Fishin' Magician Report with Dave Graybill

Monday, July 21

The good news is that Lake Wenatchee has opened to sockeye fishing.

The bad news is that you may not be able to get there to fish it.

Wild fires have the road closed on Highway 2 and at times up through the Chumstick to Plain as well.

I wanted to get up to Lake Wenatchee and help Rollie Schmitten get his boat and dock ready for the opening day of fishing, but fires prevented it.

The fire really blew up and it is a wait and see proposition if we get to fish or not.

Right now it looks like only those who live on the lake will enjoy the opening of sockeye fishing. I will let you know if I managed to get out or not.

Meanwhile I will be heading up to Brewster to fish for sockeye.

It continues to be very good. There is no sign of it letting up either. There are still thousands of fish on the way.

Sockeye are just one species of salmon being targeted there.

The annual Brewster Salmon Derby is coming up the first weekend in August and this always gets anglers out on the Brewster Pool.

The thermal barrier is firmly in place so fishing should be great!

Wednesday, July 23

Good news for those who are after sockeye salmon this season. Fishing is good at the Brewster Pool.

Most days are smoke clear and my brother Rick limited his boat in just two hours recently.

I would encourage people to visit the communities of Pateros and Brewster and purchase your supplies while in the area.

The Red Cross helping out those that have lost their homes, and the local businesses could use our support, too. These businesses have provided services to anglers for years, and they could really use our business now.

The sockeye fishing is also very good below Wells Dam and even at Chelan Falls.

The Lake Wenatchee sockeye fishing has been tough, due to high winds.

The road through Plain has been open since the 19th, so you can get to the lake and I know people are launching at the State Park.

The weather forecast for the Lake Wenatchee area for later in the week isn't good, so Brewster may be the best option.

Pink hoochies are still be best choice, and fish are being taken anywhere from 15 to 40 feet deep at Brewster. Fish are being found at 40 to 50 feet deep on Lake Wenatchee.

Friday, July 25

Sockeye fishing continues to be off the charts good in the Brewster Pool.

My brother Rick and my cousin Greg Preston fished here earlier in the week and were able to get two limits in just two hours.

I stopped by the Brewster Triangle gas station on Monday, and they said they had weighed a 25-pound king for their derby.

You can stop here with your kings, weigh them and maybe win a prize for big fish of the week.

You are also entered then for the chance at winning hundreds of dollars for big fish of the season.

I want to let anglers know that the Super Stop in Pateros is open for business, as is the Rivers Restaurant.

They are trying to accommodate those who had reservations at the hotels here, but they balancing that with the needs of those who have lost their homes and fire fighters, so be patient.

The town of Brewster is fully up and running.

The Red Cross and other agencies are taking care of those who have lost their homes, and we anglers need to give the businesses in Pateros and Brewster our support.

They have provided services to us for years, and they really need our business now.

Fishing is great so get up there and have some fun.