LAKE CHELAN

[jackelope]

i think high country chronicled his lake chelan hunt this year on the site...you might do a search. there's lots of bad things that can happen hunting from a boat as whats been stated.

[jackelope]

here you go.....

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,11549.msg129272.html#msg129272

[IBspoiled]

Anywhere you go up there will be beautiful, don't forget your camera and bear spray.  Lots of bears.  Plan to see bears or run into them.  I hunted the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area in Sept. 15-19 2006.  I packed in from Twisp River horse camp.  It was the only area still open due to fires that year.  Here are a few pictures from my trip.  Be prepared for snow if you go up in elevation.  I spent 3 days in Hidden Meadows Camp, didn't see any bucks.  Me an my horse got lonely and came back to the horse camp, where the wife was waiting.     My horse Scout doesn't like the bears, he is the horse in the pictures. 

[HEADSHOT]

Simply amazing! Thats all I have to say! This place rocks!!!

[ICEMAN]

Simply amazing! Thats all I have to say! This place rocks!!!

Always a great sentiment to hear! If you are really really happy, you can always donate a few bucks to maintain the site!  He he he....

[PacificNWhunter]

Great pic's!

[Little Fish]

Beautiful pics IB spoiled.

Jackalope beat me to it, but the first person I would private mail would be High Country.

My personal thought would be to launch at 25-Mile Creek campground and make the run from there. There are 17 or 18 federal campgrounds along the lake where you might be able to leave a boat tied up for a week or so. I don't have specifics on which ones or what the dock facilities are like but its worth a look.

The lake can blow up pretty good, but I'm sure its nothing you haven't seen on the mighty Columbia. Just have to use common sense like any other boating situation.

[Vek]

The lake will let you know if you're supposed to be on it or not.  The 10+ mile straight stretch uplake from 25mile creek is the worst part - if you come around that corner and it's whitecapping heavy, you'd best reconsider, unless you have a lot of boat. 

My advice for a lake-based high hunt - get in the best shape of your life, get up to at least 6000', and don't hunt the pretty meadows.  Hunt the steep rocky brushy slopes where the trees are small and scrubby.  You'll need good boots and hard feet.  Good glass is gold. 

The vertical mile packout down to the lake tends to keep out the riff-raff. 

[HEADSHOT]

that country is nutts! I am getting pumped I hiked into mildred lakes and hunted up there for 4 days the first year then 3 the second. The high country of the chelan reminds me of that area! I appreciate everyones advice. Its almost looking better to hike in from the road??? any advice? I am sure tons of people will do that one though?

[actionshooter]

that country is nutts! I am getting pumped I hiked into mildred lakes and hunted up there for 4 days the first year then 3 the second. The high country of the chelan reminds me of that area! I appreciate everyones advice. Its almost looking better to hike in from the road??? any advice? I am sure tons of people will do that one though?

 Mildred lakes is a city park compared to what Vek is talking about. I did exactly what your talking about, went up from 25 mile creek in a 12' boat with a 9.9 merc on it by myself,,,,,,once. I'm not going back, it was just plain stupid. Closest I have ever come to biting the big one.

[ICEMAN]

  12' boat   

Wow actionshooter, you are a brave man! I am a big chicken about that lake. We plowed into a rogue wave going up lake to hunt in a 22' deep hulled boat and took the wave solidly way over the glass. Scared the living crap out of us.

[actionshooter]

12' boat  

Wow actionshooter, you are a brave man!

 Nope, just dumb   

[nukemduke]

I grew up there and there is some good hunting up lake.  The early season high hunt is tough though.  You should hunt with a group if you can.  We have been snowed on up to six inches on the early hunt so be prepared for unpredictable weather.  I have a 21' foot Thunderjet and feel fairly comfortable hunting up lake as I have take it up the Snake and the waves are about the same sometimes on Chelan.  You just have to realize that it is the deepest gorge in North America and the winds from the Cascades rush down the lake causing some pretty big waves at times.  This also makes putting in anywhere on the shore not possible unless you have someone drop you and then they motor to a dock like Deer Point, Prince Creek, etc.  to wait.  Take radios to let the boat guy know where you are at and can meet.  Also, put in for the late hunts like everyone else and wait for the snow to bring them down.