Lake Chelan bank fishing advice

[Call em in]

Going backpacking next week along Lake Chelan, ending up in Stehekin.  I was considering bringing a light weight rod and a few Rooster Tails and try some bank fishing while I was there.  Looking for any thoughts or advice.  I've never hiked the Stehekin trail before and don't know if its worth trying to bank fish.  Thanks for your time.

[85yota]

West or east side? We've caught some at the last few houses on the east side but 90 percent were those sucker fish things. I would assume and creeks comming in would be worth fishing the mouth.. I would also look at some of the creeks to fish to.. but be very careful some are fly fish only I believe and maybe no retention..
But otherwise just do it and report back

[Call em in]

I believe we are hiking the East side of the lake.

[grade-creek-rd]

it is either north shore or south shore...not east/west...and the only trail to hike along Lake Chelan is on the north shore, from Prince Creek to Stehekin (Lakeshore trail)...with that said, double check the regs for when your hike is planned and fish the mouth of every creek where it dumps into the lake. Do yourself a big favor and pinch the barbs, as you will catch cutthroat on just about every cast, and have a chance at some really nice big ones (20+ inches) but only keep what you plan to eat right then and there as they don't keep well in the heat. Last hour, first hour of the day are the best but you can catch them all day long. WATCH FOR RATTLESNAKES...AND YES, THEY DO SWIM! Lot's of rattlesnakes on the northshore, and for some reason more are right at the lakes shoreline. Last summer we were fishing Prince Creek (and another creek I won't name as it produces huge cutties...but it's easy to find/fish) and we had snakes come by and join us...in the water!!!! One even tried to grab my fly...and that was my last cast for that day...

Grade

PS. lots of bears too...as that shoreline hike is very popular, so be sure to put your food away from camp as the bears learn real quick to saunter in camp for dinner. If you have an extra day in Stehekin be sure to walk (or rent a bike) and go to the bakery (about 2 miles up the road) and if you want some incredible fishing, take the shuttle up to High Bridge and fish the river...

[Caseyd]

it is either north shore or south shore...not east/west...and the only trail to hike along Lake Chelan is on the north shore, from Prince Creek to Stehekin (Lakeshore trail)...with that said, double check the regs for when your hike is planned and fish the mouth of every creek where it dumps into the lake. Do yourself a big favor and pinch the barbs, as you will catch cutthroat on just about every cast, and have a chance at some really nice big ones (20+ inches) but only keep what you plan to eat right then and there as they don't keep well in the heat. Last hour, first hour of the day are the best but you can catch them all day long. WATCH FOR RATTLESNAKES...AND YES, THEY DO SWIM! Lot's of rattlesnakes on the northshore, and for some reason more are right at the lakes shoreline. Last summer we were fishing Prince Creek (and another creek I won't name as it produces huge cutties...but it's easy to find/fish) and we had snakes come by and join us...in the water!!!! One even tried to grab my fly...and that was my last cast for that day...

Grade

PS. lots of bears too...as that shoreline hike is very popular, so be sure to put your food away from camp as the bears learn real quick to saunter in camp for dinner. If you have an extra day in Stehekin be sure to walk (or rent a bike) and go to the bakery (about 2 miles up the road) and if you want some incredible fishing, take the shuttle up to High Bridge and fish the river...

 

It’s a snake hike

[Call em in]

Awesome information thank you! Yes we are hiking the lakeshore trail and spending time in Stehekin. Going with a group of friends that has gone for years but I don’t believe they fish.

[jstone]

Can you see the bears from a boat early in the am

[grade-creek-rd]

jstone...we see bears all day long. The heat doesn't seem to bother them so much, but you will find them in the shaddows of the canyons during mid-day, but they are hungry and once there is a food source they will be out all day. In fact, mornings seem to be the slowest part of the day to find them. I have always found bears to be lazy, like teenagers and sleep in, become active mid-day till dusk. Look to the green up and later in the summer (July) when the thimble berries ripen they will be in those avelanche chutes that are thick with thimbleberries and gorging, then move to choke cherries, salmon berries and finally huckleberries/wild ground blueberries come early Sept...we have seen them sitting in the creeks to cool off and chase kokanee in Sept. One reason why they tend to hang near the Lakeshore trail is because of all of the campers/hikers...not so much eating garbage, but when you're hungry and there is the constant smell of someone cooking hot dogs and hamburgers at the campgrounds the bears tend to stay nearby.

Grade

[OutHouse]

it is either north shore or south shore...not east/west...and the only trail to hike along Lake Chelan is on the north shore, from Prince Creek to Stehekin (Lakeshore trail)...with that said, double check the regs for when your hike is planned and fish the mouth of every creek where it dumps into the lake. Do yourself a big favor and pinch the barbs, as you will catch cutthroat on just about every cast, and have a chance at some really nice big ones (20+ inches) but only keep what you plan to eat right then and there as they don't keep well in the heat. Last hour, first hour of the day are the best but you can catch them all day long. WATCH FOR RATTLESNAKES...AND YES, THEY DO SWIM! Lot's of rattlesnakes on the northshore, and for some reason more are right at the lakes shoreline. Last summer we were fishing Prince Creek (and another creek I won't name as it produces huge cutties...but it's easy to find/fish) and we had snakes come by and join us...in the water!!!! One even tried to grab my fly...and that was my last cast for that day...

Grade

PS. lots of bears too...as that shoreline hike is very popular, so be sure to put your food away from camp as the bears learn real quick to saunter in camp for dinner. If you have an extra day in Stehekin be sure to walk (or rent a bike) and go to the bakery (about 2 miles up the road) and if you want some incredible fishing, take the shuttle up to High Bridge and fish the river...

Grade knows his stuff. A friend has done basically that from the bank and he caught two back to back 24 inch cutties. And they were fatties too!

[jstone]

Thanks Grade

[jrebel]

That trail is a real bear in the heat of the day.  We have rescued multiple people off of it due to heat exposure and dehydration.  It gets baked in the daytime hours…..not much shade along most of it. 

It is also not for the faint of heart / novice hikers.  Most internet searches show a mild to easy hike with elevation gain loss as minimal.  If you look at the actual trail and a reputable trail report, there is a ton of elevation gain and loss as you go upppppl and dowwwwn….then repeat.   You are not hiking next to the lake for the vast majority of it so creeks are your water source.   

Conserve water and hike when the sun is not burning down on you. 

With all that said, some people run the trail in a day.      we’ve already had one rescue this year off it.

[Mtnwalker]

That trail is a real bear in the heat of the day.  We have rescued multiple people off of it due to heat exposure and dehydration.  It gets baked in the daytime hours…..not much shade along most of it. 

It is also not for the faint of heart / novice hikers.  Most internet searches show a mild to easy hike with elevation gain loss as minimal.  If you look at the actual trail and a reputable trail report, there is a ton of elevation gain and loss as you go upppppl and dowwwwn….then repeat.   You are not hiking next to the lake for the vast majority of it so creeks are your water source.   

Conserve water and hike when the sun is not burning down on you. 

With all that said, some people run the trail in a day.      we’ve already had one rescue this year off it.

Great 10,000th post