Weekly Fishing Magician report with Dave Graybill

Wednesday, October 3

Isn't this fall weather something else? Everywhere I go it has been warm and sunny.

The windy days just clear out the valleys and I must say that here in Leavenworth we've had great clear days most of the time.

If you're like me, you're looking for a good place to catch perch and it doesn't matter what time of year. Well, there are a couple of places worth the trip right now.

One is Fish Lake, near Lake Wenatchee. The perch bite comes on in late summer and is still going on. A great place to start looking for them is just outside of the bay at the Cove Resort and out in the middle at about 30 feet. You may have to look around for a school and when you find them go to work. You may have to move as they do.

Another spot that I just found out about is Blue Lake, which is on the way to Banks Lake from Soap Lake. I had slow fishing there recently, but the size is impressive. Most of the fish I got were 11 to 12 inches. That's a nice perch.

I want to get back there when the bite is better. You can launch at Blue Lake Resort for a fee.

Friday, October 5

If you haven't been down to White Bluffs, the Hanford Reach or Wanapum, better make plans.

Fishing for fall kings is in full swing on the stretch of the Columbia River. I spent a morning there last week with my buddy Shane Magnuson, of Upper Columbia Guide Service. He had two clients that were willing to have me tag along with my video camera.

We fished for about three hours and had only one fish in the boat by the time I had to leave for a meeting in Moses Lake.

I stopped to pick up a sandwich in George on the way, and Magnuson called to inform me that they needed just one more fish for their limits! He dumped me off at the launch ran back out to the King Hole and had a double on in a matter of minutes.

Just my luck.

I also talked to a friend that was fishing above the Vernita Bridge on Sunday.

They got five fish, and said that everyone around them was catching fish, too. I hope to get down to White Bluffs in the next week and try it there. I have had some great days trolling Super Baits below the launch at the Bluffs.

Monday, October 8

This year's steelhead season should open sometime the second week of the month to the middle of the month, according to Jeff Korth, Fish Manager for the Department of Fish and Wildlife in Region 2.

We have seen the fish counts over Priest Rapids Dam pass the 15,000 fish mark already and there are more on the way. This should make for a good season.

He said they will probably have another split season this year.

It will most likely close at the end of November, and after an analysis of the wild fish take and hatchery fish numbers reopen in February.

Timing is good then for the free steelhead fishing seminar at Town Ford in East Wenatchee. Once again Shane Magnuson will be there to give everyone a highly detailed description of how to catch steelhead on a bobber and jig. He shows exactly how to rig in a step by step approach.

I have also asked him to spend some time on how to fish a Corkie and yarn and other methods of catching steelhead on the Columbia River and the tributaries.

The seminar will take place on Wednesday, October 17th and begin at 6 p.m. Town Ford is located in East Wenatchee across from Costco.