-8318
(bass)

Zack McGlothern of NorthwestSportfishing - Northwest Sportfishing - 360-722-4843

Jerrod Gibbons of Okanogan Valley Guide Service - Okanogan Valley Guide Service - (509) 429-1714

Sam Baird of Slammin' Salmon Guide Service - Slammin' Salmon Guide Service - (509)679-0483