Northwest Fishing Reports

I have tried a variety of methods, mainly jigging like for codfish, for Burbot in Lake Kachess. Anyone willing to give up some hints as to how to fish for them, such as bait, method, depth. And does anyone have any personal knowledge of Lake Kachess and where to fish for them?

I am going to be targeting the Burbot myself this year.I have had some good days at Lake Roosevelt in the past but I am going to be looking at Soda and Potholes this year.Most of the ling that I have caught in the past just hit a worm on the bottom.I am going to try a small Herring on a jig at 50 feet.

Some folks do well on them in Lake Chelan. Those slimy things any good to eat?

GJorgy wrote:Some folks do well on them in Lake Chelan. Those slimy things any good to eat?

I heard they were rally good to eat But I have never tried one

bbeaman wrote:I have tried a variety of methods, mainly jigging like for codfish, for Burbot in Lake Kachess. Anyone willing to give up some hints as to how to fish for them, such as bait, method, depth. And does anyone have any personal knowledge of Lake Kachess and where to fish for them?

I used to use a string of worms anchored to the bottom but never caught one. However, I only left them out for a few hours. I tried at Bead Lake and Lake Cle Elum.

The best time of year is in the winter from what I've read. Bead Lake has the state record and someone caught a 17 #er last winter at Bead. Try jigging. I'll be on the Pend Oreille River this weakend and I'll ask Andy in Newport. He works at the sportsmens store and is quoted in the hunting and fishing news reports (Northern Pike on Pend Oreille River). He knows what to use to jig for Burbot around that area and it may work for Kachess.

I've trolled the bottom of Kachess near the dam for Mac's and caught a bull trout. I think all the signal on my Lawrence may have been pikeminnows or burbot. There was lots of fish sign. If I remember correctly We were fishing at around 100' deep two years ago.

This year the weather seems to have changed things at Cle Elum and may have done the same at Kachess. There isn't a lot of fish sign on the bottom at any depths on Cle Elum and I suspect that many fish are in shallower water.

Thanks for the feedback. Any help will be appreciated. I tried Kachess last weekend fishing in about 200 feet of water with a dropworm (gulp). Jigging it. Not a smell. I have tried set lines in from shore extending out to 100 feet of water with chicken liver and shrimp and all I get is a bunch of squawfish. Still keep trying..maybe breadballs next time. Winter is not when you want to be out on Kachess Brrrr.

i've been wanting to do some fishing for these fish myself. i knew an old feller who use to set lines for them in chelan for a living. said he did pretty good, can't remember how he fished them. but he said he always had them sold on his way home to wenatchee. heard they taste good. <')//<

I havent fished for them myself but I heard a few people who fish for them up at Sullivan Lake (Pend Orielle Co.) say they either use a big spoon with a treble and worm on the treble or a treble with a blade in infront and jig vertically......

Last weekend I saw signals around 70 - 175' deep so the fish are in the deep water now. Lake Cle Elum is in the upper 50's at the surface now and the fish have gone deep. This may help you with Kachess.