Weekly Fishin' Magician Report with Dave Graybill
Dave Graybill
January 28
The "show season" continues in our region and beyond. Makes sense to have indoor activities available for sportsmen this time of year.
I spent last weekend checking out the Washington State Sportsmen's Show in Puyallup and being a part of the Seattle Boat Show.
I will be going back for the last weekend of the Boat Show at the end of the week.
The next show coming up is the Pacific Northwest Sportsmen's Show in Portland, from February 6th through the 10th. This is monster show that I have yet to make it to, but friends tell me this is well worth the trip.
The next show in our region is the Central Washington Sportsmen's Show in Yakima. This is a really fun show, with lots for families to do.
It takes place February 15th through the 17th at the Sundome.
Don't forget to get your tickets to the Wenatchee Sportsmen's Associations Game Feed and Auction coming up on February 9th.
This is not only famous excellent exotic food, but a terrific auction of a wide variety of items for the outdoorsman and women.
Look for tickets at Hooked on Toys, One Shot Firearms and High Mountain Hunting.
January 30
I had a busy few days at the end of last week. I made a rushed visit to the Washington State Sportsmen's Show in Puyallup, and then spent the balance of the week at the Boat Show in Seattle.
I should have had more time at the Puyallup Show. I ran into more people than I thought I would, and that took more time than I had figured.
The first person I saw was Gary Loomis, who has been instrumental in getting the Coastal Conservation Association chapters established here in the Northwest.
I was good to see Gary and he was very excited about how these groups had played a leading role in the process of getting the gillnets removed from the Columbia River.
The Boat Show in Seattle is bigger and better than ever, and I am looking forward to going back for the coming weekend.
My new Kingfisher 2025 is prominently displayed in the Bob Feil Boats and Motors booth, and I can't wait to launch it later this spring.
On Saturday Bob Feil made it to the show. It was great to see him there. He has been at the show since 1956, and it just isn't a boat show without him.
February 1
I talked to Robin Stice, organizer of the 9th Annual Northwest Ice Fishing Festival in Molson recently, and she said everything is going full steam ahead for this year's event.
There will be tons of prizes available to participants, and they can count on a great breakfast and Italian Dinner at the Grange Hall again this year.
I attended last year's event and had a ball. The Molson community really turns out to make the event something special, and even if you don't catch a single fish it is worth being there for all the good food, friendly folks and fun.
Fishing has been very poor the past couple of years, but after talking to Bob Jateff at the Department of Fish and Wildlife, I learned that conditions have improved at Sidley Lake, and it looks like fishing could be good this year.
The lake level is up, the ph level is better and anglers have already taken some 2- to 3-pound rainbow from the lake this winter. You can learn all about what is planned for this year's festival by going to the Contact Page on my web site and clicking on the Oroville Washington banner at the top of the page.
February 4
Ice fishermen are having a blast on several lakes here in Central Washington right now. Fish Lake, near Lake Wenatchee is producing good catches of rainbow and perch.
Roses Lake, near Manson at Lake Chelan is providing fast action for 11-inch rainbow, and Rat Lake, near Brewster is giving up limits of rainbow and some brown trout.
Rat Lake rainbow and browns can be as large as 15 inches.
A lake that is available to anglers this winter is Leader Lake, not far from Okanogan on the road to Twisp.
This has been a popular lake in the spring and summer for years, and for the first time it is open for winter fishing.
Bob Jateff, area biologist with the Department of Fish and Wildlife says that there is good variety of species available to anglers in Leader Lake that typically aren't in others.
There are very good numbers of large bluegill, crappie, yellow perch and bass in the lake, along with rainbow trout.
The parking area has been plowed to make it easy for winter anglers to reach the lake, too. It is hoped that the winter fishery is popular and the lake will become permanently open year-round after this season.
February 6
The last weekend of the Seattle Boat Show was a busy one. As many as 15,000 people a day passed through the show.
There were lots of folks from Central Washington there taking in the sights.
I was also able to see some of my West Side friends and business contacts. It was a great show but everyone from Bob Feil Boats and Motors is glad to be heading home.
Weather here continues to be mild and that is bad news for fans of ice fishing. The ice layer on most area lakes is getting thin.
The other impact of warm weather is that it puts a layer of water on top of the ice, which makes slogging to your favorite fishing spot a mess.
We have a very short ice fishing season this year.
I would be sure to check ahead before loading up the rig and heading for your favorite lake. There is some good news for steelhead anglers.
It looks like they are going to open the Wenatchee River and possibly the Columbia River near Pateros earlier than I thought.
There should be an announcement about these openings this week. Check the department's web site for the news.
February 8
Big news in our region is the report that a possible new state record lake trout (mackinaw) has been taken from Lake Chelan.
Phil Colyar, owner of Colyar Jewelers in Wenatchee, was fishing at Lake Chelan on Monday, February 4th when he landed a whopper lake trout.
He knew he could have a new record and headed for the dock.
When he arrived Anton Jones, of Darrell and Dads Family Guide Service was there.
Jones saw the fish and called the Chelan Hospital to tell them Colyar was on his way to have the fish weighed on a certified scale. The scale read 35 pounds, ten ounces, which beat the old record of 35 pounds, point 44 ounces, taken in 2001.
Colyar was fishing with an old U-20 Flatfish when he hooked the big lake trout.
I want to remind people February 17th is the 9th Annual Ice Fishing Festival in Molson. Fishing should be better this year, with some 2- to 3-pound trout taken already this season from Sidley Lake.
Also, the 3rd Annual Tagged Trout Derby at Burke and Quincy lakes is happening on Saturday, March 2nd. Learn more about this clicking on Something Fish in Quincy on my Home Page at FishingMagician.com.
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