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I had an opportunity to get away for a couple days, so I hooked up with "The Urban Angler" and got him out of the urban sprawl.
We launched at Lake Cle Elum on Sunday AM. As badly as I wanted another chance at the Macks, I was nervous about the state of the launching conditions, due to the annual draining of the lake. It is at 23% capacity currently, and on it's way to refilling. The only choice to launch at this time is either at the Dam end of the lake. (Forget the name?) Or if you go up to Morgan Creek you can do it there. The Morgan creek conditions are doable with 4WD, but the issue is right where you pull of the road... the 1st 20' through the bush is REALLY unfavorable for a trailer.

The site of the beach launch at the Dam end though is really amazing. Normally the water sits maybe 75-100' from shore. On Sunday it was probably 1/4 mile from the blacktop. You drive down there and hope you don't sink. It is actually doable if you head towards the dam from the approach at the water's edge.

Anyways.. We started off about 0800, one rod with a spoon, and the other with the Purple kwikfish that Darrell and Dad's guys use on Lake Chelan, see their reports for the name. It was a slow start. I don't think we boated anything for 1.5 hours. We fished mostly the opposite side of lake from the campgrounds and Wish Posh launch. We concentrated on depths around 100-150'. I have manual DR's and twelve pound balls. ya.. I said that.
It is a PIA to up and down the balls over the MANY humps on the bottom along that side. Eventually we found flat bottom, and concentrated straight out from the Dam launch, in 110' water.
I first picked up a 5lb Mack using a Kwikfish in yellow/blue/silver. A very bright lure. These fish hit SO SOFTLY at such depths, that you can easily miss them. In fact, I was pulling out of the clip (Yanking) when actually I was already into a fish unknowingly. So I was jacking hard on that fish, thinking it was the clip, lol. Loves those treble hooks! Then shortly after Eric brought in the big fish of the day, weighing in at 8lbs. 29". This followed by another 4-5 lber, and a 4th fish at about 2.5 lb.
All fish were caught on Kwikfish with some Anise scent. Beautiful sunny day, no wind for a change up there. One other boat on the water. Angler on Sat. boated 4 fish as well at the Dam. Even re-upped my Premium membership to WALAKES to get the GPS for "Mack Alley" but never could find it within the HotSpots.

If anyone can give me directions/coordinates to "Mack Alley" please send me a PM.
Not enough can be said about the VERY slight TAP that the fish make. I had to sit directly parallel to the rod tip and completely stare at it without blinking, and still missed things.

Mike Carey

10/7/2013 7:29:00 PM

hey, way to go! Glad you were able to get out and find a place to launch. Did you happen to drive by wishposh and look at that ramp?

The Quadfather

10/7/2013 7:38:00 PM

Wish-Posh is actually closed. Obviously the launch is closed, but from the signage, I took it to mean that you could not even drive in. Maybe the camp ground is gated? Anyway, it stink I didn't take a pic. looking from the blacktop down to the waters edge, because you just can't tell from the pic I posted. It was amazing! It is possible though with the right rig and trailer type.
Sure would consider electric DR's though... what a drag on manuals at this depth and contour. Not sure how I would stow a 2nd battery? Seems like over-kill for my boat.

Mike Carey

10/7/2013 8:55:00 PM

well, once you have electrics you'll never look back. They make a huge difference, especial lakers. I was trolling down to 250-300 ft of cable when I went this summer.

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