Chelan lakers/kokanee

[NWRookie]

I am heading to Chelan this weekend and am going to try my luck at lakers or Kokanee. Not sure if it is too late for the koks, but I do have a question about the lakers. I will probably be by myself, I might be able to get my wife to help but not early in the AM. Can you jig or only troll with downriggers? I have a hand crank rigger, I know you want to keep it down within a couple feet of the bottom, not sure how hard that will be manually.
I have a 16' pontoon so I will not be flying up the lake, is there a place close to Chelan (we are staying at the campground in Chelan) that I should hit? Any help will be appreciated.

[sumpnz]

Have not done it myself, so take this as being worth every cent you paid for it.  Been doing lots of searches and other research as I want to get out there for lakers myself.  You can jig for lakers, but I've never come across anyone saying they've had success doing do in Chelan.  Tons of info on jigging for lakers in other parts of the country and up in Canada, but EVERYTHING I see about lakers in Chelan is trolling related.  It could be that nobody's bothered to try jigging, or it's just not effecitve, or those that have done it are trying to keep it quiet so nobody else tries.

As far as launch locations, Manson has a public launch (I think) which gets you a ways up the lake, and within reasonable distance of the transition to the deep portion.  There's a state park (Lake Chelan SP) on the west side of the lake basically opposite Manson that you should be able to launch from as well.  There are roads that go further up the lake on the west side as far as 25 Mile Creek, but I have no idea if there's launch opportunities along that way.

Good luck!

[daddysprad]

Check out this link, become a free member and you will get enough information to get you close to the action.  At the bottom of the page you can choose pick all report for Chelan.  These guys-(Darrel and Dad's) post lots of fish every week and you can ask them questions by post and PM.  Good luck!

http://www.northwestfishingreports.com/ReportComment.aspx?id=73264&lid=584&t=1

[cavemann]

I've done it with hand cranks and we picked up 7 fish in a day..  We were there in August.  It might be slow for koks, but we did get a few two weeks ago...  Pink/Orange hoochie or wedding ring variety with korn tips.

On the lakers we fished what was called the pot holes across from Wapato point.  There is a row of houses and a bit of a cove.  Fished in150' to 200+' of water.  I liked the potholes because is was the most shollow spot that produced!!!  You get a lot of blow back fishing that deep so you have to keep a decent eye on the ball.  Pretty sandy on the bottom so I never snagged but definitely drug them a few times.  You can also fish the channel right in front of Wapato or around the bend.  I fished purple and chartreuse AceHi Flys and also had luck on some purple and green/chartreuse spoons.  Chrome large dodgers with green tape.  You have to troll as slow as you can so flashers weren't as effective but I know guys use them...

I'm no expert...  I fished it twice and caught fish doing the above..  I got some great info from the link above that was mentioned on northwestfishingreports and just word of mouth..  It's a blast!!  If this moron (me) could get lucky on a few anyone can...

[NWRookie]

Thanks for the advice, all I can do is try!! Wish me luck, maybe I can get my wife to run the downrigger......

[cavemann]

good luck!!  It was a lot of cranking, but not that bad..  The only disappointing thing was they don't fight much.  When they bloat up from the bends I think they lose their liveliness!?!?  The pleasant surprise was the meat was pink from whatever they eat and great eating..  They are like pinks though, take a cooler and ice.  Gill them and chill them right away.

[grade-creek-rd]

Here, use this link to an article that explains the entire Lake Chelan Mackinaw (and some kokanee) fishery

Link: http://www.northwestfishingreports.com/ReadArticle.aspx?id=704

Grade-I might know who wrote it, and I think his father is a retired guide on the lake...