Weekly Fishin' Magician report
Dave Graybill
Monday, February 11
Steelhead anglers were happy to learn that the Wenatchee River has been re-opened to fishing, along with the Icicle River.
Conditions are excellent right now to both float and wade on these rivers, and I expect good success with these conditions prevail.
The Wenatchee is also open to fishing for whitefish. Steelhead fishing on the Wenatchee is open from the mouth to 400 feet below the Tumwater Dam.
This particular stretch has not been available to anglers even when the rest of the Wenatchee has been open for several years. Fishing in the lower Tumwater Canyon is very attractive
Not only is there some great water through here, the scenery is amazing.
The Icicle is open from the mouth to 500 feet below the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Barrier Dam. The steelhead fishing is under selective gear rules, on the Wenatchee, and the department reminds anglers that bait is allowed on the areas of the Columbia River that are open to steelhead fishing.
After closing the Wenatchee and some other tributaries earlier this winter, only the Wenatchee has been re-opened as it has not approached the allowed mortality threshold for the release of wild steelhead. No date has been given to end the season, and it could possibly run through the end of March.
Wednesday, February 13
The re-opening of steelhead fishing on the Wenatchee and Icicle rivers was welcomed by lots of anglers this past weekend.
The weather was perfect; sunny and clear and not too cold. River conditions are great, too, with levels high enough for floating and good for wading.
The Wenatchee is open from the mouth clear up to the dam in the Tumwater Canyon.
The stretch up the Canyon, above Leavenworth hasn't been open for several years, and anglers are excited to have the opportunity to fish this area of the river.
It has a lot of great water and there are plenty of hatchery steelhead lurking in them. It is not only a productive stretch the scenery in the Tumwater Canyon is spectacular.
According to sources with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, participation was good on the late-season opening weekend.
Anglers wading the river, casting from shore and drifting it had pretty good success.
I talked to a group of three anglers just above Monitor on Sunday morning. They had a nice hatchery fish on a stringer when I spoke to them. The day before one of them had released a 12-pound wild fish and lost another good steelhead.
It's a great time to be steelhead fishing on the Wenatchee!
Friday, February 15
The weather in our region continues to be mild, and our area rivers are in great shape.
That is great news for anglers fishing for steelhead on the Wenatchee River and there is more good news on the way.
I have learned that the Department of Fish and Wildlife has submitted a proposal to re-open the Methow River for steelhead fishing by March 1st. This is very welcome news.
Anglers have been eager to fish this great stream since its closure earlier this winter.
There will be lots of adipose fin clipped fish in the system and the department wants the help of anglers to remove them. This will allow better spawning opportunities for wild fish.
The department will not open the stretch of the main stem upper Columbia from above Wells Dam to Brewster, as the fish caught on the main stem would count against the take in the Methow and they want to keep the Methow River open as long as possible.
The Methow River is a favorite with fly fisherman and has good access to very good fly water throughout its length.
It is also popular with bobber and jig anglers that scale down their gear for the low and clear conditions. Angler should keep any eye out for the official announcement before heading for the stream.
Monday, February 18
I am very excited about the coming weekend.
No, I don't have any fishing plans.
I'll be attending the first-ever Wenatchee Valley Sportsmen's Show! The Town Toyota Center is going to be filled with everything hunting and fishing starting on Friday, February 22nd.
The folks at Shuyler Productions have already done two shows in our region, as they have for over twenty years, and do a first-class job putting these together.
They are bringing some very popular events to the Wenatchee Show, like the Great Bear Show. You'll want to get there early for a good seat to see these live black bears and learn all about them.
There are several events just for kids, too. The Lunker Lake trout pond is always a big favorite, where kids actually get to catch a trout.
There will also be an air rifle range for them to test their shooting skills, and a scavenger hunt.
You'll be able to learn from the experts during the seminars scheduled every day, and I am going to be there to present for the first time a Video Showcase of Fishing our region.
Check the seminar schedule on the web site to find out when you can see this show. Learn all about the show by clicking the show logo on my web site.
Wednesday, February 20
I was able to get out and fish for steelhead twice recently.
My wife Eileen and I ran up to Wells Dam on Monday and fished off the bar below the dam. The flows were great and river wasn't too high.
We worked our way down the bar and at about the mid point my bobber went down, and I hooked a good fish. I took me a while to get it to the bank, and see that it was about a 10-pound wild hen. I removed the Maxi-Jig from it jaw and let it go.
The next day I my fishing buddy Rollie Schmitten and I went back up to Wells and fished from his 16-footer. We made several drifts off the bar and I got a 6-pound wild fish, and then we moved further downstream, where Rollie hooked and released a fish of about the same size.
We pulled the boat and put it back in at Chelan Falls where we did much better. We spent about half the time that we did at Wells Dam and I landed four fish and lost another. For the day we had ten strikes and landed six steelhead.
It was a great day of late winter fishing.
Friday, February 22
Today is the first day of the three-day Wenatchee Valley Sportsmen's Show at the Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee. I hope you can make it down to see this first-ever show dedicated to hunting, fishing and other outdoor pursuits. I will be there every day throughout the show and I hope to see you.
The next big event in our area is the Third Annual Trout Derby at Burke Lake on Saturday, March 2nd.
Everyone will be trying to catch one of tagged trout worth up to $2,000.00! One lucky angler did catch the $2,000.00 fish last year, and you can be he'll be there. Fishing will be good, that's for sure.
In addition to the money fish being placed in Burke Lake, the Quincy Valley Tourism Association will be putting over 100 trout of 14 to 18 inches in the lake, and 35 trout that will weigh between 6 and 7 pounds. There is a huge list of prizes to be given out for biggest fish in adult and youth categories.
You can still register on-line by going to the derby web site.
Just click on the "Something is Fishy in Quincy" logo on the Home Page of my web site.
See you there!
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